What causesDry Skin? Sometimes skin has a low level of sebum, which is the natural oil that is produced by skin glands. It is called dry skin and it cannot hold moisture and will look parched and feel tight when washed and in some extreme times, it can show some signs of chapping and cracking. The wind and very high or low temperatures can steal the natural moisture and make the skin feel tight across the bones. Dry skin can cause embarrassing flakes and any mark or dry skin will be very dull and show up on cheeks and near the eyes. You may also find dry skin on the knees, hands and in the mid section. The most common cause of dry skin is the lack of sufficient moisture from sebum. In some cases, this can be due to genetic conditions. There are also environmental causes like exposure to sun, cold, cosmetics, chemicals, and wind can cause dry skin too. Other reasons can be poor diet. A diet that is deficient in vitamin A and B is more likely to take away the skin’s moisture. Skin diseases like dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea are causes of dry skin. It can be a result also of other conditions like diabetes and hypothyroidism and the use of certain drugs like diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines. Dry skin is also going to need a lot of easy cleansing, massage to stimulate the sebum production and a lot of quality in moisture and oil. When you are washing your skin with soap it will take out the natural protective oil along with the dirt. Use of a good moisturizer will return lost water content to the skin. You can use neutral not acidic or alkaline products for washing the skin and abstain from using commercial soaps. After the second cleansing you need to treat the skin lightly with moisturizing cream. Once you have taken a bath or shower, you can apply baby oil over the skin. The area that is around the eyes needs to have a bigger application of the oil. You can also massage your face and apply some homemade remedies that are suggested by a doctor. Every morning you should treat your skin with a spray of mineral water. You should then apply some beauty mask for dry skin and mix together one egg, teaspoon of honey, half teaspoon of olive oil and a couple drops of rose water. This makes a great mask to use on your face and body. Eating a good balanced diet that is loaded with vitamins and minerals is a great idea. You should include some sulfur containing foods like onion, garlic, asparagus, and eggs as part of your diet. You can eat more carrots and yellow and orange vegetables. You should refrain from alcohol, caffeine, coffee, tea, and sugary drinks. Other items to limit are French fries, and other junk food that are high in grease or fat. This will help to keep your skin healthy and stop it from drying out.
How to Stay Healthy on Vacation !
It is the time of year when many people are preparing for a restful vacation. Perhaps you are heading off to see the grandkids, or your whole family is taking a cruise. No matter what the activity, vacations are no reason to give up on healthy living. Here are few tips to help you stay healthy while on vacation.
- Wash your hands often.
- Take vitamin C or Echinacea. Echinacea is a popular herbal supplement used to boost immunity.
- Dink lots of water. If you travel abroad, consider bottled water.
- Take long walks everyday, use the stairs when possible, or use the hotel fitness room.
- Limit fast food.
- Pack healthy snacks likes dried fruit, healthy crackers, or nuts.
- If you are driving, take breaks every few hours.
- Find a famers market near you. Pick up some fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, pretzels and popcorn that can serve as snacks or a breakfast alternative during your stay.
- Always select a sit down restaurant. Order dressing on the side. Try local cuisine or fish.
- Share your meals around the table. Serving sizes at standard restaurants can easily feed two people.
- Turn off the IPad and TV news for a few days. Try reading a book.
- Limit the use of alcohol.
- Keep bed bugs away. Don’t store your clothes on the ground, use luggage racks; bed bugs do no climb.
According to travel experts these are the top vacation spoilers: overeating, dehydration, hangovers, overspending, and getting sunburned. Try to stick to your normal sleep schedule and, bring your own pillow with you if possible.
Courtesy of Tom Jones Insurance
The Value of Good Medical Records !
Keeping your own records of any medical care that you and your immediate family have received is the only way to be sure that your insurance and bills are free from mistakes. It may seem unimportant now, but later in life when you try to get life insurance or get treatment that is appropriate for you, the importance will be in the spotlight. Everything from your allergies to your payment records with medical facilities can hurt you if they are wrong in your report. You could be given improper treatment or even denied treatment at all. By keeping your own records, you can dispute anything that is false.
