Have you ever wondered exactly what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to fighting a cold? We have all heard about the gimmicky products that are supposed to shorten the life of a cold, but are the claims true? In the interest of cutting through some of the myths surrounding colds we would like to present the following information from the Mayo Clinic regarding some suggestions about what probably won’t help that cold this winter:
- Antibiotics. These destroy bacteria, but they’re no help against cold viruses. Avoid asking your doctor for antibiotics for a cold or using old antibiotics you have on hand. You won’t get well any faster, and inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to the serious and growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Over-the-counter cold and cough medications in young children. OTC cold and cough medications may cause serious and even life-threatening side effects in children. The FDA warns against their use in children younger than age 2. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has voluntarily modified consumer product labels on over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines to state “do not use” in children under 4 years of age, and many companies have stopped manufacturing these products for young children. The FDA is evaluating the safety of these medications in older children.
- Zinc. The cold-fighting reputation of zinc has had its ups and downs. That’s because many zinc studies — both those that find the mineral beneficial and those that do not — are flawed. The highest quality randomized trials generally show no benefit. In studies with positive results, zinc seemed most effective taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Taking zinc with food may reduce side effects, including a bad taste and nausea.Intranasal zinc may result in permanent damage to the sense of smell. The FDA has issued a warning against using three zinc-containing nasal cold remedies because they had been associated with a long-lasting or permanent loss of smell (anosmia).
Hopefully this information will get you started on your way towards avoiding some not-so-helpful cold fighting remedies this winter. One sure fire way to know you are doing the right thing is to see your doctor if need be. You will always be thankful that you have BCBSNC health insurance if you need to see a doctor and thats because Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina makes it easy for you to get help, and get better!
| Cold Remedies...What Doesn't Work? | No Comments »
We all know how bad it can feel to have a fever. With the winter upon us it seems that this is a problem that all of us will have to deal with on a more frequent, or probable, basis, and that said it will do us good to look into some of the ways we can fight a fever at home. The Mayo clinic offers the following suggestions for fighting a fever:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Fever can cause fluid loss and dehydration, so drink water, juices or broth. For a child under age 1, use an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte. These solutions contain water and salts proportioned to replenish fluids and electrolytes. Pedialyte ice pops also are available.
- Rest. It’s necessary for recovery, and activity can raise your body temperature.
- Stay cool. Dress in light clothing, keep the room temperature cool and sleep with only a sheet or light blanket.
- Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Use according to the label instructions or as recommended by your doctor, and be careful to avoid taking too much. High doses or long-term use of acetaminophen may cause liver or kidney damage, and acute overdoses can be fatal. If you’re not able to get your child’s fever down, don’t give more medication; call your doctor instead. For temperatures below 102 F (38.9 C), don’t use fever-lowering drugs unless advised by your doctor.
- Soak in lukewarm water. Especially for high temperatures, a lukewarm five- to 10-minute soak or giving your child a sponge bath can be cooling. Do not use alcohol. And if the bath causes shivering, stop the bath and dry your child. Shivering raises the body’s internal temperature — shaking muscles generate heat.
These methods are a great first step towards combating illness, but if you need to see a doctor because of a fever you will be thankful that you have North Carolina health insurance through blue cross blue shield of North Carolina on your side!
| Knock down your Fever | No Comments »
We might not often think about our sinuses…until the winter comes. That’s the time when the dry air makes things particularly inviting for bacteria as well as making everything generally less comfortable for you sinuses. So what can you do to help fight off bad sinus problems during the winter?
If you are having major problems you might want to put that bcbsnc north carolina health insurance to good use by going and seeing a doctor. You can always try the following first however:
- Use a saline solution. A saline spray will help keep your membranes moist and generally help keep your sinuses working properly
- Drink hot teas and soups.
- Use a compress over your eyes and nose, especially after using saline solution.
- Blow your nose properly. Don’t blow to hard as this can cause problems to move to your ears.
If you follow these tips you should be well on your way towards making this winter season a better one in terms of your physical well being.
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Preventing illness is as important to us as it is to our healthcare provider. We all want to make sure that we take care of our bodies and keep the flu and common cold at bay. So what can we do to make sure that our health is well looked after to help prevent illness? Apparently one of the things that we might need to do to avoid sickness is to take a more cautious approach when it comes to dealing with our favorite household friends, namely our pets.
According to Businessweek.com there are some steps that we can take to avoid any illnesses that might be transported by our furry friends:
- Thoroughly wash your hands after feeding your pet, touching your pet or removing its waste.
- Don’t allow pets to eat from your plates or utensils.
- Don’t kiss your pet on the mouth.
- Make sure your pet’s space is clean, and don’t let children play in areas where there’s pet waste.
- Keep pets away from areas where food is prepared or handled.
- Don’t bathe your pet in the sink or bathtub.
- Never make a wild animal a pet.
As difficult as it might be to “not kiss your pet on the mouth” you may just want to avoid it! This way Fido will have a healthy happy owner, just as you want a healthy happy pet.
| Is your Pet making you Sick? | No Comments »
Do you need health insurance? Everyone wants to be covered but some people just feel that there isn’t enough of a reason for them to get signed up. Maybe they think that they are in great health and don’t need coverage, or maybe they think that they are young enough that they are as of yet “indestructible”. The fact of the matter is that everyone should carry coverage regardless of age and health because health insurance can provide security in an otherwise insecure world. The people over at mamashealth.com put together a great list of reasons why it is good to have coverage like that offered by blue cross blue shield of north carolina:
- Health insurance helps to ensure that you and your family are protected against the financial hardships that may result from health care expenses.
