More American patients seek treatment abroad to escape high medical costs
Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The number of Americans heading abroad for medical care rose sharply last year amid high health care costs and a poor economy in the United States, according to medical tourism industry figures.
Some of their preferred locations for life-saving surgeries and other procedures are India and Mexico, the health information company Health Digital Systems reported.
Surgeries like hip replacements, dental implants and heart bypasses can cost half as much in Southeast Asia and Latin America compared with the United States.
Among the six million Americans who traveled abroad for medical care last year, 45 percent traveled to Asia, 26 percent to Latin America and 2 percent to the Middle East, according to industry statistics.
Health care officials in the countries treating foreigners are upbeat about their patients. Medical tourism, primarily from the United States and Europe, represents a nearly $100 billion a year industry.
Mexico’s Health Ministry recently produced a report saying “the globalization of health services can offer excellent medical care at lower costs than developed countries.”
The health ministry has developed a strategic plan to encourage medical tourism by continuing “the effort to improve the perception of public safety and promote [Mexico's] image as a global capital of culture and entertainment.”
Any success by Mexico’s health providers in reaching American patients is most obvious in border cities like Monterrey, Tijuana and Chihuahua, according to the Health Digital Systems. Pharmacies, hospitals and medical specialty practices have sprung up to take care of them.
However, patients also assume risks by trusting their health care to foreign medical standards.
Only 2 percent of Mexico’s hospitals have earned “Joint International Commission” certification.
The certification means a hospital and its staff have met international standards that would allow them to be reimbursed by foreign medical insurance companies.
India’s medical tourism industry is losing patients to competing hospitals in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia amid concerns about poor sanitation.
Indian hospitals have been struggling with a “superbug” that is resistant to disinfectant.
As a result, some patients are reporting they become sick when they enter Indian hospitals for other treatments.
Nevertheless, the discount price of foreign medical treatment is creating a backlog of patients for hospitals with good reputations.
Mediescape, an Indian medical tourism company, reports that India’s hospitals offering medical services to patients from the United States and Europe say their booked up to December.
Between 15 percent and 20 percent of India’s hospital income now comes from medical tourism, according to industry data.
There were 800,000 foreign patients in India last year. They are expected to generate a $3 billion a year industry for India by 2015, up by more than a third from 2010.
Behind the figures on rising medical tourism is the desperation of patients who cannot afford health care in the United States, where about 40 percent of the population lacks adequate medical insurance, according to U.S. government statistics.
Some Americans are even treating themselves for serious ailments, not always with successful outcomes, according to a recent survey by TMD Limited, a medical tourism company.
“Today we are seeing many breast cancer patients that self-treated for years,” said Antonio Jimenez, a doctor raised in New Jersey who now runs the Hope4Cancer Institute in Mexico’s Baja California. “Unfortunately, cancer treatment is not a do-it-yourself project.”
Many of the women search for treatments on the Internet.
“We see more and more women who have spent thousands of dollars on supplements and wonder cures they used at home,” Jimenez said. “When those treatments fail, they look for a clinic that can help.”
The American Cancer Society reports that 230,480 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Of those, 39,520 will die.
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Food for thought: 7 Foods that boost brain power
Make every meal count by incorporating these brain foods in your next family meal.
Sure, fruits and veggies are good for your body and brain, but what foods really give your brain the biggest nutritional boost? Lucky for us, our brains have excellent taste, so you’ll certainly enjoy adding these foods into your diet. Avocado
The low-fat myth is over, folks. “Good” fats are essential nutrients with many health benefits. Avocados are a great source of MUFAs , which the brain soaks up like a tortilla.
How to cut an avocado Chocolate
As if we needed an excuse, the cacao bean is actually one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. Whether you eat dark chocolate , or just go straight for whole, dried cacao beans, your brain gets blasted with flavanoids, which increases blood flow and may help to protect against conditions like dementia and stroke. It also boosts the brains’ seratonin and dopamine levels through feel-good chemicals ananandamine and theobromine; and a happy brain is a good thing.
