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Archive for the ‘Health News’ Category

A plate of vegetables and tomatoes sprinkled with olives, then doused with olive oil. Or a bowl of cereal with fruit pieces and nuts. Side dishes, more fish than red meat and poultry, as well as the more unsaturated fats than saturated fats. This is the Mediterranean diet. Not only tasty, Mediterranean diet was to prevent brain damage that interferes with memory and thinking ability. Studies conducted in New York, United States, against 712 people proves this.

After 6 years, all participants undergo an MRI examination, and 238 of them had at least one part of the brain damage. After investigation, those whose diets most closely to the Mediterranean diet, may suffer brain damage 36% smaller than those whose diets away from the Mediterranean diet. Meanwhile, those whose diets are close enough to the Mediterranean diet, 21% smaller.

Concluded, diet is far from the Mediterranean diet, comparable to the increase in blood pressure and brain damage. Previous research shows that Mediterranean diet or a diet similar to it can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and prolong life of Alzheimer’s sufferers. Based on the research note that this is also affected by brain damage, which occurred less with the Mediterranean diet.

There would be very few among you who cannot claim an acquaintance with headaches. They are a common affliction after all. It is a primarily idiopathic ailment which means that we do not know what causes it. Consequently, migraines do not have an exact cure either.

These are unpalatable truths, especially for those of you who suffer from these severe headaches, but do not lose heart. The very ambiguities surrounding this disorder have made the medical community determined to put together their observations regarding migraines and attempt ways to control the affliction. Let us consider the facts we have.

• Studies have shown that for a majority of sufferers, migraine is a disorder that runs in the family. Which in turn indicates that genetic factors might be responsible for migraine? But it is not true for everyone. So there must be external factors that come into play too.

• Even if it has not been possible to diagnose the exact cause for migraines, certain conditions have been identified which might act as triggers and bring on these painful attacks.

• Migraines have come to be referred to as vascular headaches since it is believed that constriction and dilation of blood vessels in the brain can lead to the painful phases.

• Significant temperature changes, deprivation of physical needs such as food and sleep and even extreme stress can be liable causes.

• In the case of women, hormonal changes can be a factor. Higher incidences of migraine have been noticed around the time of menstrual cycles, in pregnant women and in those who are post-menopausal.

The diversity of the migraine triggers and the fact that they significantly differ from patient to patient make it difficult to find definite remedies such as migraleve. However knowing about the triggers and studying them have been positive steps since they allow us to manage the headache and prevail.

Health insurance exchanges are an important part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will offer competitive, consumer-oriented affordable health insurance options to individuals and small businesses.  Health and Human Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said too many individuals and small businesses are dealing with insurance companies on their own and paying higher costs than Americans who get their insurance through big companies or other large employers because they cannot pool their costs or spread the risk.  The ACA facilitates States in creating health insurance exchanges and providing resources to create competitive insurance marketplaces that will be “one-stop shopping centers.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working in collaboration with States to implement the ACA.  It has already provided States with resources to carry out research and planning necessary to build a health insurance marketplace.  States will use funding to provide:

• Planning and coordination for eligibility and enrollment systems
• Developing performance metrics and milestones
• Hiring key staff and determining ongoing staffing requirements
• Assessment of existing information technology systems and infrastructure, and determining new requirements
• Forming partnerships with community organizations to gather public input
• Forming consumer call centers to answer questions from citizens

“Early Innovator” Grants

The Department of Human and Health Services awarded grants to seven States for designing and implementing information technology infrastructure to develop health insurance exchanges.  The seven recipients are the States of Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin.  They share $241 million in grant funds.  HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, “These grants ensure that consumers in every state will be able to easily navigate their way through health insurance options.”