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Natural Health Remedy ? Can Your Body Heal Itself with Help From a Natural Health Remedy?

June 19th, 2011

How often do you chose a natural health remedy to deal with health conditions that affect you or your loved ones? Do you feel like I do, that one of the most disappointing developments with our modern health-care system is that it is no longer really the practice of medicine but instead it is now the “business” of medicine?

Seems to me that the original goal of helping people stay healthy has long been lost and now the focus is simply to be as profitable as possible.

Today’s medicine focuses on where they can profit the most without regard to the actual health of the patient. If today’s doctors and the drug companies were in the business of true health-care then there would be less drugs brought to market with such severe side effects don’t you think?

To me, what we have is a “sick-care” industry, rather than a health-care industry. There is no incentive for the doctors or drug companies to keep people healthy is there because it would serve to reduce their incomes, and nobody would intentionally do something that leads to a reduction in their income, wouldn’t you agree?

The good news is that there have been thousands of studies done on many a natural health remedy that proves how effective they can be in treating health conditions, usually with little or no side effects at all.

I highly recommend to you that the next time you are affected by any health condition, from something as simple as a headache to the more serious conditions like cancer or heart disease, look into a natural health remedy and give it a try. I think you will be glad that you did and so will your body.

While there are many over-the-counter drugs available for a multitude of conditions, even these have harmful side effects such as damage to your liver or kidneys. You may get some instant relief with these but the long term effects of continually using these medications can be devastating to your body.

Today’s doctors are still needed,don’t get me wrong, as there are broken bones to fix, surgeries that are needed at times, especially, for example with accidents where limbs may need to be reattached, and even for helping women give birth to babies at times.

Other than in these instances I would opt for a natural health remedy to help my body heal itself with what nature has provided for us to accomplish this.

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Courses in Natural Health – From Aromatherapy to Reflexology

June 18th, 2011

Ranging from aromatherapy to reflexology, courses in natural health are quickly growing in popularity as holistic and natural health treatments offer simple and noninvasive solutions to common health issues.

If you’re one of the many individuals who have been repeatedly treated for headaches and other chronic problems by conventional medical doctors, you’ve probably been prescribed some form of pharmaceutical or invasive procedure. As most of us are aware, conventional drugs (and surgery) may have adverse side effects that affect our functionability. This is primarily one of the main reasons why more individuals are turning to courses in natural health to understand and apply natural and self-healing techniques that may be more effective, without the risk of side effects.

Some of the unique courses in natural health like aromatherapy offer successful candidates certification or diploma upon completion. Healing arts programs like this can be commonly taken through distance learning classes, or through holistic workshops and seminars. More frequently, however, aromatherapy is part of a greater massage therapy or natural healing curriculum. Typical aromatherapy courses in natural health include training in a variety of master blends, aromatherapy history and practice, essential oil/carrier oil profiles, flower essences, botanical therapies, holistic consulting, and more.

There are also courses in natural health that entail a greater range of holistic modalities. These natural health programs may encompass coursework in holistic nursing, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy, and herbal sciences. Though all of these studies differ in curriculum, they all share one common thread in that they are geared toward holistic and natural healing techniques and therapies. If you choose education in these courses in natural health, expect training to be rigorous. Furthermore, unlike shorter educational programs, these courses may take up to five* years to complete. (*Additional training hours may be required for specializations.)

Other courses in natural health like holistic healing, massage therapy, or reflexology can be completed in less than a year. In addition to field-specific applications, these programs provide instruction in anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about these or other alternative health programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore courses in natural health near you.

Courses in Natural Health – from Aromatherapy to Reflexology

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The Escalation of Public Smoking, the Vestiges From Ash to Ash

May 9th, 2011

By: Arvin Gumato Pareja, MBA

The Escalation of Public Smoking The Vestiges from Ash to Ash

 The Allegory

Recent economic expansion in most urban areas did transform the classic reflection of our society and our social order in general.  On the economic side, this positive trend offer’s opportune to business expansion, investment and employment opportunity.  New businesses flourish in the market place.  Among the commerce that we can visibly identify these days to most city centers are; internet shops, specialty item gift store, branded specialty fast foods and soda counters, meal in the box and pack lunch counters, to include the illustrious coffee shops that are highly interiored with furnishing in a relaxing ambiance – that spawn an addicting aroma from a freshly brewed Robusta and Arabica that renovates the entire idea to manipulate part of our lives as far as comfort and indulgence is concern.

 In most areas of the shopping malls, in the heart of the city centers, within university campuses, hotel lobby’s, airports, bus stations and seaport areas, and in four corners of most city life – these evolution can be founded that we allowed, we welcomed and embraced the changes. 

 The positive effect based on the hypothesis of commerce, trade and employment, generates return of excise for the government to fund immediate infrastructure and the basic social services for the community.  However,   hazards brought by these industries as a result should have been anticipated – preserving good health to live a life in a comfortable urban setting.

 And why so that the progress that reinvents the face of our present times is being associated with the unending debate that predisposes the deteriorating health in our community?

 The Lure of Obsession

The comfort of city life from the full complement of amenities is a console to many who are; not just the on the go but for all, just as it invites by-standing, a hide away heaven to those who are just hanging out and hanging around.

 Internet shops are packed with young generations and the young at heart; where they can explore the world in researches, info finds, and chat. Comforted with tea, coffee, soda, all brands of cigar and cigarettes which most café shop do served in a built-within shopping counter -complement a perfect combination, enjoying the passing of time in ones PC terminal in an open for smoking net café cabins thus, an internet savvy can explore the world by cables for hours; day in day out 24/7. 

 And these phenomena do influence the global frame.

 Among the busiest airports in the world, the comfort of duty free shops, fine resto-bars, coffee shops that serves freshly brewed coffee nectar and others that a traveler can desire seems available.

 Duty free shops displays the most sought after brands of smoke and cigars in a more prominent area. Inviting, tempting – this is true to wines and spirits which offers a strong enticement for travelers to stock up to pick more; use as token and gift item.  With the coffee shops at pre-departure lobby – comes smoking as a free for all who dine a mug.

 The Reason to Light a Smoke

Social influence somehow premeditates one to hook up with smoking, a call persuaded by the changes in our present times.

 Scientifically, tar and nicotine, the end product of cigar is a potent addicting substance.  In fact, a smoker may find the hardest part of trial in his/her life to quit because nicotine and tar is absorb in the body thru the bloodstream  that results to craving forming a habitual cycle.

Of all the diseases associated with smoking, addiction is perhaps the one that receives the least attention. But President Clinton declared nicotine an addictive drug last August. In March, the Liggett Group, makers of Chesterfield and Lark brand cigarettes, admitted that cigarettes were addictive and cause cancer and agreed to pay about 0 million total to 22 states that had filed suit to force tobacco companies to pay for Medical aid for smoking-related illnesses.

 Scott Harshbarger, the Massachusetts attorney general and president of the National Association of Attorneys General, told reporters that the Liggett deal “will produce information that indicates major tobacco companies were fully aware that the product they were selling is addictive, that the product they were selling had great impact on public health.”

Other tobacco companies are clearly none too keen on the Liggett deal. For them, nicotine remains what they call a harmless flavor enhancement.

 The Result from the Addiction to Smoking

Hooking up with cigar is a continuous habit, smoke will irritate the oral pharynx in our mouth including the nasal septum and polyps; this is the parts of our mouth near to the tonsils area as we swallow – around the vocal cord that connects to our nasal cavity for breathing. 

From the irritant smoke comes a harsh voice as a result of the inflamed tonsils, congested nose and swollen polyps.

 Bad breath is another effect; the tar and nicotine will discolor the teeth and gums to swell and bleed easily – a ground to invite oral infection.  And this is true to the discoloration of the nails, lips, constant sneezing and clogged up breathing.

 The effect of the lungs from smoking is very crucial; hence the alveolar sack is very sensitive from foreign substances. This is where the process of oxygenation of blood takes place.  Therefore, if the alveoli are irritated, oxygenation of blood will be limited that will result to inaccurate circulation processes and poor health.

 Continues irritation of the alveoli normally lead to infection commonly caused by tubercle bacilli – the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (cancer of the lungs).

 Smoking covers a wide range of effect in the body; poor blood oxygenation will result to poor function of the internal organs and immune system (the body’s defense mechanism against infection) that influence bacteria and viruses to set in – therefore, illnesses associated from the secondary complications are close and possible.

