February 25, 2010
What's Up Doc: 24 Tips for an Effective Office Visit 
Photo by Laura4Smith
Thanks to changes in the industry, today's doctors spend on average of just 10 to 15 minutes with each patient. As a result, the experience can be both confusing and frustrating if communication is lacking.
Many patients leave the office not understanding the doctor's directions. Ultimately, however, your health is your responsibility. Because physicians can't read your mind, it's your responsibility to take steps to get the most out of your visit.
Here are 24 tips to maximize the time and results of your doctor's office visit.
1. Find the Right Physician
Ask friends and other health-care providers for references. If you have the opportunity, grill the head emergency room nurse at the largest local hospital as these nurses see doctors at their best and worst and know who is best in their field. The heavily advertised AngiesList lists physicians with reviews from patients, but you'll have to pay for this service and it's wise to take these reviews with a grain of salt.
2. Add a Physician to Your Insurance Plan
Don't give up if your preferred doctor doesn't accept your insurance. Call the insurance provider and ask it to consider adding this doctor to their list. If not, ask why. Sometimes the company will agree if even just a few patients ask the insurer and the physician approves. Likewise, ask your doctor if you could persuade him to begin accepting your insurer.
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February 23, 2010
9 Questionable Diagnostic Methods 
Photo by Fugue
Look for a magic cure and you're bound to find someone willing to take your money. The same goes with magic diagnostic tests.
The Internet has made it incredibly easy to promote and post validations of diagnostic methods that are highly questionable. The recent push for whole-body scans is an excellent example. While CT scans are an excellent way to diagnose specific problems, simply scanning for random potential problems means you're likely to find "something" wrong. Whether that something is actually a valid problem is another matter entirely.
The desperate, the alienated, the unsuspecting all make excellent targets for these fraudmeisters. Here are the top nine questionable diagnostic methods presently being pushed, according to the USDA Extension Service.
1. Applied Kinesiology
The basic notion of Applied Kenesiology is that every organ dysfunction is accompanied by a specific muscle weakness. Practitioners claim to diagnose diseases by testing muscles but double-blind studies suggest nearly all AK tests are subjective, relying solely on the practitioner's assessment. AK has been characterized as pseudoscience and quackery and a review of peer-reviewed studies concluded the evidence to date doesn't support the use of AK.
2. Chelation Therapy
Chelation Therapy is a series of pills or intravenous infusions containing disodium EDTA and various other substances. Proponents claim it is effective against atherosclerosis, as well as many other serious health problems, and can replace coronary bypass surgery. However, there is no scientific evidence that this is so. CT also is used to treat lead poisoning, mercury poisoning and other alleged toxic states that practitioners diagnose with tests on blood, urine, and/or hair. Between 1963 and 1985, independent physicians published at least 15 separate reports documenting the case histories of more than 70 CT patients. They found no evidence of change in the atherosclerotic disease process, no decrease in the size of atherosclerotic plaques, and no evidence that narrowed arteries opened wider.
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February 4, 2010
5 Truths About Instant Hand Sanitizers 
Photo by subsetsum
While the effects of H1N1 may be slipping from breaking newsworthiness, keep in mind that the annual flu is just beginning to rear its snotty head. The aches and sniffles this season ushers in remind us of basic disease theory. When germs spread, folks get sick. Since you and I don't want to be among the unfortunate, we arm our bathrooms, purses, and office spaces with copious amounts of instant hand sanitizer.
After all, it's portable, easy, and needs no water. But are we really protected by them? Are they more effective that antibacterial soap with water? And what are the best brands to use? According to the U.S.Center for Disease Control, cleaning your hands with hand sanitizer is equally effective at killing germs as traditional soap and water--when hands aren't visibly dirty. Don't expect the Purell to remove caked-on dirt. Instant sanitizers should be used on unsoiled hands.
So keep a bottle tucked in the purse (or man-bag) and get ready to fight the winter germies. Don't ignore these basic tidbits and buying truths before stocking up:
1. If you're buying an alcohol-based product, buy one with a skin-softening agent. Alcohol is extremely harsh on the skin. Dial with moisturizers is a good bet. Purell is another strong contender with a line of scented and unscented instant hand cleaners. If you are an anti-bac junkie make sure your lather with lotion several times a day--winter dry skin with constant alcohol application is a recipe for cracked and bleeding hands.
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January 21, 2010
5 Steps to Prepare for February Storms
Photo by musiquegirl
Before March can come in like a lion and go out like a lamb, we have to suffer through February snow storms. Typically the most snow-intense month of the year, February storms can be deep and debilitating. Worst of all, after all the fun of the holidays, only Valentine's Day breaks up the monotony, smack dab in the middle of the month.
Prepare for the worst winter has to offer with the following five steps.
