Out On The Edge - The Lack of Health Insurance Benefits For Nonstandard Workers In Texas

A 2005 Commonwealth Fund white paper reported on two important trends in the U.S. workforce - the increasing prevalence of workers in part-time, temporary, contract or non-standard positions, and the decline in access to employer-provided health insurance.

The fact that fewer and fewer individuals in Dallas, Houston and throughout Texas are covered by health insurance as well as the diminished quality of coverage brought about by higher copayments and deductibles has gotten a lot of attention. At the same time, there has been remarkably little attention paid to the status of nonstandard workers, who are particularly vulnerable because their employment status often excludes them from employer-based coverage. This increases their reliance on family members’ policies, public coverage or leaves them without insurance completely.

Nonstandard workers currently make up approximately 25 percent of the nation’s workforce, totaling 34.3 million workers. Part-time workers make up the biggest category within this group, followed by self-employed independent contractors and direct-hire temporary workers. Nonstandard workers also include on-call and day laborers, temporary help agency workers, independent contractors, and contract company workers.

While access to employer-sponsored health insurance is on the decline for all workers, it is an especially serious problem for nonstandard workers. A recent study showed that 74 percent of standard workers have health insurance through their jobs, compared to only 21 percent of nonstandard workers. Because of this disparity, nonstandard workers are thought to be uninsured at twice the rate of standard workers. Nonstandard workers also rely on government insurance at five times the rate of regular workers and are insured through a spouse’s health insurance plan at three and one-half times the rate of regular workers.

In addition to being less likely to be offered employer-sponsored health insurance, nonstandard workers are also less likely to take up employer-sponsored coverage when it is available. About 87 percent of regular full-time workers are offered health insurance, compared with only 40 percent of nonstandard workers. Among those nonstandard workers who are eligible for employer-based plans, only 54 percent choose them, while the selection rate for standard workers is 85 percent. Nonstandard workers who turn down coverage said it was either because they had coverage through another source or because the plan was too expensive.

Families of nonstandard workers are also affected by their spotty insurance coverage. Only 15 percent of children and 16 percent of spouses of nonstandard workers have health insurance through the nonstandard worker’s employer. In fact, standard workers’ children and spouses were covered by the spouse’s employer at three times the rate that they were covered by the nonstandard worker’s employer. Almost one in five family members of nonstandard workers was uninsured (18% of children and 16% of spouses). A significant share - 10 percent of children and 6 percent of spouses - relied on public health insurance for coverage.

Because of the rising cost of health insurance, some employers and individuals - both nonstandard workers and regular employees - are turning to low-cost products like high-deductible health insurance plans, limited benefit health insurance and medical discount cards. While these options are typically more affordable than comprehensive health insurance, coverage is limited. A recent Iowa Policy Project (IPP) Survey of Fringe Benefits and Nonstandard Work found that 18 percent of nonstandard workers had discount cards, but no insurance coverage. However, almost all these workers mistakenly reported that their discount card was a health insurance policy. This has led to suggestions that rates of uninsurance may actually be underestimated.

The Iowa report concludes that improving access to health coverage for nonstandard workers will require addressing three issues: regulating employer-employee relationships to ensure that nonstandard workers enjoy the same individual and collective rights as conventional employees; strengthening the foundation of employment-based health insurance, making it easier for employers to offer coverage and workers to afford it; and expanding alternatives to employment-based coverage.

Current policymakers need to start identifying the obstacles facing the uninsured and underinsured, as well as each individual’s potential for eligibility, according to income, job tenure, or firm size. It’s going to be a formidable task to provide nonstandard workers with access to group-based insurance - by increasing access to conventional job-based coverage, creating new health insurance purchasing pools, or by expanding individual health insurance alternatives.

Although most individuals are covered under employment-based coverage, there’s no requirement that employers provide it. Most employers - especially those with fewer employees’ have strong reasons to avoid taking on the health insurance burden. Some small business employers have responded to rising health insurance costs by shifting more coverage costs to employees or dropping coverage altogether.

Pat Carpenter
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/out-on-the-edge-the-lack-of-health-insurance-benefits-for-nonstandard-workers-in-texas-130621.html

Are Religion and Acupuncture Compatible?