 The Prey

The studies didn’t just point to the ill effects of smoking on those who smoke — non-smokers, too, are apparently affected by the smoke from their friends, family members and strangers who light up in their presence.

A steady stream of reports documented the statistical risks of contracting cancer or suffering from heart disease, even if you’ve never put a cigarette to your lips.

The American Heart Association last fall released a seven-year study showing that never-smoking spouses of smokers have more than a 20 percent greater chance of death from coronary heart disease than those who have never smoked who live with non-smokers. That study gave more impetus to the drive to make workplaces and other public areas smoke-free.

 The effects of smoking are hard on the children of smokers as well, the studies say. Dr. Claude Hanet of the St. Luc University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium, said earlier this year that a baby born to a smoking mother “should be considered an ex-smoker.”

Hanet’s study cautioned that cigarette smoke was more detrimental with decreasing age.

And a University of Birmingham, England, study, published in the British Journal of Cancer showed a possible link between fathers who smoked and an increased incidence of cancers in their children, while studies in the U.S. showed a possible link between smoking and DNA damage.

 Public Health and Safety

Polluted air – the vestige of smoking; including fumes and pollution caused by the increasing economic spin will result to poor health in our urban life.  Malls and Hotels will no longer be the place of fun relaxation that will limit our social affairs, and death from the young age is now common due to the cancer causing bacteria cultured from smoking.

 How to Limit the Vicious Cigar Smoking?

Public places should have a designated corner for smokers; it should be in isolation that will keep its fume and smoke to disperse around the common areas.  Trading and distribution of cigar and cigar by-products should be controlled with maximum limitations; under age boy can buy a pack if cigarettes anywhere – that seems retailers are not sensitive to some active policies to this effect.  Just the same, wholesale purchases of the product for personal consumption should not be allowed.  Warnings in the label that smoking is dangerous to ones health should be expanded – not only in the packaging but to include in public bulletin and other medium – disseminating the information.  Importation levy should be at the upper limit in order to bring the price of cigarette at the highest for common people not to afford thus, limiting the sales and consumption.

 Schools should teach health information about the bad effect of smoking to educate our young children.  The media should constantly play apart in serving the general public about the bad effect of smoking.

  In Summary

By 2020, the WHO expects the worldwide death toll to reach 10 million, causing 17.7% of all deaths in developed countries. There are believed to be 1.1 billion smokers in the world, 800,000 of them in developing countries.

 Smoking is a personal choice, a freedom.  However, it affects the health of others.  Thus, smoking should be abridged to limit the harm for others.

 Government should influence to obliterate the monopoly of cigarette and its excess proliferation in terms of product channels and distribution.  Because once the monopoly is crashed to pieces, this cycle will taper even with less effort. 

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An Assessment of Benefits and Potential Health and Environmental Hazards from Compact Fluorescent Lights

May 7th, 2011

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to examine the benefits as well as potential health and environmental risks of compact fluorescent light bulbs. This is achieved by reviewing literature that has existing research and highlighting the areas with important gaps to allow future rounds of either qualitative or quantitative research. This paper presents a summary and reviews of existing studies and augmented with information from new research conducted.

As traditional light bulbs are soon to be phased out and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) become compulsory (Energy Saving Trust, 2009) concerns have been raised over the health and environmental risks CFLs pose. Some health risks that have been highlighted by concern groups, as will be shown in this paper, are headaches, epilepsy and skin conditions. The presence of mercury in CFLs could also be of concern to consumers. There have been claims that the mercury in them makes CFLs so dangerous that everyone must leave the room for at least 15 minutes if one falls to the floor and breaks (Delgado 2008). However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra, 2009) and the Energy Saving Trust (2009) contend that climate change is the biggest threat facing the Earth today and measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions are necessary. Defra (2009) argues that CFLs can play an important role in this regard as they are more efficient and use up less electricity than the traditional bulbs.

The rationale for this research project is that it is intended to explore the extent to which information of the benefits, hazards and policies on CFLs is shared with the general populace by manufacturers, retailers and government environmental and health agencies. It is hoped that after this research, manufacturers of CFLs, retailers, environmental agencies and local authorities would provide more information on CFLs. Studies like this one could help governments to make decisions on energy issues and the climate change problem based on research findings.

 Aim and Objectives of the research

The aim of this study is to establish and critically assess the extent to which the knowledge of benefits and potential health and environmental risks of CFLs has been disseminated to the general public.

The objectives are to:

·         Critically review the benefits of CFLs.

·         Critically review the health and environmental risks of CFLs.

·         Assess the information provided on the packaging of CFLs from different manufacturers and distributed by major retailers such as ASDA, TESCO, B&Q, Morrison’s and Homebase.

·         Explore the extent to which information on the hazards of CFLs has been disseminated by manufacturers, retailers, health and environmental agencies.

·         Critically assess the relationship between government health and environmental policies on CFLs.

 Methodology

This study is mainly a desktop based evaluation research aimed at testing the effectiveness of information dissemination (Patton 1990).  Literature reviews on CFLs were analysed using local and university library facilities (books, journals, research papers etc) and the internet. Websites of manufacturers and retailers of CFLs, government environmental agencies and other organizations were critically analysed. Packaging on CFLs from different manufacturers (see appendix 2) that included Philips, General Electric (GE) and TESCO were also critically assessed to note any information provided to consumers. Major retailers of CFLs that included ASDA, TESCO, B&Q, Morrison’s and Homebase were surveyed in order to determine whether or not they provided any information on CFLs. This was achieved by talking to their respective customer and/or environmental services departments (where available) as well as noting for posters, notices or leaflets on the disposal and/or recycling of CFLs in or around the shops.

 Results and discussion of the study

 Benefits of CFLs

A review of literature revealed that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra, 2009) contends that climate change is the biggest threat facing the Earth today and everyone, including governments, businesses and individuals, needs to work together to tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Defra, 2009). Defra (2009) further state that the UK Government has been working with all major retailers who sell light bulbs and UK energy suppliers to phase out traditional energy guzzling bulbs, replacing them with energy efficient light bulbs such as Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) which are up to 80% more efficient than incandescent lamps. Defra (2009) further suggests that phasing out traditional light bulbs will result in less energy being used and hence less electricity will be needed. 

The Health Protection Agency (HPA, 2008) has indicated that CFLs are an integral part of UK Government policy to encourage more efficient lighting in homes and workplaces thus saving energy and reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions. The Energy Saving Trust (2009) advises that CFLs are also cost effective and will last up to 10 times longer than a traditional bulb and that just one energy saving bulb could save up to £3-6 a year and fitting all the lights in a house with energy saving bulbs could save around £37 a year and £590 over the lifetime of all of the bulbs.  Estimates by the Energy Saving Trust (2009) also indicate that in a lifetime of a CFL, a household could reduce its CO2 emissions by 2.7 tonnes by changing to energy saving bulbs.

Furthermore, the Energy Saving Trust (2010) has pointed out that major UK retailers had ceased to replace their stock of incandescent bulbs over 75W since January 2009 under the voluntary initiative which expanded to 60W and over in January 2010. This voluntary initiative, according to the Energy Saving Trust (2010), was operating in advance of the EU-wide mandatory phase-out of incandescent bulbs that began on 1st September 2009 with the phasing out of 100W lamps, as agreed by EU Member states in December 2008. Under the regulations which have been implemented in the UK, it is illegal for retailers to import 100W incandescent light bulbs, or to sell them once their current stocks have run out (Gray and McWatt , 2009). The UK government has targeted January 2011 as the date by which all incandescent bulbs should be completely phased out and the EU has targeted September 2012 (Energy Saving Trust, 2009).

  Health risks

UV radiation

Research by the Health Protection Agency (HPA, 2008) indicates that single envelope CFLs emit UV radiation at high levels and as such should not be used at close range (closer to the skin than 30cm (1 ft) for more than an hour a day). The research by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) scientists revealed that 20% of unencapsulated fluorescent light bulb (where the shape of the coil is clearly visible) emitted higher than guideline levels of UV radiation recommended by the International Commission on Non- Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).  The guidelines limit, according to the HPA (2008), is 30J m-2 for the eye and skin. In the same research by the HPA (2008), the scientists assessed that the time taken for 20% of CFLs to exceed the ICNIRP guidelines at close proximity (2cm) was 10 minutes and 30 minutes for 50% of CFLs. However, at distances larger than 20cm only 8% of the CFLs tested exceeded the guidelines after 8 hours. The HPA (2008) study concluded that encapsulated (double envelope) CFLs do not emit significant UV radiation and can be used without any special precautionary measures.