1. Stock Up on the Basics: Television news programs love to show empty store shelves when big storms hit. Don't get stuck hunting down basic items at the last minute. Make sure you have the following items where you can easily get your hands on them: A shovel, wood matches, a battery operated radio, candles and/or a lantern, a week's worth of prescription medications, working flashlights, enough non-perishable food for several days, a manual can opener, blankets and warm clothing, camp stove or BBQ grill. Fill enough empty milk containers with water to supply drinking and basic-cleaning water for several days. If you don't have a land-line phone, some models of self-powered radios and flashlights will also recharge your cell phone.
2. Winterize Your Home: Heavy-duty winterization should have been performed last fall, such as insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, cleaning gutters, etc. There are still several steps to prepare for truly heavy storms, however, including insulating pipes and pruning tree branches that have grown over any buildings. Don't forget to allow faucets to drip a little when frigid temperatures approach to keep them from freezing.
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January 11, 2010
Are Flu Shots Worth the Money?
Photo by sylvar
We're barely half way through the flu season and many still haven't received their annual flu shots.
With all the focus on H1N1 (Swine Flu) inoculations, studies show many aren't getting their annual standard-flu shot this year. Price gouging by some pharmacies charging three times the standard price for the H1N1 vaccine has led some to forgo the less expensive and readily available standard-flu shot, leading to an increase in missed school and work days for the more common flu. The cost of missing work or having to stay home from work to nurse a sick child is far higher than the $5 to $30 cost for a standard flu shot.
In addition, the chances you'll be exposed to and contract standard flu this year are far higher than for H1N1.
The out-of-pocket price to fill the same H1N1 vaccine prescription can range wildly, from $43 to $130. Although attorneys general in several states are investigating the situation, the gouging continues, so it pays to shop around for the best price. Many county health departments have established inexpensive or free mass clinics for H1N1 inoculation. Granted, you may have to wait in line for some time, but it can be time well spent for those at risk.
Standard-flu shots are widely available, far less expensive than the H1N1 inoculation, and easier to find. Many drugstores and pharmacies within supermarkets can give you a flu shot within minutes, sometimes offering a discount on future purchases with each shot. You also can receive a flu shot through a doctor's office, health clinic and some community organizations. The American Lung Association offers a flu shot locator by zip code, including hours of service.
You should particularly consider getting a flu shot if you have a chronic illness as it can lead to complications including pneumonia, dehydration and aggravation of such conditions as asthma, diabetes and heart failure. Costs related to medical care for these problems will far exceed the cost of the flu shot.
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January 1, 2010
Resolved: To Join a Health Club and Get in Shape 
Photo by jontunn
Did you resolve to join a health club and REALLY work out this New Years? Join the club.
This most common of resolutions also has to be the most frequently broken resolution. Research shows people who buy annual club memberships overestimate by more than 70 percent how frequently they'll use their club. The average gym user ends up going less than twice a week and five out of 10 new members cancel within the first year.
But that doesn't mean you can't be the exception, particularly if you take the time to find the right health club for your needs. Here are 10 tips to help you make the right choice in 2010.
1. Location, Location, Location: A health club on the south end of town may be cheaper, but if you live and work on the north end you're far less likely to make frequent visits. Class times should figure into your calculations as well. Many after-workcardiovascular classes start between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Calculate drive time to the club and how long it will take you to climb into gym togs. Is the location still realistic or will you be more likely to blow off that workout?
2. Member Ages/Types: The second most important factor is the age and type of membership. If you're a middle-aged woman looking to shed 20 pounds, it can be difficult to exercise at a club filled with college girls in skimpy leotards. Likewise, if you're 18 and seeking a six-pack stomach, you may want to reconsider joining that family oriented club.
3. Traffic Patterns: Visit the club during the hours you expect to exercise and gauge how long it will take you to complete a weight circuit, get on thecardio equipment or secure a seat in the spin class. Will you constantly bump arms and legs with neighbors in the classes you're likely to attend? Will you have to wait in line for a shower and can you easily secure a locker? Will child-care workers be so overloaded they'll overlook your child? If you're visiting a club in early January, keep in mind traffic will take at least a 25-percent dive in February.
4. Equipment: Do you need to be entertained? Are you more likely to push yourself on the cardio equipment if you have a choice of TV/music stations or will you sputter out early? Does the club offer a selection of bikes, Stairmasters, treadmills, etc.? Aerobics should be balanced with strength training, so give the weight equipment several test runs. Do you prefer free weights or weight machines? Do they have the equipment you prefer? If you're just starting out, you'll likely prefer the weight machines, so test-run both upper-body and lower-body circuits.