For every practice or thought, there is an opposite viewpoint. This is true with religious beliefs, political beliefs, and even opinions and studies of the environment. As humans, we both consciously and unconsciously choose to believe a side. There are many, many individuals who can see the reasoning on both sides of the proverbial fence, but there are also those that are staunchly devoted and will see no side other than their own. Medical treatments are no exception to this rule.

There are religious groups through out the world, including some who believe that a transfusion of blood is sacrilegious and would never take someone else’s blood into their body, as it makes them “impure”. There are some who do not believe in modern medicine and still, to this day, practice holistic medicine. However, most religions do not have a prejudice against Western medicine in whole, but may be against particular things, such as prescriptions for depression. Many Eastern religions have given birth to medical practices of their own. An example of this would be Taoism. Taoism believes in studying nature and its influences upon man. From this belief and observation rose the practice of acupuncture, which has to do with the flow of energy, Qi (pronounced chee), and how those affect areas of the body.

Many religions consider that believing in outside energies is a farce and their followers will spurn procedures using such magic and mystery. Others discount the studies of researchers, considering the strength of acupuncture to lie in the possibility of something intangible, such as Qi. Bibles and scriptures of all types warn against the “Devil’s work” and mysticism, which leaves some individuals to believe that acupuncture is evil or wrong.

However, for the most part, acupuncture is receiving a positive welcome in communities around the globe. Perhaps this is because of exercise programs, such as Yoga and Pilates, which have become so popular. Asian culture has exploded into the main stream in fashion, thought, spirituality, technology, and medicine. Years ago, such things as acupuncture and Yoga were only for the “beatniks”. The regular Joe did not practice such things and would not have heard the positive benefits, but nowadays, people around the globe want different choices when it comes to their bodies. Many individuals want to try to live a life with minimal medication and invasive procedures, turning to nature to help with illness and pain. Acupuncture is a good alternative.

Acupuncture, as mentioned before, has to do with the flow of energy in the body. The energy flows along pathways, fourteen to be precise, which are called meridians. All along the meridian, there are points within that can become blocked. Acupuncture is used to unblock the meridian and allow the energy to flow. This is done with the use of long, thin, solid needles, but most people report that the procedure is painless, so do not worry.

The medical field and the health-care services we choose to receive fall into our set of values and beliefs, be they moral or religious. Certainly, the ultimate decision to accept acupuncture or consider it nothing more than psychological smoke and mirrors remains yours alone, depending much on your personal group of beliefs and your opinion.

John Edmond
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/are-religion-and-acupuncture-compatible-90087.html

Why Health Insurance Is Important To Young Individuals In Texas

Young individuals in Dallas, Houston and throughout Texas are a pretty healthy group in general, but going without health insurance interferes with their access to the health care system, introduces barriers to care when it’s needed, and leaves young individuals and their families at risk for high out-of-pocket costs in the face of severe illness or injury.

With that said, 19th birthdays seem to be a crucial milestone in most Americans’ health insurance coverage. Both public and private insurance plans treat this age as a turning point for coverage decisions. In Texas, young adults who are not full-time students lose their status as an eligible dependent after 19. A full-time student remains an eligible dependent in Texas until age 25.

Further, Texas health insurance regulation states that most private health insurance plans may not condition coverage for a child younger than 25 years of age on the child’s being enrolled at an educational institution. This regulation however does not help every young adult. Self-insured large groups may be exempt from the regulation. And the parents may be simply unable to continue paying a young adult’s premiums.

When young adults lose coverage under their parents’ plans, regardless of age, their ties with primary care physicians may be cut just when they should be forming stronger links to the health care system and taking responsibility for their own care.

These are just a few reasons coverage is so important for young adults:
o Fourteen percent of adults ages 18 to 29 are obese. Since the 1990s, obesity has increased by 70 percent in this age group - the fastest rate of increase among all adults.
o There are 3.5 million pregnancies each year among the 21 million women ages 19 to 29.
o Injury-related visits to emergency rooms are far more common among young adults than they are among children or older adults.

A recent health insurance survey shows that individuals who are uninsured or have less-than-adequate health insurance have their access to the health care system decreased. More than half of young adults, ages 19 to 29, who either were uninsured for the entire year or had a time without coverage said that they had gone without needed health care because of cost. Delinquent care included failing to fill a prescription, not seeing a doctor or specialist when sick, or skipping a recommended medical test, treatment, or follow-up visit.

