The World Health Report 2008 critically assesses the way that health care is organized, financed, and delivered in rich and poor countries around the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) report documents a number of failures and shortcomings that have left the health status of different populations, both within and between countries, dangerously out of balance.
“The World Health Report sets out a way to tackle inequities and inefficiencies in health care, and its recommendations need to be heeded,” said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan at the launch of the report in Almaty, Kazakhstan. “A world that is greatly out of balance in matters of health is neither stable nor secure.”
The report, titled Primary health care - now more than ever, commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Alma-Ata International Conference on Primary Health Care held in 1978. That event was the first to put health equity on the international political agenda.
Striking inequities
In a wide-ranging review, the new report found striking inequities in health outcomes, in access to care, and in what people have to pay for care. Differences in life expectancy between the richest and poorest countries now exceed 40 years. Of the estimated 136 million women who will give birth this year, around 58 million will receive no medical assistance whatsoever during childbirth and the postpartum period, endangering their lives and that of their infants.
Globally, annual government expenditure on health varies from as little as US$ 20 per person to well over US$ 6000. For 5.6 billion people in low- and middle-income countries, more than half of all health care expenditure is through out-of-pocket payments.
With the costs of health care rising and systems for financial protection in disarray, personal expenditures on health now push more than 100 million people below the poverty line each year.
Vast differences in health occur within countries and sometimes within individual cities. In Nairobi, for example, the under-five mortality rate is below 15 per 1000 in the high-income area. In a slum in the same city, the rate is 254 per 1000.
“High maternal, infant, and under-five mortality often indicates lack of access to basic services such as clean water and sanitation, immunizations and proper nutrition,” said Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director. “Primary health care, including integrated services at the community level, can help improve health and save lives.”
Health systems lose focus
Data set out in the report are indicative of a situation in which many health systems have lost their focus on fair access to care, their ability to invest resources wisely, and their capacity to meet the needs and expectations of people, especially in impoverished and marginalized groups.
As the report notes, conditions of “inequitable access, impoverishing costs, and erosion of trust in health care constitute a threat to social stability.”
To steer health systems towards better performance, the report calls for a return to primary health care, a holistic approach to health care formally launched 30 years ago. When countries at the same level of economic development are compared, those where health care is organized around the tenets of primary health care produce a higher level of heath for the same investment.
Such lessons take on critical importance at a time of global financial crisis.
“Viewed against current trends, primary health care looks more and more like a smart way to get health development back on track,” said Dr Chan.
As initially articulated, primary health care revolutionized the way health was interpreted and radically altered prevailing models for organizing and delivering care. It represented a deliberate effort to counter trends responsible for the “gross inequality” in the health status of populations.
Increasing relevance of primary health care
In calling for a return to primary health care, WHO argues that its values, principles and approaches are more relevant now than ever before. Several findings support this conclusion. As the report notes, inequalities in health outcomes and access to care are much greater today than they were in 1978.
In far too many cases, people who are well-off and generally healthier have the best access to the best care, while the poor are left to fend for themselves. Health care is often delivered according to a model that concentrates on diseases, high technology, and specialist care, with health viewed as a product of biomedical interventions and the power of prevention largely ignored.
Specialists may perform tasks that are better managed by general practitioners, family doctors, or nurses. This contributes to inefficiency, restricts access, and deprives patients of opportunities for comprehensive care. When health is skewered towards specialist care, a broad menu of protective and preventive interventions tends to be lost.
WHO estimates that better use of existing preventive measures could reduce the global burden of disease by as much as 70%.
Inequities in access to care and in health outcomes are usually greatest in cases where health is treated as a commodity and care is driven by profitability. The results are predictable: unnecessary tests and procedures, more frequent and longer hospital stays, higher overall costs, and exclusion of people who cannot pay.
Fragmented health care
In rural parts of the developing world, care tends to be fragmented into discrete initiatives focused on individual diseases or projects, with little attention to coherence and little investment in basic infrastructures, services, and staff. As the report observes, such situations reduce people to “programme targets.”
Above all, health care is failing to respond to rising social expectations for health care that is people-centred, fair, affordable and efficient.
A primary health care approach, when properly implemented, protects against many of these problems. It promotes a holistic approach to health that makes prevention equally important as cure in a continuum of care that extends throughout the lifespan. As part of this holistic approach, it works to influence fundamental determinants of health that arise in multiple non-health sectors, offering an upstream attack on threats to health.
Primary health care brings balance back to health care, and puts families and communities at the hub of the health system. With an emphasis on local ownership, it honours the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit and makes space for solutions created by communities, owned by them, and sustained by them.
Working towards fairness and efficiency
The core strategy for tackling inequalities is to move towards universal coverage in a spirit of equity, social justice, and solidarity. Fairness and efficiency in service delivery are overarching goals.
Primary health care also offers the best way of coping with the ills of life in the 21st century: the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, rapid unplanned urbanization, and the ageing of populations. These trends contribute to a rise in chronic diseases, like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and asthma, that create new demands for long-term care and strong community support. A multisectoral approach is central to prevention, as the main risk factors for these diseases lie outside the health sector.
The report says that health systems will not naturally gravitate towards greater fairness and efficiency. Deliberate policy decisions are needed. The evidence and arguments set out in the report should help in this task.
“We are, in effect, encouraging countries to go back to the basics,” said Dr Chan. “Thirty years of well-monitored experience tell us what works and where we need to head, in rich and poor countries alike.”
To download the report: http://www.who.int/entity/whr/2008/en/index.html
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
How To Keep Health During Vacation
Ahh, summertime is here, and it is time for a vacation. It’s time for you and your family, (or just you yourself), to get out there, explore someplace new, visit family and friends, or just go to the beach. So, of course, you pack your necessary clothes, toothbrush, comb, hair dryer, etc., you have everything, right?
How about your weight loss exercise program?
What about your local gym that you go to?
Or the fitness devices you have at home?
Can you use your vacation as a fitness vacation, also?
Did you pack your discipline, too? Because you’ll need it when you go to all of those restaurants you’ll be going to.
Well, if you forgot to pack those (which most people do when they go on vacation), don’t worry, I am here to help you with all of those questions while you are on vacation.
