Genetic Testing

Genetic testing
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People choose genetic testing for a variety of reasons. Some are concerned they are at risk for breast cancer because of their family history. Some are worried about passing genetic mutations on to their future children. Prenatal testing can be done on an unborn child when there is concern the baby may be sick with a condition such as Down syndrome.
Before you undergo genetic testing, it’s important you realize the tests have limitations. A positive result does not always mean you will develop the particular genetic disorder. A negative result doesn’t mean you are guaranteed not to get a disease. It is an imperfect science.
There are several things you should do before your genetic testing appointment. The genetic counselor you meet with will ask many in-depth questions about your family health history. Gather as much of this information as you can from your mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Talk to your family about why you are being tested and whether or not they should consider testing, too. Finally, genetic testing is often not covered by health insurance, so make sure you know before your appointment what the cost will be and how you will pay for it.
Different types of medical tests are needed to gather the necessary samples. The type of medical test you experience depends on what you are being tested for. A medical professional may need to draw your blood for testing, or you may only need to have the inside of your cheek swabbed. If your unborn baby is being tested, a sample of amniotic fluid or the placenta may be required. You samples are then sent off for analysis.
When your results come in, they will be provided to your physician or your genetic counselor. He or she will schedule an appointment with you to discuss the results and any future health care or planning needs.

People choose genetic testing for a variety of reasons. Some are concerned they are at risk for breast cancer because of their family history. Some are worried about passing genetic mutations on to their future children. Prenatal testing can be done on an unborn child when there is concern the baby may be sick with a condition such as Down syndrome.
Before you undergo genetic testing, it’s important you realize the tests have limitations. A positive result does not always mean you will develop the particular genetic disorder. A negative result doesn’t mean you are guaranteed not to get a disease. It is an imperfect science.
There are several things you should do before your genetic testing appointment. The genetic counselor you meet with will ask many in-depth questions about your family health history. Gather as much of this information as you can from your mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Talk to your family about why you are being tested and whether or not they should consider testing, too. Finally, genetic testing is often not covered by health insurance, so make sure you know before your appointment what the cost will be and how you will pay for it.
Different types of medical tests are needed to gather the necessary samples. The type of medical test you experience depends on what you are being tested for. A medical professional may need to draw your blood for testing, or you may only need to have the inside of your cheek swabbed. If your unborn baby is being tested, a sample of amniotic fluid or the placenta may be required. You samples are then sent off for analysis.
When your results come in, they will be provided to your physician or your genetic counselor. He or she will schedule an appointment with you to discuss the results and any future health care or planning needs.

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Filed Under: Health Care, Medication, Patient Tagged With: , , ,

health plans need free birth control

Image of vaginal birth control device NuvaRing
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Could free birth control be headed our way? The possibility is there and it is a welcome development if it happens.
One aspect of the health care reforms undertaken by President Obama is that providing basic preventive health services will be mandatory under new health plans starting this fall. Many women’s advocacy groups argue that contraception should be included in these mandated health services because it is part of basic health care for a woman.
Many health plans already cover prescription contraceptives because 27 states have laws in place to require some level of coverage. But further expanding the coverage could go a long way to reducing an estimated 3 million unplanned pregnancies that occur each year.
It makes sense to make birth control a more affordable option. Experts pinpoint the costs of contraceptives as a big factor behind unplanned pregnancies. Most plans, even when offering some coverage, still require a hefty co-pay ranging from $20 to $50 per month for birth control pills.
The conservative viewpoint is to preach abstinence from sex, but that is not a practical or realistic solution. But making birth control options accessible to lower-income patients will help in a variety of ways. It can encourage more teens to practice safe sex. It will help adult women who could suffer complications if they were to bear children. And it will allow couples to practice family planning and wait to have children at a point in time where such an option is more affordable for them.
A few preventive health measures, such as mammograms, will be required to be covered by health plans under the new law. It would not be a stretch to include birth control. From the prospective of employers, covering birth control should be a welcome notion because preventing a birth is much less expensive than paying out a lengthy maternity leave. And for a patient, the costs of giving birth and raising a child are astronomical compared to using contraceptives.
When you look at it from a common sense perspective, free birth control is a sound idea.

