Universal health care

Universal Health Care - Ethical Issues in Health Care Reform

By Beverly OMalley

Universal health care seems to be a hotly debated topic whenever health care reform in the United States is discussed.
Those who maintain that health is an individual responsibility do not want a system that requires them to contribute tax dollars to support fellow citizens who do not act responsibly in protecting or promoting their own health. They argue that they want the freedom to choose their own physicians and treatments, and suggest that government cannot know what is best for them.  These people argue that preserving the current system with improvements to provide better insurance coverage for citizens who remain uninsured or under insured for their medical care needs is the only reform that is needed.
Those who believe health care is an individual right support a universal health care system with the argument that every citizen deserves to have access to the right care at the right time and that a government's responsibility is to protect its citizens, sometimes even from themselves.
Two opposing arguments arising from two opposing ideologies.  Both are good arguments but neither can be the supporting argument for implementing or denying universal health care.  The matter must be resolved through an ethical framework.
Examination of the ethical issues in health care reform would require consideration of much different arguments  than those already presented.   Ethical issues would center on the moral right.  Discussion would begin with not "What is best for me?" but rather  "How should we as a society be acting so that our actions are morally correct?"
Ethics refers to determining right and wrong in how humans relate to one another.  Ethical decision making for health care reform then would require human beings to act in consideration of our relationships to each other not our own individual interests.
Examination of some of the common ethical decision making theories can provide a foundation for a different perspective than one that is solely concerned  with individual rights and freedoms.
Ethical decision making requires that specific questions be answered in order to decide on whether intended actions are good or morally correct.  Here are some questions that could be used in ethical decision making for health care reform.

• What action will bring the most good to the most people?
• What action in and of itself is a good act and helps us to fulfill our duties, obligations, and responsibilities to each other?
• What action in and of itself shows caring and concern for all citizens?

As the answer to all  these questions, universal health care can always be considered the right thing to do.
The United States is in the most advantageous position there is when it comes to health care reform.  They are the only developed country without a national health care system in place for all citizens.  They have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes that have been made by all the other countries that have already gone down the universal health care road. They have an opportunity to design a system that can shine as a jewel in the crown of universal health care systems everywhere.
However, all ethical decision making is structured around values.  In order for universal health care to be embraced by all citizens in the United States, they will first have to agree to the collective value of equity and fairness and embrace the goal of meeting their collective responsibility to each other while maintaining individual rights and freedoms. That may prove to be the most difficult obstacle of all.

Beverly Hansen OMalley is a nurse with over 35 years experience in nursing education. She is health promotion specialist and is passionate about the necessity to address social determinants of health as part of overall health promotion strategies. She is the owner of http://www.registered-nurse-canada.com where she provides information on the Canadian health care system, the nursing profession in Canada, and the nursing entrance tests for the US and Canada.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_OMalley

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Technology in Health Care Industry

Importance of Technology in Health Care Industry

By Ron Shimoff

The advent of technology has revolutionized the health care industry, as the changes have certainly improved medicine, science, and life. This article talks about the importance of technology in health care, so read on to know what changes transpired that makes modern technology essential.
There is no doubt that the introduction of modern technology into science and medicine has helped improved the quality of medications, treatment and increase the chance of people surviving from the different diseases that afflict man. Come to think of it! The use of modern equipment has certainly helped prolonged life and most importantly give people hope.
In terms of communication, modern technology has unquestionably breakdown the barriers as now the massive use of electronic recording or encoding of patients data into computer has made things easier for nurses or doctors who are trying to access the health patients data. Electronic health record has created a much stronger network in the health care industry, especially in almost all hospital that have taken advantage of the benefits offered by modern technology and recognized the importance of technology.
Getting information is a lot easier and faster now, as the records now updated when new information becomes available, and this is vital for patients transferring to another facilities and units. Aside from communication the way people are diagnosed and treated has also improved considerably, which even allows diseases to be treated before a patient shows any symptoms.
The use of highly advanced equipment has helped a lot of doctors discover health problems before they occur and treat a health condition painlessly and less hassle. People can get surgery in the morning and go home in the afternoon or right after the operation, without any complication and this change has further boost the importance of technology in the medical field.
Without modern equipment or technology, some of the treatment would still be painful, uncomfortable, dangerous, and impossible to achieve. It is even safe to say that patient safety and comfort are the foremost consideration in the incorporation of technology in the health care industry, as most modern treatments considered people friendly. In other words, the arrival of technology in the industry has made a lot of people comfortable in dealing with their health problem.
Technology has bring a lot of positive and negative things in the health care industry, but one thing for sure despite all the negative impact of using modern equipment in almost all aspect of health care, people seeking medical attention now has a bigger chance to get treated. The fact that you can get quality health care solution further highlights the importance of technology in health care.