While vacation is for having fun, you should NEVER lose sight of the big picture. And that is to lose weight, stay in shape, changing your lifestyle, etc.
I can hear the excuse train coming already…
“It’s too hard to work out while I’m on vacation.”
“How will I ever eat right when we go out to eat at restaurants the whole time?”
“Where will I work out at?”
Etc. etc. etc.
Always an excuse, right?
First of all, yes, it will probably be more difficult to stay on your fitness regimen while you are on vacation.
I’ll give you that.
But that’s all I will give you.
You can and MUST get it done…many people do it, including myself…so, it can be done.
Inconvenient?…maybe.
Impossible?…Not even close.
There are people in this world who do the most amazing things to survive day in and day out…so before you start complaining that thinking ahead and planning how you will stay fit on your vacation is sooooo hard…just realize that people are always doing bigger and better things.
Now that that’s out of the way…let’s get into the “how” you will manage to stay fit on vacation.
Let me show you how, it’s really not that hard.
Ok, sample scenario…
You and your family are driving to the beach, staying at a nearby hotel for a few days.
Sounds like a basic family vacation, right?
Let’s see what you can do…
1. Stop by a grocery store (there are some by the beach too, you know) and stock up on fruits, vegetables, other assorted healthy snacks (low-fat yogurt, granola, raisins, etc.) to keep in your hotel room as snacks.
2. Also, you can buy bottled water, healthy juices (NOT the ones loaded with added sugar), teas, etc.
3. Most hotels have a small refrigerator (or…just go to the local Walgreen’s and buy a styrofoam cooler to put all of your stuff in). You just have to get ice from your hotel (and change it every day or so).
4. When you do go to restaurants (and there are usually a TON of them wherever you go on vacation)…pick a restaurant that offers a lot of lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.
5. If you need to, eat just enough to tide you over for when you get back to your hotel room…then you can eat from your healthy snacks.
6. Share a healthy chicken, turkey, or fish dish with a member of your family.
7. Stay FAR AWAY from onion rings, french fries, mozzarella sticks, etc.
8. Most hotels have a gym…use it...they also have carpeted floors…use them for doing pushups and other body-weight exercises (more to come on that in the future).
9. Take a brisk walk on the beach in the morning and night…there’s nothing much better than watching a sunrise and sunset while you are exercising.
10. Or, just do this little routine………brisk walk for 2 minutes, do 10 pushups, then 15 jumping jacks, then sprint for 15 seconds….rest for 2 minutes and repeat.
There you go…….I just gave you 10 things you can do to stay fit while on vacation…what other things can you do?
Nothing short of hundreds…maybe thousands.
But it’s about that time.
Let that marinate in your brain for a while…then stop on over to search for some of the best health and fitness tips you can possibly find. As you should know by now, I’m always here to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Don’t be afraid to ask me for help, it’s time you turn yourself into the person you’ve always wanted to be.
How about your weight loss exercise program?
What about your local gym that you go to?
Or the fitness devices you have at home?
Can you use your vacation as a fitness vacation, also?
Did you pack your discipline, too? Because you’ll need it when you go to all of those restaurants you’ll be going to.
Well, if you forgot to pack those (which most people do when they go on vacation), don’t worry, I am here to help you with all of those questions while you are on vacation.
While vacation is for having fun, you should NEVER lose sight of the big picture. And that is to lose weight, stay in shape, changing your lifestyle, etc.
I can hear the excuse train coming already…
“It’s too hard to work out while I’m on vacation.”
“How will I ever eat right when we go out to eat at restaurants the whole time?”
“Where will I work out at?”
Etc. etc. etc.
Always an excuse, right?
First of all, yes, it will probably be more difficult to stay on your fitness regimen while you are on vacation.
I’ll give you that.
But that’s all I will give you.
You can and MUST get it done…many people do it, including myself…so, it can be done.
Inconvenient?…maybe.
Impossible?…Not even close.
There are people in this world who do the most amazing things to survive day in and day out…so before you start complaining that thinking ahead and planning how you will stay fit on your vacation is sooooo hard…just realize that people are always doing bigger and better things.
Now that that’s out of the way…let’s get into the “how” you will manage to stay fit on vacation.
Let me show you how, it’s really not that hard.
Ok, sample scenario…
You and your family are driving to the beach, staying at a nearby hotel for a few days.
Sounds like a basic family vacation, right?
Let’s see what you can do…
1. Stop by a grocery store (there are some by the beach too, you know) and stock up on fruits, vegetables, other assorted healthy snacks (low-fat yogurt, granola, raisins, etc.) to keep in your hotel room as snacks.
2. Also, you can buy bottled water, healthy juices (NOT the ones loaded with added sugar), teas, etc.
3. Most hotels have a small refrigerator (or…just go to the local Walgreen’s and buy a styrofoam cooler to put all of your stuff in). You just have to get ice from your hotel (and change it every day or so).
4. When you do go to restaurants (and there are usually a TON of them wherever you go on vacation)…pick a restaurant that offers a lot of lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.
5. If you need to, eat just enough to tide you over for when you get back to your hotel room…then you can eat from your healthy snacks.
6. Share a healthy chicken, turkey, or fish dish with a member of your family.
7. Stay FAR AWAY from onion rings, french fries, mozzarella sticks, etc.
8. Most hotels have a gym…use it...they also have carpeted floors…use them for doing pushups and other body-weight exercises (more to come on that in the future).
9. Take a brisk walk on the beach in the morning and night…there’s nothing much better than watching a sunrise and sunset while you are exercising.
10. Or, just do this little routine………brisk walk for 2 minutes, do 10 pushups, then 15 jumping jacks, then sprint for 15 seconds….rest for 2 minutes and repeat.
There you go…….I just gave you 10 things you can do to stay fit while on vacation…what other things can you do?
Nothing short of hundreds…maybe thousands.
But it’s about that time.
Let that marinate in your brain for a while…then stop on over to search for some of the best health and fitness tips you can possibly find. As you should know by now, I’m always here to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Don’t be afraid to ask me for help, it’s time you turn yourself into the person you’ve always wanted to be.
Layoff Guide: How to Keep Health Insurance
NEW YORK (AP) — Cynthia Casey's husband was in the hospital with a failing liver when she was laid off in September, stranding the family without health insurance.