The researchers suggested that the UV can cause reddening of the skin if used for long periods of time at close range and that exposure to UV radiation can also cause problems for people suffering from some medical conditions such as Lumpus (HPA, 2008). There is also a small increased risk of skin cancer from the bulbs similar to that from sunburn.  It could be argued that this could be especially a problem and could affect thousands of workers such as jewellery makers who work with their hands and use lamps at close quarters; and when they are used  in desk lamps or reading lights. The research findings (Laurance, 2008) prompted the HPA to provide advice to the UK Government, the European Commission and the UK lighting industry bodies about the risks of CFLs.

 Radio Frequency Radiation

Studies conducted by Dr Magda Havas, Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies at the Trent University in Canada for the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) in 2008 identified another health risk posed by CFLs (Havas, 2008). The study according to Havas (2008) revealed that typical CFLs are electronically-ballasted and hence operate in the 24 -100kHz frequency range which is within the radio frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum and is classified as Intermediate Frequency (IF) by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and that IF can have adverse health effects. Havas (2008) highlights studies conducted on CFLs produced by General Electric which indicate that they emit radio frequencies directly through the air and generate IF on wires which causes ‘dirty electricity’. Havas (2008) states that a study of cancer clusters in a school conducted in California  associated ‘dirty electricity’ with increased risk of cancer among teachers and that in a different study in Toronto, improved power quality was associated with improved health among teachers and improved behaviour among their students. Havas (2008) concludes that ‘dirty electricity’ caused by CFLs in schools contributes to ill health of teachers and behavioural problems among students.

 Presence of mercury

Research findings (HPA, 2008 and EPA, 2008) indicate that CFLs contain up to 5mg of mecury. It is the mercury which emits UV radiation when electrically excited which in turn interacts with chemicals on the inside of the bulbs to generate light (Havas, 2008). The Health Protection Agency (HPA, 2009) has described mercury as a neurotoxin because it can damage the central nervous system, and in severe cases irreversible damage to areas of the brain can occur. Research findings by Medicinenet (2009) indicate that high levels of mercury in the blood stream of unborn babies and young children may harm the developing nervous system, making the child less capable of thinking and learning as well as having an increased chance of suffering from Autism.

However, Defra (2008) suggests that the mercury cannot escape from an intact lamp unless it breaks and further contends that CFLs are actually harder to break than traditional bulbs as they are often coated with plastic as a protector and that breakage rates are less than 1%.. However, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS, 2008) and supported by Fabiano (2008) indicated that studies at Brown University in the USA revealed that mercury vapour from broken CFLs is a major hazard. The research team (NIEHS, 2008) found that breakage of a CFL produces mercury vapour concentrations that exceed the limit of 0.2micrograms per cubic metre and that mercury vapour release is greatest at breakage and also that although the concentration is greatly reduced with time as it decays by the hour, it can still be detected in significant quantities even after 4 days in an enclosed room.

The presence of mercury is also confounded in the manufacturing process of CFLs (Nelson, 2009). Studies in China where most of the world’s CFLs are produced and where factory conditions are poorly regulated (Nelson, 2009 and Joseph 2009)) have revealed that Chinese workers making CFLs for Western consumers have been sickened by the hundreds due to mercury poisoning. Nelson (2009) argues that while poor factory conditions in China shoulder most of the blame with many factory conditions being deplorable, hundreds of Chinese workers are exposed to mercury poisoning on a daily basis and that some tests had demonstrated concentrations of mercury in factory workers of up to 150 times the accepted standard leading to many being frequently hospitalized. Both Nelson (2009) and Joseph (2009) contend that the problems have escalated in recent years due to the increased demand as a result of the EU directive making CFLs compulsory by 2012. Whereas CFLs are necessary in combating climate change and energy consumption, it could be argued that it is equally important that consumers need to be aware of where and how their bulbs are produced and consider the costs to humans and the environment.

 Migraines and Epilepsy

There have been concerns that CFLs cause headaches in migraine sufferers that have been highlighted by the HPA (2008; 2009) and the Migraine Action Association (MAA, 2009). The MAA (2009) has suggested that migraines could be adversely affected by a bulb if there was a detectable flicker rate and that headaches are sometimes linked with specific elements of the light spectrum, with some people being particularly sensitive to blue light which is present in many energy saving lamps. Studies have been conducted to determine how electrically sensitive people respond to different types of lighting (Havas, 2008). The researchers according to Havas (2008) asked participants to identify their symptoms when they were exposed to various types of lighting. The research findings were that the highest percentage of headaches was reported for exposure to both tube and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2008) argue that the vast majority of CFL users, both in households and in commercial buildings, report no issues regarding CFL usage, including headaches. It further contends that though there are some anecdotal reports there is yet no research to directly explain any plausible causative mechanism.  This stance is supported by the Migraine Association of Ireland (MAI, 2010) which has stated that it is not aware of any scientific evidence that CFLs cause migraines in non-sufferers and has requested that the link between migraines and CFLs be explored thoroughly.

Although flickering bulbs have been reported to precipitate epileptic seizures there is no published scientific studies demonstrating that compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) trigger seizures (Balbus, 2008). Furthermore, manufacturers say that the new models have been improved such that the average flicker rate is more than 20,000 times per second, which is well above that detectable by the human brain.

Brightness and eyesight problems

Research has been carried out to compare the brightness of equivalent traditional light bulbs and CFLs (Gray and McWatt, 2009). Table 4.2.1 shows equivalent wattages between traditional light bulbs and CFLs as provided by the Energy Saving Trust (2009).

Traditional bulbs

CFL equivalent

 

25W

 

5-7W

               40W

8-9W

 

60W

 

11-14W

100W

 

20-23W

Table 4.2.1: Traditional bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Equivalent Wattages
 

The study according to Gray and McWatt (2009) measured and compared the illumination provided by a range of clear and frosted 60W incandescent bulbs, as well as 11W CFLs said on their labels to be equivalent. The results were that some makes of CFLs produced up to 40% less light than their equivalent incandescent bulbs. The research findings prove that CFLs are dim and do not produce as much light as the manufacturers indicate on their packaging. The research team concluded that claims made on the packaging about the light output of compact fluorescent lamps are exaggerated (see table 4.2.2).

 

Manufacturer

Incandescent (60W)

(lumens)

CFL (11W)

(Lumens)

Incandescent  (60W)

(lux)

CFL (11W)

(lux)

Philips

700

610

114

77

General Electric

700

610

126

79

Tesco

700

640

122

70

Table 4.2.2: How the energy saving bulbs equivalent to 60W compared to 60W incandescent bulbs (Gray and McWatt, 2009).

Concerns have also been expressed by people with poor eyesight. Studies by optometrists in New Zealand indicate that CFLs could be too dim for visually impaired people (NZAO, 2008). The NZAO (2008) report further states that patients, especially the elderly, struggle to read after installing CFLs and that as the bulbs need to warm up before reaching full brightness they increase the risk of tripping and falling for people with poor sight.

Another research conducted by a German consumer group found CFLs lose much of their brightness over their lifetime and can end up emitting just 60 per cent as much light as their nearest equivalent traditional bulb (Dex, 2009). The concerns about the brightness of CFLs has resulted in many UK retailers having reported a huge increase in the number of consumers that were stockpiling standard 100 watt light bulbs just ahead of the new law that will ban manufacturing traditional light bulbs (Becks, 2009) so that they can carry on lighting their houses how they see fit. Studies carried out in Australia (Winton, 2005) also suggest that only around one-third of people believe that CFLs last as long as indicated on the packaging as many people experienced at least one CFL lasting a shorter time than expected.

Environmental risks

The biggest environmental risk posed by CFLs is the mercury in them (Defra, 2008). The disposal of the bulbs once they have come to the end of their life span is a major issue as the mercury in CFLs which are dumped in landfills can leach out into the ground and into water supplies (Kondro, 2007). Once in the water supply, it can enter the bodies of fish which will then end up being ingested by humans or other animals that may eat the fish (Krabbenhoft  and Rickert, 2009) and can also result in ecological damage. Studies in USA (Skumatz & Howlett, 2005) and Ireland (Scott, 1998) indicate that most users put their bulbs in their household rubbish bins, which end up in landfills, due to lack of information on disposal and/or recycling of CFLs. It could therefore be debated that the biggest problem posed by the mercury in CFLs lies in their disposal once they have come to the end of their life span. Mercury is a unique environmental pollutant due to its apparent indestructibility (Mitra 1986) and like many environmental contaminants it undergoes bioaccumulation which can cause ecological damage.

