Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival June 28, 2009

Welcome to the June 28, 2009 edition of take charge of your health care.

As I sit here in cool, rainy New York, I am wondering where summer is, but I know that it will soon be here. Summer is definitely a time to get fit and healthy, and our authors have provided many useful tips on nutrition and fitness.

We have a number of good articles this month on how to save money on healthcare and also some good information on health insurance. For those of us in the United States, we must call our congressmen and senators and demand that a government run insurance plan be a part of our health reform package. Even better would be a single payer health care system which would be the most affordable in the long run. Our employer based and insurance company sponsored health insurance programs are broken leaving over 47 million Americans without healthcare coverage and an even larger number underinsured. When something is broken, you really need to tear down the system and build it from the ground up. My concern about the health care system in America is what prompted me to begin this blog carnival.

President Obama and Vice President Biden have put together an interesting website with the personal experiences of those affected by the healthcare crisis. They urge that we pass on these stories to those we know. You can visit the Health Care Stories for America at: http://stories.barackobama.com/healthcare.

Of course, staying healthy and preventative medicine can save money on healthcare as well. Our authors have provided some excellent submissions on nutrition and fitness, alternative medicine, and consumer driven health care. There are also several good articles on brain fitness.

Because our Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival has been growing in traffic, remember that only well written articles with good content will be selected. Also, only 2 articles per author, including myself, will be published in each monthly carnival. Thanks for submitting your quality articles this month.

Alternative Medicine

Dave Fobare presents Don't Be Afraid Of Your CPAP Mask posted at Beat Sleep Apnea. Editor’s note: If you suffer from sleep apnea, you will want to read this well written article on how to adjust to using your CPAP mask.

FitJerk presents How To Boost & Strengthen Your Immune System With Top Herbal Remedies posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Although Swine Flu is the talk of the town, preventing swine flu is the best option. Here's a list of some of the top herbal remedies that are known to help boost your immune system and help keep it strong year-round. These immune boosters are pretty inexpensive and can be taken as a preventative measure."

FitJerk presents Build Self Confidence In Mere Weeks! The Newbie Self Conscious Drill posted at FlawlessFitness, saying, "Do you feel you lack confidence or self worth? It's a hard thing to admit. Here is an awesome technique to boost self confidence in weeks! A more confident you will be respected & admired no matter WHAT you look like."

Scientific Living presents Get Rid of Your Chronic Pain!!!- Part 1 of 5 posted at Scientific Living, saying, "There is a treatment for chronic pain called prolotherapy, which is 80 to 100 percent curative, when performed by a skilled physician. Though acknowledged by reputable sources, prolotherapy is still not widely known. Please help me spread information about this wonderful treatment!"

Chris & Chat presents Warts Removers posted at C&C Spa and Facial Care Center. Editor’s note: The author presents an informative post on warts and wart removal.

Paul Hooper presents H Miracle - The Most Effective Hemorrhoid Cure on the Market posted at online-niche-store.com. Editor’s note: The author provides some natural ways to treat hemorrhoids without surgery.

pnreddy presents Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder With Hypnotherapy posted at Alternative Medicine Zone. Editor’s note: Hypnotherapy can be effective for OCD without the side effects of medication.

Megan Wong presents Popular and Classic Sore Throat Remedies posted at Sinus Home Remedy. Editor’s note: This is timely advice when so many colds and the flu are going around.

Megan Wong presents Your loyal sinus blockage companion posted at Sinus Home Remedy. Editor’s note: The author provides useful information on using essential oils to treat sinus blockage.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Alvaro Fernandez presents Book Announcement: The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "While most of us have heard the phrase “use it or lose it,” very few understand what “it” means, or how to properly “use it” in order to maintain brain function and fitness. Here's the story on how my interest turned into a blog and now a book!"

Brain Blogger presents Reflections on Plasticity posted at Brain Blogger, saying, "Neuroplasticity is a relatively new concept for researchers. Up until the 1970s, scientists held firm to the belief that once we exit childhood, our neurons are fixed and we are unable to grow any new ones, except for very select areas of the brain such as the hippocampus where memory is processed."

