Sunday 29 July 2012

What is Health Information Technology?


When someone breaks an arm, undergoes heart surgery, receives medicine to treat a sore throat, or simply gets his yearly physical, a record of his physician's treatments, observations, and notes is created and saved. His medical record includes information concerning his symptoms and medical history, previous medical exam reports, x-ray and laboratory test results, doctors' diagnoses, and a list of past treatment plans. This information is crucial to providing quality healthcare.
The health information technology field employs professionals and technicians who are responsible for the organization of a patient's medical record. Health information technicians begin this assembly process by verifying that a patient's initial medical charts are complete. All forms must be completed, identified, and signed. Then, all this information must be entered into a computer. Additionally, health information professionals must regularly communicate with physicians to ensure accuracy, clarify diagnoses, and obtain any supplementary information needed to update a patient's file.
Until very recently, all medical records were paper documents. Complex information for millions of patients was managed exclusively with files, folders, and forms. However, a new government initiative aims to apply the same sophisticated technology we use for actual healthcare towards managing and utilizing health information. This national push for advanced health information technology is combined with an enormous need for qualified healthcare professionals - making this a smart career move indeed.

Thursday 26 July 2012

Understanding Fats


You may have heard that essential fats are an important aspect to maintaining the health of your body. But what exactly are they?Basically, there are two truly essential fatty acids, Linoleic and Linolenic. You may have heard of these referred to as Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids.
So, why are they called essential? The term essential in the life sciences refers to the fact that a nutrient cannot be synthesized by the body. Thus, you must have a dietary or supplemental source to supply your need for these acids.You probably heard of the 8 essential amino acids. It’s the same idea here but in this case we are referring to fatty acids rather than an amino acid.
These fatty acids exist in and are used in every cell of your body. So they are crucial to a cell’s health and therefore to our health as people. The good news is that in North America, you generally get enough Omega -6 in your diet. Omega-3 has presented a question mark to researchers. Are we getting enough or not?Fortunately, you can get Omega-3 from fish and certain nut oils. If you have any doubt at all, you can get Omega three from flax oil, which is in abundant supply at your local health food store. As those of us who truly understand weight loss and gain can tell you, the key to losing or gaining fat storage from your body centers around the bodies short term energy storage supply. http://healthcareatm.com/

Monday 23 July 2012

Diabetes – The Silent Killer


Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by insulin failure. Insulin, a hormone produced by special cells within the pancreas, is essential for metabolism, especially of glucose (blood sugar), the body’s major fuel.
There are two major types of diabetes:
1.       Juvenile-onset or Type I, in which the body fails to produce insulin, also called Diabetes Mellitus.
2.       Adult-onset, Type II, in which the body is unable to fully utilize insulin. Without adequate insulin, body cells cannot properly utilize glucose, which then accumulates in the blood and is also excreted in the urine. The most common form of diabetes is Type II. This form of diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all cases of diagnosed diabetes in the United States. Every year, about 650,000 people learn they have the disease. The onset of Type II diabetes usually happens after the age of 40, and most often after the age of 55. Because symptoms develop slowly, most people with the disease may not immediately recognize that they are sick. Scientists believe that in some persons weight gain or obesity triggers diabetes—about 80 percent of diabetics with this form of the disease are overweight.
Importance of Diet
One of the most important factors in controlling diabetes is a sensible diet. Follow a very healthy and balanced diet. Dietary goals are directed to control blood sugar, as well as preventing heart and kidney diseases, major complication of diabetes. Some guidelines that you want to stick with are as follows:
Limit intake of simple sugar.
·         Reduce intake of fat, cholesterol, and sodium
·         Increase intake of complex carbohydrates
·         Increase fiber intake
·         Provide sufficient protein for growth, development, and maintenance of body tissue.  http://healthcareatm.com/

Open your Mouth and Say Ahh


Your mouth is made up of more than just teeth, so good oral health goes beyond simply brushing and flossing. In addition to your teeth, your mouth is made up of gums, oral mucosa, the upper and lower jaw, the tongue, salivary glands, the uvula, and the frenulum.
When you open your mouth and look in the mirror, everything that isn’t a tooth is covered by a protective lining called the oral mucosa, which is a mucous membrane similar to the mucous membranes that line your nostrils and inner ears. The oral mucosa plays an essential role in maintaining your oral health, as well as your overall health, by defending your body from germs and other irritants that enter your mouth. A tough substance called keratin, also found in your fingernails and hair, helps make the oral mucosa resistant to injury.
Your gums are the pinkish tissue that surrounds and supports your teeth. Also covered by oral mucosa, gums play a critical role in your oral health. Healthy gums are firm, cover the entire root of the tooth, and do not bleed when brushed, poked, or prodded.
Your jaws give your face its shape and your mouth the structure it needs for chewing and speech. Human jaws are made up of several bones: The upper jaw contains two bones that are fused to each other and to the rest of your skull, while the lower jawbone is separate from the rest of the skull, enabling it to move up and down when you speak and chew.
The tongue is a powerful muscle covered in specialized mucosal tissue that includes your taste buds. The tongue is not just important to your oral health; it's also considered an integral part of the body's digestive system. The next time you’re brushing your teeth, spend a minute looking at the parts of the mouth that lie farther inside the oral cavity. Knowing what these structures do and what they look like can help you to maintain optimal oral health. http://healthcareatm.com/

