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The Best Help With The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Could Be Online

No one missed the recent launch of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Countless newspaper and TV stories have chronicled the complex programs and the difficulties that many people have had finding the best plan to help them get the drugs they need.

However, many older Americans aren’t using the detailed medical information available on the Internet. A recent study by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation found that only 21 percent of American senior citizens have gone online to research health information, confirming that most elderly Americans are not using the Internet to become better informed about their health and health care options.

The TV Services division of Microsoft Corp. has compiled a list of third-party online resources that seniors can use to find answers to their questions about the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, including these sites:

• Medicare. The official government Medicare Web site now has answers to the many questions seniors have about the new Prescription Drug Plan. The site includes a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, an interactive tool that enables you to narrow your search for a Medicare prescription drug plan based on your personal preferences such as cost, coverage and convenience. Go to http://www.medicare.gov/pdphome.asp.

• AARP. AARP, the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over in the United States, has designed a site with many articles and detailed information to answer your Medicare questions. Visit http://www.aarp.org/ health/medicare.

• WebMD Inc. WebMD, the popular health information Web site, and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation created a Medicare Drug Benefit Calculator to help seniors figure out what they will pay for prescriptions under the standard Medicare prescription drug plan. Visit http://www.webmd.com/content/article/113/110712.htm.

If you are a senior or you have an older family member who doesn’t use the Internet because it seems too complicated, did you know there are easy-to-use and affordable devices designed to help you get online? With the MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player (http://www.msntv.com), you simply connect it to a regular television, plug in your phone line (for a dial-up connection) or broadband cable, sign up for MSN TV service, and you can be online within minutes, sending e-mail and researching valuable health and wellness information.

“Some Americans are still intimidated by technology and the Internet,” said Kevin Mizuhara, director of marketing for the TV Services division at Microsoft. “Our customers love MSN TV 2 because it’s easy to set up and doesn’t require computer skills to use.”

More important, the MSN TV 2 player is affordable for just about any budget. The MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player sells for about $200 MSRP (U.S., plus monthly subscription fee). And, if you order directly from Microsoft (1-866-901-4882), monthly payment plans are available. In addition, the MSN TV 2 player is available at many retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City and Amazon.com.

“With MSN TV 2, you can check e-mail and surf the Web via a regular television from the comfort of your living room,” Mizuhara said. “And you can stay in touch with family and friends by sharing digital photos. With the rich resources available online, you can not only use the Web to research hobbies such as gardening, travel or genealogy, you can also find answers to almost any questions you may have about vital subjects such as Medicare, health, retirement and finances.”

Note to editors: The MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player requires a subscription fee to MSN TV service and is subject to acceptance of the terms of service upon registration. A credit or debit card is required to pay for MSN TV service. MSN TV services are available as a local call in most areas. In some areas, long-distance telephone toll charges may apply.

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Typhus is one of several similar diseases that is caused by the Rickettsiae bacteria. Of greek origin, meaning hazy or smokey, it describes the state of mind of those affected by the typhus disease. A fever which can reach up to 39C (102F) and a headache, are symptoms which are common to all types of typhus. In some tropical countries, typhus is most often mistaken for another disease known as “dengue”.

There are three different forms of typhus. The Epidemic typhus (also known as “louse-bourne typhus”), can often cause epidemics following wars and natural disasters. The causative organism is transmitted by the human body louse, which will leave you with a fever, headache, exhaustion, chills, and rash. This type of typhus is most commonly known as “ship fever” or as “prison fever”, because it makes itself known in crowded conditions, namely aboard ships and in prison.

Scrub typhus, or “chigger-borne typhus”, is transmitted and caused by chiggers. Chiggers are found in areas of heavy scrub vegetation. Symptoms of this disease are muscle pain, fever, cough, gastrointestinal symptoms, and headache.

Endemic typhus (also called “murine typhus” and “flea-borne typhus”) is transmitted by fleas on rats, and sometimes by fleas carried on cats or possums. This form of typhus will leave you with symptoms of joint pain, headache, chills, nausea, fever, vomiting, and cough.

Typhus is treated with tetracycline or other tetracycline related antibiotics. Rickettsiae causes a number of other diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or “Tick typhus”, Boutonneuse fever and Rickettsialpox. Typhoid fever is an entirely different disease than typhus and should not be confused with typhus diseases, despite their similar-sounding names.