Medical bills were piling up. She had two teenagers to feed and a weekly unemployment check of less than $300.
"The bills just were not getting paid," said Casey, a 50-year-old resident of Pompano Beach, Fla., who until recently worked as an accounts payable supervisor.
Still, half those who were unemployed and looking for work last year didn't have insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies health policy. The nonprofit also estimates that a 1 percent jump in the national unemployment rate translates to an additional 1.1 million uninsured. Last month, the unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent, up from 4.7 percent a year ago.
The Caseys eventually ended up on a state plan that offers limited Medicaid coverage, but it's not enough to make ends meet. To help you plan in the case of a layoff, here are the health care options you'll want to consider.
COBRA: Workers are entitled to extend health care benefits for 18 months after leaving a job under COBRA, which is an acronym for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconcilation Act of 1985.
The catch is that employers no longer pick up a share of the premium, which on average is 84 percent. So you'll likely see a dramatic price hike.
"For many employees, it's the first time they realize the full cost of health insurance," said Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Kaiser foundation, based in Washington, D.C.
The average annual premium for an employer-sponsored plan is $4,704 for individuals and $12,680 for families, according to the Kaiser foundation. You can also be charged up to 2 percent of the premium for administrative costs under COBRA.
The act covers those who worked at companies with 20 or more employees, but several states extend eligibility to those at smaller firms. You also need to be enrolled in a health plan at the time you were laid off.
The other stipulation is that the company still offers health coverage, so you're out of luck if your employer goes under or stops offering health insurance to cut costs.
If you don't enroll right away and have a medical emergency, you can still sign up for coverage if it's within 60 days. But you'll be required to pay for coverage starting from the time you left your job.
Individual plans: What you can expect to pay for an individual policy varies sharply based on your age, health and where you live.
Cigna's Web site, for instance, quotes monthly premiums ranging from $127 to $230 for a 30-year-old female in Dallas. That's assuming she doesn't smoke.
For a 50-year-old female smoker, premiums more than double, ranging from $274 to $481.
Older individuals not only face higher prices, but may find it difficult finding coverage at all. Only 71 percent of applicants age 60 to 64 were offered coverage in 2006-2007, according to a study by America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry group.
"But the premiums in those states are going to be higher for everyone," said Mohit Ghose, a spokesman for Aetna Inc.
Individual plans may also be more limited than the group plans offered through employers. For instance, maternity care or prescription drugs may not be covered, so it's important to review the plan carefully before signing on.
For those who can't get coverage on their own, several states run "high-risk pools" that let people buy coverage, but typically at higher prices.
Government plans: Even if you're not eligible for government programs, you may be able to get coverage for your children.
In most states, the Medicaid eligibility threshold for children is set at twice the poverty level, or about $42,000 a year for a family of four.
The requirement is usually stricter for parents, however. Unemployment benefits are sometimes enough to disqualify adults, according to the Kaiser foundation.
If your income is low enough, however, you may qualify for more limited government help. Casey of Pompano Beach, for instance, is enrolled in Florida's Medically Needy program, which requires participants to pay a certain amount of medical bills each month before state assistance kicks in.
Senior citizens and the disabled may be eligible for Medicare. There's at least one bit of positive news, the monthly premium for the Medicare program that covers physician and outpatient services is expected to hold steady at $96.40 next year.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Medical bills were piling up. She had two teenagers to feed and a weekly unemployment check of less than $300.
"The bills just were not getting paid," said Casey, a 50-year-old resident of Pompano Beach, Fla., who until recently worked as an accounts payable supervisor.
Still, half those who were unemployed and looking for work last year didn't have insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies health policy. The nonprofit also estimates that a 1 percent jump in the national unemployment rate translates to an additional 1.1 million uninsured. Last month, the unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent, up from 4.7 percent a year ago.
The Caseys eventually ended up on a state plan that offers limited Medicaid coverage, but it's not enough to make ends meet. To help you plan in the case of a layoff, here are the health care options you'll want to consider.
COBRA: Workers are entitled to extend health care benefits for 18 months after leaving a job under COBRA, which is an acronym for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconcilation Act of 1985.
The catch is that employers no longer pick up a share of the premium, which on average is 84 percent. So you'll likely see a dramatic price hike.
"For many employees, it's the first time they realize the full cost of health insurance," said Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Kaiser foundation, based in Washington, D.C.
The average annual premium for an employer-sponsored plan is $4,704 for individuals and $12,680 for families, according to the Kaiser foundation. You can also be charged up to 2 percent of the premium for administrative costs under COBRA.
The act covers those who worked at companies with 20 or more employees, but several states extend eligibility to those at smaller firms. You also need to be enrolled in a health plan at the time you were laid off.
The other stipulation is that the company still offers health coverage, so you're out of luck if your employer goes under or stops offering health insurance to cut costs.
If you don't enroll right away and have a medical emergency, you can still sign up for coverage if it's within 60 days. But you'll be required to pay for coverage starting from the time you left your job.
Individual plans: What you can expect to pay for an individual policy varies sharply based on your age, health and where you live.
Cigna's Web site, for instance, quotes monthly premiums ranging from $127 to $230 for a 30-year-old female in Dallas. That's assuming she doesn't smoke.
For a 50-year-old female smoker, premiums more than double, ranging from $274 to $481.
Older individuals not only face higher prices, but may find it difficult finding coverage at all. Only 71 percent of applicants age 60 to 64 were offered coverage in 2006-2007, according to a study by America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry group.
"But the premiums in those states are going to be higher for everyone," said Mohit Ghose, a spokesman for Aetna Inc.
Individual plans may also be more limited than the group plans offered through employers. For instance, maternity care or prescription drugs may not be covered, so it's important to review the plan carefully before signing on.
For those who can't get coverage on their own, several states run "high-risk pools" that let people buy coverage, but typically at higher prices.
Government plans: Even if you're not eligible for government programs, you may be able to get coverage for your children.
In most states, the Medicaid eligibility threshold for children is set at twice the poverty level, or about $42,000 a year for a family of four.
The requirement is usually stricter for parents, however. Unemployment benefits are sometimes enough to disqualify adults, according to the Kaiser foundation.
