Asthma and Exercise

Everyone should engage in some sort of aerobic activity to keep their heart and lungs healthy, and muscles toned and strong. Even people with asthma benefit from regular exercise; it helps to increase lung capacity therefore allowing the lungs to function more efficiently. Many times the fear of an asthma attack keeps asthmatics from participating in activities that they enjoy. Asthma and exercise may seem like fire and water to some, but there are ways to make these two very compatible. Many professional athletes suffer from asthma and allergies, but they have found a way to manage their symptoms effectively so that they can perform at their fullest potential. There are many good asthma and allergy medications on the market today, some available over-the-counter and some by prescription only that can greatly reduce the onset of asthma symptoms during exercise.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), physical and emotional well-being can be improved through regular exercise, which can also help to manage asthma symptoms. Here are a few asthma and exercise facts that can help people get active and stay active by learning these simple interventions. Not all types of exercise will provoke asthma symptoms, and before beginning any type of exercise program, an asthma and allergy specialist or health care practitioner should be consulted. Asthma and exercise can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, a tight feeling in the chest, or coughing, all of which can develop into a full blown asthma attack if not treated immediately. By using a short or long acting bronchodilator prior to exercising, asthma symptoms can be controlled or even prevented completely. Other medications such as decongestants and antihistamines, either oral or inhaled, are also effective in controlling asthma and exercise.

Other important asthma and exercise facts include not exercising in cold or windy weather, or when pollen counts are high. These factors can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms, which can lead to a more severe attack. Asthma and exercise routines can be tailored to each individual’s specific needs, and some activities are better tolerated than others. For more information on asthma and exercise visit the Medem Medical Library at www.medem.com or a number of other online sources that have great suggestions on how to stay active and benefit from regular exercise while controlling asthma and allergy symptoms.

Medical Health Insurance

One of the most difficult problems with owning a business is finding appropriate medical health insurance. While working for a large employer, most people are offered a medical health insurance plan that is chosen by the company. Because of the number of enrollments they provide, they receive group coverage at a discount rate. Along with this group rate, they are also able to offer medical health insurance to people that have pre-existing conditions. However, when one tries to find medical health insurance on his or her own when starting a business, it is a whole different ball game.

The first obstacle every entrepreneur has to deal with is finding affordable coverage. The medical health insurance industry offers several tiers of coverage at different price ranges. The most affordable would be hospital coverage, which would only cover expenses during a hospital stay. From there, the next tier would be a medical health insurance plan with a very large deductible. Once this large deductible sum is met, the insurance plan would pay for expenses beyond that.

If one chooses to opt for insurance plan with a lower deductible, the monthly payments can be quite expensive, but the deductible sum is generally much lower. Medical needs certainly need to be taken into consideration when choosing an appropriate medical health insurance plan, such as usual number of doctor visits per year and medical equipment needs. Also take into consideration things like starting a family, as bills for labor and delivery and post partum hospital care can be quite large. If a business is just starting out, it must be taken into consideration whether a large lump sum or more expensive monthly premiums would be more manageable.

Another obstacle that may be faced is finding coverage at all if you have a pre-existing condition such as diabetes, severe asthma or cancer. Many medical insurance companies do not offer coverage at all if this problem exists. Other insurance companies may offer twice yearly open enrollment periods to obtain medical health insurance, but they are limited, costly and are often HMOs.

A fine option for those looking for independent medical health insurance is joining a local group of businesses. This allows a group of companies to obtain health insurance as one large group, and offers the same advantage that larger companies have of lower costs and coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.

Obtaining affordable and effective medical insurance can be daunting, but it can be done with some careful research and willingness to explore all options.

Health Supplements

When it comes to your health, you should be very wary of where you get your information, what you put in your body, and how you chose to live your life. With Americans getting bigger and bigger, and models and celebrities getting smaller and smaller, many are turning to health supplement to either slim down or to help bulk up their arms and bodies. Many end up turning to health supplements to achieve this.

The problem with most health supplements is that they are largely unregulated. This means that the FDA, or any other government organization, is not involved in checking these health supplements to be sure they are safe. One big health supplement that was pulled from the market was ephedra. This supplement was very popular with those trying to slim down without changing their diet and exercise habits. Some simply liked the burst of energy that ephedra provided. Sadly, it turned out that ephedra was deadly. This was just one of many health supplements that have pulled from the shelves. Ephedra is now back on the market, but with the dangerous components removed. Even so, there is no saying it is still safe.

Because you can buy health supplements at places like GNC and other retail outlets, many think that they are safe. No store would sell something that isn’t safe right? Wrong. They are simply putting the product on the shelf. You cannot think health supplements are safe just because you trust the store you find them in. Weight loss supplements are also found all over the Internet. This might be the most iffy place to buy them. If you choose to buy health supplements online, do a little research on the company. Find out where they are located and make sure you are getting the same product you would be buying in a local store.

Health supplements for weight lifters can be dangerous too. These are often called ‘natural’ but at many times they are not. Remember that the FDA does not regulate the term ‘natural’ when it comes to health supplements. The effect these ‘natural’ health supplements could have on your body could be deadly. You should always discuss with your doctor any health supplements you are thinking of taking. There are reactions with medications and health conditions of which you may not be aware. One herb or supplement taken in conjunction with the wrong prescription medication can have devastating results.

Health and Wellness

Have you been to the family doctor for a check-up lately? You know how it goes; once you hit the age of 40, they expect you in every year for a general physical. This is a good thing. How else could you monitor your health and wellness? When it comes to taking good care of yourself, there are some things you should focus on. I think every human being alive knows that their health and wellness depends on their lifestyle. Are you doing what it takes to make certain that your body is in proper shape and your heart-rate is sound? If you're not sure, then it's definitely time to find out.

What do you think of when you consider your health and wellness overall. For me, I have to say that my diet and exercise routine comes to mind first and foremost. Now, if you didn't already know it, you are what you eat and what you do. Don't get me wrong; I'm not talking about your career. I am referring to your everyday meals and routines. For example, do you dine out at Burger King each day for lunch? Do you spend your evenings watching television and munching on Cheetos? If this sounds all too familiar, then you may want to re-evaluate your personal health and wellness. It's time to wake up, people! You can't live like this and actually expect to live a long and healthy life. You're basically killing yourself slowly. How about trying a new routine? First of all, you have to alter your diet. No more fast food! The most you should consume this stuff is one meal out of the week. However, I would shoot for once a month. It just isn't healthy. Foods you will want to focus on are fruits, vegetables and fish. These are wonderful for your overall health and wellness. Your body needs those vitamins and minerals. Always make sure to drink loads of water. You can even toss a daily multivitamin in the mix. These are imperative factors to health and wellness. Of course there is the fitness side as well. Every human being needs to adopt some sort of exercise regime. This is essential to your physique, bones and muscles. It's crucial to keep them strong. For more information regarding general health and wellness, you can always log onto your personal computer. WebMD.com is a great site to check out if you have any concerns. Live long and live well.