Tue 18 Mar 2008
The U.S. federal government has overhauled the drug testing program of federal employees to include testing of workers’ saliva, hair, and sweat, This change is expected to be a catalyst for business to modify their drug screening methods and procedures for hundreds of thousands of their employees. (more…)
Fri 11 May 2007
Let us view the most important ones.
1. Medical Instruments operating on blood serum (BS) which determine the peak of intestinal cell-stimulating hormones are excellent instruments which determine the peak of intestinal cell-stimulating hormones and foretell the coming ovulation several hours before it starts, which allows the user to select the most reasonable time for conception. However, this instrument requires frequent blood samples for diagnostics, therefore the method is not very convenient for domestic usage. (more…)
Wed 9 May 2007
Short term health insurance seemed like a waste of money. I had just quit my job and was actively searching for a new one — I thought for sure that I would land something in a matter of weeks, and that they would then provide me with a subsidized plan so that I would have coverage again. Why did I need a short term health insurance plan when my job search was going so well? That was my thinking up until the day I suffered from a tragic accident while driving to the market. (more…)
Mon 7 May 2007
While skin complaints can be a curse for many of us, those who suffer from diabetes can be particularly prone to certain types of skin problem. High blood sugar levels can cause fluid loss in the body, which in turn can lead to dry sensitive skin which is easily damaged. Neuropathy, or nerve damage, is a common complaint for those with diabetes and interferes with the skin’s ability to produce sweat, which can help to keep skin supple.
This, combined with a slower rate of healing that is another side effect of elevated blood sugar levels, means the the skin of a diabetes patient requires extra tender loving care.
As a diabetes sufferer, you must always do what you can to shield your skin from the elements of nature. Wear sunscreen and lip balm during the summer months, and be sure to wrap up well in winter. Wind and rain can be very harsh on your dry skin, so be sure to dress suitably when the weather is bad.
Always use gentle cleansing products with diabetes, even if you have a skin condition such as acne; your doctor or dermatologist can recommend products that are suitable for use by diabetes patients. Do not soak the skin for long periods of time; take quick showers or baths, and be sure to use lukewarm water. Do not dry skin vigorously; instead pat dry. Using moisturizer can help keep your skin supple, but try to use unperfumed if you can, and be sure to massage it fully into the skin.
Sat 5 May 2007
If you have a special needs child, take close stock of your family health insurance coverage. Caring for a child with a chronic illness, disability or other health need can be financially overwhelming. If you already have family health insurance, most of your child’s health care needs may be taken care of. If your child isn’t enrolled in your coverage, be sure to enroll the child. If you don’t have good coverage, you may want to check out the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP.
Some six million children are eligible for free or low-cost health insurance in the United States, but they aren’t enrolled, according to a study by the Federal Interagency Task Force on Children’s Health Insurance Outreach. SCHIP programs are available to many families with low to moderate income, for a modest fee. All SCHIP programs are state-operated under federal guidelines. Each state has a SCHIP program. But they can be hard to find because different states may have different names for their program, as well as varying eligibility and coverage rules.
California calls its SCHIP program Healthy Families, while Florida’s is called Florida Kid Care, for example. You can find the program in your state online at http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/.
It’s possible to buy private insurance for your special needs child, but it could be hard to find and expensive. It also could exclude your child’s special need. Your state may offer a high-risk insurance pool. These vary from state to state, but all resemble private insurance. However, the premiums can be double the price of the open market. Also, there could be a strict guideline for eligibility and a waiting period. People aren’t eligible for these high-risk pools unless they haven’t been able to get insurance anywhere else.
Thu 3 May 2007
Keeping your diet on track isn’t always easy for a person with diabetes. It’s especially difficult if, like many Americans, you’re the type of person who tries to cram 25 hours worth of things into a 24 hour day. For those with a hectic schedule, grabbing a meal on the go is a routine part of life. But how do you maintain your lifestyle while still keeping your diabetes under control through proper diet?
The most important task a person with diabetes can perform is to create a daily meal plan. This plan is a guide that helps you monitor your diet. It tells you what types of food you can eat and how much you can eat in a day. Make sure your plan fits in with your busy schedule and “on the go” eating habits.