16 Signs you might be a chocoholic Green tea
Especially great for the brain is Matcha tea, the Japanese powdered whole green tea leaf. It is full of EGCG , a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, and it’s also calming and focusing while stimulating at the same time. If you don’t like drinking tea, try cooking with tea instead.
Try these high antioxidant teas Flax seeds
Flax seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids , which our bodies cannot make on their own, and they can help the brain function and have also been linked to a number of other health benefits for the heart, cholesterol and even relieving arthritis pain. Walnuts
Fat, again. You need a lot of it and different kinds. Walnuts are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids. And have you ever noticed that whole walnuts look an awful lot like tiny little brains?
Try these walnut recipes. Turmeric
This spice most common in Indian cuisine has actually more to offer than just great curry. Curcumin, which is the powerful antioxidant found in turmeric, has been linked to plaque removal in the brain. Populations that regularly eat curry, such as India, have reported lower rates of dementia.
Spice up your health with turmeric. Apples
That’s right, one a day really just might keep that doctor far, far away. Quercetin, which is found in abundance in the skins of apples, has been shown to protect the brain from damages associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Apples are also a great source of fiber, which helps the elimination process. Regular bowel movements help remove toxins from the body, which can otherwise cloud the brain and make you less focused.
Browse over 400 apple recipes on SheKnows. More on brain foods
Green tea: Miracle drink? Chocolate for breakfast: Chocolate recipes How to cut an avocado
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Increasing Demand of EMU Farms
Emu is a large ostrich-like Australian bird and best known for its inability to fly. They are mostly found in forest and woodland areas. The bird has dull tan and mottled black and brown feathers. They have a weight of about one hundred twenty pounds and are capable of running up to 40-50 mph and can also swim. The emu birds are used to produce various different products. Therefore, Emu farming is preferred all over the world today.
Due to the growing popularity of Emu products, Emu farms have become source of income in various countries. The farming in India is becoming a full-time business of raising these birds. The low maintenance cost and capability of surviving in any type of climate of the bird have involved number of Indian farmers in rearing the bird. In India, various banks also provide loans for bird farming. The farmers need to create feasible environment for farming birds.
Emu Breeding
The female bird lays 30-50 eggs per year between the breeding seasons from September to March. Each bird lays up to 20 rich, dark green eggs and each egg weighs around 550 gram. The birds lay eggs every 3 to 5 days during breeding and laying season. The male bird incubates the eggs for eight weeks. He looks after the chicks until the next breeding season. Emu Chicks hatch from the egg in 49 to 52 days. The farmers have to take special care with a careful planning during this period.
Low cholesterol Emu Eggs
Being the most important among various products in Emu farms, Emu eggs are used for reproduction and also consumes for human health. They have dark-green color. The eggs are highly nutritious as it is rich source protein. A single egg is equivalent to 8-12 chicken eggs. These eggs have high nutritional content, low cholesterol and high in protein as compared to other eggs.
Beneficial Emu Oil for Health and Beauty
Emu Oil is derived from the fatty tissues and is widely used for helping wounds and burns heal faster. It can also be used in beauty products for skin, hair and nails. This valuable oil is often used in the pain of strains, sprains and muscle soreness. The oil is completely hypo-allergenic and non-irritating for sensitive skin.
Tasty and Healthy Emu Meat
The immune system of the bird is so strong that it hardly suffers from any disease. It is also one of the reasons of great demand of this bird’s meat. Each bird produces nearly 15-20 kg of meat. Emu meat has very less cholesterol, easily digestible and high percentage of iron in it. The exported meat is available in vacuum packaging material to retain its nutritional value.
TallBird Emu Farms specializes in rearing and producing the healthy EMU breeds in Gujarat, India. We are committed to provide the best Emu product and services to our valued clients. We have significant expertise and mastery in EMU Farming. Our quality Emu farming in India deals in buying and selling of Emu eggs, oil, chicks, meat, Emu feathers, Emu skin. If you want to have more information, you can visit http://www.tallbirdemu.com
Ambiguous Pictorial Warnings Halt Indian Cigarette Makers
New Delhi, India (AHN) – Awaiting an impending decision on pictorial warnings to be printed on tobacco products, two major tobacco companies in India have decided to stop production of cigarettes. The government was expected to implement the warnings this month but no decision has yet been taken.
