LPN to RN Blog

Archive for September, 2009

It’s no secret that nurses are busy people. One way to ensure you can keep up with all the latest news and information while you pursue your career goals is to have all that information sent directly to your RSS reader of choice. You can get all you want to know bundled nicely for you to read when you have a minute to catch your breath. Go ahead and paste these links into your reader, or where available, click the RSS symbol to subscribe directly.

News

Keep up with all the latest nursing news with these feeds.

1. NurseZone News. Get nursing news and information from this site dedicated to serving nurses with professional and personal development.
2. RN Talk Blog. Stay on top of the latest happenings in the field of nursing with the posts here written by E’Louise Ondash, RN.
3. Nursing Diary. Keep up with trends and issues relevant to nurses with this blog.
4. Nursing Times. This British nursing site offers tons of RSS feeds featuring news, blogs, specialty topics, and more by simply clicking on the orange RSS symbol at the top of each section.
5. Nursing News and Press Releases. Stay on top of press releases related to nursing news with this feed.
6. Medical News Today. This site offers tons of feeds on a variety of different topics ranging from ADHD to swine flu to news for caregivers.
7. MDLinx Medical Research News. These feeds are broken down by nursing sub-specialties and are exclusively available to individuals and non-profits.
8. Staffnurse.com. Get the latest UK nursing news with this feed.
9. Nurses World Magazine. Find news and lifestyle information for nurses with the articles available in this feed.
10. Nurse.com News and Features. Have the latest news and more from Nurse.com delivered to your reader.
11. About.com Nursing. This feed provides a wide range of nursing news applicable to just about anyone in any stage of their career.
12. Allnurses.com. An active feed, you will receive plenty of information when you subscribe to the feed from this popular online nursing community.
13. Ultimate Nurse. This feed looks at news and information relevant to travel nursing, job searches, and other nursing information.
14. Alltop Top Nursing News. Get news from several sources in this one feed from Alltop.

Search Information Feeds

These awesome feeds will provide you with new information as it becomes available based on your search criteria.

15. HubMed. Search for a topic here for information from PubMed, then subscribe to the feed to get new search results sent to your reader as they become available.
16. MedWorm. Search for a keyword, select what type of publications you want to include, then subscribe to this feed to receive the information directly to your reader.

Students and New Grads

From news to advice to blogs from other student nurses, these feeds offers something just for the students and new grads.

17. Student Nurse News. Get news relevant to nursing school as well as 1-Minute Clinicals that offer helpful tips for students.
18. Recent Grad News. Read news important to those who have recently started their nursing career with this feed.
19. Ask Cassie. This student nurse provides answers to other student nurses’ questions.
20. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Student Blog. This feed lets you follow the posts of these student nurses as they make their way through school.
21. MedTerms Medical Word of the Day. Subscribe here to get a new medical word each day.
22. Journal of Nursing Student Research. Get the articles from this student-run research journal with this feed.
23. Confessions of a registered nurse (Confessions of a student nurse). This new grad writes about working in the field and offers encouragement to students. Subscribe to the feed here.
24. CON Artist. Follow along with this student nurse as she shares the ups and downs of going back to school in her 40s.
25. Somnambulant Student Nurse. This student is working to become an ER nurse and shares her experience in school.
26. RN Degrees Online Nursing Education Blog. This feed brings you news and information relevant to your educational experiences.
27. Nursing Times Student Nurse Blog. This mom and student blogs about her life as a student for Nursing Times.

Specialties

Whether you are a travel nurse, emergency nurse, or oncology nurse, there are feeds specifically for your field here.

28. Healthcare Traveler. Get articles delivered directly to your reader with these feeds. There are three available focusing on clinical topics, practice specialties, and self-care strategies.
29. Emergency Nursing Today. This podcast can come to you by subscribing here.
30. Long Term Care Portal. If you specialize in long-term care or gerontology, then the resources available here may interest you.
31. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. This feed provides titles and links to articles, some available for free and some for a fee.
32. Topics in Clinical Nutrition. Get abstracts and links to articles on clinical nutrition here.
33. Topics in Language Disorders. The articles featured in this feed are mostly available for a fee but include relevant information for learning about language disorders due to a variety of medical conditions.
34. Quality Management in Health Care. Get abstracts and links to articles promoting smart management practices for leaders in the field of nursing.
35. Travel Nursing News. There are five different feeds available for travel nurses here including job postings, housing information, and news.
36. Oncology Nursing News. Subscribe to any of the 38 feeds here that range from end of life care to pain management to healthcare policy. healthcare

Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioners can find feeds tailored to their needs too.