On the contrary, Defra (2008) has argued that over the life time, CFLs produce less mercury than traditional bulbs due to the fact that mercury is emitted from power stations during electricity generation and CFLs are more energy efficient – therefore saving on the amount of electricity that needs to be generated. This is supported by research findings at Yale University (Aron, 2008) which found that for places relying on coal power for electricity generation, the switch to CFLs can cut mercury emissions significantly. In the U.S.A, annual emissions of mercury from coal power plants amount to 100 000kg (Aron, 2008) so using CFLs not only reduces the electricity used but also the mercury emitted into the environment.

 Information dissemination

Due to health and environmental risks, CFLs were subjected to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (Environmental Agency, 2009). The Environmental Agency (2009) states that the legislation aims to make producers pay for the collection, treatment and recovery of waste electrical equipment; and suppliers must allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge. The HPA (2008) has also indicated that if a customer bought a new light bulb from a retailer, the retailer should accept their old light bulb and prevent it going into a landfill site by disposing of it safely. Under the WEEE Regulations, all new electrical goods should now be marked with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol to show that they should be disposed of separately from normal household waste (HPA, 2008).

In this study packaging of CFLs from Philips, General Electric and Tesco were examined to note if they comply with the WEEE directive and/or if they supply enough information to customers. Some of the major distributors of CFLs, including TESCO, ASDA, Morrison’s, Homebase and B&Q were surveyed by visiting the shops in the Medway towns and around London and talking to their Customer Services Departments in order to note if they also comply with the WEEE directive. Their websites were also surveyed to note any information on the recycling programs they have.

Information supplied by manufacturers

Philips: The packaging of a CFL from Philips has completely no written information on disposal or any risks associated with the bulb. The only information on the packaging is that they last for 10 years, the wattage, a recycling symbol and an A rating. There is no crossed-out wheeled bin symbol which is clearly in contravention of the WEEE directive. There is no leaflet enclosed with the bulb.
TESCO: The packaging of a CFL from TESCO has handling and fitting safety instructions as well as WEEE directive instruction which states that it should not be disposed of in household waste. It also gives advice on recycling- that one should see in store or visit the website recycle-more.co.uk. It also has the A rating and the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. This clearly is in line with the WEEE directive. However, it does not give any advice on what to do in case of breakage or other health risks.
General Electric: The packaging of a CFL from General Electric has completely no written information on disposal, recycling or any risks associated with the bulb. The only information on the packaging is that they last for 6 years, the wattage and an A rating. There is no crossed-out wheeled bin or recycling symbol which is clearly in contravention of the WEEE directive. There is no leaflet enclosed with the bulb either.

 

Information supplied by distributors

The survey involved visiting the shops of major distributors of CFLs, talking to their Customer Services departments and checking whether there were any notices near or on the shelves where the CFLs were stocked as this would, arguably, be the most convenient position for customers to see them.

 

The following question was asked to the Customer Services Departments in the shops of TESCO, ASDA, Morrisons, Homebase and B&Q which are the major distributors of CFLs in the Medway towns:

‘Do you by any chance have recycling or collection facilities for energy-saving bulbs in your shop?’

The following were the responses:

TESCO: ‘Sorry we do not collect or recycle any kind of bulbs. We only recycle ink cartridges and batteries’.

No notices were displayed in store about either recycling or disposal of CFLs. No information on the recycling of CFLs was found on their website.

 

ASDA: ‘We do not at the moment sorry, unless batteries.’

No notices were also displayed in store about either recycling or disposal of CFLs. No information on the recycling of CFLs was found on their website.

 

Morrisons: ‘We are only able to collect batteries for recycling and not bulbs; maybe in future; sorry about that.’

No notices were also displayed in store about either recycling or disposal of CFLs. No information on the recycling of CFLs was found on their website.

 

Homebase: ‘We do not have facilities to collect, store or recycle spent energy-saving bulbs at the moment.’ No information on the recycling of CFLs was found on their website.

 

No notices were also displayed in store about either recycling or disposal of CFLs. 

B&Q: ‘We only collect bulbs that have been bought from us in their original packaging if they do not work when you get home. Otherwise, we do not collect spent ones for recycling; you could take spent ones to a tip run by the council and put it in the electrical good.’

There was a notice in store advising customers about the voluntary phasing out of traditional bulbs; but no notice about disposal or recycling of CFLs. No information on the recycling of CFLs was found on their website.

Discussion of survey results

The fact that only 1 of the 3 manufacturers displayed significant information on the packaging of their CFLs is surprising as the Environmental Agency has put obligations under the WEEE Regulations to businesses who manufacture electrical or electronic equipment. The WEEE directive applies to all types of discharge lamps such as fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent energy savers (Environmental Agency, 2009). This is evidence that the WEEE directive is not complied with by many manufacturers.

It was even more surprising that none of the major retailers are in compliance with the WEEE directive on CFLs. They all have no facilities for collection or recycling of CFLs and they also do not provide information to customers on the correct disposal of them. Defra (2009) indicates that waste CFLs have been subject to the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations since 1st July 2007 obliging those who sell items, such as energy efficient bulbs, to provide information to the public about where they can take waste bulbs and other WEEE. But nearly three years later this does not appear to be the case. These findings are in line with research findings in USA (Engelhaupt, 2008) and Ireland (Scott,1998) which indicated that lack of information was the main reason why consumers toss burnt-out CFLs into their household rubbish bins and why they do not recycle them. The problem is compounded because many people still do not know that the bulbs contain mercury (Poole, 2008). Arguably, although CFLs only contain a small amount of mercury they still pose a serious environmental problem if they are not recycled.

 

Conclusion

It has been highlighted in this study that climate change is the biggest threat facing mankind today and everyone needs to work together by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It has been concluded from many studies that energy-saving bulbs are about 80% more efficient than the traditional light bulbs and hence use less electricity; they last longer and over their life span would save users money (HPA, 2008). Researchers on CFLs have all been left without a doubt that CFLs have the potential to significantly reduce worldwide carbon emissions if they continue to be put into wide use (Nelson, 2009). Nelson (2008) suggests that in England for example the atmosphere will be saved an estimated 5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year due to the bulbs alone.

 

This study has also revealed that whereas there are economic advantages of using CFLs, there are also some costs. As they work by using electricity to excite mercury vapour (Havas, 2008), proper disposal and care of CFLs is essential as mercury is toxic and can pollute the environment. However, as this study has highlighted, there are many failings in this regard especially during their manufacture due to poor factory conditions leading to many workers being exposed to mercury. Perhaps as technology improves research could be carried out on reducing the amount of mercury or eliminating it from the bulbs altogether.

Concerns about UV and radio frequency radiation produced by CFLs (Havas, 2008; HPA, 2008) have resulted in precautionary measures being recommended by the HPA for the use of certain types of CFLs. Sufferers of migraines and epilepsy have also stated that their conditions are worsened when CFLs are used although there is not sufficient research to suggest why this is so.

Whereas manufacturers and retailers of CFLs are obliged under the WEEE directive, this study has revealed that most are not in compliance as only 1 of the 3 manufacturers and none of the 5 major retailers surveyed had disposal or recycling programs for CFLs neither did they provide adequate information to customers. It could be suggested that lack of consumer awareness of potential health and environmental risks posed by CFLs is a limiting factor as information and education need to be central to any program. Since everyone in the UK will soon be using energy-saving bulbs, as traditional light bulbs are phased out, this is an area that needs attention.

It could be recommended that the UK Government and other governments could make it compulsory for manufacturers and retailers of CFLs to provide adequate information on the health and environmental risks CFLs pose. This information could be made available on the packaging of all CFLs as well as in the shops where they are sold. Local Authorities could also be involved in providing recycling and disposal facilities so that CFLs do not end up in landfills. There are challenging possibilities for many different researches on public awareness of the benefits and hazardous impact of CFLs.               

References

Aron, J., (2008). Are energy-saving light bulbs actually bad for the environment?

Available from: http://justatheory.co.uk/2008/10/03/are-energy-saving-light-bulbs-actually-bad-for-the-environment (17/02/10).