Friday 20 July 2012

Health Problems can be caused by Hidden Allergies

Do you have allergies on food, chemicals, mold, pollution and more? If you are suffering with these allergies, have you consulted your doctor? What are their possible solutions?You can watch educational video tapes by Dr. Rapp regarding the method of allergy testing called Provocation/Neutralization. With this, you will see the dramatic and physical changes that are happening in kids and adults.
Not all allergies will give you an immediate reaction. To avoid all of this to happen, you have to do a detective work. You must track down everything you are exposed to. If you think it is because of the food you eat, you must track down or have a diary of what you have eaten or about to eat. This will not be easy especially if you eat processed food. All the food you eat must be listed, even your vitamins, for you to easily track what really causes your allergies.
In the long run, you will also be the one to get benefits from it. This is just a simple solution to get rid of the wrong ways and undo things that will bring your body negative effects. Allergies may be seen as an ordinary body response. Some allergies are not that dangerous but when it reacted with other symptoms, it may lead into sort of inconvenience on your part. So it is better to prevent it from happening before it will cause you more pain. As we said, prevention is better than cure.  http://healthcareatm.com/

Thursday 19 July 2012

Chest Pain: Causes and Treatment

Chest pain is the severe pain and squeezing, crushing and pressure felt in the chest that can last for a few minutes. If the pain moves into your neck, arm, left shoulder or jaw, it can already be considered as a serious condition. That’s why for most cases, even though chest pain is non-cardiac in origin, it is still generally considered as a medical emergency.
Interior organs such as the heart, lungs, esophagus, muscle and bone, and even the skin can cause chest pains. Part of the pain may come from other body parts due to the complex nerve distribution in the body.
An acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is a serious cause of chest pain. Other life-threatening causes of chest pain include angina, a condition where there is an imbalance distribution between the oxygen demand of the heart and the amount of oxygen delivered via the blood; aortic dissection or a tear in the inner lining of the aorta; pulmonary embolismspontaneous pneumothorax or collapsed lung; perforated viscus or a hole or tear in the wall of any area of the gastrointestinal tract; and cocaine-induced chest pain.
Other conditions that are not immediately life-threatening, including pneumonia, acute pericarditis, and disorders of the esophagus, mitral valve prolapse, costochondritis (the inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs) and herpes zoster or shingles (a reactivation of the viral infection that causes chickenpox) may also cause chest pain.
Fortunately, anyone who suffers mild or even severe chest pain should not worry too much because a lot of treatment may be done to relieve the pain. The first thing a person suffering from chest pain should do is to seek medical treatment. However, if the patient is still at home waiting for the ambulance, one way to reduce the pain is through first aid. If the chest pain has become unbearable, have the patient chew an aspirin.  http://healthcareatm.com/

Losing Weight the Fitness Way


Fitness and exercise play an important role in multiple aspects of our lives. Whether you are training for a marathon or just looking to lose a few pounds there is a fitness program for you. Not only does increased fitness improve physical health and wellbeing, but it also betters our mental health. Incorporating a higher level of fitness into our daily routine will lead to longer, healthier lives.
Weight loss is a tricky topic. Lots of people are unhappy with their present weight, but most aren't sure how to change it — and many would be better off staying where they are. You may want to look like the models or actors in magazines and on TV, but those goals might not be healthy or realistic for you. Besides, no magical diet or pill will make you look like someone else.So what should you do about weight control?
Being healthy is really about being at a weight that is right for you. The best way to find out if you are at a healthy weight or if you need to lose or gain weight is to talk to a doctor or dietitian, who can compare your weight with healthy norms to help you set realistic goals. If it turns out that you can benefit from weight loss, then you can follow a few of the simple suggestions listed below to get started.
Weight management is about long-term success. People who lose weight quickly by crash dieting or other extreme measures usually gain back all (and often more) of the pounds they lost because they haven't permanently changed their habits. http://www.healthcareatm.com