Would you believe that you could be denied a job because of something erroneous on your medical records? It is true; if you are reported to have a disability, whether it is true or not, you could be turned down. You would be labeled as a risk, especially if the company offers insurance; they would know that you are going to cost more money to employ. The same goes for applying for health insurance where your medical records show that you would require prescription drugs, doctor visits, and increased chance of emergencies. It is quite the ordeal if you do in fact have a disability, but imaging if you did not have one at all—you would be turned down for insurance, while also being completely ineligible for disability financial help.
An example of a mistake that could be made on your record would be a diagnosis error. Perhaps you request that your doctor check a suspicious lump in your breast. On the first visit he may suspect that it is cancer. Most people will get a second opinion or go for a more thorough conclusive examination. If the second doctor decides that it is only a cyst and has it removed, your personal records would show that you are cancer-free. However, if this visit was documented incorrectly, or not at all, you may have trouble getting insured and not know why. If you had a record of the second visit that found the cyst, this situation would be easily disputed and your record would be accurate.
Human error is simply a part of life, even on medical documents. It is important to always keep your own records so that insurance companies get accurate information about you and your health condition. If you are being turned down for insurance and do not know why, you are best advised to be sure that you are not being misrepresented within your medical records. This problem can be cleared up quickly and easily if you are responsible enough to keep your own personal records.
Dear Marci !
Dear Marci,
I am turning 65 soon, but I still plan on working for a few years. My employer gives me health insurance, but I am not sure whether I have to enroll in Medicare. Do I have to enroll in Medicare if I am still working?
– Bruce (Cleveland, OH)
Dear Bruce,
You may have to enroll in Medicare while you are still working, but it depends on what type of coverage you have from your current employer and how it works with Medicare.
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is premium-free if you or your spouse worked in the United States for 10 years or more. Many people choose to enroll in Part A when they are first eligible, since they do not have to pay a monthly premium. If you qualify for premium-free Part A, you can enroll in Part A at any time.
However, everyone has to pay a monthly Part B premium, which is $104.90 for most people in 2015. When you sign up for Medicare, you are automatically enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B. However, you have the option to turn down Part B, but you should use great caution before delaying your Part B coverage.
You should only consider delaying Part B coverage if you confirm two things. First, you must have health insurance from a current employer (or a spouse’s current employer). If you have coverage from your (or your spouse’s) current employer, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in Medicare Part B later and will not face penalties or periods without coverage. If your insurance does not come from your or your spouse’s current work, you do not qualify for this SEP. Note that retiree insurance and COBRA coverage do not count as coverage from a current employer.
Second, you should only consider delaying Part B coverage if your current employer coverage pays firstand Medicare pays second. In other words, only consider delaying Part B if your employer coverage does not change how much it pays for your care after you qualify for Medicare. If you are 65 of older, health insurance from your (or your spouse’s) current employer pays first if the organization has 20 or more employees (note that if you are under 65 and disabled, the organization must have 100 or more employees).
On the other hand, you should enroll in Medicare Part B when you first qualify if your employer coverage only pays for your care after Medicare pays. If Medicare pays first and you fail to enroll, your employer coverage can reduce its payment or refuse to pay anything for your health care. Medicare usually pays first if you work for an organization with less than 20 employees.
To find out how your specific employer coverage works with Medicare, talk to your employer and get the information in writing. Also, confirm this information with the Social Security Administration (SSA), especially if you plan on delaying Part B enrollment. When you call Social Security, it is important to write down who you spoke to and the details of your conversation.
-Marci
Medicare & Medicaid ?
You can have both Medicare and Medicaid. You may qualify for Medicaid coverage of a broad range of health services, including doctors’ visits, hospital care, and medical equipment if you meet the financial requirements. Each state has its own Medicaid program with different eligibility limits and slightly different benefits.
If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicare will pay first for all Medicare-covered services and Medicaid will pay second by covering your remaining costs, such as the Medicare coinsurances, copayments, and deductibles. Medicaid will also pay for certain medical services that Medicare does not cover, such as transportation to medical appointments, some dental services, and additional home care. You will most likely be required to have a Part D prescription drug plan, but Medicaid will help cover your costs.
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