In addition, uninsured young adults are far less likely than those with coverage to have a regular doctor. Only one-third of uninsured young adults, ages 19 to 29, had a regular doctor, compared with 81 percent of those who were insured all year. Uninsured female young adults had regular doctors at about half the rate of young women who were insured all year. Male young adults who were uninsured had the most fragile link to the health care system; just 21 percent had a regular doctor compared with 75 percent of male young adults who were insured all year.

Many young adults also have problems paying medical bills or are paying off medical debt over time. More than one-third of all young adults, both insured and uninsured, said that they had experienced problems with medical bills: having trouble making payments, being contacted by a collection agency because of inability to pay bills, significantly changing their way of life in order to pay medical bills, or paying off medical debt over time. Uninsured young individuals were the most burdened with medical bills and debt, with almost half reporting at least one problem.

But contrary to popular belief, young individuals seem to value the protection that health insurance coverage offers. The same survey also found that nearly three-quarters of employed young adults accept health insurance coverage when it’s offered, only slightly less than the acceptance rate of workers age 30 or older.

Pat Carpenter
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/why-health-insurance-is-important-to-young-individuals-in-texas-130630.html

The Medical Benefits of Acupuncture Are Too Numerous To Count

There are many medical benefits of acupuncture as acupuncture has been used for millennia to treat the symptoms of many diseases and health conditions as well as to promote good health and well-being.

To determine the medical benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of your condition you must speak with a qualified practitioner of acupuncture. He or she will want to know your entire medical history including any allergies you have and what illnesses and injuries you have suffered in the past. Only after knowing these things can a potential form of treatment be decided on?

Acupuncture works by triggering the release of endorphins and serotonin in the brain and central nervous system. These chemicals, endorphins and serotonin have a strong affect on a persons mood and the feelings they have, they can make you feel up, down, in pain or happy and pain free.

The traditional method behind the treatment is to accentuate the flow of “qi”, which is believed to be the bodies natural flow of energy. Today qi is used more like a metaphor and acupuncture is one of the most well known, and most widely used treatments in a complementary fashion.

* What is acupuncture used for?

Acupuncture has been used for a wide variety of medical conditions for a few millennia, today we use acupuncture for medical conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, pain, headaches, digestive problems and women’s menstrual problems.

According to the World health Organization (W.H.O.) there are a number of health problems that can be improved upon by the use of acupuncture. These conditions are broken down into respiratory diseases, bronchopulmonary diseases, eye disorders, disorders that affect the cavity of the mouth, orthopedic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and neurological disorders.

The respiratory diseases that acupuncture can help include acute sinusitis, acute rhinitis, acute tonsillitis and the common cold. Acute bronchitis and bronchial asthma are both bronchopulmonary diseases that acupuncture has been shown to have great results in treating.

The eye disorders acupuncture helps include acute conjunctivitis, cataract that has no complications, myopia, and central retinitis.

The mouth cavity disorders acupuncture helps include toothaches, gingivitis, pharyngitis, and pain or discomfort that sometimes takes place after a tooth is pulled. The orthopedic disorders acupuncture helps include periarthritis humeroscapularis, tennis elbow, lower back pain, rheumatoid arthritis and sciatica.

Acupuncture also improves gastrointestinal disorders as well as neurologic disorders. The gastrointestinal disorders it helps include hiccups, gastroptosis, spasms that take place in the cardia and the esophagus, gastric hyperacidity, acute and chronic gastritis, chronic duodenal ulcer, acute bacterial dysentery, acute as well as chronic colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and paralytic ileus.

The neurologic disorders it helps include headaches and migraines in particular, facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuropathy, meniere’s syndrome, intercostals neuralgia, nocturnal enuresis, paralysis after an apoplectic fit, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, and paralysis that is caused by poliomyelitis.

* How is acupuncture done?

Acupuncture is carried out by hundreds of small needles being inserted into special points in the body, these points are known as acupuncture points and are located along meridian lines where qi is supposed to flow likes streams, rivers and seas.

In the body there are hundreds, if not thousands of acupuncture points, all of which are related to different medical conditions and used for alleviating different symptoms.

The points are found by an acupuncture therapist feeling for pulses in the body, mostly around the organs, this will help them determine which acupuncture points to use.

Mike Herman
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/the-medical-benefits-of-acupuncture-are-too-numerous-to-count-88461.html

Curing High Blood Pressure With Acupuncture

Do you prefer to adopt a natural and safe way to cure your blood pressure rather than swallowing those pills and medicines? Well, with growing awareness, many people today refrain from taking those chemical tablets and capsules to cure their diseases and disorders.
After all several safe and natural modes of blood pressure treatment are known today.