37. Nurse Practitioners. Get peer-reviewed articles straight to your reader with this feed.
38. Nurse Practitioners Business Blog. Nurse practitioners in business for themselves will find invaluable information here.
39. Journal of American Academy of Nursing Practitioners. This feed sends links to the full-text articles to your reader.
40. The Nurse Practitioner. Discover the current contents of this journal with their feed.
41. BNET Nurse Practitioner Articles. Subscribe to this feed to have new articles pertaining to your field sent to your reader.
42. General Nurse Practitioner News. These feeds are all sub-specialties of the field and provide plenty of information for you.
43. The Nurse Practitioner’s Place. This feed shares the voices of many nurse practitioners blogging.

Schools and Organizations

These schools and organizations offer an enlightening perspective on nursing.

44. New Jersey Nursing Initiative. This organization is working to eliminate the nursing shortage in New Jersey. Their feed offers all the news and updates on their work.
45. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. This organization provides resources for geriatric nurses at any stage in their career.
46. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Press Release-Nursing. Discover all the positive achievements happening in the nursing department at this hospital.
47. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. Follow the progress of this brand new nursing program at UC Davis.
48. San Francisco State University School of Nursing. Get news and updates from the School of Nursing here.
49. Wayne State College of Nursing. Keep up with what is happening at this nursing school with their feed.

General Professional Journals

Feeds from these professional journals include links to articles, tables of contents, and more.

50. American Journal of Nursing. Read featured articles from this highly-nursing journal.
51. NASN School Nurse. Visit this site to select the feed or feeds of your choice that include the current issue, the past four issues, the most read articles, and the article cited most.
52. Nursing. Get plenty of informative articles to enhance your career here.
53. RN. Find out what the latest articles are in this journal with their feed.
54. RWJF Nursing RSS Feed. Get important articles from professional journals and news sources with this frequently-updated digest.
55. Nurse Education Today. The current issue of this journal is available in their feed.
56. Nursing Leadership. The feed from this Canadian journal provides news and information on the politics, policies, and practice of nursing.
57. Advance for Nurses. This feed features articles and features for career development in all areas of nursing.
58. Journal of Research in Nursing. Select the feed you want from this journal that profiles the latest research in the field of nursing.
59. Nursing Outlook. Choose between the feed that provides the current issue of this journal or the feed that sends articles in press.
60. Advances in Nursing Science. Get the most popular articles in this journal with their RSS feed.
61. Journal of Nursing Administration. If you are in administration, you won’t want to miss the articles from this journal.
62. Nursing Care Quality. From managing a difficult work environment to patient safety, the topics here are all about providing the best care possible.
63. Nurse Educator. Get the feature article highlights for this journal with this feed.
64. Nursing Research. Follow the latest research happening with this feed that highlights the feature articles in this journal.
65. Nursing Management. Discover what feature articles are appearing in this nursing journal with their feed.

Professional Journals for Specific Fields

Just like with the other journal feeds, these offer a wide range of information, but designed specifically for nursing specialties.

66. Home Healthcare Nurse. This feed gives you headlines from the most recent issue of this journal.
67. Advanced Critical Care. Get the most popular articles of this journal when you subscribe to this feed.
68. Cancer Nursing. Published every two months, this journal provides the latest research in cancer care.
69. Gastroenterology Nursing. Subscribe to see the feature articles in this journal here.
70. Holistic Nursing Practice. This peer-reviewed journal offers articles on holistic care and their RSS feed brings you the highlights of each bi-monthly issue.
71. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Cardio nurses can get the feature articles from this journal.
72. The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. Get the current table of contents for this journal with their feed.
73. Advanced Emergency Nursing. Keep up with the latest studies and news out of the emergency department with this feed.
74. Alzheimer’s Care Today. Eating difficulties and caring for the caregiver are some of the articles featured in this journal.
75. Plastic Surgical Nursing. Learn techniques and evaluation tips with the featured articles in this journal.
76. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing. If you care for the very youngest patients and their moms, then check out this feed.
77. Nursing/Midwifery News. Find out the latest in the field of midwifery here.
78. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. Get summaries for the articles with this feed that includes links to full-text articles online.