Tags: Causative Organism, Chiggers, Dengue, Epidemic Typhus, Fleas, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Greek Origin, Human Body Louse, Murine, Muscle Pain, Natural Disasters, Pain Headache, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Scrub Typhus, Ship Fever, Tick Fever, Tick Typhus, Tropical Countries, Typhoid Fever, Typhus Disease

Teen drug use is on the rise again with the recent introduction of club drugs and the rapid spread of methamphetamines. Teens are exposed to more and more opportunities to use drugs through the increase in availability as well as opportunity since many parents work, leaving their children home alone.

Parents Must Be aware of their children’s actions, so they can detect possible signs of drug use. While some warning signs are evidence of depression, many signs present in a child are more indicative ofdrug use rather than depression.

Parentingteens.com cites numerous warning signs at home and in a school environment. The signs include a sudden change in friends, a significant drop in academics, fatigue, loss of interest in family outings, physical and verbal abuse toward others (especially those they love), lying, unhappiness, change in general appearance, and behavior. There are many other signs of warning when a child is using drugs. Try to stay in tune with your teen in order to quickly pick up on any sudden changes. If your teen is spending a lot of time in their room, then take the initiative to spend time with them in their room, perhaps watching television. Encourage your teen to open up and talk to you.

Teen drug use will always be a universal problem. The way to keep it from becoming your problem is to talk to your child and let them know you have a no tolerance rule in place for drugs. Let them know drugs will never be welcomed in your home, and always remind them how much you love them.

Tags: Academics, Appearance, Club Drugs, Depression Signs, Family Outings, Fatigue, Initiative, Loss Of Interest, School Environment, School Signs, Signs Of Drug Use, Sudden Change, Sudden Changes, Teen Drug Use, Tolerance, Unhappiness, Universal Problem, Verbal Abuse, Warning Signs, Watching Television

Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging. Particularly affected areas may be memory, attention, language and problem solving, although particularly in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time, not knowing what day, week, month or year it is, not knowing where they are not knowing who they are. Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible depending upon the etiology of the disease. Less than 10% of all dementias are reversible. Dementia is a non-specific term that encompasses many disease processes, just as fever is attributable to many etiologies.

Early symptoms of dementia often consist in changes in personality, or in behavior. Often dementia can be first evident during an episode of delirium. There is a higher prevalence of eventually developing dementia in individuals who experience an acute episode of confusion while hospitalized.

Dementia can affect language, comprehension, motor skills, short-term memory, ability to identify commonly used items, reaction time, personality traits, and executive functioning. Even without signs of general intellectual decline, delusions are common in dementia (15-56% incidence rate in Alzheimer’s type, and 27-60% incidence rate in multi-infarct dementia). Often these delusions take the form of monothematic delusions, like mirrored self-misidentification.

Elderly people can also react with dementia-like symptoms to surgery, infections, sleep deprivation, irregular food intake, dehydration, loneliness, change in domicile or personal crises. This is called delirium, and many if not most dementia patients also have a delirium on top of the physiologial dementia, adding to the symptoms. The delirium can go away or greatly improve when treated with tender care, improved food and sleeping habits, but this does not affect the alterations in the brain. Affected persons may also show signs of psychosis or depression. It is important to be able to differentiate between delirium and dementia.

Proper differential diagnosis between the types of dementia will require, at the least, referral to a specialist, e.g. a geriatric internist, geriatric psychiatrist or neurologist. However, there are some brief 5-15 minute tests that have good reliability and can be used in the office or other setting to evaluate cognitive status.

Except for the treatable types listed above, there is no cure to this illness, although scientists are progressing in making a type of medication that will slow down the process.

Disclaimer – The information presented here should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you or someone you know suffers from Dementia, please consult your physician for the latest treatment options.

Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.

Tags: Acute Episode, Cognitive Function, Dementia, Dementia Patients, Dementias, Disease Processes, Early Symptoms Of Dementia, Incidence Rate, Intellectual Decline, Language Comprehension, Multi Infarct Dementia, Personal Crises, Personality Traits, Progressive Decline, S Type, Short Term Memory, Sleep Deprivation, Sleeping Habits, Symptoms Of Dementia, Tender Care

When someone is diagnosed with genital warts, you may find that you have no symptoms. Some people may not even know that they are infected. The warts may not be noticeable. Some people will have warts. They may be found in any size, big or small. These warts are known to be responsible for pain and itching around the genital openings.

Anyone can get genital warts. There are men and women of all ages that get genital warts. This is a very common disease that is unfortunately increasing in more and more young people because they are not practicing safe sex.