- Without health insurance, you may not be able to afford medical care when you need it
- People with health insurance are more likely to go to the hospital before their condition worsens and becomes more expensive to treat.
- People with diabetes who do not have health insurance have a higher mortality rate than people who have diabetes and health insurance.
- If large medical bills are not paid, the hospital can put a lien against your property.
- You may have to seek are at county run hospitals. County run hospitals are often overcrowded and it may take hours, if not days to be seen.
- Some colleges, universities, and international programs require proof of health insurance to be enrolled.
- You may receive a high life insurance premium.
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Sometimes we find it difficult to decide when it is the right time to see our doctor. Should we go if we are just feeling a bit run down? Maybe it is good to schedule appointments ahead of time and go on a regimented routine? Unfortunately it can be difficult to decide what the right thing to do is when it comes to seeing our doctors. With this in mind the people over at life.familyeducation.com have put together a list that might provide a few reminders about when the best time to see a doctor might be:
- Yearly check-up (every other year if no health risks)
- Yearly dental exam
- Monthly breast self-exams
- Yearly Pap smear/OBGYN visit after the age of 18 or when sexual activity begins
- Mammogram initially by age 40; high risk by age 35
- Colonoscopy initially by age 40; high risk by age 35
- EKG as recommended by your primary physician
You can use this list as a starting point towards determining when the right time for you to schedule appointments might be. This guide can’t be a one stop solution so you may want to consult with your physician before deciding when the right time for appointments is for you.
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In our previous column we mentioned that you can stay active during the winter by doing cardiovascular exercise outdoors and may actually find that the cooler air helps your performance. This time we will be looking at another important area of physical fitness that can tend to diminish during the winter months: Eating habits.
While we all want to look our best when the summer comes around and we might happen to find ourselves in a bathing suit at the lovely Carolina beaches, we must also consider our health during the “off season”. If you’re looking to keep your North Carolina Health Insurance premiums as low as they can go then you should consider the benefit not only to your health, but also to your wallet of winter exercise and eating.
While it might seem that the cool air is inviting you to eat all the pumpkin pie and hot chocolate that you can stuff it, you should also consider some of the excellent fruits and vegetables that are peaking at this time of year. This is the time of the year for delicious squash and kale, as well as the only time of year that you can really get your hands on a pomegranate! Pomegranates, the ultimate antioxidant “super food” can be purchased at your local grocery store this time of year. So even though the temperature is dropping, don’t let it get the best of your exercise and eating habits. Stay ahead of the curve and make it easier to shed pounds in the summer by staying lean and healthy all year long.
| Some Tips to Stay Healthy during the Winter Pt.2 | No Comments »
With the winter months approaching faster than perhaps many of us would like it might be a good time to consider some healthy steps that you can take while you enter the colder months. Many people tend to hibernate through the cold season and are left with added pounds that need to be burned off to not only look our best during the summer, but to also feel our best. The fact of the matter is that looking good for the swimsuit season is only a small part of why you should exercise and stay fit, the major reason to keep active through out the year is for your internal beauty: Your health. What better way is there to keep your Blue Cross NC premiums at rock bottom than to take care of your body all year round?
So what can you do to stay healthy over the winter? Well one thing is not to fear the cold weather. If we are lucky enough to have a mild winter this might not be a big concern, but if the conditions do get nippy out then you may actually find that you are better off doing cardiovascular exercises outdoors than you were during the summer months. Cardiovascular exercises like running and biking can put a major strain on your system when the conditions get to be above 70 degrees and the humidity starts to rise, but cool winter air can actually help your body perform at it’s peak.
| Some Tips to Stay Healthy during the Winter Pt.1 | No Comments »
Due to some of the national health reform policy changes, BCBSNC said that they will refund $155.8 million dollars to policy holders. According to wral news the refund is a proactive response to upcoming changes:
Brad Wilson, chief executive of Blue Cross, the state’s largest insurer, said the refunds would be issued to people who had individual Blue Advantage or Blue Options HSA policies on March 23, when President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law.
“This is not necessarily in response to any criticism. It’s simply the right thing to do,” Wilson said. “A new law was enacted, new rules are in force, change is in the air.”
Wral also notes that the refunds are “the result of new rating and grandfathering rules in the health reform law.”
| Blue Cross to Proactively Refund Money | No Comments »
Starting September 23, 2010 some new changes will take place for health insurance companies across the land. According to the director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy Ann Deparle, the following changes are expected to take effect shortly:
*A requirement that insurance companies allow young adults to stay on their parents’ plan until they turn 26.
*Prohibition against imposing lifetime limits on the dollar amount health plans will spend on benefits, such as cancer treatment, and restricting annual limits on benefits until 2014, when they too will be banned.
*Banning insurance companies from canceling a client’s coverage, a practice known as “rescission,” if said client gets sick or makes a technical mistake on his or her application.
*Prohibition of discriminating against Children with pre-existing conditions
And if you purchase or join a new plan after September 23:
Insurance companies must cover recommended preventive services, including mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, pre-natal and new baby care without charging deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance.
Insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage for needed care without clients having the chance to appeal to an independent third party.
Insured parties will be guaranteed their choice of a primary care provider within the plan’s network of doctors, including OB-GYNs and pediatricians, without having to obtain a referral, as well as out-of-network emergency care. (foodconsumer.org)
Be sure to check back with us to find out if any other changes will be taking effect regarding North Carolina Health Insurance.
| Changes to take Place this Month | No Comments »
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