Job Searching

Finding a nursing job is much easier with these feeds that send the jobs straight to you.

79. Featured Travel Nursing Jobs. Find assignments that include free, private housing and travel expenses with this feed.
80. nurse-recruiter.com. Visit this page to select a job feed customized for your home state, Canada, Puerto Rico, or Virgin Islands.
81. Campus RN Nurse Job Blog. This feed brings you news about who’s hiring and more.
82. Nursing, Education Training. Find jobs available in the field of nursing education here.
83. Nursing, Case Management. Case management jobs are featured on this feed.
84. Nursing, Critical Care/Intensive Care. If you are seeking one of these type of nursing jobs, then subscribe to this feed to have new jobs delivered to your reader.
85. Nursing, Labor & Delivery. L&D and GYN positions are the focus of this RSS feed.
86. Nursing, Medical/Surgical. Find your perfect nursing position here.
87. Nursing, Public Health. If you want a job in the public health field, then subscribe here to find openings.
88. Nursing, Pediatrics. This feed provides tons of job possibilities.

General Health Resources

Keep up to date with all the information relevant to health and healthcare with these feeds.

89. NYT Fitness & Nutrition. Keep up with the latest fitness and nutrition news from the New York Times here.
90. NYT Health. Follow the latest news happening in the world of healthcare with this feed.
91. Web MD. This powerhouse of a healthcare site offers over 30 different feeds. Subscribe to those that interest you here.
92. CNN.com – Health. Get health news from CNN with their feed.
93. Yahoo! Health Tips of the Day. If you would like to get health tips delivered to your reader each day, then give Yahoo!’s feed a try.
94. Mayo Clinic RSS Feeds. Mayo Clinic offers several feeds ranging from specific topics to healthy recipes to Mayo Clinic podcasts.
95. e-News from healthfinder.gov. Get weekly health headlines and a weekend summary from this site.
96. MedlinePlus Health News. This feed provides you with many health news stories each day.
97. National Institutes of Health Audio Reports. Receive weekly podcasts from NIH touching on important health issues.
98. Healthline Health Matters. This site offers tons of health-related blogs and include links to their RSS feeds for each.
99. The Health Wisdom Blog. This feed brings you the latest health news from Organized Wisdom.
100. MedicineNet Daily Health and Medical News. Get daily news from medical professionals with this feed.

Summer comes with its own set of fun activities, but at the same time can have its own special hazards. Heat, swimming, and outdoor cooking are all filled with potential health trouble, but you can take steps to minimize their risk. Read on to find out how you can stay healthy, happy, and active this summer without running into common health woes.

Protect your skin. Time spent in the sun outside is lots of fun, but it can be hazardous to your skin and even result in skin cancer. Be sure to wear protective clothing, and apply sunscreen regularly to ward off rays. Additionally, try to stay inside when the sun is brightest from 11AM to 3PM, and be aware of how quickly you will be subject to sunburn. Taking care of your skin now can help prevent serious problems later.

Manage the heat. It doesn’t matter what part of the country you live in-it can get downright hot during the summertime, and you’ve got to protect yourself. Stay hydrated, slow down, and wear appropriate clothing. Be sure to stay indoors or in the shade when it gets too hot, and think about the best time to do activities-you may want to schedule them for the morning or evening hours when it’s cooler. Be sure that you know the signs of heat emergencies like heat exhaustion and heat stroke so that they can be properly prevented and treated.

Swim carefully. Drownings happen every summer, and year round, but many of these incidents are preventable. Be careful not to swim alone, and use the buddy system for safety, or swim only where there is a qualified lifeguard to keep an eye out. Avoid swimming immediately after eating so that you do not fall victim to cramps. Be sure that you know the signs of drowning and can administer CPR in case someone you are swimming with drowns.

Throwing lunch or dinner on the grill is a delicious way to enjoy the summer. Keep it healthy by paying careful attention to the cleanliness and transportation of food to prevent foodborne illnesses, and use coolers if you need to. You should also carefully read safety instructions on your grill, charcoal, or propane tank to make sure that you are not at risk for fire or explosion along with your meal.

With the help of these tips, you can enjoy a range of healthy, fun summer activities. Be careful and have a great, safe summer!