Alvina Lopez presents 100 Awesome Anti-Aging Brain Games (Online and Off) posted atMasters of Healthcare. Editor’s note: Use these on and offline games to help keep your brain well tuned. Use it or lose it is very important when it comes to brain function especially as we get older.

Margaret Garcia presents 50 Fascinating Online Psychology Tests posted at Forensic Science Technician, saying, “Find out more about yourself with these 50 online psychology tests and Web sites packed full of interesting quizzes.”

Mike Wheeler presents Brain Memory Pill posted at Brain Stimulant, saying, “Astra-Zeneca in conjunction with Targacept is developing new memory pills that could become available for sale over the counter.

Lucky Balaraman presents See Yourself with Your Eyes Closed! posted at Calm and Cool, “once you are settled into your true identity, the people who move with you closely become nicer to you and your immediate environment consequently becomes more pleasant!”

Mike Wheeler presents Brain Stroke Clinical Trial Using Stem Cells posted at Brain Stimulant, saying, “The company Reneuron has just recently gotten the go ahead to commence a new trial that will use stem cells to treat patients with stroke damage. The trial will use stem cells to replace missing brain matter in those who have had stroke brain trauma.”

pankaj gupta presents How to - Learn About Any Disease Online (For Free) posted at Best ultrasound schools. Editor’s note: The author provides good information on how to search online for accurate information on illnesses.

sagarika presents Dimensions of Health posted at Social Work for Mankind, saying, “According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, “ Health is generally defined as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".” Editor’s note: The author reminds us that good health is more than just physical health and you must consider emotional and social well being as well.

Aparna presents Rubbing nails cures hair loss? posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "rubbing the nails of both the hands can reduce hair fall and give you dense, thick and strong hair. Moreover, it can also prevent graying of hair."

James J. Gormley presents One flu over the cuckoo’s nest? Phony Swine Flu products are dangerous posted at The Gormley Files, saying, "Swine flu swindlers are peddling a variety of bogus "cure" kits. This article alerts readers to these scams and shows what is being done to protect consumers."

Mick Hart presents Stop Drinking Alcohol - Join The Alcoholics Online Support Group posted at Stop Drinking Advice, saying, "Discover just how easy it is to stop drinking alcohol through the support of people who have been there before and who understand the real hardships involved."

SwissTgallery presents Johnson & Johnson Refuses to Remove Cancer Causing Chemicals from Baby Products posted at Organic Baby Wearhouse, saying, "Last Friday a letter signed by 50 groups representing about 1.7 million people was sent to William Weldon, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson. The letter was asking the company to reformulate its iconic baby shampoo and other care products to be free of the cancer causing chemicals 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. The widespread response it in reaction to a recent study showing many J&J products as containing small amounts of these dangerous chemicals."

Mikkal Travvis presents How To Survive A Flu Pandemic posted at Bird Flu Pandemic. Editor’s note: Some helpful tips to help you avoid catching the flu.

Mesquite Pete presents Mosquitoes - Fact and Fiction posted at Mosquito Basics, saying, "Some myths and facts about mosquitoes."

Victor presents Being You in How to Get Rid of Anxiety and Panic.Testing. posted at How to get rid of anxiety and panic, saying, “constructive and positive thinking can reduce your stress level when problems and confrontations come around.”

Paul Hooper presents 7 Methods to Help You Quit Smoking posted at online-niche-store.com. Editor’s note: The author has provided some excellent tips on how to stop smoking.

Patricia Turner presents The Top 50 Surgeon Bloggers posted at Surgical Technician Schools, saying, “With the internet making all sorts of information possible, medical professionals have found a place they can share their thoughts, insight, advice, and more. Visit these top 50 blogs for answers to general surgery, specialty, cosmetic, and more.”

Den Levin presents Top Causes of Anxiety and How to Handle Them posted at Battle Anxiety, saying, "There are many common causes of anxiety."