5. Classes: Do you tend to get a better workout in a class? Many of us will stick it out through the entire hour in a class, while it's easy to give up half way through a solo workout. Does the club offer a variety of classes, such as steps, kickboxing, spin (group cycling), yoga,Pilates and body training? Once you get into the rhythm of regular workouts, having cardio options will keep things fresh. Verify with the front desk that all classes offered on the printed schedules are still offered. Clubs have a bad habit of forgetting to change these schedules and sales reps may not be aware of the latest changes.
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December 4, 2009
Beat the Winter Culinary Blues with Fresh Produce 
Photo by Fred_T
The rapid descent into dark winter leaves us tired and yearning for the blueberry infused days of summer. With the sun seemingly setting after lunch, how can we get inspired to move beyond dreary pot roast and cabbage? Although our most fresh options are more limited than the summer and fall, we still have a myriad of choices up for consideration to beat the winter blues.
Artichokes
These funky, party favorites pack a huge health punch--and are just plain fun to eat. While artichokes taste great in creamy dips and casseroles, they are equally enjoyable steamed with a simple dip. If you're intim
idated selecting artichokes from the grocery store, join the club! Pick varieties that are heavy with a healthy green color. Avoid any artichokes that are brown or rubbery. Ocean Mist Farms recommends trying varieties that have white bursts, snow-kissed, as they (supposedly) have a richer flavor and are more
tender. Check out thisvideo for more advice on how to prepare an artichoke for boiling.
Best Artichoke Recipes: The Artichoke Advisory Board has superb recipes for artichoke dips, sautés, grills, casseroles, and Benedict preparations.
Currants
These small, cranberry-esque fruits aren't exactly common fare. They bring to mind scones and tea from across the Pond and we here don't know what to do with them. Akin to the gooseberry, currants grow in clusters on a bush and show a deep red color when ripe. Since they flourish fairly easily in poor soil, it's not hard to harvest a hearty crop each winter. Currants aren't as sweet as other berries, but here we are in the deep cold months with a fresh fruit option--no complaints here.
Best Currant Recipes: Red Currant Jam, Chocolate Currant Cake.
Grapefruit
The best grapefruits are heavy for their size and even in color. While many stores offer these giant balls of citrus in a value bag, I'd lean toward selecting my own. As many as half of the bag deals are substandard. Grapefruit store really well for up to a week on the counter or three weeks in the fridge. I have fond memories of Grandma slicing a half for me and sprinkling some sugar on top. She pulled out knife-spoons reserved especially for the occasion and we took great care to partition each segment with care. But aside from the obvious there are other ways to skin and eat a grapefruit.
Best Grapefruit Recipes: Grapefruit vinaigrette, Monkfish with Grapefruit, Grapefruit Juices.
Kale
Our Spartan winter produce must not only shine during these dark months but also overcome unfortunate taxonomy--Kale definitely tops the list for shoppers leery of oddly-named veggies. Before you write it off, this popular Irish cabbage has a surprisingly rich taste when selected and prepared properly. It's a great source of Vitamins A and C as well as potassium. You'll find it near the lettuce and cabbage bins. As with it's neighbors, pick bunches that are dark green and have no brown or yellow patches. Store for 2-5 days in the refrigerator.
Best Kale Recipes: Sautéed Kale, Sausage Kale Soup, Acorn Squash and Kale over Penne.
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November 18, 2009
Happy Clean-Out-Your-Refrigerator Day 
Photo by JasonRogersFotographie
November 18 is dedicated to refrigerators filled with USO's -- Unidentified Shriveled Objects.
Apparently Whirlpool, in its omnipotent corporate wisdom, realized Americans need more room in their fridges as the holidays draw closer. So several years ago the appliance manufacturer established the third Wednesday in November as National Clean-Out-Your-Refrigerator Day.
Removing biohazards is a good idea any time of year. There's really not much point in wasting coolant power on food that could kill you with a look, but very few of us look forward to a full fridge and freezer cleaning. However, the really nasty part isn't tossing out space oddities: It's sponging up liquids that accumulate in the produce bins. Perhaps avoiding such "juices" is why experts recommend cleaning your fridge once a month. (Notice I said "your" fridge, not "my" fridge. My appliances always sparkle, of course.)
While you're cleaning, it's also a good time to make sure the refrigerator's temperature is between 30 and 40 degrees F and the freezer temp is between 0 and -10 degrees F, so holiday foods won't spoil.
Here's your step-by-step process to a full fridge cleaning.
1. Put on rubber gloves to keep your hands from burning in the hot water and maintain their silky softness.
2. Remove everything from the fridge, tossing empty containers, spoiled food or any condiment that has been in residence for longer than a year. If you haven't used it in a year, you'll probably never use it.
3. Mix up a bucket of HOT water with a disinfecting cleaner. Replace occasionally as the water becomes dirty.
4. Remove the shelves and bins and scrub over the sink.
5. Wash down and disinfect the inside walls and all along the door seal.
6. Wash the outside of jars and containers.
7. Replace the shelves and bins.
8. Return everything to the fridge, properly stored in foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags or airtight containers.
