Expressing Opinions

An Associated Press probe find drugs in the drinking water of 41 million Americans. I came across this article which opens by stating:

A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Of the 62 major water providers contacted only 28 tested the quality of their water, all due to the fact the federal government does not require testing and has not set safety limits for drugs in water. This is happening as scientists are finding the natural sources of most of the nation’s water supply, also are contaminated. Contamination by pharmaceuticals in the water supply is not only being found in the United States, but in most other regions of the world too. Japanese health officials have called for health impact studies after detecting drugs in drinking water at seven different sites.

The study closes by stating:

“We know we are being exposed to other people’s drugs through our drinking water, and that can’t be good,” says Dr. David Carpenter, who directs the Institute for Health and the Environment of the State University of New York at Albany.

This is nice to know but it does surprise me. Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

I have a great medical insurance plan through my employer. But over the years I have seen the way the insurance “manages” the people it insures. Doctor referrals, prescription approvals and disapprovals, and second guessing or outright disagreeing with my physician over treatment. What gives them the right to dictate what is good for me when they do not know who I am or the circumstances around my health issue?

Once I went to urgency care because I fell while riding my bicycle. At the doctor’s office I listed my reason for being there as an accident due to me falling from my bicycle. About two weeks later I get a letter from the insurance company wanting to know if anyone else was involved and did they have insurance? The more I read the letter the more I realized they were trying to get someone else to pay for the office visit and prescriptions.

When I was diagnosed with diabetes my insurance company denied so many prescriptions my physician prescribed for me, I finally called the insurance company to confront them. I asked them which medication did they think I should take because they seemed to know more about my diagnosis than my doctor.The problem with insurance companies is they know they have you by the balls and they are merciless.

Today I read on Reuters about a judgment against Health Net. It seems Health Net canceled a womans policy after she had 3 of 8 chemotherapy treatments. The arbitrator awarded the woman $9.4 million and in his opinion arbitration judge Sam Cianchetti wrote,

It is difficult to imagine a policy more reprehensible than tying bonuses to encourage the recision of health insurance that helps keep the public alive and well.

Yeah that’s right! Health Net offers bonuses to employees for finding reasons to cancel insurance policy’s.

There is another case pending involving a newborn boy whose Health Net coverage was canceled after he was born blind and with cerebral palsy. I am glad to hear an insurance company being held accountable for it’s actions.

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I came across an article from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) about new research that suggests mammograms may help to predict which women are at risk for strokes. The basics are if you have breast calcifications you may be at a higher risk for stroke. You can read the full article on Mediline Plus: Mammograms Might Spot Stroke Risk.

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So I am reading the news today and come across a link on the AP to an article on SignOnSanDiego.com about fat people and seat belt use. Oh brother!!! Why is there news stories on this? Isn’t there more important things to report or have studies on?

In the news piece states:

Vanderbilt University psychologist David Schlundt studied the relationship between seat belt use and weight after noticing that obese people sometimes struggled to fit into the auto restraints.

“They really have a hard time getting that belt buckle over them,” Schlundt said. “They have to stretch it out and then over and then some can’t see the buckle.”.

Seat belts are made to fit a person with a 47 inch hip circumference and most manufacturers provide an average of 18-20 inches of extra belt length. That is a lot of seat belt!

Personally I think obese people should be held accountable for packing on the pounds and we as a society should not be made to bare the burden of higher health care costs, because these people would rather lift a Twinkie instead of a barbell. It is not like they do not have control over when they open their pie hole and shovel in the food. There are plenty of other health issues which should be funded for study and I don’t think obesity is one of them.

The only thing I will get out of it is a laugh when Leno includes the story in his monologue. Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

Another statistic of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in suicides and mental health issues. These are linked to long wars, repeat deployments, a stigma in the Army if you ask for help and a lack of resources to help those soldiers in need.

Washington Post reporter Dana Priest reports:

The Army was unprepared for the high number of suicides and cases of post-traumatic stress disorder among its troops, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have continued far longer than anticipated. Many Army posts still do not offer enough individual counseling and some soldiers suffering psychological problems complain that they are stigmatized by commanders.

It is hard enough on those deployed in war zones and the families of the soldiers who are left home. But what should be a joyous time for families when their service member returns home from the war zone, often turns into a more difficult time attempting to cope with mental disorders such as depression and PTSD, of which the Army does not want to recognize and chastise soldiers who report problems.

The soldiers and their families are ill equipped to deal with these issues and the chain of command does want to. What are these families to do? They did what was asked of them and now they need help. Contact your elected officials at USA..gov and let them know these soldiers need help.

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I took the death test today to see how much more time I have on this earth. You to can see how long you have and what is going to kill you by clicking on the graphic below and taking the Death Test. Of course I messed with code a little to make it more interesting, but I am sure the true results are all very scientific.

DEAD AT 94

too much fun!

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The other day I was reading a forum on the Tu Diabetes site and discovered a supplement named Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10). After reading a few of the postings I decide to do a little research to learn what Co Q10 is and how it works? (I am a skeptic about most things I read online and I am an expert researcher.) I was surprised how much information was returned on my initial Coenzyme Q10 inquiry using Google. The first site on the return was the Mayo Clinic, which listed the same information as the National Library of Medicine I found when I searched that site and the fifth was the National Cancer Institute.

Apparently Coenzyme Q10 is a natural vitamin like substance found in most human cells except red blood cells and eye lens cells. Coenzyme Q10 is suppose to help with a host of heart related ailments including high blood pressure, reduces migraines, and helps cancer patients, along with many other diseases.

I was skeptical when I was first reading about this on Tu Diabetes and surprised to find so much positive information about this substance. I beleive in excerise, eating well, and taking a multi-vitamin to help make up for when I choose to eat the occasional burger and fries. I am not a person who jumps on every fad health gimmick that comes along, but after reading about the benefits I decided to give it a try.

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