One of the manufacturers, the Indian Tobacco Co., makes popular cigarette brands such as India Kings, Gold Flake and Navy Cut across five manufacturing units. All five units shut down production Thursday. A spokesperson for the group said the closings were due to the government’s ambiguous stand on pictorial warnings.
The other company, Godfrey Phillips India, has also stalled production across two of its units that manufacture brands such as Four Square, Red & White and Cavanders.
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified the cigarette manufacturers in May that pictorial warnings depicting a cancer-ridden mouth would be a must for all tobacco product packages beginning Dec. 1.
Director of the Tobacco Institute of India, Udayan Lall, said, “Companies making cigarettes and bidis have been forced to close down production due to the uncertainty regarding the warning.” He further informed that the manufacturers had written to the ministry, asking for a clear decision but the government had been unable to do so.
ITC earns revenue worth millions of dollars per day from cigarettes, which is 40 percent of the company’s total revenues and as much as 80 percent of its profits.
Meanwhile, the government is believed to be considering a request from the tobacco industry to allow it to finish its present stocks, which are without the mandated warning. The companies also want the authorities to increase the length of time a particular pictorial warning is shown on the cigarette packets, which the government seems to be “actively considering.”
View full post on Health Stories
Lower Cholesterol And Boost Liver Function With The Ayurvedic Herb Guggul
Guggul is gum resin that can be used to lower cholesterol and boost your liver function, though it has been used for thousands of years in India to treat a number of diseases and conditions. However, its mode of action is completely different to that of most other cholesterol lowering agents.
The active ingredient is known as guggulsterone, which is a plant sterol that increases the amount of body cholesterol into bile acids by the liver. Bile acids are an essential part of our digestion system, working to emulsify the oils and fats we eat and covert them into a form suitable for transferring to the blood and use elsewhere in the body. They also help the body make use of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A and E.
The resin used in this Ayurvedic remedy comes from the stem of a tree called Mukul myrrh that grows throughout India. Ayurvedic medicine is said to have originated from ancient Hindu texts, but is now thought to have evolved over thousands of years. The basis of the medicine is contained in two Sanskrit texts written on palm leaves and form the basis of modern Ayurvedic training. Guggul has been used for millennia in the treatment of skin conditions, rheumatism, arthritis, cardiovascular problems and high cholesterol.
Being an oily fat, cholesterol is not soluble in blood plasma and hence cannot be carried around the body without a carrier. These carriers are known as low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins. The LDL carries cholesterol to where it is needed by the body, and is a sticky substance that can also deposit cholesterol in the arteries that are carrying it. This can form a hard coating on the inside of the arteries called plaque, and effectively narrow them and harden them up.
This atherosclerosis, as it is called, is a dangerous condition, and if a blood clot encounters the narrow part of an artery so affected it can be blocked. If in the heart, then this can cause a heart attack, and if in the brain it can give rise to a stroke, both potentially fatal conditions.
HDL, on the other hand, carries excess cholesterol back to the liver for destruction or conversion to bile, and is a free flowing liquid material known as ‘good cholesterol’. Cholesterol is needed by the body and so cannot be eliminated completely. That would be even more dangerous. One of the major functions of cholesterol in the liver is in the production of bile that is used by your digestive process to emulsify fats. Any compound that could also carry out this vital function would mean that liver would have less cholesterol to manufacture.
Your body receives a dietary supply of cholesterol from fatty animal sources such as meat, fats, eggs and dairy products such as cheese and butter. There is no cholesterol in purely vegetable foods. However, that does not mean that vegans have no cholesterol, since as stated earlier, it is an essential substance in the body’s metabolism. In fact, the liver is able to generate all the cholesterol you need, and that which is taken in your diet is superfluous.
