Say NO to Electronic Medical Records

We already know that Google generally collects and sells data (a good reason to use startpage.com for your search engine). They've also been implicated with government spy and law enforcement agencies.

We also know that electronic medical record will not save money as well as the fact that HIPAA was the open sesame for everyone to get access to your data.

You do have a choice, and most likely it is to find a health care professional that doesn't do third party insurance billing and takes cash.

From Times Online July 27, 2009

David Davis: Google is the last company I would trust with my personal dataSam Coates, Chief Political Correspondent
Google cannot be trusted with sensitive personal data and any plan to transfer health records to the company is “naive”, David Davis writes in The Times today.

The former Shadow Home Secretary, who resigned from the Tory front bench to campaign on privacy issues, says that companies should not be able to make money out of holding patient records.

Mr Davis has been tipped for a return to frontline politics if the Tories win the general election. However, in today’s article he labels as “amoral” a company with close ties to the Conservative Party — David Cameron’s adviser Steve Hilton is married to Rachel Whetstone, Google’s head of communications.

He also criticises the work of “young researchers” in Conservative headquarters and queries whether Mr Cameron’s notion of the “post-bureaucratic age” may further damage public trust in the state.

This comes amid divisions in the Conservative Party over its cherished policy of publishing government-collected statistics, which underpins many of their plans for public-sector reform.

An insider told The Times there was a “healthy debate” over whether information such as hospital cleanliness ward by ward or street-by-street crime data should be released free or sold. Some believe that there is vital money to be made for the Exchequer.

Others say that existing commercial websites have failed to turn a profit from the small amount of public-sector data already freely available, raising questions over whether private companies would fulfil the function of websites currently run by government.

Mr Davis, who has championed privacy issues since he refought and won his parliamentary seat of Howden & Haltemprice in a by-election last year, accepts that there are “massive weaknesses” in the NHS patient records database, which is not expected to be fully delivered until 2013-4.

However, he adds: “Google is the last company I would trust with sensitive personal data belonging to me. In the words of Privacy International, Google has ‘a history of ignoring privacy concerns. Every corporate announcement has some new practice involving surveillance’.”

He says that Google, whose chief executive Eric Schmidt is on a Tory advisory board, has a “near monopoly internet presence, combined with legally unfettered use of vast quantities of personal data”.

Senior Tories emphasise that there are still huge barriers before health records could be transferred to private-sector companies such as Google Health or Microsoft HealthVault. A review is underway by Dr Glyn Hayes, a member of the British Computer Society.

There still appears to be disagreement inside the party over whether patients — or their GPs — should act as the gatekeeper for records. It may be up to GPs, rather than patients, to chose which company stores the data, for instance.

David Cameron has repeatedly said that he does not want a big central state-run database for health records. “For every penny we could save on the computer that isn’t really working very well we could put money into nurses and doctors and patient care.” The NHS points out that health records are not held centrally, but by individual trusts.

One stumbling block in the idea to transfer records to services such as Google Health would be that this could make it inaccessible to hospital doctors in accident and emergency facing a patient unexpectedly.

Patients brought unconscious into hospital, for instance, may not be able sign over electronic “permission” for the A&E doctors and nurses to see their notes.

Senior Tories have decided however this is not a fundamental flaw in the idea. They have been told by doctors that A&E staff, for instance, have not in the past required comprehensive notes in the first few hours when a patient is critically ill and that patients often have other ways of indicating allergies, such as wristbands.

The most important part of the Tory plan, insiders say, is that all systems used to maintain patient records — whether managed by the patient themselves or their GP — must be electronically compatible with one another.

Google, the search engine, has said there are no circumstances in which it would sell health data to outside companies, even in an anonymised fashion.

The company strongly rejected suggestions it they would consider selling data for health trials by pharmacuetical companies.

Challenged over how the Google Health service in the UK could make money, the company said its goal was to “drive brand loyalty and more searches on google.com where we make our money on advertising”, adding “at this time, we have no plans to host ads into Google Health”.

However, they hinted that in future they could, in principle, use the service to sell advertising.

A Google spokeswoman said: “We would not serve ads on Google Health without fully informing our users in advance.”

Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.

Reiki Energy Healing

By Lisa Sawires

Moving forward through pain or illness can seem almost impossible. How do I get better? What is this pain really about and what can I do about it?

Feeling stuck happens to nearly everyone; if not for themselves, then in thinking of those closest to them. And those issues can easily get lodged in the body until we are really ready to take action and break free. Receiving energy work is a way to break free and mover forward.

Energy medicine in all its forms acknowledges and utilizes the idea that we are more than just bodies. In fact our bodies are but one layer in our multilayer being. Different schools and disciples have their own names for the layers, complete with descriptions of meanings. There is much literature available on the chakras, and the etheric layers.

Reiki is an energy healing modality that allows the practitioner to read the body while flowing a wonderful glowing radiance through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported physical healings and miraculous results. I believe reiki creates such a strong sense of safety that the body simply heals itself.