Acupuncture is one such treatment that has been making strong statements with people struck with the hypertension disorder. It is proved that acupuncture can effectively bring your blood pressure down to the normal levels.

High blood pressure generally occurs when arteries narrow down, with the blood exerting high pressure against its walls. And if this continues over a period of time, this high energy blood damages the blood vessels. The situation can further worsen to harden the arteries.

There are some peculiar forms of acupuncture treatment to treat high blood pressure. To get the best results, acupuncture is now combined with the process of electric stimulation. This type of treatment is known as electro-acupuncture.

This treatment involves the insertion of acupuncture needles in the forearm, just above your wrist. As this process is done the needles are electrically stimulated. As a result electricity starts flowing from the needles to the other body parts. This electrical stimulation carries low frequency. These charges that are carrying low frequency ultimately works in the direction of reducing your blood pressure.

The theory employed in the acupuncture treatment is very simple. The needles are inserted on certain points on the wrist, the forearm and the leg that immediately excites the production of some chemicals in the brain cells. These chemicals interact with the muscles of the heart, thereby reducing its activity. As the activity of the heart reduces, the demand of oxygen in the body reduces. Thus all these developments leads to lower blood pressure.

Apart from curing your hypertension problem, acupuncture also promotes the healing of other problems related to your heart. That is, with acupuncture you can keep healthy for a longer life.

Still, in some cases acupuncture treatment alone may not help you. Though you can get rid of your blood pressure disorder soon with the consumption of certain herbs which paces up your aim. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle pattern will also considerably help you in attaining a normal blood pressure level.

Ashish Jain
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/curing-high-blood-pressure-with-acupuncture-93401.html

The Basics Of Dog Health

Dogs, just like humans, have a variety of conditions that can affect their health. Unfortunately, dogs can have bone and joint problems, eye problems, nervous disorders, digestive, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, as well as hereditary diseases and even cancers. As a dog owner, the health of your pet is always a concern. The good news is that by following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your dog will be healthy and any conditions that arise will be noted and treated as early as possible to obtain the best possible outcome.

The following list is a general outline of the suggestions that most vets recommend for ensuring your dog’s health. Remember that some breeds may have additional needs that are health-related, so be sure to research your breed and be aware of any conditions or dog health risks that may be prevalent within the breed.

Exercise
All dogs need some level of exercise on a daily basis. Many of the small breeds will exercise indoors or will “self-exercise”, but other breeds simply do not. Owners need to realize that just turning the dog outside in the yard for a couple of hours a day may not be exercise either. Many dogs will simply find a shady spot to rest in until they’re allowed back in the house. Having a dog means that you’re willing to make a commitment to their daily exercise, whether that is going for a walk, jog, or just tossing the ball or Frisbee for 20 minutes. Watch your dog to be sure that they’re not over tired or injured during exercise, especially if there’s a lot of jumping or running involved. Encourage your dog to exercise even if they don’t seem to want to that day.

Diet
Feed only a good quality or premium dry kibble to your dog. Avoid the wet foods, as they are often not as nutritionally balanced as the kibble, plus they can cause both dental and digestive problems. If you are feeding wet food, consult with your vet and make sure that you are using the correct amount and type to balance the nutritional needs of your dog. Avoid feeding human food and too many treats. Human food or treats should be less than 5% of the daily food intake of your dog. Many vets and dog health experts recommend no human food and only select dog treats.

Some foods should be avoided completely. The following are harmful and possibly fatal to dogs:
· Chocolates
· Sweets and sugars
· Raisins
· Raw pork
· Raw fish
· Any kind of poultry that is raw
· Any kind of raw or cooked poultry bones
· Coffee
· Mushrooms
· Onions and garlic (in large quantities)

Dogs should always have free access to clean water and should never be kenneled or kept in an area where there is no water.

Attention to Detail
By carefully observing your dog on a regular basis, you can note any signs of discomfort or anxiety quickly. Watch for changes in your dog’s behavior, including their energy level and food and water consumption. Often the first signs of many conditions are a change in eating patterns. Any odd behavior should be noted and carefully monitored. Behaviors such as seizures, excessive salivating, excessive or abnormal tearing of the eyes or discharges from any part of the body should be immediately checked by a vet.

