My Health Kick

When I get a stuffy nose, I usually go for allergy medicine, but thanks to a physician’s assistant’s tip - I learned that there are different types of medicine that can relieve a stuffy nose.

Today I had a stuffy nose, and forgot what the physician’s assistant had shared with me, so I looked it up.

This was the best page I found:

• http://www.entassociates.com/antihistamines.htm

It compares the two major types of cold remedies and it basically says there are two over the counter (OTC) drug types to help a stuffy, sneezy, or runny nose:

• Antihistamines
• Decongestants

It also lists the different types of chemicals that make antihistamines and decongestants, including the brand names, and also describes the effects each have on the average human body. Like most drugs, there are the desired effects as well as side effects that might not always be so desireable.

Antihistamines

If I understand correctly, antihistamines work better for runny noses and allergies because it “dries” it up. Benadryl (R) is an antihistamine. Antihistamines can make one drowsy.

Decongestants

Again, if I understand correctly, decongestants help stuffy noses - they help get the nose running again, so it can get cleared out. These include the “ephedrine” family, like Sudafed. Decongestants can stimulate.

I checked my medicine cabinet - almost all antihistamines, but thankfully I found a couple decongestant pills. Now my nose is feeling a bit clearer, and my head less stuffy.

November is Movember, a month of colorectal cancer. Its a month where I’ll be growing a mustache to raise awareness.

I’ve been researching and reading up on the disease and found an interesting article questioning whether colorectal cancer is linked to germs:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20121910-10391704.html

And here’s another article that contains information about colorectal cancer, and questions whether it is linked to hot dogs, or not:

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011-10-29/Study-casts-doubt-on-hot-dogs-link-to-colon-cancer/50978834/1

And lastly, here’s some potentially good news! This article discusses a study report that indicates that asprin can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in certain people with a genetic condition:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/ColonCancer/29324

Again, that’s only for people of a specific genetic type.

If you want to grow a mustache to raise awareness of colorectal cancer, sign up at http://us.movember.com/mospace/. Or give a donation to my team: http://www.movember.com/m/1683920.

Health insurance can be such a difficult product to deal with. Not only is the product difficult - the companies that offer health insurance can be just as difficult.

Think about it - here’s a ficticious example (though it may sound familiar to you): you are paying a health insurance business to cover the costs of managing your health, then along comes an ailment, and the insurance company does not always want to pay any or some of the cost to treat that ailment.

What are some of the arguments they might use to avoid responsibility? Who knows what is a valid argument these days, but its quite possible the arguments will include difficult to understand terminology for the average layperson. Here’s a few cryptic health insurance terms that I’ve deciphered over the years - information that will be useful to know.

Prior Authorization

This term refers to whether or not health insurance covered an expense in the past. For prescriptions - a doctor needs to provide “prior authorization” to the insurance provider.

Certificate or Creditable Coverage

This term refers to proof of coverage obtained prior to the current health insurance policy. It is probably related to pre-existing conditions. Some health insurance plans require a waiting period for covering new conditions, and even pre-existing conditions - if they haven’t been covered by any insurance company yet.

One factor regarding health insurance that many may find surprising is how complex it is, as well as how much paperwork is involved. In fact, I’ve heard someone state the following:

• Their insurance coverage involves a $3000 deductible (meaning they would have to incur and pay $3000 on their own before the insurance coverage kicks in).
• They would rather just pay the $3000 per year, instead of having to fill out all the paperwork and claim.

That sounds reasonable to me, but apparently not to the insurance provider! Seriously, why not? Is the new health insurance system mandated by the US Federal Government designed to bury its citizens in paperwork?

Over the years, I’ve had health insurance from the following providers:

• Care First
• United
• Tricare
• Humana Military

Tricare was by far the best. What do you think of your health care company?

I recently watched the film “Food Matters” and while I wasn’t thrilled with the quality of film itself, it did have some content I found compelling.

So compelling, in fact, that it inspired me to try some new vitamins and food supplements!

Niacin (Vitamin B-3)

Niacin is vitamin B-3, and it is used by some people as an aid to lower cholesterol. I had no idea! However, I’ve read that niacin can cause an uncomfortable, but commonly believed to be harmless, “flush” - meaning a rush of blood to the skin’s surface causing it to heat up and get itchy.

I bought a some “no-flush” Niacin from Amazon as well as CVS, but based upon other reports I’ve read, I’m planning to buy this Niacin:

UPDATE: I’ve since tried regular “non-no flush” niacin, and certainly - the flush is uncomfortable.

Spirulina

In my humble opinion, spirulina isn’t as interesting as niacin, but it is pretty cool. Its a microbiotic seaweed that is packed with protein. Cool! I like protein!

So I bought this:

While I was at it, I also bought some Emergen-C:

Speaking of food supplements, I need to buy some lecithin granules! Something like this:

Jack LaLanne has passed away at 96 years young. He was a fitness guru and what I knew of him really impressed me.

I learned about him from the film “Bigger, Faster, Stronger”, which is quite good by the way. In it, he is himself, proselytizing the benefits of staying fit.

I’d like to live to be 96 or older! How about you? I’ve gotta get back on my exercise bike.