If your income is low enough, however, you may qualify for more limited government help. Casey of Pompano Beach, for instance, is enrolled in Florida's Medically Needy program, which requires participants to pay a certain amount of medical bills each month before state assistance kicks in.
Senior citizens and the disabled may be eligible for Medicare. There's at least one bit of positive news, the monthly premium for the Medicare program that covers physician and outpatient services is expected to hold steady at $96.40 next year.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
How to keep health insurance if you’re laid off
Chances are if you lose your job, you’ve also lost your health insurance.
“If you’re facing unemployment, the added stress of losing your employer-sponsored health insurance can be overwhelming,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “Call our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900. We can help you understand how to keep your coverage or shop for a new health plan.”
In Washington state, the options for continuing your previous health coverage depend on the size of your employer.
If you worked for an employer with 20 or more employees and they’re still in business:
• A federal law called COBRA allows you to keep your employer’s health plan for a limited time if you pay the entire premium plus a 2 percent administrative fee.
• A temporary COBRA premium subsidy of 65% is available for nine months under the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus plan). Workers who were laid off from their job between Sept. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2009, and their family members who were covered under their employer’s health plan, are eligible for the subsidy.
• You have a right to the subsidy even if you didn’t select COBRA initially, as long as you were laid-off between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009.
• Your former employer must notify you of your option to select COBRA and if you qualify for the new COBRA subsidy. To learn more about COBRA and the new COBRA subsidy, read http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/health/yourrightsunderCOBRA.shtml
If your employer is no longer in business, stops offering health insurance or if you worked for a small business with less than 20 employees, you are not eligible for COBRA coverage. Other options for health insurance include:
• Adding yourself and/or family members to your spouse’s or domestic partner’s employer-sponsored health plan. Contact their employer as soon as possible to see if you can enroll immediately or if you have to wait for open-enrollment.
• Applying for an individual health insurance plan. Keep in mind that some applicants must take a health questionnaire. If you fail the questionnaire, you automatically qualify for coverage from the Washington State Health Insurance Pool (WSHIP). To learn more, call our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900. For more information on buying individual health plans and to see sample rates, read: http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/health/individual_health_care_coverage.pdf
Some low cost options may be available for you and your children depending on your income. Call our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900 to learn more about these programs.
“If you’re facing unemployment, the added stress of losing your employer-sponsored health insurance can be overwhelming,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “Call our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900. We can help you understand how to keep your coverage or shop for a new health plan.”
In Washington state, the options for continuing your previous health coverage depend on the size of your employer.
If you worked for an employer with 20 or more employees and they’re still in business:
• A federal law called COBRA allows you to keep your employer’s health plan for a limited time if you pay the entire premium plus a 2 percent administrative fee.
• A temporary COBRA premium subsidy of 65% is available for nine months under the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus plan). Workers who were laid off from their job between Sept. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2009, and their family members who were covered under their employer’s health plan, are eligible for the subsidy.
• You have a right to the subsidy even if you didn’t select COBRA initially, as long as you were laid-off between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009.
• Your former employer must notify you of your option to select COBRA and if you qualify for the new COBRA subsidy. To learn more about COBRA and the new COBRA subsidy, read http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/health/yourrightsunderCOBRA.shtml
If your employer is no longer in business, stops offering health insurance or if you worked for a small business with less than 20 employees, you are not eligible for COBRA coverage. Other options for health insurance include:
• Adding yourself and/or family members to your spouse’s or domestic partner’s employer-sponsored health plan. Contact their employer as soon as possible to see if you can enroll immediately or if you have to wait for open-enrollment.
• Applying for an individual health insurance plan. Keep in mind that some applicants must take a health questionnaire. If you fail the questionnaire, you automatically qualify for coverage from the Washington State Health Insurance Pool (WSHIP). To learn more, call our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900. For more information on buying individual health plans and to see sample rates, read: http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/health/individual_health_care_coverage.pdf
Some low cost options may be available for you and your children depending on your income. Call our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900 to learn more about these programs.
How to keep health problems at bay- check out!
Hey people, do you know that undoubtedly by keeping check on small things, you can keep the health problems at bay in long run. Just check out the following things in your body and keep yourself in hearty condition.
Remember if you are above 40, you are more prone to high cholesterol. Check your upper lids for tiny yellowish bumps clustered together. These could be cholesterol deposits.
A rash that is shaped like a tiny little butterfly at the bridge of your nose is a sign of a connective tissue disease or lupus. This is a multi-organ disease that can affect your vital organs. It can strike at any age, but females are more prone to it than males. Refer a dermatologist who can recommend a blood test to make a diagnosis.
If you notice a discoloration, about two shades lighter than your normal lip color around the angles of your mouth, then you could be suffering from vitamin B deficiency.
Check is the tips of your fingers swollen? Mind it that this is medically referred as ‘clubbing of fingers’. It could signal chronic lung disorder.
Do you have depressions smack in the middle of your nails? It could signal iron deficiency. Simple blood test can detect it and supplements, taken on regular basis can take care of the problem.
If you have flattish rash on the inner side of your leg, above the ankle, it could signal thyroid problem. And contrary to popular belief, men are prone to it too. It can strike at any age. Simple blood test can help in detecting it.
If you are visiting the toilet frequently, especially after dark, test yourself for diabetes. Remember that diabetes affects a host of organs and all it takes to detect it is a simple blood test.
Remember if you are above 40, you are more prone to high cholesterol. Check your upper lids for tiny yellowish bumps clustered together. These could be cholesterol deposits.
A rash that is shaped like a tiny little butterfly at the bridge of your nose is a sign of a connective tissue disease or lupus. This is a multi-organ disease that can affect your vital organs. It can strike at any age, but females are more prone to it than males. Refer a dermatologist who can recommend a blood test to make a diagnosis.
If you notice a discoloration, about two shades lighter than your normal lip color around the angles of your mouth, then you could be suffering from vitamin B deficiency.
Check is the tips of your fingers swollen? Mind it that this is medically referred as ‘clubbing of fingers’. It could signal chronic lung disorder.