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Healthcare – Should the Government Play a Role?

WASHINGTON - JULY 08: U.S. Vice President Jos...
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Is government mandated healthcare dictating how much hospitals, doctors, nurses, clinics and every other facet of the healthcare industry can generate in terms of income? Is it socialist? Will the quality of healthcare drop as a result of government intervention? The answers to these questions depend on who you ask, and nowhere else on the planet have these issues been more hotly debated in 2010 than in the United States.

One might ask, how does the U.S. health care system rank in relation to other countries? Well, great question, but who do you ask? Who might be considered the most impartial judge, the least to gain from an answer in one direction or another? And, why would the United States public care to listen? The United Nations, an organization whose roots lie during World War II, was organized as an international forum for maintaining communications among the world of nations with the lofty purpose of achieving world peace and resolving global economic, social and humanitarian issues.

One particular agency of the UN is the World Health Organization (WHO), which, as the name implies, is charged with addressing all issues relevant with the current level of health of the world population. It researches, analyzes, consults, reviews and proposes norms and standards for all member nations to consider and undertake as far as their perceived needs and political climate will allow. The WHO is as close as the world has come to an international organization for the sharing and dissemination of ideas, processes, and research to do with health as it relates to the global and individual countries’ populations.

In June 21, 2000, the WHO published The World Health Report 2000, where it found that the United States spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product on health care than any other country yet ranked 37th in the world. France was found to rank number one with Italy second and San Marino third.

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Health Insurance – Is it Worth It?

Rarely has a debate divided the United States as the most recent health care debate, where the Obama administration proposed and for the first time in U.S. history succeeded in overhauling healthcare to cover a greater majority of previously uninsured citizens. Of course, it seems that more time is needed before the new legislation becomes law and is carried out by the states, as some states have filed law suits challenging the legality of this new legislation.

Regardless of the outcome, healthcare and its associated costs are a reality we all must face in our lives. Just how much of a role the federal government ultimately plays in assuring at least minimal care for all its citizens is a game of politics and power plays whose final outcome only time will tell. In the meantime, it is our individual responsibility to take charge of this matter as it pertains to our own lives. A variety of scenarios influenced by numerous variables can come into play, where deciding if insurance coverage is right for you now, or later. One corner we rarely look after is pet insurance; imagine situation when your pet is seriously ill or met with an accident, you can eliminate financial burden caused by medical bills. Pet insurance is increasingly becoming popular among Americans these days! On an average, Americans spend over $24 billion per year on insuring their pets.

Of course, there is the case of saving valuable dollars now to cover other obligations at the risk that health care will not be necessary – a common roll of the dice among a younger and relatively healthier population with limited income. There are also those that begin with some coverage, only to have the premiums increase by more than 30%, year after year, until coverage is but a distant dream eclipsed by the reality of more immediate obligations such as food, shelter and education. Others are unable to qualify for coverage, due to a pre-existing condition, age or other circumstance raising the risk of coverage beyond feasible for an industry without a conscience but rather profits as a guide.

More often than not, insurance coverage is not a choice people can make but rather one made for them. Of course health care coverage is worth it, if you can afford it, find it or both. But if none are an option – what is left?

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Healthcare – Should the Government Play a Role?

Veterans Affairs Building, Miles City
Image by dave_mcmt via Flickr

Is government mandated healthcare dictating how much hospitals, doctors, nurses, clinics and every other facet of the healthcare industry can generate in terms of income? Is it socialist? Will the quality of healthcare drop as a result of government intervention? The answers to these questions depend on who you ask, and nowhere else on the planet have these issues been more hotly debated in 2010 than in the United States.