Routine Vet Visits
Be sure to keep vaccinations and other dog health precautions up to date with routine visits to the vet. In some areas, heartworm and other conditions require constant monitoring and the vet can provide this service. Before breeding your dog, be sure to have her or him completely checked for any genetic conditions or predispositions such as hip dysplasia.

Love and Attention
Last, but certainly not least, your dog needs your family’s love and attention. Dogs thrive when they feel they are a loved and involved member of the family. Dog health is linked to love and attention, as loving owners are usually more aware of changes in the dog’s health and well being and get professional help sooner.

In all cases, it is vitally important to talk to your vet about any concerns that you may have with dog health and be sure to know any conditions that are specific to the breed of dog that you own.

Terry Roberts
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-basics-of-dog-health-93721.html

Acupuncture For Migraine And Sinus Headaches

If you suffer from headaches - whether they be migraine or sinus headaches - you might automatically think of popping a pill. But for a more natural remedy — and one that’s gaining momentum all the time — think about acupuncture for sinus headache migrains.

The thought of acupuncture makes many people cringe. But the art and craft of acupuncture is gaining popularity among people who don’t want to take pain pills or other drugs, but who are looking for natural, pure remedies.

Simply put, acupuncture is the delicate insertion of very thin needles at various points on the body to relieve pain or promote healing. Relief of sinus, tension and migraine headaches is a common impetus for acupuncture treatment, but it’s used for a variety of other needs, including healing after injury, relief from the pain and discomfort of chemotherapy, and a variety of other ailments and illnesses.

It’s believed that inserting the needles at specific points in the body realigns the body’s electrical fields which helps to relieve pain or promote the healing necessary for recovery from injury or disease.

As for headaches, the use of acupuncture is gaining in popularity thanks both to the acceptance the practice is gaining in traditional circles, and reports that the practice is effective in relieving headache pain.

A recent study showed that the use of acupuncture was effective in relieving the pain of migraine headaches but experts aren’t exactly sure why. They say it’s possible acupuncture has a “placebo” effect, where the patient believes the treatment will help and so it does, without much medical basis for the benefit or relief.

Others say acupuncture works for migraine and sinus headaches because the acupuncture needles are inserted specifically to re-channel the body’s energy fields and produce a biochemical change in the body’s blood serum.

If you suffer from sinus or migraine headaches, you know that pain relief in the form of a pill can work. But after four or six hours, the pain returns and you return to the medicine cabinet for another “hit” of the pain-relieving drug. Experts say that the use of acupuncture reduces your dependence on pain-relief drugs, whether they are addictive or not. Over time such drugs can cause liver or kidney damage, or ulcers. If you need medication from your doctor, the drugs can become addictive as well.

If you have long suffered from sinus or migraine headaches you might have turned to the use of steroid injections for relief. But these can very painful (unlike acupuncture, which most users report is painless) and if used for a long period of time can cause life-threatening side effects.

Dr. Beth Paxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/acupuncture-for-migraine-and-sinus-headaches-95595.html

Simple Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health

Your health is very important, and having bad health can prove to be very discouraging. No doubt you want to do everything that you can to make sure that you improve and maintain good health. While no matter what you do, you probably will not improve your health overnight, there are a variety of things that can help to improve your health if you keep at it. The following are some very simple things that you can do on your own to start improving your health.

Start Moving
One very simple thing that you can start to do every day to improve your health is to get moving. Anything that gets you moving is a great way to improve your health. Start taking the stairs instead of elevators, park far away from the store so you get to walk a bit. You can even start to schedule time to play outside with your kids or your pet. Walking your dog every day is a great way to start moving as well. Although you do not need to start exercising for an hour every day, just scheduling in 15-20 minutes of moving can help to drastically improve your health.

Avoid Fat
Cutting fats out of your diet can be a great way to improve your health as well. Start skipping the high fat fast food and choosing healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables. You should also watch out for dairy products as well, since they tend to be quite high in fat too. Start looking for foods that are fat free or low fat, and start eating them instead of their high fat competitors.

Stop Smoking
One thing that many people are doing that will lead them to an early grave is smoking. If you want your health to improve in drastic ways, then you need to stop smoking as soon as possible. While it may not be easy to quit, if you keep smoking it will probably kill you in the long run. Smoking can have a variety of bad effects on your health, including respiratory problems, heart problems, cancers, and more. If you are serious about improving your health, then you need to stop smoking now.