Chronic back pain and back injuries greatly interfere with daily life, from the quality of your sleep to your ability to exercise to your comfort on airplane or car trips. Even if your back pain isn’t severe, you’ll notice it unexpectedly whenever you try to bend down, pick up a child, or even tie your shoes. And while back pain can vary in intensity — sudden, sharp pains that last only a few minutes or dull aches that never seem to go away — all chronic back trouble requires constant monitoring and maybe even a trip to the doctor. You don’t want to carry around a back pillow or wear a back brace for the rest of your life do you?

Unfortunately, back pain and back injuries can first start to plague you as a young person, when you think you’re in the prime shape of your life. When you are in high school or college and play sports or work out more regularly, you run the risk of hurting your back from overexertion, ignorance or actual sustained injuries. By educating yourself on safe ways to engage in physical activity and keep your back in shape generally, you’ll age better and will be able to remain active for more of your life.

First learn how to lift heavier objects the right way. Estimate the object’s approximate weight before lifting so that you don’t surprise yourself and topple over because the item is too heavy. Bend your knees without leaning forward, and secure a solid grip around the object, holding it close to the body somewhere between your waist and your shoulders. If you can do so comfortably, lift the object by using leg power, rather than curling your back over it and using back muscles for the majority of the work.

Before you lift an object or engage in any type of physical activity — whether it’s a sport, a work out or just a walk around the block — warm up your back by stretching your neck and touching your toes. Many instances of sudden back pain or injury are caused by a sudden movement and an unprepared (not warmed-up) back. Also make sure you work out your core. Having a strong mid-section will take pressure off your back during many activities, and your abs are a better support system for your body anyway. Using other support systems like a back pillow when you drive and a good mattress when you sleep will also protect your back from chronic pain and injury.

To us, water tastes nasty. Actually, it doesn’t really taste like anything, which is what’s really nasty. Unless you’re hungover or have just finished a run in 90-degree heat, more than a few swigs of water at a time is practically torture, even though we know it’s necessary. Drinking eight glasses of water a day is supposed to be good for your health, and water actually boosts metabolism, improves skin tone and your complexion, gives you energy, cleans out your system, and of course, keeps you hydrated. But it’s way more fun and tasty to drink soda, coffee, beer and even juice, isn’t it? Even if you’re drinking diet soda and 100% juice, nothing compares to getting enough water, though, so we’ll help you think of some ways to pimp out your daily beverage so that it’s not quite so nasty.

You can try drinking vitamin water or other flavored waters, but be careful to check how many extra calories you’re getting with those kinds of drinks. Instead, add your own natural flavors. Drop fresh or frozen raspberries, watermelon, cherries or even blackberries into your cold water for a more exotic beverage that also looks pretty. Other things to add: a slice of lemon, a few cucumber slices, a sprig or two of mint, or lime. Candy straw, like Twizzlers or Sour Punch Straws add a yummy twist, and even a new challenge for sucking down your drink. Lots of ice helps too, since colder water tastes better (at least to us).

Besides taste, you can pimp out your water by changing the way you view it. Dress it up a little bit so that drinking water looks pretty and is more fun. Put an umbrella in your water, use funky straws, and use different thermoses or cups instead of just a clear glass that adds zero interest to your drink. The more you feel like you’re sipping a sweet cocktail by the pool, the more you’ll enjoy getting your eight glasses a day.

Our homes are supposed to be places where we can kick off our shoes, relax and feel healthy and happy. Of course, homes can also be places where we bring all the stress, germs, and junk from the outside world of work and school to rest. This can make your home a less than healthy place to eat, sleep and just hang out. If you want to create a home that’s good for your mental and physical health, you might want to consider a few of these tips to get you started.

Clutter isn’t something that makes most people happy. It inspires nagging feelings that something needs to get done and is a constant reminder of the chaos in your life, even when you’re supposed to be having a nice time relaxing at home. Clutter also provides a breeding ground for dust, dirt and allergens that can actually make you sick if you’re not careful. Getting rid of the clutter will not only help keep your home cleaner but it will make it a much more peaceful and happy place to be which is beneficial to your mental health as well.

While you want to keep your home clean, you also want to watch what you’re using to keep it clean. Many products are full of potentially harmful chemicals that can harm you or the other people and animals with whom you share your home. While chemical-based cleaning products can be effective, many are turning to more natural alternatives. Products like baking soda, citrus juices and vinegar all have the power to do a perfectly good job cleaning your home and won’t hurt you if you ingest them or get them on your skin.