My name is Ron and I have a website regrading the impact of technology on different apsects of our life. Read about the impact of technology on education and the latest trends in information technology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Shimoff

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Primary Care Physician or Specialist

 By Abigail Aaronson
Many patients who get sick wonder if they should make an appointment with a primary care physician or a specialist. General practitioners diagnose and treat a wide range of health maladies for their patients. Their patients may be newborn babies, teenagers, or the elderly. Specialists, on the other hand, focus on one area of treatment or one age group. Some examples are oncologists, cardiologists, orthopedists, obstetricians, gynecologists, pediatricians, and geriatric specialists.
Categorized by Treatment Area
Oncologists are doctors who diagnose and treat cancer in their patients. They focus purely on this disease although have patients in every age range and with all types of tumors and malignancies. Cardiologists are specialists who focus on the cardiovascular systems which include the heart, blood vessels, and lungs. Orthopedists focus on the musculoskeletal portions of the body. If you have a broken bone, this is the MD you would see. Obstetricians are doctors who monitor pregnant moms and deliver babies. Gynecologists' treatment focus is on the reproductive tracts of female patients. While a primary care physician could also diagnose and treat many of these conditions and illnesses, he or she would likely refer you to a specialist when your needs are out of his or her range of expertise.
Categorized by Age Groups
Pediatricians are doctors who diagnose and treat children. Their patients are newborns through adolescents. Some kids see the same pediatrician throughout their childhood and teen years. When they become an adult, they switch to a primary care physician who treats mainstream adults. Elderly individuals have specific health concerns that may be optimally addressed by geriatric specialists. When humans age, their skin, muscles, bones, organs, and minds change in various ways. It's sometimes helpful to have a specialist with a firm grasp on aging and elder concerns.
General Practitioner
Many patients prefer to stick with a family doctor over a specialist for a variety of reasons. For one, a relationship can be developed because every family member probably goes to see the same practitioner for every ailment. This allows the medical provider and patients to bond and know each other's history. This can be helpful to the patient because he or she feels comfortable with the family doc. This can be advantageous to the primary care physician because he or she understands the patterns within a family.
Deciding to make an appointment with a primary care physician vs. a specialist is a personal decision. It can also depend on the situation. For typical viruses and infections, a family doc can fit the bill. For complicated life threatening illnesses, sometimes it's better to call in the specialist.

Get the right person for the job. Learn more about Primary care physician New Orleans at: http://wjmc.org.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abigail_Aaronson

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Heart Disease

5 Little Known Facts About Heart Disease

By Larry L. Taylor

Each and every year heart disease kills millions of people around the globe. In fact, it's the leading cause of death, 40% of deaths in the US are caused by heart disease, and in many cases it's completely preventable. The solution is relatively simple in theory, eat healthy, manage stress, and exercise. However, putting those words of wisdom into practice can be tricky. It's particularly challenging because there are so many factors that affect the health of your heart - from good sleep to the type of foods you eat and how you exercise. Let's explore some of the little known facts about heart disease to help you take better care of your health.

#1 The Silent Killer. Since 1984, heart disease has killed more women every year than men. It's more deadly to women than all types of cancer combined. And when women have a heart attack, they don't often understand their symptoms. For many women the symptoms of a heart attack feel a lot like the flu. Common symptoms include nausea, indigestion, and shoulder aches. Men generally experience chest pain.
#2 Getting a flu shot cuts your risk for a heart attack or stroke by up to 50 percent. What's the connection between your heart health and the flu? According to physicians at Harvard Medical School, when you get the flu, your body has a significant immune response, which causes inflammation. This inflammation causes the plaque inside your blood vessels to become unstable and cause blockages and potential heart attacks. Additionally, changes in your lungs from the flu virus lower blood oxygen levels. Your heart has to work harder to deliver the same amount of oxygen to your brain and tissues. Finally, the flu virus can directly damage heart muscle cells.
#3 The Diabetes Link. The vast majority of heart attacks, seventy percent, are caused by insulin resistance - the same cause of type 2 diabetes. Don't know your glucose levels? At risk for diabetes or already have diabetes? There are things you can do to take control of your health. A healthy diet and exercise are essential and can reverse type 2 diabetes and reduce your risk of a heart attack. Learn your risk by having a few tests done. Knowledge is power.
#4 The Stress Connection. You probably won't be surprised to learn that stress has an impact on heart health. However, you may be surprised to learn that you're more likely to have a heart attack on Monday morning than at any other time of the week. Additionally, women who go on vacation at least twice a year less likely to suffer a heart attack or die from heart disease.
#5 Laugh More, Eat Dark Chocolate, and Have Sex. All three of these joys of life have a positive impact on heart health. They're certainly a fun way to stay healthy.
Heart disease may be the number one killer but it doesn't have to be your story. Talk to your doctor, know your risk and take steps today to begin to reduce your risk. For more information on how you may control high blood pressure click on the link CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE in the resource box below.