The liver can manufacture cholesterol from the trans and saturated fats in your diet, and there are several sources of these. Included among them are popcorn, vegetable shortening such as found in cookies and donuts and other manufactured bakery products made from hydrogenated margarines and oils widely used in the bakery industry. Also from rapeseed and palm oils and coconuts. Saturated fats are also contained in French fries and similar fried foods using certain vegetable oils, and also potato chips. Even vegetarians and vegans can suffer from high cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver and taken up by LDL for distribution by the blood. However, a large proportion of that cholesterol is used by the liver to manufacture bile, essential for digestion of fats. This bile is stored in the gall bladder, and released into the upper intestine on the ingestion of fatty food. The bile acids and fats pass down the intestine, where the fats are emulsified into a form suitable for absorption by the body.
The bile acids are then absorbed in the final part of the ileum by proteins that carry them back to the liver where they are recirculated into the bile. Once the level of bile acids in the body reaches a certain level, a chemical known as the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) stops the liver from converting cholesterol into bile. Although only 5% of the bile is excreted from the body and needs replaced, this still accounts for 50% of the body’s usage of cholesterol.
The production of bile from cholesterol operates on a closed loop system, with a feedback that maintains a constant level of bile acids. The feedback is controlled by FXR that detects the current level of bile acids and represses the enzyme (CYP7A1) that stimulates bile manufacture until a minimum level has been reached when the CYP7A1 is re-activated.
By blocking the action of FXR, the guggulsterone in guggul continues the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids by the liver without interruption. The liver has to use more LDL cholesterol for this and so reduces the overall amount of cholesterol in the body, specifically the LDL type.
A double blind study in India showed a total cholesterol reduction of 11.7%, including a 12.7% reduction in LDL and a 12% reduction in blood fat (triglyceride) levels, and other studies have indicated a total cholesterol reduction of up to 27% and triglycerides of up to 30%. The Indians believe guggul to be so effective that is has been approved as a treatment for high cholesterol by the Indian government. The connection with FXR has been confirmed by testing with mice with and without FXR.
Another factor in high cholesterol levels is that an under-active thyroid can interfere with the liver’s ability to process cholesterol. Guggul stimulates then production of thyroid hormones, and so can help to reduce excessive LDL cholesterol in the blood cause through a low level of thyroid hormone production.
Overall, then, this Ayurvedic remedy for many ills can help anyone who needs to reduce the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood. Recommended dosages are about 1500 mg twice daily, though if you are also taking statins or are under treatment for cancer you should first consult your doctor, as you should with all natural remedies that are new to you.
More information can be found at http://vitanetonline.com/ where a large selection of Ayurvedic remedies like guggul are available.
Cholesterol: Natural Ways To Maintain A Healthy Level Without Dangerous Prescription Drugs
CHEATING CHOLESTEROL
One of the main causes implicated in heart disease is damage caused by high cholesterol. Over 1,000,000 Americans have heart attacks each year, and 500,000 Americans die from heart attacks each year.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Produced in the body by the liver, it is carried through the body to the cells and takes what it needs. The excess cholesterol is then transported back to the liver. If this excess isn’t picked up quickly, it can stick to artery walls and lead to cardiovascular disease. The body uses cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile acids that help digest fat. Only a small amount of cholesterol is needed to meet these needs. Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream can be harmful.
Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is called the “bad” cholesterol. LDL carries most of the cholesterol in the blood. The cholesterol from LDLs is the main source of damaging accumulation and blockage in the arteries. High density lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” form of cholesterol. HDL picks up and transports cholesterol in the blood back to the liver, which leads to its elimination from the body. HDL can help keep LDL cholesterol from building up in the walls of the arteries. It is a good idea to get a cholesterol reading to see what your ratio of LDL (bad cholesterol) is to your HDL (good cholesterol).
Can’t I Just Take Prescription Drugs?
Many cholesterol drugs are harmful. One of them, Baycol, has been taken off the market for causing fatal muscle breakdown and spasms. Many doctors are now aware of the increased cancer risk and problems with liver health from long-term use of these same cholesterol medications. There is a need for a safe and effective natural way to health that does not have the same toxicity problems as medical drugs.