When you are cleaning your home, keep an eye out for areas that could be bad for your health or allergies. These can include places where pollen or mold accumulate or building materials that could be harming your health like asbestos. If you feel your home isn’t good for your health, stay with a friend until you can ensure that it is.

Finally, if you want your home to be a healthy place, pay attention to what your body and mind are telling you. If a certain picture makes you sad, don’t spend every day looking at it. Put it away for awhile. Likewise, if your mattress makes your back hurt each and every night, consider getting a topper or investing in a new one. There is no reason to be uncomfortable or unhappy in your home when you have the power to create a wonderful, healthy home.

While it is always important to pay attention to your health, it is rarely more important than when you are pregnant. That’s because the steps you take toward managing your own health have the potential to directly affect the growing human life inside you. A healthy pregnancy means you will be making more trips to the doctor, paying more attention to what you eat and the vitamins and medications you take, and making sure you get regular exercise.

As early as possible in your first trimester (first three months of pregnancy), make an appointment with an OB/GYN to kick off your prenatal care. Your physician will educate you on what you need to do to take care of yourself and your growing baby, as well as set up a schedule for regular visits at key milestones during your pregnancy. During this first visit, your doctor will examine you for any abnormalities, order blood tests, discuss your lifestyle habits, including exercise and nutrition habits, and answer any questions you have about your pregnancy.

As difficult as it sounds, it is important to cease smoking and drinking alcohol during your pregnancy for the health of the baby. Some studies have shown that light alcohol consumption does not negatively affect a pregnancy, but is it wise to increase the risk of birth defects? Perhaps not. And smoking cigarettes has been proven consistently to increase the risk of serious complications like low birth weight and even stillbirth and premature delivery.

It is also important to begin taking a pre-natal vitamin daily. A good multi-vitamin can also work, but pre-natal vitamins are tailored for the needs of pregnant women and will provide your body with plenty of folic acid, which plays a role in helping to prevent certain birth defects of the brain and spine, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. As for your general eating habits, be sure to eat about 300 additional calories each day. After all, you are eating for more than one.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you will still need to get plenty of exercise while pregnant. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women get 30 minutes of exercise most, if not all, days of the week. Obviously you will not want to be jump-roping while pregnant, but there are a variety of low-impact exercises that can get your blood moving, like brisk walking, swimming and low-impact aerobics and yoga.

Whether you’re in the health care industry or not, you know that health care costs are soaring. However, there are some ways to get your medical bills under control. Here, we’ll look at 100 different ways you can save money on health care.

Insurance

Here you’ll learn how to save on your premiums and more.

1. Increase your out of pocket costs: Forego luxuries like deductibles and co-payments, and you’ll have lower monthly premiums.
2. Reassess your needs: Consider what benefits you really need on your health insurance.
3. Change your coinsurance ratio: Raise your ratio to cut your monthly premium.
4. Never stop shopping: Always be on the hunt for the best deal on insurance.
5. Have a good credit score: A good credit history can help lower your health insurance plans with an individual plan.
6. Don’t take no for an answer: Go through appeals processes with your insurance company if they deny your medical claims.
7. Follow the rules: Make sure you know all of the rules for your insurance program to avoid surprise charges.
8. Get a high deductible plan: Generally, the higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premium will be.
9. Know what you’re getting: Be sure you know what you’re getting for your premiums.
10. Spread it out: If you need extensive services consider spreading out the cost between different plan years.
11. Customize your plan: Get an insurance policy that’s customized to your needs to get savings.
12. Ask for exclusions: You may be able to cut down your costs by excluding certain coverages.
13. Plan ahead for emergencies: Know which providers are covered in your health plan before you need them.
14. Get married: You can save on health insurance by getting coverage with your spouse.
15. Improve your driving record: A good driving record can help you get a better health insurance rate.
16. Shop for the best rates: Use websites and agents to help you find the best rate for health insurance.
17. Increase your co-pay: Reduce your premium by paying a slightly higher co-pay for doctor visits.
18. Keep up coverage between jobs: Avoid a lapse in coverage by using COBRA insurance.
19. Consider catastrophic coverage: If you’re generally healthy, get limited insurance with a high deductible just for emergencies.
20. Get a part time job: If you’re self employed and need insurance, consider getting a part time job for the coverage.
21. Stay on your parents’ coverage: Stay covered as a dependent for as long as possible to save money.
22. Don’t be risky: Avoid dangerous hobbies like mountain climbing, skydiving, and car racing that can increase your insurance premiums.
23. Use the best plan: If you and your spouse have group insurance plans, find out who has the best plan available, and use it.
24. Use a health savings account (HSA): With a health savings account, you can put away pre-tax contributions that can grow tax free and use until your deductible is met./li>
25. Shop for private coverage: Check out the pricing on private insurance to compare your costs to that of your employer sponsored plan.
26. Become a part of a trade organization: Find a group rate discount through your professional or trade organization.
27. Juggle family coverage: Don’t automatically assume that your entire family should be on the same coverage-consider splitting spouses on different plans that work best for them.