When a woman is infected with certain virus types, cancer and pre cancerous changes of the cervix may start to develop. The cervix is the end of the uterus that enters into the vagina. Cells on the cervix are susceptible to the infection of the genital warts virus. When someone is infected, the virus into pre cancerous cells can transform the cells of the cervix over time.

A pap smear is very important for women to have. This is the way to detect when there are any problems. When you have an annual pap smear, you will be able to learn more about your body and the potential problems that may occur. When certain diseases are found early, they can be treated and the problem is lessened and even sometimes cured.

It is found that when people are under stress, their immune system is more vulnerable to getting genital warts. Most warts will appear on the genitals as elevations of the skin that are similar to warts found on other parts of the body. The warts are usually found to be followed by other symptoms. There can be some itching or pain involved with the warts.

Some of the genital warts can be so minute that it is almost impossible to see them and in other cases, they are so large that it is impossible to have intercourse. In either case, it is so important to have the necessary treatment to get the warts removed so that you can be free to live a normal and healthy life.

There are many ways of helping genital warts. The usual treatments are with creams and ointments. These are usually found to be less affective or may take a longer period of time to heal. Other treatments include laser surgery; injections of medications, or some people decide to let it alone. This is not recommended, however, some feel too embarrassed or ashamed to get help. The truth is that there are many people who have genital warts and it is nothing to be afraid of. You should not feel ashamed about trying to get help for the situation. In fact, once you get help, you will feel much better about the problem.

Tags: Cancerous Changes, Cervix, Common Disease, Diseases, Elevations, Genital Warts, Genitals, Immune System, Intercourse, Men And Women, Necessary Treatment, Pap Smear, Practicing Safe Sex, Pre Cancerous Cells, Skin Warts, Stress, Uterus, Vagina, Virus Types, Warts Genital

Statins are a group of medications used to decrease cholesterol in the body. This reduction is shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Recent research, however, is shedding a new light on the potential benefits of these drugs.

In a study involving more than 50,000 patients, statins showed a benefit in patients with atherosclerotic disease, or hardening of the arteries. Not only do the medications lower cholesterol, they have favorable effects on the blood vessels, kidneys, and bone. Statins were shown to decrease blood clot formation and scientists are linking statins to a reduced risk for developing Alzheimers disease, prostate and colon cancer, bone fractures, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and osteoporosis.

Statins may also be useful for treating multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain kidney diseases. The issue at stake here is; the scientists are not exactly sure how they work to combat these diseases. What they do know for sure is statins have a proven track record in preventing strokes and heart attacks.

Researchers are speculating that cholesterol causes an increase of plaque buildup in the area of the brain damaged in Alzheimers disease. Six published studies show a decrease in dementia or Alzheimers disease in those patients using a statin. They summarize that the decrease in cholesterol reduces the damaging plaque buildup in the brain.

The breast cancer studies have conflicting results with regards to cancer protection. Of the six published studies, four concluded no effect on beast cancer. One study showed a protective benefit but only after five years of taking the statin. Another study showed a large decrease in the risk of breast cancer in women over the age of 75.

Five different studies, involving more that 75,000 people, showed that taking statins reduced fractures. In four different studies, statin use was associated with a lower risk of hip and nonspine fractures. Conversely, several studies have also shown that statins have no effect on bode density or reduction of fractures.

Two studies looked at the effects statins have on the kidneys. Results show that the statins reduced the amount of protein in the urine. An excess amount of protein is released in the urine as a result of kidney damage. Another analysis showed a significant reduction in the loss of kidney function.

Only one study has examined the benefits of statins on multiple sclerosis. At the conclusion of the research, those who received the statin had a significant reduction on multiple sclerosis markers compared to those who took a placebo.

Statins have been used successfully for years and are well tolerated with few serious side effects. A rare but serious side effect presents itself with muscle pain and tenderness. Tell your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any unusual muscle soreness or weakness.

It is still too soon to advise doctors to prescribe these medications for treating anything other than high cholesterol. The research is too conflicting and there are still too many unanswered questions. Researchers are currently examining how cholesterol adversely affects several different disease states. They are looking into whether the lowering of cholesterol has a positive effect or if the benefit is directly due to the statin.