Farid presents Five Steps to Better Skin posted at Acne treatment, saying, "There are five essential steps in skin care regime. By following this progression of steps regularly, you will be giving yourself better skin. Skin is like any other of the body's organs, and it needs to be healthy to operate correctly, which, in the case of skin, means looking great. If you want better skin, you should start following these five steps immediately"

Farid presents Puffiness Around Eyes Treat, Reduce Under Eye Puffiness posted at Puffiness around the eye, saying, "If you're predisposed to under eye puffiness, or you just find yourself looking in the mirror and seeing bags under the eyes, there are several different types of remedies and treatments to fix it. From cucumbers and tea bags to eye masks, there are a number of temporary, short-term solutions. But when you have puffiness around the eyes that occurs more regularly, you may want to explore other, more effective long term treatments available out there."

Dental Care

dentalheroes presents Comprehensive List of Dental Plan Providers posted at Dental Plan & Dental Insurance News. Editor’s note: If you are looking for a dental plan, you will find this list very helpful.

Dr Tooth presents Affordable Dental Care for Low-Income Adults posted at WorlDental, saying, "Millions of Americans still do not have access to any affordable dental care, to a qualitative and the most necessary treatment procedures. In the same time, any untreated dental problem will affect the whole body, causing other, bigger health problems."

The Mouth Doctor presents Treating Gum Disease The Natural Way: Treating Gum Disease The Natural Way posted at Treating Gum Disease The Natural Way, saying, "Learn about the causes of gum disease, gingivitis, bleeding gums, bad breath and the natural and safe way to cure gum disease, gingivitis, bleeding gums, bad breath."

Nutrition & Fitness

Helene Zemel presents The Science behind GeneWize LifeMap Nutrition™ posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "There is proven scientific research that demonstrates that vitamins and other supplements can repair DNA damage."

Rusty Moore presents Why Walking is Necessary for Good Health - Even If You Are Extremely Fit and Lean posted at Fitness Black Book, saying, "I use to think that walking was just for people who weren't fit enough to do any "real" exercise. I figured that any activity that 99% of the population can easily do, just can't be tough enough to make a real difference in health. Walking just doesn't seem to challenge the body like "true" exercise (intervals, circuits, HIIT). I am first to admit that I have been wrong when it comes to this line of thinking. Not only do I admit my thinking has been wrong, I'm immediately going to do my best to walk daily. Some recent studies have proven how valuable walking is to long-term health."

Helene Zemel presents GeneWize LifeMap™ Alert Chocolate Chews posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "GeneWize Life Sciences has just released the LifeMap™ Alert Chocolate Energy Chews. With LifeMap™ Alert you get all the health benefits of chocolate without the calories, fat, sugars, or dairy that you would find in chocolate candy."

Scientific Living presents How to Choose a Supplement posted at Scientific Living, saying, "A guide on how to navigate through the myriad of supplement choices, and find something that is affordable, effective, and safe."

Darwin presents Will Resveratrol Benefits Create the Biggest Blockbuster Drug Ever? posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "This article highlights how the "fountain of life" drug resveratrol with weight loss benefits may be the biggest blockbuster drug ever - but thinks about supplements vs FDA approved source."

Sarah Scrafford presents The Twitter Diet: 100 Tips, Tools, and Twitter Feeds for Your Weight Loss posted at Ultrasound Technician Schools, saying, “Twitter is a powerful tool for both business people and the regular Joes and Janes. From marketing to sharing information to creating community, Twitter does it all. Now, Twitter has become a new way to help people lose weight too.” Editor’s note: This is an excellent resource for those that are interested in weight loss.

Andy presents 100 Weight Loss Tips & Tricks posted at Personal Hack, saying, "The following 100 weight loss tips are divided into 4 sections: Get Moving, Adjust Your Eating Habits, Adjust Your Thinking, and Additional Tips." Editor’s note: The author provides some very good weight loss suggestions and tips.

vegefood presents Spicy Chicken with Green Chillies Vegetarian Culinary Recipes posted at Vegetarian Culinary, saying, "Great vegetarian culinary recipe for spicy chicken with the delicious green chillies. Mmm!" Editor’s note: You will find some good healthy recipes on this site.