Free Care

Find out how to get free health care here.

28. Take advantage of state programs: Many states offer free or low cost insurance and/or health care, especially for women and children or those who have low income.
29. Use free screenings: Get early detection at free screenings like the Wellness Tour.
30. Go to federally funded clinics: You can get immunizations, checkups, and dental care, while paying what you can afford through special clinics.

Negotiation

These strategies can help you negotiate a better health care experience.

31. Be nice: When negotiating, remember that you’ll catch more flies with honey.
32. Find a doctor who will negotiate: Shop around to find a doctor who can work with your budget.
33. Conquer fear: Don’t be afraid to haggle.
34. Talk to your doctor: Let your doctor know if you’ve lost your job or can’t deal with your deductible to see if you can negotiate your price.
35. Barter: Offer your services in exchange for health care.
36. Pay today: Offer to pay immediately with cash or credit card to get a discount.
37. Shop for tests: Compare prices among different labs and clinics.
38. Go to schools: Visit dental or medical schools to get a discount on care from well-supervised students.
39. Use the CPT code: With a CPT code, you can compare costs.
40. Ask for better payment options: Ask for free financing or extended payment options.
41. Disclose your income: Share how much money you make so that billers understand your hardship.
42. Pay cash: Paying for procedures up front can help you get a discount.
43. Use an advocate: Patient-advocate services can help you with disputes.
44. Ask for Medicare rates: Find out if you can get Medicare’s prenegotiated rates.
45. Question follow up appointments: Find out if your follow up can be completed via phone call.
46. Learn about your coverage: Call your insurance to find out how much you’re covered for the service you need, and talk to your doctor about staying within that limit.
47. Pay attention to little things: Bring your own hospital toiletries or your prescription medicine.
48. Don’t assume you have to pay full price: Many hospitals will settle bills for less than what you owe-you just have to ask.
49. Get medical financial aid: If your medical debt exceeds a certain ratio, you may be able to only have to pay a portion of your bill.
50. Ask if it’s necessary: When tests are ordered, ask if you really need them.

Kids

Read these tips to find out how to save money on child health care.

51. Don’t postpone necessary healthcare: Be sure to stay on top of essential health visits for kids.
52. Take safety precautions: Require that children wear bike helmets and wear safety belts.
53. Prevent overeating: Save your children from obesity by stopping overeating.

Savings

These ideas can help you find savings in health care.