Balbus, J., (2008). Dangerous CFLs? Don’t Believe Everything You Read. Available from: http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2008/02/06/cfls_parade (12/02/10).

Becks, J., (2009). UK Retailers Report Consumers Stockpiling Light . Available from: http://www.electric.co.uk/news/uk-retailers-report-consumers-stockpiling-light-bulbs-12341130.html (16/02/10).

Defra, (2009). Energy Saving Light Bulbs. Available from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/products/roadmaps/lightbulbs.htm (12/02/10).

Delgado, M., (2008). An energy saving bulb has gone-evacuate the room now. Available from: http://mailonsunday.co.uk/sciencetech.htm (01/02/10).

Dex, R., (2009). Energy-saving light bulbs: Maybe they’re not such a bright idea after all. Available from: http://news.scotsman.com/scitech/Energysaving-light-bulbs-Maybe-they39re.5842541.jp (18/02.10).

Energy Saving Trust, (2009).  About Energy Saving Recommended products. Available from: http://    energysavingtrust.org.uk /Energy-saving-light bulbs-and-fittings (30/01/10). 

Energy Saving Trust, (2009). Energy Saving Light Bulbs

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Lighting (28/03/10).

Engelhaupt, E., (2008). Do compact fluorescent bulbs reduce mercury pollution? Journal of Environmental Science Technology; Vol 42 (22), p817-1021.

 Environmental Agency, (2009). Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Available from: http://www.environmental-agency.gov.uk/business/topic/waste/32084.aspx (22/02/10)

Fabiano, M., (2008). Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps Spurs Superfund Research: Available from: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/july/fluorescents.cfm (31/01/10)

Gray, R., and Julia McWatt, J., (2009). Energy saving light bulbs offer dim future. Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6110547/Energy-saving-light-bulbs-offer-dim-future.html (03/02/10).

Havas, M., (2008). Health Concerns associated with Energy Efficient Lighting and their Electromagnetic Emissions. Research paper to SCENIHR, Peterborough, Canada.

HPA, (2008). Emissions from compact fluorescent lights. Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard (03/02/10

 HPA, (2009). Precautionary advice: Energy saving compact fluorescent lights. Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1223445517429 (02/02/10

Joseph, W., (2009). Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs Poison Chinese Workers.Available from: 

http://www.earthascope.com/compact-fluorescent-light-bulbs-poison-chinese-workers (12/02/10).

Kondro, W., (2007). Mercury disposal sole health concern with fluorescent lights. 

Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol. 177(2), pp 136-137.

Krabbenhoft, D.P. and Rickert, D.A., (2009). Mercury Contamination of Aquatic Ecosystems; US Geological Survey. Available from:www.usgs.gov/wid.html (30/04/10). 

Laurance, J., (2008). Energy saving light bulbs can emit enough UV radiation to damage skin. Available from:  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/energy-saving-light-bulbs-can-emit-enough-uv-radiation-to-damage-skin-956696.html (08/02/10).

MAA, (2009). Energy saving bulbs could pose a health risk. Available from: migraine.org.uk/media/documents/CFLs (29/04/10).

MAI, (2010). MAI contributes to CFL light bulb consultation process. Available from: http://www.migraine.ie/index.php (21/01/10).

Medicinenet, (2009). Mercury Poisoning. Available from: medicinenet.com/mercury-poisoning/article.htm(26/05/10). 

Mitra, S., (1986). Mercury in the Ecosystem; Its Dispersion and Pollution Today. Trans Tech Publications, Lancaster; pp 1- 18, 69-89, 195-244.

Nelson, B., (2009). Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs Poison Hundreds of Chinese Workers. Available from: http://www.ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/04/energy-efficient-lightbulbs.htm (14/02/10).

NZAO, (2008). Optometrists criticise eco-bulbs. Available from: tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360

Pakhare, J., (2007). Mercury Poisoning Symptoms. Available from: buzzle.com/article/mercury-poisoning-symptoms.html.

Patton, M. Q., (1990). Quantitative Evaluation and Research Methods. 2nd Ed.  

London; New Delhi: Sage publications, pp 150-158

Poole, B., (2008). Energy-saving light bulbs carry risk. Available from: http://tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/93203.php (02/02/10).

Scott, S., (1998). Household energy efficiency in Ireland: A replication study of ownership of energy saving items; Economic and Social Research Institute; Dublin: Elsevier Science Ltd.

 Skumatz L. A., and Howlett, O., (2005). Findings and “Gaps” in CFL Evaluation Research: Review of the Existing Literature. Available from:

http://mail.mtprog.com/CD_Layout/Day_2_22.06.06/1115-1300/ID109_Skumatz3_final.pdf (05/02/10).

Winton, L., (2005). Final Report on a Consumer Research Study about Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Chatswood; Artcraft Research report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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From a patient’s perspective – how the National Health Service actually works in practice

May 2nd, 2011

If you aren’t from the UK, it might be hard to imagine how the system actually works. Do you just rock up at any doctor or hospital when you feel like it? What are the criteria? What’s it like being an NHS patient?

The “patient’s perspective” in question is mine – I was born and brought up in London, have parents, sisters, a brother, a partner and a 3 year old son who are all ordinarily resident in the UK and therefore NHS patients.

This article looks at how the National Health Service really works in the United Kingdom – specifically, in England. The NHS is split into four parts, for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The differences aren’t great, but there are some minor variations.

This hub follows on from two others, the first is called, The National Health Service in the UK: who pays, and who is covered, and details how the NHS was founded in 1948, who is covered by the system, and how much it all costs.

The second, What the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK covers, and what costs patients extra is about what patients pay for medical care, dentistry, and optician’s treatment, under the NHS.
The NAtional Health Service logo

* NHS Choices Homepage – Your health, your choices
The front page for the main National Health Service website

See all 9 photos
A baby about to have a developmental check on the NHS
Accessing the NHS system – the General Pracitioner

Everyone with a right to National Health Service coverage gets an NHS number. This is allocated to you at birth (if you are born in the UK) or when you take up permanent, lawful residence here, if that comes later.

This number follows you around from doctor to hospital, and keeps your records together. A person is also allocated a National Health Service Card, but these aren’t terribly important – I can’t remember when I last needed mine, but it can’t have been for a while as it’s still in my mother’s “important documents” file at my parents’ home.

The General Practitioner is the gateway to the NHS’ medical system. In order to access treatment (other than emergency treatment) you need to be registered with a GP’s surgery. There are a lot of them, and they generally cover a small geographic area. An individual patient in a densely-populated area might have the option of registering at several different surgeries.

A GP’s surgery is, usually, several doctors practising together. My GP’s clinic has 8 GPs based there.

Becoming a GP takes some time – after finishing medical education, a doctor works in a hospital for a number of years before doing GP training.
When I see an NHS GP, and making appointments

Most of the time, I’m perfectly healthy when I visit the GP. Sometimes it might be for booster injections for things such a tetanus or polio.

There are also regularly-scheduled screening programmes, such as smear tests (every 3 years), and breast mammograms for older women, for example. Every 3 months, in order to renew a (free) contraceptive prescription, I need to have my blood pressure and weight checked.

With routine appointments such as these, I usually book them a week or two ahead, as then I can choose exactly what time of day will suit me best, and book to see a particular GP if that matters (which it doesn’t, to me, but it matters a lot for some people). My GP’s surgery has appointments from 8.30am to 7.30pm on weekdays, and on Saturday mornings, for routine matters.

If I am unwell, with (say) an ear infection, or a nasty cough, I obviously don’t make an appointment weeks ahead. Instead, I telephone the surgery in the morning, from 8.30am, and a doctor then rings me back to see what is wrong, and if necessary to book an appointment for me that day. With these last-minute appointments, there is much less choice of exact time and which doctors are available.
A National Health Service (NHS) General Practitioner in Holborn, London WC1
Out of hours GP services

When the surgery is closed, there is a 24 hour, 7 day a week number to contact the on-call GP. Consultations can be made over the phone, and the GP might make an out-of-hours house call, or direct you to go to Accident and Emergency at the hospital (also known as Casualty), or might suggest you go the surgery the following day.

I’ve only had to ring the out-of-hours number once, when my darling then two-year-old son proved that childproof caps on medicine bottles are not childproof, and took a big swig of Calpol (paracetamol liquid for babies). I rang the GP, who looked up toxicity and doses, then rang me back and told me that the dose wasn’t something to worry about.
St. Thomas’ NHS hospital central London
King’s College Hospital, an NHS hosptial in south London
Referral to a hospital doctor or clinic

If the GP thinks it is necessary, he can either refer you to a specific specialist doctor at the hospital, or send you to a clinic at the hospital. You can’t go directly to a specialist hospital doctor on the National Health Service, the GP has to refer you.