Do you have depressions smack in the middle of your nails? It could signal iron deficiency. Simple blood test can detect it and supplements, taken on regular basis can take care of the problem.
If you have flattish rash on the inner side of your leg, above the ankle, it could signal thyroid problem. And contrary to popular belief, men are prone to it too. It can strike at any age. Simple blood test can help in detecting it.
If you are visiting the toilet frequently, especially after dark, test yourself for diabetes. Remember that diabetes affects a host of organs and all it takes to detect it is a simple blood test.
How to Keep Fit During the Holidays
We all make resolutions every year to keep fit whether we have diabetes or not. The difference is that as people with diabetes, we need to keep fit, and we know that even if we don't do anything about it. One only has to read the medical abstracts and the What's Hot articles on this site each month to know about the complications of diabetes. To make matters worse, I just put down an article on osteoporosis and diabetes, a topic that we don't see that often although the relationship between low bone density and diabetes has been known for some time. So, with the holidays here, we who have to exercise to protect our hearts, kidneys, veins, and bones, have to figure out how to not gain weight and keep fit from November through January.
First, we all need to set goals. If yours is to maintain your current level of fitness, you will need to exercise at least three times a week for 20 minutes at a moderate pace. If you have read these articles on exercise, you know that we need to exercise for longer periods of time, but just for the sake of this article and statistics, it does boil down to twenty minutes. This exercise might be walking, biking, aerobics etc. If you want to increase your fitness level you will need to exercise more than 20 minutes, so aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise and pick up the pace. This does not include your 10 minutes of warm up and 10 minutes of cool down. No cheating here. Your muscles will thank you.
As our schedules fill up, we have to figure out, why keep up with your exercise program. I keep up with my exercise because playing catch up after January 1st, usually fails. So why should we continue with our cardiovascular fitness by exercising?
Our hearts will be able to pump more blood.
This blood will be delivered to our muscles
More oxygen can be extracted from the blood by the muscle cells so that you will continue to increase blood volume
Increase capillary density in muscles
And increase the number and activity of the mitochondria, the muscles' "energy" factories.
When we stop exercising, plasma volume decreases rapidly. Mitochondria activity and capillary density decreases more slowly. Substantial losses in cardiovascular fitness can occur in just two weeks after exercise is stopped. And here's the clinker, once you stop exercising, it takes about three times longer to regain former levels of fitness.
The good news is that merely reducing exercise frequency, and not stopping altogether, can effectively forestall serious declines in fitness levels. Studies have shown that people who decrease exercise rather than stop were able to maintain cardiovascular fitness if they continue with exercise of moderately intensity. The moral of this information is, don't stop just because you have a busy schedule. If you are booked solid, why not try for 2 quality 30-minute exercise sessions per week, or better yet add to those more walking during the day. All you have to do for that is to park as far away from where you are going as you can and still be able to complete your tasks. Start walking up steps instead of taking an elevator and give yourself an early holiday gift of new work out clothes that call out for use. Reduce stress with stretching or yoga. Take a walk after dinner to keep blood glucose levels down. Bring your exercise rope or elastic band with you when you travel, and offer to play with your nieces and nephews instead of tasting the gravy. Deliver gifts to neighbors by walking instead of starting up the car, and finally, cut off 10 minutes from your lunch break and walk or climb steps. Remember two walks a day are as good as one long one.
Every year magazines have articles about exercising during the holidays. Perhaps you have wondered about this. Well, before we begin with our suggestions, it is important to understand that the average person gains SEVEN pounds as result of overeating and exercising less during November and December. This is a hard time for those of us who have to exercise and watch what we eat. It is the time of "Try grandma's cookies", and "One more glass of wine won't hurt", "Don't hurt her feelings; take more", and "Just take more medicine". The problem for some people is that old "all or nothing" one. They either splurge or stay on their regime. Complete deprivation may not be the answer and in fact, erasing that feeling of deprivation and feeling different is the main reason our first book was written and has sold so well. It allowed families to dine together for the first time. This is the time of the year that it is very important to balance healthy habits with enjoying the holidays. A few years ago, we shared with you the necessity of changing how we look at parties. As someone with diabetes, I had to learn how to think of the social reasons for being out with friends and family, rather than the extra champagne, food and stress. Let's examine some other thoughts that will help you make it through the holidays.
Think moderation. The new guidelines say that a carbohydrate is a carbohydrate. We all know that, but we have to count carbs so that we keep our diabetes under control. Deciding not to eat the main course so you can eat B鹀he Noel will give you too much fat and not enough nutrients that you need. The worst part is not knowing what you are eating. Is it 5 carbs and 6 fats or 3 carbs and 2 fats? The difference counts. Look at our Joslin Gourmet cookbook for an excellent B鹀he de No雔 with nutritional data.
Think moderation when it comes to alcohol consumption. Drinking can lower your blood glucose level. I can tell you from first hand experience that drinking and diabetes control can be a nightmare. Look at the calories in alcohol. It's an eye opener.
Think moderation when you attend a party. If you are not sure what is going to be served at that business or family buffet, but your memories of past events are replete with creamed sauces and fried foods, then eat at home and enjoy a salad with dressing on the side, and try the vegetables which may well have only a bit of sauce.
Whatever you do, make a pact with yourself to use exercise to keep blood glucose levels in tow and to keep stress levels down. Diabetic or not, these are times that bring up unresolved issues which can lead to overeating or other destructive behavior. Get a friend who understands and work together so that, at the end of the holidays, you will be better off than last year.
Whatever you do, don't play doctor at parties. I've talked to too many people with diabetes who share that they get through parties by changing their medications without talking over the repercussions with their physician.
Finally, do not moderate the number of times you check your blood glucose levels. This is the time to really know what is happening to you, not just guess at how you are doing.
Here are some tips that experts share to help you stay fit during the holidays:
Get a partner to work out with, preferably someone with the same goals you have.
Make an appointment to exercise and put it on your calendar so it has the same importance as a dental appointment or business meeting. It's more difficult to disappoint a friend than to do the same to yourself. So, as we've shared before, a friend in need is a friend indeed, especially when it comes to getting to the gym or out walking.
Keep a journal or log so that you know what you are doing as you exercise. We do a sculpting routine that changes every two weeks. We try to up the repetitions and the weights as we go along. No easy sledding for us. We want our muscles to pay attention.