And now I would like to invite you to visit http://www.ahealthinfo.com for FREE Instant Access to How You Can Control High Blood Pressure CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_L._Taylor

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Hair Loss

Tips and Advice on How to Reduce Hair Loss

By Ron Shimoff

Hair loss is a common and normal phenomenon which occurs to both men and women especially at an older age.
There are two basic types of hair loss; scarring (hair follicle is damaged and hair cannot regrow) and non-scarring (hair fall is attributed to a variety of factors such as genetics, illness, poor nutrition or medications). The major causes and risk factors to hair fall include aging, improper and poor diet, illnesses, or hormonal changes.
Natural remedies for reducing loss of hair
Hair fall can be unfortunate to your image especially if you are young. Hair fall can be irreversible and prevention of the hair loss is the best cure. Different natural home remedies can be used to curb hair fall. The common remedies for hair fall treatment include;
Coconut milk
Coconut milk has been known to be the richest source of tissue-nourishing. Coconut milk is extracted by cutting the coconut into small pieces and ground to extract the milk. The coconut milk is used for a soothing massage on the scalp hence reducing hair fall.
Oil massage
Oil massage is another common method of reducing hair loss. The massage oils used are natural oils made from olive, jojoba, almond or coconut oils. The oils are preheated to lukewarm and the patient should massage the scalp for about 20 minutes, leave it for an hour and then wash your hair with a mild shampoo.
Natural juices
Several natural juices are capable of reducing hair loss. Some of the natural juices used include onion juice, and aloe Vera juice. They are applied onto the body surface while massaging for about 30 minute and then wash off in warm water. The natural juices can also balance hair shareholders and pH level of the scalp.
Neem leaves
Neem tree is one of the most common plant with tremendous medicinal values. Neem leaves are boiled in water for 30 to 45 minutes. The extracts from the neem leaves are applied on the skin surface and left for some time. Neem leaves help prevent hair fall and also confers other additional health and beauty benefits.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that fight and neutralize free radicals in the body. Antioxidants can be found in many plants. Green tea is the most common antioxidant and not only does it prevent from hair loss, it boosts the immune system hence improving the general body heath. Green tea can be made from boiling green tea bag in clean water. The tea is applied on the affected skin area and left for an hour before washing and shampooing the hair.
Amla treatment
Amla is a herb that prevents hair loss on the scalp. Dried alma is soaked in coconut oil until it turns to black. The oils extracted contain natural nutritious products and are used to massage the scalp which is an effective way to reduce hair loss.
Change of lifestyle habits that may affect hair loss such as alcoholism or allergies and proper evaluation of your skin is important in order to get the suitable products for hair fall treatment.

If you want to know how to stop you hair loss visit my site to read about how saw palmetto can stop hair fall and help acne patients.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Shimoff

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Skin Care Tips.

5 Simple and Natural Skin Care Tips!

By Mohit M Kumar

Today's materialistic world has made us believe that there is no inexpensive way of getting simple, natural beauty. Most of the women resort to make up as it is a quick fix to look beautiful. Make up can make you look beautiful, but also keep in mind that it harms your skin with prolonged usage. However, make up is no comparison for natural beauty. We've listed a few tips that can give you the natural radiance and glowing skin when you follow it regularly. Interested to know how? Read on:
1. Eat healthy- Get used to consuming only healthy foods as opposed to its unhealthy equivalent. Start keeping a tab on your intake of calories, fat, and sugar; each of which show up evidently on your appearance. You should also try to start avoiding junk, oily foods such as chips, pizzas, cookies and cakes.

2. Hydrate your system- Your system needs a regular cleansing with the one and only natural liquid-water. Make sure to drink plenty of water to help flush away the toxins; further giving your skin the natural glow. You could also opt to quit caffeinated drinks such as coffee and aerated drink drinks to help reduce its direct effect on your precious skin.
3. Moisturize your skin- Your skin needs to be moisturized to look healthy, soft and supple. Moisturizing should be a part of your daily skin care regime because it helps keep your skin healthy and beautiful even as you grow older. Go for a natural moisturizer that is devoid of harmful chemicals.
4. Sleep well- Each one of us knows the importance of sufficient sleep, however, do you know that your sleeping pattern shows up on your skin? Well, it is a fact! Sleep for a minimum of six to eight hours a day to help make your skin appear flawless and fresh.
5. Use natural products- The pollution we expose our skin on a daily basis has an intense effect on its natural health and glow. That's when the need to use beauty products strikes. However, refrain from using the chemical laden products and opt for something natural. You should pick natural skin care products that are made out of organic supplements. Nonetheless, it is always good to know everything about organic skin care products before purchasing a product for yourself.
Believe in the fact that natural beauty is real beauty and the tips we've mentioned will help you look beautiful naturally. So, what's the wait for? Unmask the real you and pamper your skin with a healthy diet, some positive reinforcement in lifestyle and pure ayurvedic skin care products to help give you the skin of your dreams.