For more free information, free articles, and free newsletter, go to www.rxcostcutters.com

Tags: Blood Clot, Blood Clot Formation, Bone Fractures, Brain Cancer, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Studies, Cancer In Women, Cancer Protection, Colon Cancer, Favorable Effects, Hardening Of The Arteries, Heart Attacks, Kidney Diseases, Kidneys, Lower Cholesterol, Macular Degeneration, Plaque Buildup, Proven Track Record, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin

People all over the world are always catching the flu and there is nothing worse than a flu symptom, any flu symptoms really and unfortunately many a flu symptom will come hand in hand with others. This leads to awful illnesses that can last for days and even a week or more. There is one more common flu symptom though, that many people tend to suffer from.

The most common flu symptom by far is the chills. Everyone dreads getting the chills because there is simply nothing that can be done about them. No matter how many blankets you put on or how many you take off this annoying flu symptom will persist and keep you feeling alternately hot and cold all day long.

There is another common flu symptom and that is sweating and fever. These always go hand in hand with a bad case of the flu. A flu symptom like sneezing or coughing is not usually far behind either. The flu is one of those viruses that cause all manner of different flu symptoms and they are all equally disturbing to those suffering from them.

There is not really any flu symptom that is tolerable, they are all going to make your next few days terrible but keep in mind that this flu symptom too shall pass. All you need to do in order to make sure you get over your flu symptom or flu symptoms is get plenty of rest and plenty of fluids.

Most medicines will not help much with any flu symptom. Some over the counter medications can mask your symptoms somewhat but these do not always work and they never speed up the healing time of the flu symptom. The only thing that makes your actual flu better is time and rest.

If you think that you might have the stomach flu then you may want to go to see a doctor because this could actually be something like parasites or food poisoning. These can get serious so if you are feeling a lot of pain in your stomach and massive vomiting and diarrhea then you are not really suffering from a regular flu symptom and the doctor may be able to help you.

Learning more about each kind of flu symptom will not hurt either, at least that way you will have some idea as to what to expect from a flu symptom.

Tags: Bad Case, Blankets, Case Of The Flu, Catching The Flu, Chills, Fever, Few Days, Flu, Flu Symptom, Flu Symptoms, Healing Time, Illnesses, Medications, Medicines, Parasites, Stomach Flu, Suffering From, That Many People, Viruses, Vomiting And Diarrhea

What To Look For When Evaluating Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Options: The Three “C’s” of Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

People with Medicare can start saving money by enrolling in the government’s prescription drug plan, and with open enrollment running through May 15, 2006, there is still time to save.

“This is the most significant change to Medicare since the program’s inception, and it will offer people with Medicare more choices than ever before,” said Scott Latimer, M.D., Central and North Florida Market President for Senior Products at Humana, one of the nation’s leading private sector Medicare insurers. “In order to select the plan that best meets their needs, beneficiaries will need to carefully evaluate their options prior to enrolling.”

When choosing a plan, people with Medicare and their family members and friends involved in the process need to factor three areas into their decision: affordable cost, plan coverage of required drugs and services and ease of obtaining medications.

Cost

While some plans have a monthly premium, there are Medicare Advantage plans that provide Parts A and B medical coverage and include Part D drug coverage as a built-in benefit without an additional monthly premium cost.

Plans also have varying coverage of the coverage gap, which is commonly referred to as the “doughnut hole.” Some plans offer more choices than others, including $0 deductible options, varying co-payment levels and possibly generic drug coverage through the gap.

Additionally, people with Medicare will also pay part of the cost for prescriptions, which varies depending on the drug plan chosen.

Coverage

Each Medicare drug plan has a list of the prescription drugs it covers. When comparing plans, beneficiaries need to find plans that cover all or most of the drugs they take. Many plans may also offer lower-cost generics.

Of course, insurance plans can change the list of drugs they cover. Companies must provide at least 60 days’ notice before making a coverage change. Beneficiaries can then evaluate other options and speak to their doctors about the possibility of switching to an alternate drug that is on the plan or to a generic medication.

Convenience

All private insurers offering prescription drug coverage have pharmacy networks. These include both national pharmacies such as Wal-Mart, Rite Aid and CVS and non-chain independent pharmacies. Mail-order drug delivery services may also be an option, and may be particularly beneficial for people who take multiple medications daily.

People should speak with their pharmacist about the plan they are considering. It is important to know if that pharmacy will be part of that preferred network.

Web-based tools can help calculate prescription drug costs by plan, determine all out-of-pocket costs and even allow online enrollment.