Monday 9 July 2012

Care for your Liver

Here are the main habits that cause liver damage that we should avoid in order to stay healthy.
  • Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
  • Not urinating in the morning
  • Too much eating
  • Skipping breakfast
  • Consuming too much medication
  • Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener
  • Consuming unhealthy cooking oil
  • As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is20very fit.
  • Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver
  • Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals. http://healthcareatm.com/

Coconut – Not just a Nutcase

Not all kinds of oil give you fat and unhealthy effects. Just like any other kinds of oil that were extracted from your favorite veggies and other fruits, coconut oil also has this healthy content which gives simple magical effects to your overall good health.
Coconut can be seen as a very common type of fruit especially in tropical countries. But did you know how functional it is, knowing that a lot of things can be done just with the use of a coconut oil?
In fact, studies show that coconut oil has become the smart alternative to those other oils that we’re using. It’s simply because a lot of benefits can be obtained from using a coconut oil. This includes the following:
  • Promotes healthy heart health
  • Supports the proper functioning of your thyroid gland
  • Supporting your immune system health
  • Promotes weight loss when and if you need it
  • Provides you with an immediate energy source
  • Supports a healthy metabolism
  • Helps to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking
Aside from this, a latest survey denotes that fresh shores extra virgin coconut oil can provide several other health benefits like:
  • Peace of mind
  • Enhanced flavor of food
Improved skin when used as a lotion
http://www.healthcareatm.com/

Thursday 5 July 2012

Exercise – A Human’s Best Friend

Exercise daily and live a healthy life! This is the usual words we can hear from doctors, nutritionists and health-conscious individuals. Without any doubt, this healthy fact is absolutely true.
Exercise is an activity wherein you perform physical work exerting your muscles in various ways to keep your body healthy and fit. Exercise, especially if practiced daily provides outstanding effects on your body system through proper blood circulation. Keeping your heart healthy is the top priority why most physicians require a person to exercise. Of course, exercise should also be supported with a healthy diet. In doing this, it will surely keep you fit and away from illnesses simply because your heart functions to its maximum strength all the time.
The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions. And as we grow older, our heart deteriorates and become less active. However, to keep our heart from functioning well even as we age, we must know how to provide ourselves with proper nutrition and of course, a daily dose of exercise.
In fact, research shows that older people who did endurance exercise training for about a year ended up with metabolically much younger hearts. This is according to the study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
So to keep you young and vibrant, exercise is simply the best solution. The key to your heart’s youthful metabolism is already yours to live out! http://healthcareatm.com/

The More the Berrier

If you are asking what fruit is best for your health, the answer is berries. Berries have a good reputation when it comes to health-giving nutrients. These little fruits are packed of phytochemicals to normalize and improve health. I have listed here all berries that I know as well as their benefits.
Blueberries
Blueberries ranked number one antioxidants as compared to other fruits and vegetables. Blueberries are rich in antioxidant called anthocyanins rich in memory enhancers even as you grow old. It can help protect against urinary-tract infection also known as UTI, age-related health conditions, brain damage caused by stroke and cancer. This also helps fight the build-up of bad cholesterol that leads to heath diseases and stroke. Bilberry, a European blueberry, is known to prevent blindness and mascular degeneration.
Raspberries
Raspberries are another perennial bush-type plant that is rich in healthy nutrients. This small fruit contains ellagic acid which is a compound that contains anti-cancer properties. It is also a good source of fiber which can gradually help in digestion. This is beside the fact that raspberries are also good for the heart and bones. Red raspberries on the other hand can treat a lot of illness including hangovers, flu, fevers, gum disease, upset stomach, diarrhea, menstrual problems, vomiting and inflammation.
Marionberry
These are the bright purple type of blackberries. These berries contain antioxidants and are full of vibrant berry flavor. A native bush from Oregon, large berries is said to capture the best attributes of both berries and yields an aromatic bouquet and an intense blackberry flavor. Its juicy taste and bouquet are described as earthy, sweet and tart. It is also a good source of antioxidants. Marionberries are better for immunity because it controls the unstable oxygen compounds in our bodies which are commonly associated with heart disease and aging.
Strawberry
The most common, luminously red, heart-shaped type of berries is an adaptable fruit that grow in all manner of climates. Ancient Romans believed that these berries alleviate the symptoms of melancholy. Strawberries are also known to enhance the radiance of the skin with its antioxidant compounds. It is also a good source of Vitamins like Vitamin C, K, vitamin B5, B6, potassium, manganese, folic acid, riboflavin, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acid which is good for the heart.
To sum it all up, people must learn to try and include all or even some types of berries on their meals. It’s because these types of fruits are not only sweet and nutritious, but also gives total amount of body benefits through its polyphenol content.  http://www.healthcareatm.com/