Alisha Harmann presents What Are Superfoods? Top 10 Facts (and Myths) posted at My Health, saying, “Superfoods are foods said to be able to improve your health and are sometimes touted as having abilities that so called "normal foods" do not.” Editor’s note: The author presents 10 facts and myths about superfoods.

South Beach Steve presents Cinnamon, Diabetes, and Heart Health posted at Log My Loss. Editor’s note: The author sites numerous studies showing the beneficial effects of cinnamon on blood sugar.

Margaret Garcia presents Walk the Path to Good Health posted at Dental Assisting School. Editor’s note: Good article on the benefits of walking as an exercise.

Chris presents How to Feel Your Chi Energy in Just Ten Minutes posted at Martial Development, saying, "Qigong is popular form of preventative medicine. Learn the basics here."

Kasha Deveine presents Ban the Treadmill! The Role of Cardio Exercise in Losing Weight and Burning Fat posted at Ask Kasha, saying, “I’d like to introduce you to High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), the key to getting all the benefits of cardio in an exercise program that will blast away fat, increase growth hormones and change the way you look in minimum time.”

Phil B. presents Bodybuilding Problems posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "I always wondered if extreme bodybuilding has any bad effects on the human body."

Cory presents How To Change Your Eating Habits posted at Eating Healthy, saying, "By the time we become aware of the fact that we need to change the way we have been eating, for our entire life, we are kind of attached to it."

Cash Tree presents Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Aging posted at Acids and Aging, saying, "Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. DHA is a key fatty acid found in the retina. Epidemiological studies examining the association between DHA or fish intake and AMD have generally shown a protective relationship”

Nancy Miller presents 50 Best Foods for Weight Loss posted at Radiography Schools, saying, “This list of 50 delicious super foods will help you lose weight, stay healthy and feel great. Fit one of two of these foods into your diet each day to keep yourself looking fabulous and away from the doctor.”

pnreddy presents Healthy Food Choices For Children posted at Fitness Health Zone.com, saying, “There are many nutritious foods you can offer that your children will love to eat.”

Sarah Scrafford presents 100 Nutrition Tips for Before, During, and After Pregnancy posted at Healthcare Administration Degree, saying, “Nutrition is an important element of pregnancy beginning before conception and continuing until after the baby is born. Here you’ll find helpful tips to ensure you understand all you need to when it comes to nutrition and your pregnancy–before, during, and after.”

Robert Galway presents Ab Workouts posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Ab workouts are meant to train the abs as a muscle group to make them defined or larger and not target the area for fat burning. I know people that are super lean but they over train there abs and not a single one pops out. Ab workouts are a dime a dozen these days but most people are focusing on the wrong type of exercises in their quest for six pack abs. Regular crunches and situps are out and swiss ball exercises are in if you are seeking the very best ab workout. We hear it all the time that if you want to burn fat then you have to get off your couch and stop watching so much television."

Joshua presents How to Help Your Child Lose Weight posted at Family and Parenting, saying, "Childhood obesity is an epidemic. Here are some tips on how to help your child lose weight.

Ashley Cook presents How to Get a Good Workout on a Treadmill posted at Healthy Living Tips, saying, "Tips to get a good workout on a treadmill."

SwissTgallery presents Sticking With Your Home Workout Routine posted at healthy diet, saying, "You can often find motivation in dedication. When you truly make up your mind to see something through, it can be motivating. However, on days when the motivation isn’t there, dedication needs to be present to carry you through. Don’t give yourself an option to workout, make it a necessity, a daily requirement. More than likely you will find that you will never regret a workout after the fact."

Darryl Kimball presents Weight Loss 4 Dumb Asses - My Dumb Ass Work Out Book - Are You Mentally Conditioned to Stay Overweight? posted at www.weightloss4dumbasses.com, saying, "Has the constant advertising of the diet, weight loss, and fitness industry convinced you that losing weight is difficult. Have you been convinced that it takes a lot of time, or that it is just too hard, or that it takes money to lose weight? Perhaps you have allowed yourself to become mentally conditioned to stay overweight!"