54. Use in-network providers: Avoid using providers that are outside of your network.
55. Shop around for prescriptions: Check out pharmacies online and off to find out who has the best deal for your drugs.
56. Use cost-comparison tools: Many insurers will allow you to compare your costs between doctors before you make your visit.
57. Consider a mail order pharmacy: You may be able to save money by ordering drugs from a reputable online pharmacy.
58. Don’t use the ER if you don’t have to: Use your primary care physician or urgent care center instead of heading to the ER.
59. Look to other countries: Consider having surgery outside of the US where US-trained physicians can treat you for less.
60. Ask for generic drugs: Generic drugs offer an incredible savings on brand names, so ask for them whenever possible.
61. Go to local clinics: Use clinics designed for simple ailments to save money.
62. Use big retailers for your prescriptions: Fill your prescriptions with retailers that can offer you savings.
63. Ask for medications on your plan’s list: Check out your plan’s preferred drug list and request that your doctor prescribe you medicine from it.
64. Try alternative treatments: You may be able to save money by using alternative treatments like acupuncture or yoga.
65. Go to Planned Parenthood: For many women (and men), Planned Parenthood offers lowered fees for reproductive services.
66. Join the Farm Bureau: Become a part of the Farm Bureau to get benefits like discounted health insurance.
67. Avoid duplicate tests: Keep your medical records and share them among your doctors to make sure you don’t have to take duplicate tests.
68. Use your flex spending account: Put money in your pre-tax flex spending account, and make plans to use it all before the end of the year.
69. Keep a safety net: Keep savings handy just in case of medical emergency.
70. Split pills: Make your prescription last twice as long by ordering a higher dose, and splitting it each time.
71. DIY lab work: Get blood and urine analyses using independent labs that can save you money and mail results to your doctor.
72. Use discount plans: Become a part of health benefits clubs to save on visits, drugs, services, and more with participating health care providers.
73. Use insurance discounts: Find out if your insurance plan offers discounts for acupuncture, gyms, massages, or weight loss programs.
74. Ask for a 90-day supply: Avoid some copays on maintenance drugs by getting a larger quantity each time.
75. Use nurse hotlines: Instead of making a visit, use a nurse hotline to find out if you can wait to see your doctor instead of rushing to the emergency room.
76. Ask for samples: Ask your doctor if they have samples to give you, which can save you on at least a few days of medication.
77. Carefully check out bills: Look for mistakes in your bill and promptly request corrections.
78. Use tax incentives: Be sure to take the proper health care deductions on your taxes.
79. Keep track of your expenses: Stay on top of your expenses, as you may be able to write them off.
80. Do your paperwork: Many insurance companies require that you contact them before or within a certain time period of visiting the emergency room or having surgery.

Preventive Medicine

Keep yourself from needing health care in the first place by taking these preventive measures.

81. Stop smoking: Cut your insurance costs by quitting smoking, and help prevent costly conditions down the road.
82. Know warning signs: Pay attention to warning signs, and know when it’s time to see a doctor before things get worse.
83. Go vegetarian: Reduce common diseases by eating a plant based diet.
84. Wash your hands: Avoid the common cold and flu by washing your hands regularly.
85. Sleep well: Help your body help itself by getting the proper amount of sleep.
86. Use disease management programs: Take advantage of disease management programs to help better treat your disease.
87. Eat colorfully: Lower your risk for diseases by eating colorful fruits and vegetables.
88. Be careful of back pain: Be sure to bend with your knees and avoid twisting while lifting heavy objects.
89. Plan for long term care: Find out how you can safeguard your assets and save money by discussing long term care with a financial adviser.
90. Immunize: Be sure to keep up with childhood immunization on the recommended schedule.
91. Take advantage of wellness incentives: Many employers offer financial incentives to employees that participate in company wellness incentives.
92. Eat a balanced diet: Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and avoid sweets and fatty foods.
93. Use sunscreen: Wear sunscreen and avoid tanning salons to help prevent skin cancer.
94. Use aspirin if you’re middle aged: Decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease with aspirin.
95. Feed your brain: Eat foods that are rich in essential vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids.
96. Get genetic testing: Find out what diseases you’re most at risk for so that you can better prevent them.
97. Lose weight: Fight obesity, and you’ll save on your insurance premiums, as well as prevent weight related conditions.
98. Stay active: Keep your heart and lungs healthy with regular exercise.
99. Exercise your brain: Avoid mental health problems by exercising your brain.
100. Laugh: Get relief from depression by laughing often.

When you’re in school, chances are you’ll be doing a lot of eating on the run. The campus cafeteria isn’t always the healthiest option, and the food court may not have what you’re looking for, either. Additionally, buying prepared food can get expensive, and when you do it every day, it all adds up. With a healthy, sack lunch, you can save money and ensure that you’re eating great food at the same time. Here are a few tips that will help you make the best of it.

Don’t use a brown paper bag. Sure, it’s convenient and inexpensive, but it won’t provide much insulation for your food. Invest in a metal, plastic, or insulated lunch box that can keep your food and beverages at a better temperature, whether you want them cool or hot. You can also purchase freezer packs that will keep food cold, safe, and fresh. Insulated jars will help to keep hot foods hot. Eating foods at the right temperature isn’t just for safety reasons-food just tastes better if it’s hot or cold instead of room temperature.

Make a great sandwich. The cornerstone of your healthy sack lunch will most often be your sandwich. Keep things interesting and healthy so that you can continue to eat sack lunch sandwiches each day. Make sure that each sandwich has a healthy protein source for energy as well as healthy toppings, peanut butter, cold cut meat, cheese, and vegetables are all great ingredients for your lunch sandwiches. Upgrade to whole grain bread to ensure that you get the complex carbohydrates you need to keep your energy up all day.