Depending on what type of problem it is, you will either be told to go home and await an appointment letter, or given a letter there and then and sent off to the relevant clinic with it.

My son suffered from horrible reflux as a newborn baby, and when we took him to the GP when he was about 5 weeks old, the GP reckoned he was dehydrated. We were sent to a paediatric clinic at the nearest tertiary-level hospital, where Isaac was seen firstly by a junior doctor, then a consultant (the most senior level) and as a result of those examinations, he was admitted to the paediatric ward for 3 days to be put on a drip and given various ultrasound scans, blood tests, and other nasty procedures.

The children’s wards have small rooms attached, so that a parent or guardian can sleep in the hospital overnight and be near the child.

Once referred to a specialist, you might well get further appointments and tests, if necessary, made directly with the hospital. You don’t need to be referred each time. So Isaac saw a paediatrician regularly at the hospital until he was over the worst of the reflux, at which point he was discharged back to the GP’s care.

Any notes, tests, examinations and so forth are copied to the GP, so your medical file at the GP is a complete health history.
A newborn baby (my son) in a cot in an National Health Service hospital maternity and neo-natal ward
Newborn baby (12 hours old) with his proud grandmother in the same ward

* Choosing where to access care after the birth
National Health Service guide to care for mothers and newborn babies

Midwives, ante-natal care and maternity

How this is organised will depend on the Local Health Authority. In a lot of cases, community midwives (those who do routine pre and post pregnancy care) are based at a GP’s surgery. In other cases, they hold a separate clinic several days a week.

Pregnancy care is organised through the midwife. It consists of a long (2-3 hour) booking-in appointment early in pregnancy, where health histories of the woman, her partner, and her close family are taken, blood tests organised, height and weight checked, and a care plan devised.

After that, you see a midwife approximately 10 times through the pregnancy, more frequently later on, to check the baby’s movement, heart-beat and size, the mother’s general health, and to check the mother’s blood pressure, sugar and protein levels. At any time, the midwife can refer a woman to the ante-natal unit at the hospital, if she thinks that is necessary.

In addition, in a normal, healthy pregnancy, there are ultrasound scans at about 12 and 20 weeks, and an appointment with the doctor at the ante-natal clinic at about 30 weeks. If the mother has health or pregnancy problems, she will spend a lot more time with the midwife and the ante-natal clinic.

The National Health Service also runs ante-natal classes, and tours of the maternity and neo-natal wards, so that the mother can choose between natural childbirth (midwife-led care) and more medical childbirth (doctor-led care) and which hospital she wants to give birth in.

It’s also possible to have an NHS home birth, where two midwives come to the mother’s home when she is in labour.

My son and I were discharged from hospital when he was 3 days old. A community midwife visited us at home every day for a week, then every other day for another week.
Great Ormand Street Hospital for Sick Children, a National Health Service hospital in London WC1. This shows the main building.
Great Ormand Street Hospital ambulance entrance
Health visitors

Each child is assigned to a Health Visitor, or team of health visitors, from birth.

The first visit at least (and often subsequent ones, it depends on the way the clinic runs) are at the baby’s home, when he is a few days old.

health visitors run clinics, and a mother can attend with her baby or child as often as she wants.

health visitors measure and weigh children and babies, and give advice on breast feeding, bottle feeding, sleeping, tantrums, behaviour, all the rest of it, as and when the mother requests it.

The health visitors’ clinic is also where a baby and child has regular developmental checks with a paediatrician, checking all sorts of things from fine motor movement through hearing to speech, as appropriate at different ages.

Isaac was offered developmental checks at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months, and 2 and 3 years old. He has another upcoming at 4 years old.
Other health professionals

There are lots of other health professionals, often attached to GP’s surgeries, who deal with people in the community. They include Community Psychiatric Nurses, who offer support to the mentally ill, and District Nurses, who do home visits for things such as changing dressings.

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Is National Health Care Anti-Christian? An Mormon argument against National Health Care from the Spirit of the Law Blog

April 19th, 2011

After viewing and taking part in many debates about national health care, I have been exposed to some interesting arguments both for and against. In the course of the conversations I heard the usual liberal tactic to attack those of a Christian persuasion stating that not supporting national health care is not being Christian as if the two ideas are congruent. After fighting back the urge to throw my laptop in some symbolic gesture of displeasure for the spreading of this falsehood, I decided to consider how Christ, and therefore a Christian, might view nationalized health care.

I looked to the recorded examples of how Christ viewed the caring of those in need and specifically those with health problems. I find no example of Christ endorsing government involvement in anything let alone health care. Jesus Christ never taught that it was Caesar who was to take care of the poor and the needy. Pilate was not required of Christ to take care of the people’s medical care. In contrast to these two points I read of countless stories where Christ taught the power and opportunity of each person to do what they can and chose to offer assistance for those in need as far as they are able. We are not to wait for Caesar to do what lies in our own power. Not even in the Mormon church today does the church provide health insurance for its members. It could very easily do so through its various arms and divisions as part of tithing, but it doesn’t. Why? It isn’t that medical coverage is bad, or that the LDS church doesn’t believe in medical care like Scientology. There are precious truths and reasons why this is. I encourage you to find other reasons why that is.

As Christ did not teach that it was Caesar’s job to provide health care for the people, it is my opinion that national health care is not a matter of being Christian. Christ actually taught opposing principles to those embraced by those in favor of National Health Care and other welfare programs. Christ taught that charity was the responsibility of each individual and that each individual was to chose to find ways to help one another and not pawn that responsibility off on someone else or on the arms of government. Anyone trying to say otherwise is propagating a lie that has no foundation in the teachings of TRUE Christianity. It is also false to think that national health care has the monopoly on good works. Good works are always possible. Of a truth, it is he or she who does good works that bears the mark of a true Christian. Supporting national health care or paying a tax for someone else’s health care does not make a person Christian. In fact, one could say that taking away the individuals repsonbility to help their fellow man is decidedly anti-christian.

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Health Center Grants From The US Government

March 12th, 2011

For those who want to fund or establish health centers, there are government grants provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. These government grants are meant to cover all the necessary costs for setting up a Federally Qualified Health Center in any state of the country. These grants where created by law.

The act that contains specifics about these grants is the Public Health Service Act under the title of Consolidated Health Center Program. This section establishes five different kinds of health center programs each of one with different requirements and conditions. Following is the list of the different health center grants defined by the Public Health Service Act:

Community Health Center Program

This program helps create and maintain community health centers all across the country. These grants for specific regions or areas that need private parties (non profit or profit) to complement government health centers that cannot deal with all the demand on that particular place or that need to supplement on specific fields of expertise or disciplines not provided by the current government health centers.

Migrant Health Center Program

This program is meant to provide assistance for funding health centers for migrants; from normal assistance to specific needs of those who migrate from abroad or interstate. There are many health centers coordinated by migrant populations that group up to protect themselves and through these programs, the government contributes to fund those projects that have a significant importance.

Health Care For The Homeless Program

Those who are homeless experience significant more hazards and diseases and therefore need health care and use health services often. Since they are homeless, the lack of health insurance needs to be compensated with public or private non-profit medical assistance. Health Care who specialize in assisting the homeless can obtain funds through these health care for the homeless grants programs.

Public Housing Primary Care Program

There are many public housing facilities out there to protect the homeless and provide them with a roof for different periods of time. These facilities need to provide primary care services too. Public housing primary care grants programs are meant to fund these facilities and provide them with the money needed to assist those making use of public housing. Only simple medicine practice and procedures are performed in these places but nevertheless, funding is always needed.

School-Based Health Center Program

Just like public housing, schools also need primary health services covered for accidents or common diseases that can affect students that are underprivileged, need immediate assistance or do not have insurance coverage. For these situations, schools that need assistance to fund the necessary facilities and hire the staff to do the job, can obtain financing through school based health center grant programs.

Requirements For Approval

Only private, charitable, tax-exempt, non profit organizations or public entities are eligible for these government grants. However, there are also private institutions providing funds for these same purposes. Therefore, there are funds available for almost anyone who is worried about providing health care for those who cannot afford private medical solutions.