Get Rid of Stress
While it is definitely easy to say than it is to do it, getting rid of stress can help you improve your health in amazing ways. It is important that you start finding ways to reduce the stress in your life. Take up a hobby or start doing relaxation or yoga if you find it helps to melt the stress away. Start thinking more positively and take time out for yourself as well. Stress can cause all kinds of physical and emotional problems, so get rid of it and improve your health.

Start Flossing
Your teeth are very important as well, and have a lot to do with your total health. One thing that you can do to improve the health of your teeth is to start flossing every day. While brushing your teeth and using mouthwash is great, usually it is difficult to get to those germs and food that are between your teeth. If you start flossing your teeth will last longer and your mouth will be healthier as well.

Drink More Water
If you want to improve your health, one simple thing that you can do is to start drinking more water every day. No doubt you have always heard that you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and you should drink that much if not more. Drinking water helps to keep you hydrated and flushes out your system as well, which can promote health. Start taking water with you everywhere and you will start feeling better very quickly.

Cut Down on Salt
One thing that many people do not think about when they are considering their health is salt. While a bit of salt may not cause any harm, too much salt can cause a variety of problems within the body, including high blood pressure. Just cutting back on the amount of salt that you eat each day can help to improve your health now and in the long run.

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
While you’ve probably heard your mother telling you all your life to eat more fruits and vegetables, it really can help to improve your health. Fruits and vegetables are filled with great vitamins and antioxidants that can help the way your body functions. They can even help you fight off infections and colds as well. Start eating more fruits and vegetables daily and you will see an improvement in your health.

Adrian Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/simple-things-you-can-do-to-improve-your-health-133049.html

Boost Bone Health With Boron And Other Minerals

About 44 million American men and women suffer from osteoporosis (severe bone loss) or osteopenia (mild bone loss), with women being affected twice as much as men. Each year, at least 1.5 million hip, vertebra, or wrist fractures occur in the United States because of osteoporosis. Although bone mass normally declines after age thirty-five, bone loss that is severe enough to cause fractures after only a minor trauma is a different problem.

Some of the risk factors for osteoporosis include: small body frame, underweight, Caucasian or Asian race, a sedentary lifestyle, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol or caffeine intake, high intake of carbonated beverages, and having other family member with osteoporosis. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, celiac disease, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive lung disease, hyperadrenalism, and hyperparathyroidism are also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. There are also some medications that increase the rate of bone loss such as those prescribed for seizures and blood thinning, prednisone and other steroids, aluminum-containing antacids, and loop diuretics. By engaging in regular weight bearing exercise, avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and quitting smoking, the rate of bone loss will be slowed. Eating adequate amounts of protein and supplementing with various vitamins and minerals also enhances bone health.

Calcium salts are absorbed about the same for most people, absorbing between thirty to forty percent of the administered dose. Those with low stomach acid, hypochlorhydria, should not use calcium carbonate because it is absorbed poorly without stomach acid. For many older people, calcium phosphate is preferable because phosphorus is necessary for normal bone formation. Calcium that is bound to phosphorus is the form in which calcium is stored in the bone, and has a much greater bone activity than other forms.

In order to promote strong bones, vitamin D is a necessary nutrient. Because vitamin D is produced when ultraviolet rays from the sun hit the skin, those people who stay out of the sun, wear sunscreen, or live in a northern latitude are at an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Aging also decreases a person’s ability to produce vitamin D in the skin. Supplementation with 700-800 IU of vitamin D per day has been proven to decrease the number of hip fractures by 26%. However, 400 IU per day was ineffective. In addition to improving bone health, vitamin D improves nerve and muscle function in older people, which reduces their risk of falling down. 800 IU of vitamin D per day in elderly women has shown to decrease the number of falls by about 50%. The “safe upper limit,” as determined by The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine is 4,000 IU per day. However, you most likely don’t need nearly this much to help bone issues.