If you aren’t comfortable creating your own meal plan, talk to a doctor or dietitian. Not every person with diabetes has the same diet needs.
1. Gather information from local restaurants. You can easily find out what is put into your favorite meals if you just ask. Many restaurants can give you specific nutritional information, such as fat content and calories. After you have accumulated all of your information, create your own meal plan that fits best with your diabetes diet.
2. Many people with diabetes make the mistake of believing that their diet is under control if they always order a salad off the menu. This isn’t always true. In fact, a salad has the potential of being a bad diet choice for someone with diabetes. We are often tempted to pile on dressing, bacon bits, and other high fat products.
Thu 29 Mar 2007
Mesothelioma seems to appear only in people who have had exposure to certain hazardous materials, generally in a workplace setting. So, unless you worked for a number of years in certain fields, mainly related to manufacturing and construction, it is unlikely that you have to worry.
Mesothelioma is caused by inhalation of microscopic asbestos fiber particles, which are released in the manufacture of items such as insulation, roofing shingles, etc. The particles are too tiny to see, odorless and tasteless. The particles accumulate in the mesothelium, an internal membrane surrounding your inner organs, and can cause a rare cancer of this area. Of the approximately 2000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed per year, 70-80% had known exposure to asbestos.
No, most cases are not diagnosed until after many years . The time period can vary from 15-50 years before mesothelioma symptoms appear. Once mesothelioma is diagnosed (usually by a biopsy) it can be treated.
There are several options for treatment including surgical removal of affected areas, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If you should be diagnosed with mesothelioma, your doctor can advise you as to which type of treatment is recommended in your particular case.
The fact is many lawyers see this disease as an opportunity to sign up lots of people and make lots of money. There are many ethical lawyers working in this field trying to get settlements for individuals who are disabled due to mesothelioma and are owed recompense. Unfortunately, there are also quite a few lawyers who are not this ethical. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and you wish to pursue a lawsuit, always check with the American Bar Association for lists of reputable lawyers in your area.
Fri 23 Mar 2007
Hair analysis results have been admitted as evidence of drug use and exposure by federal and state courts.
Hair drug tests and other forms of drug screening are highly controversial. With new U.S. government guidelines that seek to expand drug testing, analysis of the accuracy of hair drug tests are being analyzed by a wide range of legal and medical professionals. Workplace drug testing is being criticized on general terms as there is controversary over whether a positive drug test result has any meaningful relationship to work performance and it encourages lifestyle discrimination, is an invasion of privacy and smacks of an Orwellian “Big Brother” attitude In government and the workplace. In spite of misgivings about the efficacy and accuracy of hair drug tests and other drug screens, millions of people now or will be subject to random drug testing at work and home. Putting aside the implications of the new federal drug tests that have been proposed, hair drug tests are becoming more common in business settings, public and private schools, and at home. (more…)
Tue 20 Mar 2007
Laboratory testing of urine has become commonplace. Urine drug tests are administered by a wide range of private companies utilizing laboratories of varying quality and technicians with a wide variety of skills. Many things can skew urine drug tests. One obvious problem is the way an individual laboratory monitors the correct collection of the person being tested.
Another is the quality of the urine specimens that are collected, contamination, the effect of transportation delays and variables including the issue of having multiple people handling and storing the specimen. Problems of dilution or adulteration of samples of urine drug tests cannot be underestimated. Follow up testing should be part of the procedure so that adulterated urine samples can be detected.
These private companies that administer urine drug tests are in business to make money. They have a vested interest in participating in a concerted effort by certain government agencies and certain politicians and religious leaders to foist drug testing on as many people as possible. They have sold this intrusive and dubious plan through scare tactics often involving the fear of lost workplace productivity or workplace safety. (more…)
Sun 18 Mar 2007
Recently there has been extensive research on the use of saliva in drug testing. A person’s saliva has certain advantages and certain disadvantages when comparing the use of urine in testing for the presence of drugs. The most obvious advantage is simply that the collection procedure is easier and less prone to possible efforts to beat the drug test by substituting a clean drug test sample as is sometimes the case in urine drug testing. The ease at which a person’s saliva can be tested make saliva drug tests less invasive than other forms of drug testing. The collection of saliva for saliva drug tests is easier and safer when compared to urine or blood. (more…)