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Health Insurance Reform From Easytoinsureme Health Insurance Quotes

November 26th, 2010

Federal

Owing to multiple blizzards in Washington, Congress started its President’s Day recess a full week early and conducted no official business last week. However, there was some legislative drama as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the rug out from under Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus by scrapping the Baucus jobs bill (without warning), which contained many health insurance items, and replacing it with a stripped down, narrow jobs bill. Whether the health items Baucus originally inserted with Republican help will make it back to the table remains fuzzy. Among the health items that have been dropped are: the COBRA eligibility extension (to May 31); the “doc fix” (to October, 2010) of Medicare reimbursement rates; and the favorable statutory direction to CMS to calculate the 2011 Medicare Advantage rates “as if” the doc fix were in place.

States

California health insurance The Office of Patient Advocacy released a report card on the state’s HMOs last week. Aetna received 3 out of 4 stars. The goal of the report card is to allow consumers to compare how well health plans use personal medical records and help address conditions such as asthma, arthritis and diabetes.

COLORADO: Governor Bill Ritter held a press conference to announce what he calls “the next round of reforms that represent common sense.” His legislative package includes bills to preclude insurance companies from charging different rates due to a person’s gender, ensure that women have access to breast cancer screening, assure plain language is used in insurance forms, standardize insurance applications and explanations of benefits, and encourage greater use of online tools to enroll people in public programs. Apart from the Governor’s proposals, a bill that would establish a public option was also introduced.

CONNECTICUT: In a short legislative session of only three months, the Insurance & Real Estate Committee wasted no time in putting forth an agenda that includes many concept drafts for repeat legislation from previous sessions. These include prohibiting health insurance copayments for preventive care, limiting prescription drug copayments, prohibiting Social Security disability payment offsets, and exempting the Municipal Employees Health Insurance Plans from the premium tax on small group premiums. In addition, the committee reintroduced legislation that includes nearly a dozen new health benefit mandates. The Council for Affordable Health Insurance, an independent think-tank, says that health insurance mandates could increase premiums in Connecticut by more than 50 percent overall.

GEORGIA: A bill was proposed last week that would impose significant restrictions on insurers’ ability to rescind health insurance policies. Aetna, through the Georgia Association of Health Plans and AHIP, met with the legislator sponsoring the bill to express concerns with the bill.

INDIANA: The legislative session is at halftime, and the insurance agenda is now limited. Most insurance issue bills are officially dead, including a bill that would have prohibited health plan provisions requiring a contracted provider to accept more than a certain number of patients; coverage for dialysis treatment regardless of whether the facility is contracted or not and without certain benefit restrictions; and a bill that would have allowed out-of-network assignment of benefits. However, Aetna is expecting that a bill requiring insurer and HMO annual reporting of premium cost composition, including administrative costs, may be resurrected. A bill that restricts dental insurers and HMOs from establishing fee schedules for non-covered services passed the Senate, with our amendment to accommodate most of the key concerns expressed by opponents of the bill. As the bill stands, dental insurance plans may impose fee schedules for covered services, regardless of whether the plan actually pays for the services rendered.

KANSAS: An amended version of S.B. 389 related to dental services passed the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee on February 11. The amended bill prohibits any contract between a health insurer that offers a health benefit plan and a dentist from containing a provision that requires the dentist to accept a fee schedule for services unless the service is a covered service. Committee amendments added to the definition of a “health benefit plan” the following: any subscription agreement issued by a non-profit dental service corporation; any policy of health insurance purchased by an individual; the state children’s health insurance plan; and the state medical assistance program under Medicaid. We will continue to update you as this bill progresses and hope to make favorable changes as the bill moves through the House.

MASSACHUSETTS: Governor Deval Patrick filed a 40-page bill that proposes giving the insurance commissioner the power to hold public hearings on rate adjustments and essentially cap health care price increases. Rate increases for individuals would be held to the rate of medical inflation; those sold to employers with 50 or fewer workers could not exceed one and a half times the level of medical inflation. The legislation would also impose a two-year moratorium on any new health benefit mandates. Legislative leaders praised the intent of the governor’s plan but declined to promise support. Strong opposition is expected from medical provider groups. The Governor simultaneously announced emergency regulations to take immediate effect that will require health insurers to submit proposed small business rate increases for review by the state 30 days before they take effect. Several other proposed provisions include a requirement that insurers offer at least one coverage plan with a limited network of health care providers costing at least 10 percent less than health plans with access to more physicians. The Massachusetts Association of Health plans is lobbying in support of a bill introduced by Senate Insurance Chair Richard Moore that would create a cheaper health insurance product for small employers by capping payments to providers at just 10 percent above Medicare rates. The Massachusetts Medical Society is against that proposal.

MISSOURI: An autism coverage mandate bill was amended and “perfected” by the Senate and then sent to the Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee from which it must emerge before returning to the floor of the Senate. In addition to two mandate-related amendments, a third amendment to the bill allowing for limited cross border sales of health insurance also passed. In its current form, the bill contains a mandated offering of the coverage in the individual market. Coverage is limited to treatment ordered by a licensed physician or psychologist whose treatment plan the carrier is entitled to review every six months. Coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) is limited to ,000 annually (down from the ,000 as introduced) for persons under age 21. Meanwhile in the House, a bill containing significant language relating to the credentialing of autism service providers also passed. The bill also contains a mandate to offer coverage in the individual market and to groups of fewer than 25. Groups of 25 to 50 would be entitled to an exemption from the mandate if they could demonstrate an increase in premiums tied to the mandate. The bill limits annual coverage of ABA (,000 for children ages 3-9; ,000 for children ages 9-21). Aetna will continue to monitor the status of these mandates, but it appears fairly clear at this point that something will pass on the issue of autism.

NEW JERSEY: Last week Governor Chris Christie declared a fiscal state of emergency calling a special session of the legislature to lay out his plan for dealing with state’s current .2 billion budget shortfall. His plan calls for significant cuts or eliminations across 375 state programs and withholding 0 million of state education aid. Of note on the program side is a .6 million reduction in Charity Care funding to hospitals, which pays for care to uninsured residents. In legislative action, the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee held a three-hour public hearing on out-of-network reimbursement. Much of the hearing focused on the markedly higher billing practices of ambulatory surgery centers and one non-par hospital. Aetna presented testimony regarding its experience with the non-par hospital, citing their disparate year-over-year increase in charges compared to other similarly situated hospitals. Chairman Schaer indicated the committee will work over the next several months to craft a solution.

NEW YORK: With Democratic Senator Hiram Monserrate officially expelled from the Senate, the Democratic majority (31-30) now faces an uphill battle getting the 32 votes needed to pass legislation. However, both the Senate and the Assembly moved forward with a public hearing on the Executive Budget proposal for health, including the section mandating the prior approval of rate adjustments. The Health Plan Association testified on behalf of the industry. If enacted, Governor Paterson’s proposal for an 85 percent medical loss ratio and a prior approval hearing process for all rate adjustments would essentially amount to government control of health insurance, undermining the private health insurance market in New York. Price controls would weaken health plan solvency, hurt providers and virtually eliminate innovation and efficiency. At the same time, the proposal ignores the underlying cause of the increasing cost of health insurance — the increase in the actual costs of health care services.

OKLAHOMA: The second session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature convened in Oklahoma City on February 1. Legislators quickly turned to the state’s .3 billion budget deficit described by Governor Brad Henry (D) in his eighth and final state of the state address and FY 2011 executive budget. During his address, the Governor focused on his plans for resolving the .3 billion budget deficit through precise budget cuts. His only reference to health insurance was to encourage the expansion of Insure Oklahoma, a program developed by the state in partnership with small employers to provide affordable health coverage. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 28 but only after addressing a range of legislation including several bills of interest to Aetna.

SOUTH DAKOTA: A dental fee schedule bill (S.B. 108) unanimously passed the Senate Commerce Committee and is expected to be taken up by the full Senate early this week. The bill prohibits any contract between a health insurer that offers a health benefit plan and a dentist from containing a provision that requires the dentist to accept a fee schedule for services unless the service is a covered service. Aetna will continue to follow the bill’s progress as it progresses.

TENNESSEE: Several bills have been proposed that would make changes to the state’s external review law. Aetna and other industry representatives will be meeting with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance regarding its proposed changes to the external review law. The bill proposed by the TDCI most closely mirrors the model legislation proposed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

UTAH: The Speaker of the House has introduced a health reform bill addressing health information technology, individual and small group market reforms and transparency. The overarching theme of the reforms is micromanagement of rates and rating factors, and a broadening of the Insurance Commissioner’s authority. The transparency provisions apply plan designs and benefit descriptions submitted by carriers, and would require providers to make available, upon request, a price list for services on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.