Mohit Kumar is a Management graduate and writes on Natural Shower Gel and Ayurvedic Massage Oil.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mohit_M_Kumar

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Beauty Secrets

Hawaiian Beauty Secrets

By Noelle Zaldivar

Tropical scents, coconut textures, luscious fruits, bright flowers and exotic fragrances embody the essence of Hawaii. Hawaiian plants, foods, flowers, oils and enzymes can help you to naturally maintain and enhance your inner and outer beauty. Whisk yourself away from ordinary with these 10 Hawaiian beauty ingredients:
1. Tamanu Oil

Tamanu oil is cold-pressed from tamanu tree kernels for both hair and skin products, or it can be used in its pure form. It has a rich, spicy scent and is known to help skin issues like acne, scarring, dry skin, scaly skin, wrinkles, age spots, stretch marks, eczema, and even body and foot odor. It absorbs into the skin quickly and rejuvenates with healing antioxidant properties.
2. Noni

The noni tree is in the coffee family, and its juice and pulp is touted for multiple health and medicinal benefits. It can stimulate the immune system with its antibacterial, antiseptic, astringent and analgesic properties. It also helps acne and combats dry, itchy scalps. Noni is beneficial for skin and hair -- apply directly to these areas.
3. Kukui Nut Oil

Kukui is Hawaii's state tree and is fortified with essential fatty acids, antioxidants and Vitamins A, C and E. The thick oil of the kukui nut is a rich, moisturizing emollient, an effective treatment for acne, dry skin, scars, psoriasis, eczema, dry hair and itchy scalp.
4. Kona Coffee

Kona Coffee is the only U.S. coffee grown in the rich volcanic soil of the Big Island and other sites around Hawaii. The caffeine in Kona coffee neutralizes free radicals and improves skin's texture. It can also help to reduce puffiness and swelling while protecting the skin from harsh environmental conditions.
5. Tropical Fruit Enzymes

Pineapples, bananas, passionfruit, mangoes, papayas and guava are tropical fruits that are often used as face and body masks when made into a pulp. Pineapples contain bromelain, an enzyme that helps break down dry, dead skin cells for smoother, softer skin. Bananas soften, heal and nourish skin, and mangoes are a great moisturizer. Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that rebuilds the skin's elastin, brightens skin and helps to prevent wrinkles. Passionfruit enzymes can act as an astringent, reducing acne by gently exfoliating, removing oil and softening the skin. Guava contains lycopene, an antioxidant that prevents UV ray damage.
6. Sugarcane
Hawaiians use sugarcane in face and body scrubs for natural exfoliation. It has ideal scrub consistency along with the ability to rejuvenate skin, restoring a natural glow. Sugarcane products are also great for softening the lips.
7. Volcanic Ash

Volcanic ash in facial and body masks is known as sodium bentonite clay, a mineral-rich treatment that removes impurities, toxins and excess oils. Volcanic ash clay makes an excellent mud detoxifying treatment for skin as it exfoliates, refines texture and minimizes pores. Sulfur in volcanic ash also gives it anti-bacterial qualities.
8. Macadamia Nut Oil

Macadamia nuts produce an emollient oil with a very silky texture, making it an excellent addition to creams and lotions. It provides deep hydration, improves skin's texture, promotes cell turnover and minimizes the appearance of fine lines. It's also a wonderful additive for hair conditioner.
9. Awapuhi
Awapuhi, also known as Hawaiian ginger, is a fragrant flower used in shampoos and conditioners. It brings softness and shininess to hair and can be left on the hair or rinsed out. Awapuhi juice is also a great massage ointment. It softens skin and can even lighten dark spots.
10. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is used on the skin as well as internally as an herbal remedy. It soothes sunburns naturally and is included in many creams, lotions, cleansers, body washes and lip balms. The gel from the leaf can be used directly on cuts and stings to disinfect and heal. It can also help relieve acne, eczema and psoriasis.
Hawaii is like a paradise on earth, an ultimate destination for a relaxing, exotic spa-like experience. Indulge in a vacation from ordinary and do as the locals do by using these 10 rejuvenating Hawaiian beauty ingredients.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Noelle_Zaldivar

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