One might ask, how does the U.S. health care system rank in relation to other countries? Well, great question, but who do you ask? Who might be considered the most impartial judge, the least to gain from an answer in one direction or another? And, why would the United States public care to listen? The United Nations, an organization whose roots lie during World War II, was organized as an international forum for maintaining communications among the world of nations with the lofty purpose of achieving world peace and resolving global economic, social and humanitarian issues.

One particular agency of the UN is the World Health Organization (WHO), which, as the name implies, is charged with addressing all issues relevant with the current level of health of the world population. It researches, analyzes, consults, reviews and proposes norms and standards for all member nations to consider and undertake as far as their perceived needs and political climate will allow. The WHO is as close as the world has come to an international organization for the sharing and dissemination of ideas, processes, and research to do with health as it relates to the global and individual countries’ populations.

In June 21, 2000, the WHO published The World Health Report 2000, where it found that the United States spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product on health care than any other country yet ranked 37th in the world. France was found to rank number one with Italy second and San Marino third.

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Learning About Prescription Drugs

Novamoxin Prescription Drug - 500mg Amoxicilli...
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At one point or another, you have probably been prescribed medication of some sort. In the United States alone, medical professionals write nearly 4 billion prescriptions each year.

Prescription drugs are powerful types of medication for a variety of ailments, from a common bug to life-threatening conditions. Prescriptions also have the potential to cause a number of serious side effects in those who take them. Sometimes, adverse reactions from pills can make people sicker than they were before, and can even cause death. For that reason, it’s crucial that you learn all you can about your prescriptions before you begin taking them.

Here are a few places where you can get info on prescription drugs:

• Your doctor. After doctors have prescribed medications for you to take, it’s important to ask them a number of questions, so you know exactly what to expect. Make sure your doctors also know which drugs you are taking, because sometimes drugs interact with each other and can cause serious problems. Questions to ask your doctor include: What are the most common side effects? Are there any side effects that should cause me to stop taking the drug? How much will the prescription cost? Are there any alternatives? Why did you choose this drug? Your doctor will be an invaluable source for information.
• The Internet. Reputable medical sites can also give you reliable, factual information about prescription drugs. Generally, you should avoid opinion-based websites and message boards when you want credible information about medications.
• Books. There are many books and reference guides for prescription drugs that come out yearly. These are great tools for learning more about drug interactions, side effects, and any other things you might want to know.

Learning all you can about your prescription drugs is a smart move to ensure that you are getting treatment that is safe.

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Finding a Traveling Nurse Job that Appeals to You

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Some cities are desperate for more health care professionals. Others, however, have more nurses and doctors than they can use. This imbalance makes it difficult for some nurses to find jobs that fit their specific interests and skill sets. Instead of choosing a position that does not appeal to you, you can choose a traveling nurse job that offers an exciting career change.

Traveling nurse jobs can vary significantly. Some of them are full-time positions that send the health care professional from town to town in service of a specific company. Some traveling nurse positions are temporary jobs that only require a few weeks or months of service.

Individuals who like to stay on the move will enjoy traveling frequently. If you prefer staying at home, then you can search for positions that only require you to travel on occasion. This gives you the advantage of settling down while still enjoying an exciting, challenging career.

The types of nursing positions that involve travel can vary by subject as well as commitment. Natural disasters, for instance, can spark a significant need for nurses who have been training to work in emergency rooms. Not every traveling position, however, has to do with emergencies. Some of them, in fact, involve little stress at all. You might, for instance, travel the country to train other nurses how to perform certain tasks, or you might travel from town to town to educate patients about healthy lifestyle decisions.

When looking for a traveling nurse job that appeals to you, look for opportunities that suit your lifestyle as well as interest. This will help ensure that you choose a position that will interest you for several years. As you gain more experience with your employer, it is possible that you could have more control over your travel schedule so that you can visit cities that appeal to you.

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