From [http://www.askpatient.com:] Just a few of the comments from people who have or are taking the prescription drug Lipitor:
“I noticed that when I went on Lipitor, I became depressed with intermittent muscle pain. When I stopped the medication, I felt much better right away.”
“I thought I was having a heart attack. Went to the emergency room with sharp pains in the chest and hot flashes. Had a feeling of impending doom.”
“I hurt everywhere. I felt like I had been run over by a truck. I was weak at all times. I couldn’t walk across the room. Really, I thought I was going to die.”
Baycol is linked to 39 deaths in this country and more around the world. Bayer AG withdrew it from the market after concerns about the lethal side effects related to the breakdown of muscle cells. The main ingredient of Baycol and most cholesterol-lowering medications is statins, which have been linked to a life-threatening disease in which muscle cells are destroyed and released into the blood stream.
Natural Help To Maintain A Healthy Cholesterol Level
Policosanol: Policosanol is made from the waxes of plants such as yams and sugar cane, as well as beeswax. Policosanol has been used by millions of people to normalize cholesterol levels as well or better than cholesterol-lowering drugs – without side effects.
Based on current research, policosanol may be one of the most effective nutrients in lowering dangerous cholesterol levels. Policosanol can help lower cholesterol in both men and women and in all age groups. Over a dozen double-blind clinical trials have been published documenting policosanol’s safety, effectiveness and tolerability.
A double-blind study of twenty-two patients with high levels of cholesterol were given policosanol. After eight weeks, the patients who had been given policosanol had a sharp reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. In another double-blind study, a larger group of 437 patients received either policosanol or a placebo once a day for twelve weeks. The patients who had been given policosanol showed a 25% reduction in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, a 17% reduction in total cholesterol and a 28% increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol. The patients who took the placebo showed no reduction in total cholesterol.
Guggulipid: Guggulipid is made from the resin of a tree of North-Central India. In a study published in 1989 by the Journal of Associated Physicians, India, 125 patients receiving guggulipid showed an 11% decrease in total serum cholesterol, a drop of 16.8% in triglycerides and a 60% increase in HDL cholesterol within a few weeks. Patients with elevated cholesterol levels showed a much greater improvement than normal patients. In another study published, 205 patients receiving guggulipid showed a 70 to 80% reduction of serum cholesterol. There was no response found in the group that took a placebo.
Garlic: Taking garlic supplements can be very beneficial to fighting bad cholesterol. Garlic supplements help protect the lining of the arteries against oxidation. Garlic also prevents the formation of arterial blood clots, a primary cause of both heart attacks and strokes. Dozens of major studies show this to be true. A study published in the Journal Nutrition Research in 1987, showed that taking a garlic supplement reduced cholesterol levels in the majority of test subjects by as much as 31%. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1996, patients who took a garlic supplement showed a reduction in total cholesterol compared with those who took a placebo.
Another study published in Atherosclerosis in 1999, showed that there can be a large reduction of fatty plaque in the arteries of garlic supplement users. One of the substances that makes up fatty plaque is cholesterol. In a study of 280 adults, German researchers found that patients who took garlic daily had up to 18% less plaque in their arteries than those who took a placebo.
Soy: The FDA has approved soy as a method of lowering cholesterol levels. One published report in the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine in 1998 stated, “Soy has been a staple part of the Southeastern diet for nearly 5,000 years and is associated with a reduction in the rates of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. The research is now showing that phytochemicals in soy are the mechanism of action responsible.” The active compounds in soy responsible for these benefits are the isoflavones genistein, daidzein and glycine.
In a study to determine whether soy isoflavones would protect against atherosclerosis in mice, it was reported that mice that were fed a soy diet averaged 30% lower cholesterol. Adding to the evidence that soy is beneficial, the Journal of Nutrition in a September 1998 study reported that “the efficacy of the American Hospital Association Step 1 cholesterol-lowering diet can be improved with the addition of soy protein.”
Niacin: This B vitamin can dramatically help lower LDL cholesterol. Many studies, including one reported in the November 1998 edition of American Journal of Cardiology, have reported that niacin has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol, decrease triglycerides and lower LDL cholesterol.
Author: Todd Pliss
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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