Set holiday goals that you can meet. Treat yourself to a stress reducing treat when you meet your goals. Why not find a place for a good massage or a manicure? If you are too macho for those, think about a ticket to an athletic event.
If all else fails and your friends go their way, hire a personal trainer for a few months. He or she will not want to hear that you have to go shopping during your hour.
How you deal with food during the holiday season is also important. Look through your recipes that you know are healthy and pick some you want to try. Go to our web site, www.diabetic-recipes.com for menus and recipes that will please you and your guests. Make a shopping list from these recipes and purchase only what you need. Shop the perimeter of the super market. Why? Because, that's where the fruit, vegetables and meats are. Those aisles have crackers, nuts, ice cream, cakes etc.
What ever you do, don't skip meals. Before my pump, I would not have thought to add this one, but now I do. If you get very hungry before attending a party, we all know what may happen.
Drink a lot of water and limit the amount of liquor you drink. Remember that alcohol has almost as many calories per gram as fat. If you are cleared to have a drink, try water or diet soda for every other drink of the night. When you drink water during the day, it will suppress your appetite so you can eat less at a party.
During the holidays, try smaller meals rather than a few very large ones.
Schedule an extra workout each week. You will congratulate yourself by the beginning of the year.
Don't be the last one to leave a party. Arrive on time and set a limit on the time you stand around the food table. Remember that these are social events, not feeding frenzies.
Finally, don't beat up on yourself if you happen to slip. Just pick yourself up and get on with it. Go to the gym, talk to your friends who understand and enlist their help, call your health care team for advice, or figure out how to keep yourself healthy during the holidays.
Each month we talk about exercise and how important t it is for all of us with diabetes. Let's all enjoy the holidays and be here for years to enjoy those of the future. We love having you read our monthly magazine, and reading your e-mail . . . let us know if you have any personal ways of making it though the next months. We'd love to credit you with your successes.
First, we all need to set goals. If yours is to maintain your current level of fitness, you will need to exercise at least three times a week for 20 minutes at a moderate pace. If you have read these articles on exercise, you know that we need to exercise for longer periods of time, but just for the sake of this article and statistics, it does boil down to twenty minutes. This exercise might be walking, biking, aerobics etc. If you want to increase your fitness level you will need to exercise more than 20 minutes, so aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise and pick up the pace. This does not include your 10 minutes of warm up and 10 minutes of cool down. No cheating here. Your muscles will thank you.
As our schedules fill up, we have to figure out, why keep up with your exercise program. I keep up with my exercise because playing catch up after January 1st, usually fails. So why should we continue with our cardiovascular fitness by exercising?
Our hearts will be able to pump more blood.
This blood will be delivered to our muscles
More oxygen can be extracted from the blood by the muscle cells so that you will continue to increase blood volume
Increase capillary density in muscles
And increase the number and activity of the mitochondria, the muscles' "energy" factories.
When we stop exercising, plasma volume decreases rapidly. Mitochondria activity and capillary density decreases more slowly. Substantial losses in cardiovascular fitness can occur in just two weeks after exercise is stopped. And here's the clinker, once you stop exercising, it takes about three times longer to regain former levels of fitness.
The good news is that merely reducing exercise frequency, and not stopping altogether, can effectively forestall serious declines in fitness levels. Studies have shown that people who decrease exercise rather than stop were able to maintain cardiovascular fitness if they continue with exercise of moderately intensity. The moral of this information is, don't stop just because you have a busy schedule. If you are booked solid, why not try for 2 quality 30-minute exercise sessions per week, or better yet add to those more walking during the day. All you have to do for that is to park as far away from where you are going as you can and still be able to complete your tasks. Start walking up steps instead of taking an elevator and give yourself an early holiday gift of new work out clothes that call out for use. Reduce stress with stretching or yoga. Take a walk after dinner to keep blood glucose levels down. Bring your exercise rope or elastic band with you when you travel, and offer to play with your nieces and nephews instead of tasting the gravy. Deliver gifts to neighbors by walking instead of starting up the car, and finally, cut off 10 minutes from your lunch break and walk or climb steps. Remember two walks a day are as good as one long one.
Every year magazines have articles about exercising during the holidays. Perhaps you have wondered about this. Well, before we begin with our suggestions, it is important to understand that the average person gains SEVEN pounds as result of overeating and exercising less during November and December. This is a hard time for those of us who have to exercise and watch what we eat. It is the time of "Try grandma's cookies", and "One more glass of wine won't hurt", "Don't hurt her feelings; take more", and "Just take more medicine". The problem for some people is that old "all or nothing" one. They either splurge or stay on their regime. Complete deprivation may not be the answer and in fact, erasing that feeling of deprivation and feeling different is the main reason our first book was written and has sold so well. It allowed families to dine together for the first time. This is the time of the year that it is very important to balance healthy habits with enjoying the holidays. A few years ago, we shared with you the necessity of changing how we look at parties. As someone with diabetes, I had to learn how to think of the social reasons for being out with friends and family, rather than the extra champagne, food and stress. Let's examine some other thoughts that will help you make it through the holidays.
Think moderation. The new guidelines say that a carbohydrate is a carbohydrate. We all know that, but we have to count carbs so that we keep our diabetes under control. Deciding not to eat the main course so you can eat B鹀he Noel will give you too much fat and not enough nutrients that you need. The worst part is not knowing what you are eating. Is it 5 carbs and 6 fats or 3 carbs and 2 fats? The difference counts. Look at our Joslin Gourmet cookbook for an excellent B鹀he de No雔 with nutritional data.
Think moderation when it comes to alcohol consumption. Drinking can lower your blood glucose level. I can tell you from first hand experience that drinking and diabetes control can be a nightmare. Look at the calories in alcohol. It's an eye opener.
Think moderation when you attend a party. If you are not sure what is going to be served at that business or family buffet, but your memories of past events are replete with creamed sauces and fried foods, then eat at home and enjoy a salad with dressing on the side, and try the vegetables which may well have only a bit of sauce.