9. Wash the sides and tops of the refrigerator's exterior.
10. Vacuum the coils at the back, if your model has coils. (Dust requires the fridge to suck up more energy.)
11. Clean the floor underneath the fridge, if it moves easily.
12. Stand back and appreciate your hard work.
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October 29, 2009
How to Kick a Sore Throat Without a Doctor Visit 
Photo by ting0308
It's fun to watch people in public these days. The instant hand sanitizer folks have totally capitalized on public fear of the hiney flu and are raking it in big time. Shoppers at the mall cower at every sneeze--they douse their babies with six wipees if anyone within fifty feet sneezes and glare mercilessly at offending coughers. By all accounts the H1N1 flu is no picnic with dangerous spikes in temperature and virtual wipeout for several days. Whether it be the flu, allergies, or just a scratchy throat, there are several ways to treat the winter nasties without incurring a $150 doctor bill.
1. Buy (or make) a humidifier.
These are as cheap as $14.99 from the drugstore. The arid air inside the house can keep your membranes overly dry, preventing congestion from draining properly. A humidifier moistens the skin and nasal passages allowing you to breathe easier. Keep your humidifier clean, though, to avoid generating mold in the air, which can actually make you sicker. Another option is to take several hot showers each day or lean over a pot of boiling water.
2. Drink herbal tea.
Look for varieties that have a boost, like echinacea or licorice, and add honey to make it super soothing. People who gargle with black tea extract twice a day have a higher resistance to the flu. Visit the local natural foods store to take the herbs in a more concentrated form as a tincture.
3. Spray some Chloraseptic.
While this doesn't seem to last long, a quick squirt of over-the-counter throat numbing spray can give you some momentary relief for just $6.95. Just as with lozenges, they do nothing to cure your aching throat. If you are still using the spray for a week, try something else or call your doctor.
4. Chew some zinc lozenges.
There are mixed results on the effectiveness of zinc lozenges to reduce the duration of a cold. Take them sparingly, as side effects could be potentially more harmful when used over time. Look for lozenges that have zinc gluconate to prevent stomach irritation. They are best to take when you are slightly congested with a runny nose. Costs will run $6-$8
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October 19, 2009
Fall Produce Buying Guide 
Photo by show and tell
Cool weather inevitably brings a sense of mourning to our loss of fresh (and cheap) berries and melons. What's left are gourds, squash, and virtually nothing sweet. Fear not, produce lover. The fall holds some nice surprises--you just need to know how to look for them. Check out the best fruits and veggies for your buck and tips on how to select the best of the bunch.
Apples
The forbidden fruit is in high supply during these crisp, cool months. Orchards are abloom with ripe, tasty varieties and they cost the least during the fall. Pick apples that have a robust color, are firm, and don't have any bruises. The best feature of the apple is it's shelf life--they last up to two weeks (sometimes more) in the refrigerator. My personal flavor favorite for a snack is the Honey Crisp variety. Granny Smith are great for cooking while Golden Delicious make great pies and apple sauce.
Best Apple Recipes: Slow Cooker Apple Sauce, Apple Pie
Broccoli
It never seems like a lot of fun to make broccoli. This great-for-you food just never has a wow taste and always seems to lack something. To maximize the flavor of your broccoli, pick stalks that have dark green florets. Avoid any yellowing or whitish bunches. A stalk will last up to five, maybe six days--if your leaves are wilted or the stalks are wiggly, it's well past it's prime. For the best steaming and sautéing, try to cut your florets as uniform as possible. For a quick dressing, mix red wine, lemon juice, brown sugar, salt, and pepper and pour over slightly cooled steamed broccoli.
Best Broccoli Recipes: Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Butternut Squash
A ripe butternut squash adds a flavorful punch to any fall dinner. Plus, squash stay ripe for up to a month in a cool dry place (not the fridge), which takes a lot of pressure off a cook. For the best texture, cut the squash in half, take out the seeds, and bake at 400˚ like a baked potato. Add some butter, cinnamon, and sugar to make an easy squash casserole.
Best Butternut Squash Recipes: Butternut Squash Bisque
Grapes
Who said the sweets were on hiatus? Grapes are ripe and out in force. The best way to pick good grapes is to select a bunch with a nice, even color and firm feel. If they already feel mushy at the store, you'll need to eat them within two days. Good, plump grapes will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator. Most of us keep grapes for an easy snack or after dinner sweet, but you can also roast them with pork chops and chicken. For a sweet, eye-candy treat or wine tasting accompaniment, dip a washed bunch of grapes in water, roll in sugar, and free for 30 minutes.
Best Grape Recipes: Grape Salad
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