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How Much Profit Can Health Insurers Make From Premiums Easy To Insure ME

October 24th, 2010

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled new requirements for how much health insurers must spend on medical care in comparison to non-medical items, such as advertising and overhead, under the new health reform law. Easy To Insure ME has the answers

Starting January 1, all health insurance plans will be required to spend a set percentage of their premium income on medical claims and quality improvement expenses. That percentage will be 80 percent for individual and small group plans, and 85 percent for larger groups. This split is known as the “medical loss ratio.”

Lynn Quincy is a Senior Health Policy Analyst for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine. She serves as a consumer representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the group that created these standards.

Quincy said, “The term ‘medical loss ratio’ isn’t exactly consumer-friendly, but these new rules are very good for consumers. People are going to get better value for their premium dollars.

“The new rules seek to keep a lid on the non-medical expenses that are typically included in the insurance premiums we pay — things like executive pay, lobbying, and marketing.

“If a health plan spends too much on these non-medical items – relative to their spending on medical care – the plan has to reimburse its customers by paying them rebates.

“Looking at industry filings, many health insurers should not have trouble complying with these new standards. But for those insurers with excessive spending on non-medical items, the standards will provide a strong incentive to rein in those expenses.

“Plus, consumers will benefit from greater transparency in premium calculations. There will be new requirements that govern how insurers report their spending. These reports must be made public by HHS on its website. So in the future, it may not take a congressional investigation to see how much of your premium dollar is being spent on medical care.

“The goal of these requirements is not to generate rebates, but to drive insurers to spend less money on bureaucracy and more on health care. Consumers will benefit when their insurance choices include more insurers that are more efficient,” Quincy said.

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Importance of women health from economic perspective

October 1st, 2010

                                                                                   

 

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The health of the people is an index of the prosperity and well being of a country. It is of paramount importance as a national assert and basis to sustain as well as to stimulate optimum levels of efficiency.

            Now-a-days it is widely recognized that human capital place a dominant role in the context of economic development and health is an important component of human capital. The issue of health is of greater importance both from the point of view of individuals and the nation. It is through enhancement of health status, that a country like India can accelerate the pace of economic development and minimize wastage of human resources in terms of mortality and morbidity. In fact, health status exercises profound influence on human resource development and effective utilization of human resources. There is, broadly a correspondence between the level of economic development attained by a country and the health of its population. Improvement in the health of human resources leads to increase the productivity and also helps them to enjoy output of these efforts fully.

Health is a common theme in most cultures. Health continues to be a neglected entity despite lip services. At the individual levels, it cannot be said that health occupies an important place. It is usually subjected to other needs defined as more important, e.g.., wealth, power, prestige, knowledge, security. Health is often taken for granted, and its value is not fully understood until it is lost.

For the majority of the world’s people, health status is determined primarily by their level of social economic development. The precipitate GNP is the most widely accepted measures of general economic performance. There can be no doubt that in many developing countries, it is the economic progress that has been the major factor in reducing morbidity, increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life. The economic status determines the purchasing power, standard of disease and behaviour in the community. It is also an important factor in seeking health care.

The very state of being employed in productive work promotes health, because the unemployed usually show a higher incidence of ill health and death for many, loss of work may mean loss of income and status. It can cause psychological and social damage.

Health is related to the country’s political system. Decisions concerning resource allocation, man power polity, choice of technology and  the degree to which health services are made available  and assessable to different segments of society are examples of the manner in which the political system can shape community health services.  The percentage of GNP spent on health is qualitative indicator of health status of people.

            If poor health patterns are to be changed, then changes must be made in the entire socio-political systems in any given community. Social, economic and political are required to eliminate health hazards in people’s working and living environment. To be effective, the health services must reach the social periphery, equitably distributed, assessable at a cost the country and community can offered and socially acceptable.

Health is essential to socio-economic development has gained increasing recognition. Health services are no longer considered nearly as a complex of solely medical measures but a ‘sub-system’ of an overall socio-economic system. Human health and well being are the ultimate goal of development.

Health is the essential pre-requesting for every human beings “If wealth is lost nothing is lost, if health is lost everything is lost”. There is no explanation regarding the statement. It goes without saying the health determines economic status of people problem of health is the problem of economic development.

            It was felt that health cannot be seen in isolation from the political, social, and economic forces operating in the country. The well being of the individual even the health of individuals is subjected to a process of production for profits. A person’s health is seen only in the context of the extraction of labour for profit. Health services are therefore, to be seen as a part and parcel of the total emancipation of human beings.

Generally women and children in rural areas have not much worried about their health. The fate of women, young children and girls are inextricably linked together in a complex interacting cycle. This becomes poignantly evident in the case of the poor, who is India constitute slightly more than a third of the population.

Women’s health has always been viewed in terms of Maternal and Child Health services (MCH). The women’s movement and the health movement in India have brought to the realization that the ill health of women hinges on a wide concept arising from existing political, economic and social norms in which women are second class citizens.

The lack of Primary Survival needs like clear drinking water, nutritious and adequately available food; healthy and safe housing particularly affects women causing them a number of health problems physical and psychological. There is a great disparity between women’s calorific expenditure and calorific-in-take. This manifests itself as illness, especially anaemia.

Generally women are prone to a number of health problems due to the nature of their work, and they too lack adequate facilities. The female child in India is Non-person or a Non-being. For the declining sex rate in India, demographers have excluded the possibility of enumeration deficiencies and the main reason for this unusual sex rates in the loss of female life at an early age.

Growing up is one of the biggest concern of children and their parents. The condition of the child is truly the greatest present day problem and this realization is of great importance. It is humanity’s duty to give the child the best it has to offer. Priority for children is based on the fact that the child is a defenceless being dependent on the world about it.

Everybody was once a child and we are all surrounded by families with children. Parents and other members of the family living together are the basic influence on children and the first source of meeting their needs. A child’s need for love, for feeling safe and wanted as well as his physical needs for food, shelter are satisfied by the family.

Typically, children in developed countries enjoy good health. They have not had time yet to suffer from the wear-out diseases. They have lots of energy and their tissues adapt quickly to changing circumstances and heal promptly when injured. But in the less developed countries of the world mortality among children runs high.

Children constitute over 35% of the world’s population. For generations to come they will be the most important product of any society, and this well being is one of the largest problems of the world today.

The consequences of poverty for children are in themselves servers. Poverty lays a particularly heavy burden on women because of their dual notes in the economy. Because of this, their health position has been continuously declining outside the home, these women are relegated to working in any field, where labour is hard, hours are long and wages are low. Though they become weak, they have to survive. For this, they must be in a position to have good health.

After the introduction of the Primary Health Centres in rural areas, people are forced to take this preventive and curative care. Primary Health Centres are more helpful to maternal and child care services. They have been giving immunization as the time requires. They would help the rural people to upkeep the health of their children. Problem of women health and the problem of child care have relieved from ill health after the introduction of Primary Health Centres. Since the problem affecting the mother and children are multi-factorial in origin, this study tries to understand the need of MCH services provided by PHC.

The ministry of Health and Family welfare evolved a national Health policy lays stress on the preventive, promotive public health and rehabilitation aspects of health care and points to the need of establishing comprehensive primary health care services to reach the population in the remotest areas of the country the need to view health and human development as a vital component of overall, integrated socio-economic development, decentralised system of health care delivery with maximum community and individual self-reliance and participation.

In the context of the size of the population, the socio-economic development and the existing health status of the people, the health policy in India has the following notable elements.

A greatest awareness of health problems and means to solve these in and by the communities;
Supply of safe drinking water and basic sanitation using technologies that the people can afford,
Reduction of existing imbalance in the health services by concentrating on the rural health infrastructure.
Establishment of a dynamic health management information system to support health planning and health programme implementation.
Provision of legislative support to health protection and promotion.
Concentrated actions to combat wide spread malnutrition;
Research into alternative methods of health care delivery and low-cost health technologies; and
Greater coordination of different system of medicine.

The health policy is supported by components of wider socio-economic policies addressed to the reduction of regional disparities fuller employment elementary education, integrated rural development, population control welfare of women and children etc.

The health strategies include restructuring the health infrastructure, developing health manpower, research and development.

 

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