Steve Faber presents Belly Fat Loser » How to Lose Belly Fat – An Easy to Follow Plan for Success posted at Belly Fat Loser, saying, “Although it’s has been known for quite some time that the layer of fat surrounding your abdominal organs wasn’t healthy, the dangers appear to far more serious than was originally thought.”

Jack presents Urban Fitness posted at Urban Lover, saying, "Some tips for getting fit while living in the inner city."

Save Money on Health Care and Health Insurance

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Get The Right Coverage! Insurance Policies You Need and Those To Avoid posted at The Digerati Life. Editor’s note: The author explains the different types of insurance available plus some sources for getting quotes.

MatthewPaulson presents What Are Health Savings Accounts and Should I Have One? posted at Fine-Tuned Finances, saying, “an HSA can be set up to help pay for costs associated with high deductible health care plans and do so from a tax-advantaged position.” Editor’s note: Health savings accounts are explained by the author.

MatthewPaulson presents How to Pay off a Big Medical Bill posted at Fine-Tuned Finances, saying, “Each year, more than 80 million people struggle to pay medical bills in reality they can not fit into their budget. Additionally 700,000 are forced into bankruptcy because of medically-related expenses. So what do you do if you have a whopper of a bill you can not afford to pay?” Editor’s note: Many people don’t realize that medical bills can be negotiated.

The Smarter Wallet presents 12 Ways To Save On Drugs: Cut Your Medication Costs posted at The Smarter Wallet. Editor’s note: These 12 tips will help you save money on prescription drugs.

Carl Stevens presents Three Ways to Find Affordable Health Insurance posted at Three Ways to Lower Your Health Insurance Premium, saying, "How to lower the cost of your health insurance premium without changing your type of health insurance or level of coverage."

Debt Freedom Fighter presents The Benefits of Insurance for Your Family posted at Discover Debt Freedom!, saying, “It is very important to obtain the different types of insurance that may be needed by your family prior to an adverse event occurring, as that is what insurance is supposed to protect you from. The numerous benefits of insurance for your family can only be obtained if the insurance policy is in place before the unexpected occurs.”

J.D. Bell presents Barack Tells Congress To Get Off Their Pork-Filled Butts posted at It Takes Work, saying, "Mr. Obama is getting a little impatient with his Legislative backup singers." Editor’s note: An interesting perspective on healthcare reform.

Jack Schmidt presents Health Insurance Can Improve Your Love Life posted at SectorMatic Money Journal, saying, "Personal Finance - Everything for the Big Spender on a Budget. Now you can live like a fat cat, even if you're on a money diet. Laugh all the way to the bank with Jack Schmidt and SectorMatic. It's for you!" Editor’s note: A humorous look at a serious subject—health insurance.

Miscellaneous

Ashley Cook presents Spring Cleaning and Women's Health posted at Healthy Living Tips, saying, "Some natural alternatives for cleaning around the house."

Lucy presents Uncovering the True You posted at Lucy's Life, saying, "Why do so many of us not truly know ourselves?"

Lucky Balaraman presents When I Called God with a Complaint posted at Calm and Cool. Editor’s note: You will enjoy this story.

Susan Johnston/Julie Salickram/Allan-Michael Brown/Megan Johnson/Chris Gesualdi presents Boston’s Best Outdoor Dining Options The Blog @ Directory of Boston posted at The Blog @ Directory of Boston, saying, "Now that warm weather is returning to Boston, this is prime time for al fresco dining. Here's a list of 5 favorite Boston outdoor restaurants."

Ruoall Chapman presents Everything you need to know about how to Make Online Beats posted at Make Online Beats. Editor’s note: This article is a must read if you are considering a career in the music industry. As a pianist and teacher, I know that music can help with cognitive development and concentration.

Ruoall Chapman presents Online Spyware Removal posted at Online Spyware Removal. The author presents some good information and reviews on antispyware.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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