Reiki is a form of spiritual healing dating back to early 20th century Japan. Created by buddhist Sensei Mikao Usui, this art is said to heal a person through the energy flowing from the palms of the practitioner. Reiki made its way to the US thanks to the work of Hawayo Takata, who was born in Hawaii from Japanese parents. Hawayo Takata tried Reiki in one of her visits to Japan, and eventually avoided three surgeries thanks to her reiki treatments.

The name Reiki literally means "spiritual/soul energy." Practitioners believe that Reiki can help unblock the emotional or spiritual blocks that cause illness. Rather than focusing on treating the symptoms of a disease, reiki works on the causes. Through the use of universal life-energy, reiki can heal a person, even if the practitioner himself does not know what's wrong. Reiki is intelligent energy. Another view is that reiki creates such a strong sense of safety and well being that the body heals itself in this radiance.

During a typical session, the practitioner will ask you to lie down on a table after removing your shoes and jewelry. She will then move her hands around your body, not touching or lightly resting her palms on your body. During the process, the practitioner's hands usually become really hot, a sign that energy is flowing through them. It's important to note that the energy received does not come from the practitioner; she is merely channeling the Universe's energy. Some people who receive reiki experience emotions, a sense of wellbeing or peace. It is always pleasant. Some reiki practitioners intuitively read the body and speak during a session. (For example, I record sessions for clients later review). Reiki can also be practiced remotely, where the practitioner can perform a full session without actually being in the same room with the client.

Because reiki works on energy, sometimes it takes several visits before a difference can be seen or felt. Also, the results tend to be subtle, and vary from person to person. However, practitioners believe that this energy healing modality works for everyone and any condition. And because of its gentleness, it has been used in hospitals and nursing homes, on babies through seniors, for everything from cancer, and blood diseases to broken bones.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and its gentle effects always create a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

Reiki's use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.

Article courtesy of Lose The Back Pain. Be sure to visit their website for more free articles and videos on back, neck and sciatic pain.

How To Stop The Pain Caused By Headaches

By Rose Williams

When we are suffering from a headache we usually try to
think of ways to stop the pain. However, as there are
different types of headaches, the treatments may work for
only a some of the headache types. There are two different
methods of curing the pain caused by headaches. These types
of headache treatment are called prophylactical and abortive
headache treatments.

The prophylactic type of treatment has to be taken everyday
in order to reduce the frequency of and to control the
severity of the headache. Abortive headache treatment is
begun only when the headache starts.

However, you must realize that your physician will not
prescribe any prophylactic headache treatment unless you are
suffering from several, frequent headache attacks every
month. Furthermore, when you take the prophylactic
medication you will be monitored for side effects like
weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment
and hallucinations.

The treatment of headaches with prophylactic medication
begins with a low dose. The dose is then increased as time
passes. You will also be tested every month or so to see if
the treatment is effective. Your doctor will also check that
you are not taking any other types of medicine or vitamins
during this phase of your headache treatment.

It is very important for the doctor to know whether the
sufferer is or becomes pregnant. If you do become pregnant,
then your doctor should be told, so that checks can be done
to uncover any possible side effects to the unborn foetus.

The main prescription drugs given for stopping headache are
beta blockers such as Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium
channel blockers such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia
are also used. Doctors may also prescribe anti-depressants
such as Elavil and Zoloft. You can also be given serotonin
antagonists like Sansert.

Usually, anti-convulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and
Dilantin are also given for headache treatment. Cafergot and
Sansert (ergot derivatives) could also be given by your
doctor. The 'abortive' headache treatment types available
for your headache pain are usually the 'over the counter'
(OTC) type. These include Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol,
Panadol, Motrin, and Advil to mention only a few. Tylenol
and Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Motrin and
Advil are in the family of drugs known as Ibuprofen.

Further to these headache medicines there are also
non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. The side
effects of NSAIDs like Naprosyn and Meclomen include nausea,
gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, light-headedness
and constipation. These headache treatments can also cause
some people to get side-effects in the form of a different
type of headache.

Since taking these drugs can result in side effects, you
ought to consult your doctor in order to discover whether
they are all right for you or not. People who prefer to take
an 'alternative' headache treatment should ask their doctor
whether he thinks the alternative medicine, such as
aromatherapy or supplements, will be suitable.

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Practical Life Extension

What Modern Science Says About Reversing The Aging Process

There's an old proverb that rings with wit and reason: "Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die." So why do we want to live forever? According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, author of "Chasing Life" and CNN's Senior Medical Corespondent, we do not.

The real quest isn't eternal life on earth according to Gupta, but rather an exceptional life.

While interviewing the foremost authorities on anti-aging and life extension, Dr. Gupta discovered three "universals" -- three principles that each researcher deemed critical to extending our lives naturally and empowering us to live exceptionally. They are:

1. Weight training?
2. Good nutrition?
3. Positive thinking and having purpose

Jon Benson, author of "Fit Over 40", explores each of these in great detail, as well as asking 52 men and women how they have managed to slow the hands of time down to a crawl. Benson does not waste time with hype and hypothesis. He focuses on real-world examples and applications we can all use to slow down the aging process and help prevent and reverse the conditions that can lead to disease.