Whatever you do, make a pact with yourself to use exercise to keep blood glucose levels in tow and to keep stress levels down. Diabetic or not, these are times that bring up unresolved issues which can lead to overeating or other destructive behavior. Get a friend who understands and work together so that, at the end of the holidays, you will be better off than last year.
Whatever you do, don't play doctor at parties. I've talked to too many people with diabetes who share that they get through parties by changing their medications without talking over the repercussions with their physician.
Finally, do not moderate the number of times you check your blood glucose levels. This is the time to really know what is happening to you, not just guess at how you are doing.
Here are some tips that experts share to help you stay fit during the holidays:
Get a partner to work out with, preferably someone with the same goals you have.
Make an appointment to exercise and put it on your calendar so it has the same importance as a dental appointment or business meeting. It's more difficult to disappoint a friend than to do the same to yourself. So, as we've shared before, a friend in need is a friend indeed, especially when it comes to getting to the gym or out walking.
Keep a journal or log so that you know what you are doing as you exercise. We do a sculpting routine that changes every two weeks. We try to up the repetitions and the weights as we go along. No easy sledding for us. We want our muscles to pay attention.
Set holiday goals that you can meet. Treat yourself to a stress reducing treat when you meet your goals. Why not find a place for a good massage or a manicure? If you are too macho for those, think about a ticket to an athletic event.
If all else fails and your friends go their way, hire a personal trainer for a few months. He or she will not want to hear that you have to go shopping during your hour.
How you deal with food during the holiday season is also important. Look through your recipes that you know are healthy and pick some you want to try. Go to our web site, www.diabetic-recipes.com for menus and recipes that will please you and your guests. Make a shopping list from these recipes and purchase only what you need. Shop the perimeter of the super market. Why? Because, that's where the fruit, vegetables and meats are. Those aisles have crackers, nuts, ice cream, cakes etc.
What ever you do, don't skip meals. Before my pump, I would not have thought to add this one, but now I do. If you get very hungry before attending a party, we all know what may happen.
Drink a lot of water and limit the amount of liquor you drink. Remember that alcohol has almost as many calories per gram as fat. If you are cleared to have a drink, try water or diet soda for every other drink of the night. When you drink water during the day, it will suppress your appetite so you can eat less at a party.
During the holidays, try smaller meals rather than a few very large ones.
Schedule an extra workout each week. You will congratulate yourself by the beginning of the year.
Don't be the last one to leave a party. Arrive on time and set a limit on the time you stand around the food table. Remember that these are social events, not feeding frenzies.
Finally, don't beat up on yourself if you happen to slip. Just pick yourself up and get on with it. Go to the gym, talk to your friends who understand and enlist their help, call your health care team for advice, or figure out how to keep yourself healthy during the holidays.
Each month we talk about exercise and how important t it is for all of us with diabetes. Let's all enjoy the holidays and be here for years to enjoy those of the future. We love having you read our monthly magazine, and reading your e-mail . . . let us know if you have any personal ways of making it though the next months. We'd love to credit you with your successes.
Noise and Its Affect On Your Health!
Noise is a nuisance; there is no doubt about it. But more than that, it can cause health problems. For this reason, many are working at reducing the amount of noise in our everyday environment by creating new laws and regulations.
How does noise affect our health? The first and most noticeable affects are hearing loss. Hearing loss is easy to connect with noise because it is observable and measurable.
Hearing loss is often gradual and the first awareness of the damage unfortunately comes once it has started. One first notices hearing loss when they are unable to hear particular words during conversation and then speech on a telephone. Unfortunately, this recognition comes too late to recover what is lost. By then, the ability to hear the high frequency sounds of, for example, a flute or piccolo or even the soft rustling of leaves will have been permanently diminished. As hearing damage continues, it can become quite significant and handicapping. And there is no cure. Hearing aids do not restore noise-damaged hearing, although they can be of limited help to some people.
People with partial deafness from exposure to noise do not necessarily live in a quieter world. The many sounds still audible to them are distorted in loudness, pitch, apparent location, or clarity. Consonants of speech, especially high frequency sounds such as "s" and "ch," are often lost or indistinguishable from other sounds. Speech frequently seems garbled, sounding as if the speaker has his or her "head in a barrel." When exposed to a very loud noise, people with partial hearing loss may experience discomfort and pain. They also frequently suffer from tinnitus -irritating ringing or roaring in the head.
There is even further pain the hard-of-hearing person faces: the emotional anguish caused, perhaps Unintentionally, by friends and associates who become less willing to be partners in conversation or companions in other activities.
Noise also affects our bodies subconsciously. In readiness for dangerous and harmful situations, our bodies make automatic and unconscious responses to sudden or loud sounds. Of course, most noise in our modern society does not signify such danger. However, our bodies still react as if these sounds were always a threat or warning.
In effect, the body shifts gears. Blood pressure rises, heart rate and breathing speed up, muscles tense, hormones are released into the bloodstream, and perspiration appears. These changes occur even during sleep.
The idea that people get used to noise is a myth. Even when we think we have become accustomed to noise, biological changes still take place inside us, preparing us for physical activity if necessary.
Noise does not have to be loud to bring on these responses. Noise below the levels usually associated with hearing damage can cause regular and predictable changes in the body.
In studies dating back to the 1930s, researchers noted that noise developed marked digestive changes which were thought to lead to ulcers. Cases of ulcers in certain noisy industries have been found to be up to five times as numerous as what normally would be expected.
Similar research has identified more clearly the contribution of noise to other physical disorders. A five-year study of two manufacturing firms in the United States found that workers in noisy plant areas showed greater numbers of diagnosed medical problems, including respiratory ailments, than did workers in quieter areas of the plants.
From a study done with animals, researchers concluded that noise may be a risk factor in lowering people's resistance to disease and infection.
To prevent aggravation of existing disease, doctors and health researchers agree that there is an absolute requirement for rest and relaxation at regular intervals to maintain adequate mental and physical health.
Sleep is a restorative time of life, and a good night's sleep is probably crucial to good health. But everyday experience suggests that noise interferes with our sleep - in a number of ways. Noise can make it difficult to fall asleep, it can wake us, and it can cause shifts from deeper to lighter sleep stages. If the noise interference with sleep becomes a chronic problem, it may take its toll on health.