Keep up with a great variety. Eating the same thing every day is easy, but it gets boring and isn’t the best for a healthy diet. When you get bored with fresh fruit, think about adding salad, cheese sticks, dried fruit, and trail mix with nuts to your lunch box. Additionally, a cold pasta salad, vegetables with dip, or yogurt make great sides.

Have a dessert to look forward to. Whether it’s a serving of yogurt, fruit salad, or a bite-sized candy bar, treat yourself every day with a little dessert in your lunch box.

Eating on campus can be healthy and satisfying with a great sack lunch. Follow these guidelines to create meals that you’ll be happy to eat every day.

With all of the antibacterial products on the market today, and reports about germs in everyday life that sensationalize their danger, you are probably deathly afraid of germs. But in reality, most germs are not harmful and a natural part of life. Read on to find out why germs are OK, and why you should avoid over-sanitizing.

Dogs and cats at home might spell messes for many parents, but for kids, they can cut down on allergies and asthma. Studies have shown that babies who live in homes with multiple pets will have fewer allergies, including allergies to animals, grass, ragweed, and dust mites. These children are also less prone to developing asthma.

Exposure to the germs of other children is acceptable as well. Babies in day care are notorious for coming home sick all of the time, and while that is unpleasant, those same babies tend to have fewer allergies and common illnesses later.

The threat of germs isn’t as dire as you may have been lead to think. Being exposed to disease-causing bacteria doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be infected. Many germs require perfect conditions to reproduce, and your immune system is made to fight them.

Some scientists have linked the rise of superbugs to the use of antibacterial products. With antimicrobial products, bacteria are able to evolve around the products and develop a resistance to them.

There is research called the "hygiene hypothesis" that considers that allergies and autoimmune disorders may happen when we cut out too much bacteria. The thought is that limiting exposure will deprive your body of the opportunity to learn how to react to bacterial threats.

Germs happen, and when they do, it’s not all bad. Our bodies are covered in bacteria, and most of it is harmless. Some bacteria help us digest food, absorb vitamins, and even offer protection against germs that can be harmful.

Although many germs are harmless and even helpful, that doesn’t mean that you should go rolling around in a trash can. Most antibacterial products are not necessary, but doctors recommend fighting common harmful germs with handwashing after using the restroom and before eating. Be careful not to touch your face before you’ve washed your hands and keep your hands out of your mouth, nose, and eyes.

When you think of beer and health, it’s probably not a favorable image that pops into your mind. For most people, beer is associated with hangovers, beer bellies, and headaches. But that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, beer has been found to be quite a healthful beverage when consumed in moderation.

Beer supports heart health. A study found that women who had one beer a day had less hypertension than others who drank either wine or spirits. Additionally, male drinkers may be at a lower risk of coronary artery disease than men who drink wine or spirits. Wine tends to get all the press about heart healthy antioxidants, but beer has just as many as red wine, and 4-5 times the antioxidants of white wine.

Women (and men) concerned with bone density may find their solution in beer. Beer is found to help enable the deposit of calcium and other minerals into bone tissue, which is especially present in dark beer. Your daily brew just might help you ward off osteoporosis and other bone related ailments.

Beer can help you relax. If you’re having trouble sleeping, regular consumption of beer may help you find better sleep. Additionally, beer promotes relaxation, even in moderation.

With Vitamin B-6, beer can help you make hemoglobin that carries oxygen around the body. It will also help to keep your blood sugar levels correct, and maintain a good level of insulin in your blood.

Kidney stones are painful, but the preventive treatment for them is not. Drinking beer can cut down on the incidence of kidney stones. Whether the water, hops or alcohol help doesn’t matter-it just works. Beer is also great for treatment when you’re passing a kidney stone, as it increases urine production, helps you relax, and can relieve some pain.

Beer may even help save your life, keeping cancer at bay. Xanthohumol flavinoids, which are found only in hops may be a good preventative treatment for prostate and colon cancer. Hops may even help menopausal women with hormone therapy.

Remember that beer’s health benefits only apply in moderation. More beer does not necessarily mean more health benefits. To get the most out of beer’s health benefits, stick to 1-2 beers a day for men and one for women.