Because bone is a living tissue that is constantly remodeling itself and engaging in many biological functions, it has a wide range of nutritional needs. Not getting enough of one or more of the important micronutrients needed is an important contributing factor to osteoporosis. In addition to supplementing with calcium and vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, vitamin K, boron, strontium, silicon, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and vitamin C are all shown to have a vital role in bone health. Calcium is a component of the mineral crystals that makes up the bone. Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption and prevents falls by improving nerve and muscle function. Magnesium is important in bone mineralization, which is similar to zinc. However, zinc also increases bone loss. Copper also promotes bone mineralization and decreases bone loss. Manganese plays a vital role in the creation of the connective-tissue components of the bone. Boron supports the creation of bone-protecting hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA. Silicon has a vital role in the synthesis of connective-tissue components in the bone. Deficiency of silicon has been associated with bone abnormalities. B vitamins, including folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, have been shown to lower blood levels of homocysteine. A high level of homocysteine concentration is a very big risk factor for fractures in elderly people. Strontium is a trace mineral that is incorporated into bone and increases bone strength. It stimulates bone formation and inhibits bone breakdown. Vitamin K is best known for its effect on blood clotting. However, it is also required for the creation of osteocalcin, which is a unique protein that is found in bone and participates in the mineralization process. The amount of vitamin K needed for optimal bone health is greater than that amount needed to prevent bleeding. Deficiency in any of these nutrients is often associated with the development of osteoporosis.

There are two forms of vitamin K that are present in food, vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 is found in leafy green vegetables and some vegetable oils. Vitamin K2 is found in much smaller amounts in meat, cheese, eggs, and natto. Vitamin K2 can occur in more than one form, menaquinine-4 (MK-4), a licensed prescription drug in Japan, and menaquinone-7 (MK-7), which is extracted from natto. Research has shown that MK-7 is the ideal form of vitamin K. After oral administration, it was better absorber and lasted long in the body compared to MK-4 and vitamin K1. Even though both have shown the ability to prevent osteoporosis, a much lower dosage of MK-7 is required to obtain the beneficial effects. MK-7 has greater biological activity, bioavailability, and more potent effects on the bone.

Strontium is very important in building strong bones. After being studied by bone health researchers, it has been determined that lower doses are not only safer for long-term supplementation, but also have a greater impact on bone health than high doses. Too little of a dose and bone density will be impaired, but too much and health will be impaired. In this case, dosing needs to be just right for optimal impact. Therefore, keeping supplemental strontium at less than 6 mg per day is the best decision.

Nutrients work by different mechanisms than osteoporosis drugs, allowing them to have the ability to be taken with osteoporosis medications and enhance the beneficial effect of these medications. Because calcium and other minerals may interfere with the absorption of osteoporosis medications, they should be taken at least two hours before or two hours after taking osteoporosis medications. It is always best to also discuss the supplements with your healthcare practitioner to create the best health plan for you. The above supplements and other fine products can be found at your friendly internet health food store.

Darrell Miller
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/boost-bone-health-with-boron-and-other-minerals-132772.html

Acupuncture Certification Faqs

Find acupuncture certification programs in the United States and Canada. Acupuncture certification is an important step in practicing this alternative healing art. Students interested in earning the valuable credential of acupuncture certification must first complete required coursework and successfully graduate from one of several acupuncture schools.

In general, acupuncture certification programs extended through one of many Oriental medicine schools or acupuncture schools will include three or four-year studies to help students gain the necessary skills and knowledge to practice acupuncture. In addition to acupuncture needling techniques, students will learn about Chinese Medicine, principles, and philosophies; and will gain practical clinical and classroom training. In many cases, students who aspire to earn acupuncture certification will discover that many acupuncture schools will combine education in acupuncture with Oriental medicine, including courses in Tui Na, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and medical Chinese terminology; and associated education in anatomy, physiology, and other respective subjects of study.

While there are several styles of acupuncture, including 5-element acupuncture and Kiiko Matsumoto style (among others), acupuncture certification programs are not intended for any one specific style, but for acupuncture practitioners who desire to improve their professional outlook.

Typically, acupuncture certification is attained by taking a certification examination through the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Eligibility for candidates who desire to gain acupuncture certification and earn the title of Diplomate (Dipl. Ac.), must have acquired a formal education in acupuncture and must have met all accreditation requirements.

Consequently, if graduates have received their acupuncture degrees, but have not obtained all necessary coursework for acupuncture certification can earn and present supplemental education through an ACAOM-accredited or candidate school. Furthermore, practitioners who have earned their acupuncture certification must acquire a minimum of 60 PDA (Professional Development Activity) points for recertification.

If you are interested in finding your dream job, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you now!

Acupuncture Certification FAQs

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CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd
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