Human response to noise before and during sleep varies widely among age groups. The elderly and the sick are particularly sensitive to disruptive noise. Compared to young people, the elderly are more easily awakened by noise and, once awake, have more difficulty returning to sleep. As a group, the elderly require special protection from the noises that interfere with their sleep.
Other age groups seem to be less affected by noise at bedtime and while asleep. But their apparent adjustment may simply be the result of failing to remember having awakened during the night. Sleep researchers have observed that their subjects often forget and underestimate the number of times they awaken during sleep. It may be that loud noises during the night continue to wake or rouse us when we sleep, but that as we become familiar with the sounds, we return to sleep more rapidly.
The most obvious price we pay for living in an overly noisy world is the annoyance we frequently experience. Perhaps because annoyance is so commonplace, we tend to take our daily doses of it for granted - not realizing that the irritability that sometimes surfaces can be a symptom of potentially more serious distress inside us. When noise becomes sufficiently loud or unpredictable, or if the stress imposed is great enough, our initial annoyance can become transformed into more extreme emotional responses and behavior. When this happens, our tempers flare and we may "fly off the handle" at the slightest provocation.
Indeed, noise can strain relations between individuals, cause people to be less tolerant of frustration and ambiguity, and make people less willing to help others. Although no one would say that noise by itself brings on mental illness, there is evidence that noise-related stress can aggravate already existing emotional disorders.
Is noise a problem? It seems it is one we often don’t recognize. Fortunately it is also one that can be remedied with the proper treatment of your home or work place with soundproofing. As for recreation, maybe a trip out into the country will be the ticket there.
How does noise affect our health? The first and most noticeable affects are hearing loss. Hearing loss is easy to connect with noise because it is observable and measurable.
Hearing loss is often gradual and the first awareness of the damage unfortunately comes once it has started. One first notices hearing loss when they are unable to hear particular words during conversation and then speech on a telephone. Unfortunately, this recognition comes too late to recover what is lost. By then, the ability to hear the high frequency sounds of, for example, a flute or piccolo or even the soft rustling of leaves will have been permanently diminished. As hearing damage continues, it can become quite significant and handicapping. And there is no cure. Hearing aids do not restore noise-damaged hearing, although they can be of limited help to some people.
People with partial deafness from exposure to noise do not necessarily live in a quieter world. The many sounds still audible to them are distorted in loudness, pitch, apparent location, or clarity. Consonants of speech, especially high frequency sounds such as "s" and "ch," are often lost or indistinguishable from other sounds. Speech frequently seems garbled, sounding as if the speaker has his or her "head in a barrel." When exposed to a very loud noise, people with partial hearing loss may experience discomfort and pain. They also frequently suffer from tinnitus -irritating ringing or roaring in the head.
There is even further pain the hard-of-hearing person faces: the emotional anguish caused, perhaps Unintentionally, by friends and associates who become less willing to be partners in conversation or companions in other activities.
Noise also affects our bodies subconsciously. In readiness for dangerous and harmful situations, our bodies make automatic and unconscious responses to sudden or loud sounds. Of course, most noise in our modern society does not signify such danger. However, our bodies still react as if these sounds were always a threat or warning.
In effect, the body shifts gears. Blood pressure rises, heart rate and breathing speed up, muscles tense, hormones are released into the bloodstream, and perspiration appears. These changes occur even during sleep.
The idea that people get used to noise is a myth. Even when we think we have become accustomed to noise, biological changes still take place inside us, preparing us for physical activity if necessary.
Noise does not have to be loud to bring on these responses. Noise below the levels usually associated with hearing damage can cause regular and predictable changes in the body.
In studies dating back to the 1930s, researchers noted that noise developed marked digestive changes which were thought to lead to ulcers. Cases of ulcers in certain noisy industries have been found to be up to five times as numerous as what normally would be expected.
Similar research has identified more clearly the contribution of noise to other physical disorders. A five-year study of two manufacturing firms in the United States found that workers in noisy plant areas showed greater numbers of diagnosed medical problems, including respiratory ailments, than did workers in quieter areas of the plants.
From a study done with animals, researchers concluded that noise may be a risk factor in lowering people's resistance to disease and infection.
To prevent aggravation of existing disease, doctors and health researchers agree that there is an absolute requirement for rest and relaxation at regular intervals to maintain adequate mental and physical health.
Sleep is a restorative time of life, and a good night's sleep is probably crucial to good health. But everyday experience suggests that noise interferes with our sleep - in a number of ways. Noise can make it difficult to fall asleep, it can wake us, and it can cause shifts from deeper to lighter sleep stages. If the noise interference with sleep becomes a chronic problem, it may take its toll on health.
Human response to noise before and during sleep varies widely among age groups. The elderly and the sick are particularly sensitive to disruptive noise. Compared to young people, the elderly are more easily awakened by noise and, once awake, have more difficulty returning to sleep. As a group, the elderly require special protection from the noises that interfere with their sleep.
Other age groups seem to be less affected by noise at bedtime and while asleep. But their apparent adjustment may simply be the result of failing to remember having awakened during the night. Sleep researchers have observed that their subjects often forget and underestimate the number of times they awaken during sleep. It may be that loud noises during the night continue to wake or rouse us when we sleep, but that as we become familiar with the sounds, we return to sleep more rapidly.
The most obvious price we pay for living in an overly noisy world is the annoyance we frequently experience. Perhaps because annoyance is so commonplace, we tend to take our daily doses of it for granted - not realizing that the irritability that sometimes surfaces can be a symptom of potentially more serious distress inside us. When noise becomes sufficiently loud or unpredictable, or if the stress imposed is great enough, our initial annoyance can become transformed into more extreme emotional responses and behavior. When this happens, our tempers flare and we may "fly off the handle" at the slightest provocation.
Indeed, noise can strain relations between individuals, cause people to be less tolerant of frustration and ambiguity, and make people less willing to help others. Although no one would say that noise by itself brings on mental illness, there is evidence that noise-related stress can aggravate already existing emotional disorders.
Is noise a problem? It seems it is one we often don’t recognize. Fortunately it is also one that can be remedied with the proper treatment of your home or work place with soundproofing. As for recreation, maybe a trip out into the country will be the ticket there.
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