Tag: heart disease (Page 4 of 8)

      Insurers Don’t Like the Big Business of Sleep Apnea

      January 22, 2012 /

      Sleep apnea is proving to be a drain on insurance companies.

      Snoring was once considered an annoyance, however, research has shown that complications can increase the risk of several serious illnesses, including heart disease, stroke and dementia.

      Testing can be a lucrative business, and labs have popped up in free-standing clinics and hospitals across the country. Over the past decade, the number of accredited sleep labs that test for the disorder has quadrupled, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

      At the same time, insurer spending on the procedure has skyrocketed. Medicare payments for sleep testing increased from $62 million in 2001 to $235 million in 2009, according to the Office of the Inspector General.

      Although the initial cost may be a burden on insurers the hope lies in the prevention of more serious and costly ailments in the future.

      Health Insurance, Medicare, Research, Resources, Wellness

      The American Lifestyle is Making Us Sick

      December 18, 2011 /

      The American lifestyle is the biggest threat that our nation faces today.

      Better treatments are saving and preserving lives, however, lifestyle and overall health does not account for any drop in fatalities due to cardiovascular illness.

      Lives may be saved but the quality of life enjoyed on an expensive diet of pharmaceuticals comes with it’s own disadvantages.

      The authors of the report, which appears online Dec. 15 in the journal Circulation, looked at seven markers of cardiovascular health: smoking, weight, exercise, diet, cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting blood sugar levels, as well as whether or not a person had a diagnosis of heart disease.

      Using those criteria, 94 percent of U.S. adults — that’s almost everyone — have at least one risk factor for heart disease. For example, one-third of U.S. adults have high blood pressure while 15 percent have high cholesterol.

      American’s demand for fast food and sedentary entertainment is undoing the health of men, women and children nation wide.

      Quality Control, Research, Resources, Wellness

      What Role Does Sodium Really Play in Heart Disease?

      December 1, 2011 /

      Less salt doesn’t necessarily lessen the risk for heart disease.

      An evaluation of your nutritional needs, activity level as well as your individual health issues will help to determine how much sodium your body needs.

      Nutritionists recommend a daily intake of 1.5 grams of salt for people with heart problems, a level that in this study increased the risk for cardiovascular death by 37 percent.

      “It’s still important to avoid consuming too much salt,” said Andrew Mente, an author of the study and an assistant professor of epidemiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. “But people who are consuming moderate amounts may not have to decrease their intake further.”

      Quality Control, Research, Wellness

      Heart Disease is a Food Borne Illness

      November 29, 2011 /

      Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. believes that heart disease is a food borne illness and the only way to prevent the disease is through diet.

      Former president Bill Clinton recently talked about his vegan diet and his belief that a meat free and dairy free lifestyle has saved his life.

      Doctors, Nutrition, Research, Wellness

      America’s Growing Waistline and Health Care Woes

      November 21, 2011 /

      Americans are getting fatter.

      At the rate we’re going 83 percent of American men will be overweight or obese by 2020 followed by women at 72 percent projected to be overweight or obese by then, as well.

      The implications go far beyond tight pants and groaning sofas. Obesity is a big risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

      Imagining an America of overweight, unhealthy people gives public health officials the willies. And it should be frightening to us civilians, too.

      Health Care Policy, Health Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Nutrition, Quality Control, Research, Resources, Wellness

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 MedClient.com

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