Discover more today at http://bit.ly/184UcB

You too can live a longer, more exceptional life by simply adopting a smart, realistic and enjoyable lifestyle fitness plan. And if science just happens to catch up with Father Time, you'll be many steps ahead of the curve.

Arthur M.

Sandbag Complexes for Developing Strength, Conditioning and Rock Hard Muscles

If you have never heard of “complexes” it is simple a series of movements strung together, one after another, no rest between exercises and with the same training tool. 
Zach Even-Esh frequently performs complexes with sandbags and kettlebells.

The complexes are awesome, especially when you are short on time. Check out this sandbag complex below in the Video:

In the above video you see Zach performing the following sandbag exercises:

shouldering
shoulder squats
push pressing

As you can see, those 3 exercises performed in succession kicked my ass!

There was no special formula to the complex I strung together, just 3 tough exercises that rocked the entire body.

You can try performing a lower body exercise, an upper body pushing exercises and finishing with an upper body pulling exercise.

For example:
1. Sandbag Step Ups x 5 ea. Leg
2. Sandbag Military Press x 5 reps
3. Sandbag Bent Over Row x 5 reps

If you want to start using complexes go ahead and start using them with a light sandbag. You can quickly progress to a heavier sandbag as your strength, conditioning and grip strength improve.

For more muscle building, fat burning workouts that can be done without going to a depressing health club or gym check out http://ugsc.rxsportz.com

If you want sandbags check out the Go with The Underground Sandbag HERE

Training with Russian Kettlebells, Thick Ropes and Sleds!

Sometimes I feel like sleds, ropes and kettlebells are the ultimate lethal weapon for athletes, fitness fanatics and strength freaks.

You can use them all at once as you see in the video below, working on power pressing and power rowing.

The thick ropes allow you to improve hand and grip strength, the sleds improve lower body strength and overall stamina and the kettlebells are the ultimate “All in 1 Gym”

Check out the Video below of my training partner and I going through some playground workouts using the sled, ropes and kettlebells.

If you don’t have a sled, you can simply make one with a tire as I show you in The Underground Strength System.

Try cranking out 6 power presses, followed by 6 power rows followed by 100’ of dragging forwards and another 100’ of dragging the sled or tire backwards.

I would throw that sled workout in at the end of your workout, AFTER you have pushed hard on the strength drills. Three rounds of the above sled circuit will definitely have you feeling your oats if you know what I mean.

If you want more outdoor, “No Gym Needed”, Underground workouts then check out http://ugsc.rxsportz.com/

Get your Underground Kettlebells HERE

What Are The Benefits of Healthy Snacks & What Are The Best Foods To Eat?

The truth about healthy snacks for weight loss is that they
are vital to eat during the day. Research has discovered
that people who do not snack consume more food at mealtimes.
People who do not snack end up consuming more fat and
calories than those people who do snack between mealtimes.
People still wonder though what the benefits are to healthy
snacking and what kinds of foods are actually considered
'healthy.'

The most beneficial thing to healthy snack eating is that
you do not binge later on foods that are unhealthy to curb
your hunger. If you are suffering from a growling stomach or
hunger pangs, then you should snack now versus waiting for
the next mealtime. Hunger management through the day is
important not only for proper eating but also for
maintenance of blood sugar levels. So, how and when should
you consume your snacks?

So what types of foods are included in the healthy snacks
category? Whole grain foods are a good choice because of the
fiber content in them that gives you that needed energy to
last until a full meal. Some great options for this are
whole grain crackers and whole grain pretzels. These and
other healthy selections can be found in the organic snacks
section in your local grocer.

Other obvious choices of healthy snacks for weight loss are
fruits and vegetables. They are low in calorie, fat free,
and are loaded with all the vitamins and minerals that the
body needs. A word of warning, though; if you decide to have
some salad for snacks, go easy on the salad dressing.

Another great snack are nuts and seeds. They are full of
protein but are high in calories, so do not consume too many
of them in one sitting.

You can also snack on foods which are rich in calcium but
low in fat while waiting for dinner. These include light
yogurt and cheese which was processed with skim milk.

What times are the best times for these snacks? On the
average, most people have breakfast at around 8 am and in
this case, a 10:30 am snack should keep you going until a
1:00 pm lunchtime. Afternoon snacks are usually eaten around
3:30 pm, and then it's dinner time at 6:00 or 6:30 pm. This
sample schedule shows that the ideal healthy snack is eaten
within 2-3 hours before and after a meal. This would allow
you to eat smaller and healthier, while keeping you full
enough to go about your daily activities.

Healthy snacks are important in your goal of losing weight.
People who do not snack end up hungry and frustrated when
meal time comes around and then they forget about all
intention of losing weight, eating fatty foods that do
nothing for their health. This habit does not also bode
well for the blood sugar and could complicate even further
when symptoms of emotional and physical stress manifest
themselves. It may not sound correct when you say that
snacking is good for losing weight, but this is the truth.
Not only will you end up consuming less calories, it will
also help you concentrate on what you have to do instead of
warding off the hunger pangs.

By keeping yourself focused on the end goal, you'll end up
thinner and healthier. Healthy snacks for weight loss are
the way to go.