Tags: Deductible Options, Doughnut, Florida Market, Generic Drug, Humana One, Insurance Plans, Latimer, List Of Drugs, Medical Coverage, Medicare Drug Plan, Medicare Prescription Drug, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, North Florida, Open Enrollment, Plan Coverage, Plan Options, Prescription Drug Coverage, Prescription Drug Plan, Prescription Drugs

When you are searching for an alcohol and drug rehab program, it is important that you select a facility that will best suit the needs of the person in need of treatment. Whether its you, a family member or friend, the most important part of the selection process is ensuring that the facility will be able to offer not only a quality treatment program, but also a professional counseling and support system throughout the entire rehabilitation process.

One of the best ways to find a quality alcohol & drug rehab facility is through the referral of a physician, many of whom will offer a recommendation as to the best treatment options for an individual following a determination as to his/her level of alcohol and/or drug dependency. Without the recommendation of a physician, individuals will have to search for a treatment facility on their own. One way of doing this is by looking through the yellow pages of a local telephone book or searching the web for local treatment facilities.

While each alcohol & drug rehab treatment program is different, the basic fundamentals are the same. Most facilities have a strict list of guidelines that every patient must adhere to including which items can and cannot be brought onto the premises. This is especially true of an inpatient treatment facility, which offers housing to patients. Most programs begin with a detoxification process, often referred to simply as detox, which is followed by a treatment program customized to the patients needs. During this time, counseling sessions and various activities will be participated in by the patient in order to show them the benefits of living a drug and alcohol free life.

According to their level of dependency, patients may be required to attend an inpatient program. As mentioned previously, this entails the patient actually residing on the property during the treatment process. During this time, there is 24-hour supervision with inpatient care. Outpatient treatment, on the other hand, is for individuals who are able to continue living their life, attending school or work and everyday functions without the concern of substance abuse. An outpatient treatment program allows for an individual to live at home and attend regular counseling meetings, such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or other treatment program. The decision between an inpatient or outpatient treatment program will depend heavily on the level of addiction and the patients ability to resist alcohol and drugs without constant supervision.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional medical advice regarding the treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. Prior to selecting a quality alcohol & drug rehab facility, individuals should consult a licensed medical doctor for a proper diagnosis and recommendation for treatment.

Tags: Alcohol And Drug Rehab, Alcohol Drug, Alcohol Treatment, Detox, Detoxification Process, Drug And Alcohol, Drug Dependency, Drug Rehab Program, Drug Rehab Treatment, Family Member, Inpatient Program, Inpatient Treatment Facility, Outpatient Treatment, Quality Alcohol, Quality Treatment, Rehabilitation Process, Searching The Web, Selection Process, Telephone Book, Treatment Options

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy for daily life requirements. It is still a mystery the cause of diabetes although genetically and environmentally influence such as not enough exercise and obesity play a role.

To understand diabetes, it is good to learn something about pancreas, the long and thin situated behind our stomach. Pancreas is responsible for regulating the bodys use of glucose. It has two main functions: firstly to produce pancreatic endocrine hormones which assist in regulating our metabolism and secondly to produce pancreatic digestive enzymes. When the blood glucose levels begin to rise, it is insulins job to push muscle and fat cells to absorb whatever glucose they need for future activities whereas any surplus will store by the liver. There are some individuals either do not produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or their body resists whatever insulin is produced (Type 2 diabetes), thus an outside source production is necessary. Either way, the result is the same. Type 1 or also know as juvenile-onset diabetes, typically affects children and young adults and is genetically-linked. Type 2 which also known as adult-onset diabetes occurs in adults and is linked to obesity. Symptoms of both types include blurred vision, fatigue, frequent, bladder infections, increased appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, nausea, skin infections, vaginitis and vomiting. If not treated, diabetes type 1 and 2, can cause blood vessel damage, gangrene, heart attack, kidney damage, nerve damage, stork and vision problems.

How Glucosium Can Help: Glucosium is a popular diabetes treatment of natural ingredients which can help control blood sugar, stimulate your bodys insulin production, limit nerve damage and much more. This revolutionary supplement has shown amazing benefits for people with diabetes, as well as preventative properties for those who are exposed to a higher risk for diabetes. Last advice: do exercise, eat right and supplement your body with the proper nutrients that help your body to produce the insulin it was supposed to have.

Tags: Adult Onset Diabetes, Blood Glucose Levels, Blood Vessel Damage, Cause Of Diabetes, Control Blood Sugar, Diabetes Treatment, Diabetes Type 1, Diabetes Type 1 And 2, Digestive Enzymes, Fat Cells, Frequent Bladder Infections, Insulin Production, Insulin Type, Insulins, Juvenile Onset Diabetes, Kidney Damage, Nerve Damage, Revolutionary Supplement, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes