Friday, April 4, 2014
Green Vegetables Alter Gene Expression to Lower Chronic Disease Risk
The Chinese have known for countless generations that the food we eat directly controls our health. Ancient Greeks postulated that food should be considered a medicine, as powerful as any healing method or concoction available during that time period. Until quite recently, western intelligence was dismally unaware that the quality of our diet is immediately lected in the chronic diseases we manifest and quality of life as well.
An international team of scientists, led by researchers at McMaster and McGill universities have published a new body of research in the journalPLoS Medicine to demonstrate the potent effect of a diet filled with fresh greens and fruits on our genetic expression. Scientists confirm that eating the proper diet holds the key to cardiovascular health for millions of at-risk individuals.
Genetic Predisposition to Heart Disease Blunted by Plenty of Vegetables and Fruits
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in western civilizations, so the news of an inexpensive and natural lifestyle change to prevent heart disease should make international headlines. Most otherwise enlightened people will never hear about the result of this research and continue to eat a nutritionally defunct diet that promotes cardiovascular disease and an early death. Simple changes in macronutrient consumption are now shown to pay significant benefits to human health with no side effects other than increased lifespan.
Researchers conducting one of the largest gene-diet interaction studies on cardiovascular disease analyzed a cohort of more than 27,000 individuals across multiple ethnicities. Dr. Jamie Engert, joint principal investigator of the study from McGill University explained"We know that 9p21 genetic variants increase the risk of heart disease for those that carry it", echoing the result of a past discovery showing that the gene is a strong marker for heart disease and can actually be modified by generous amounts of fruit and raw vegetables from dietary sources.
Vegetables Stimulate Chemical Messengers to Alter Genetic Expression to Lower Chronic Disease Risk
After an analysis of the effect of diet on the risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers determined that individuals with the high risk genotype who consumed a prudent diet, composed mainly of raw vegetables, fruits and berries, had a similar risk of heart attack to those with the low risk genotype. Lead author of the study Dr. Ron Do noted "Our research suggests there may be an important interplay between genes and diet in cardiovascular disease.”
Forward-thinking practitioners have known for more than a quarter century that diet and heart disease are closely linked, although the focus was inadvertently placed on dietary fat avoidance. Researchers have confirmed that many fats eaten in their natural, cold-pressed form are essential for vibrant health.
Evidence continues to mount confirming the profound health benefits of vegetables and fruits eaten at the peak of freshness. The authors of this important work conclude "The risk of MI (myocardial infarction) and CVD (cardiovascular disease) conferred by Chromosome 9p21 SNPs appears to be modified by a prudent diet high in raw vegetables and fruits." Be sure to include ten or more servings of greens each day to dramatically cut heart disease risk.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Low vitamin D levels may increase risk of Type 1 diabetes
Having adequate levels of vitamin D during young adulthood may reduce the risk of adult-onset type 1 diabetes by as much as 50%, according to researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). The findings, if confirmed in future studies, could lead to a role for vitamin D supplementation in preventing this serious autoimmune disease in adults. The study was published online February 3, 2013 and will appear in the March 1 print edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
"It is surprising that a serious disease such as type 1 diabetes could perhaps be prevented by a simple and safe intervention," said lead author Kassandra Munger, research associate in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH.
This study provides the strongest findings to date to suggest that vitamin D may be protective against type 1 diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes (once called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes), the bodys immune system attacks and permanently disables the insulin-making cells in the pancreas. About 5% of the estimated 25.8 million people in the United States with diabetes have type 1, according to the American Diabetes Association. Although it often starts in childhood, about 60% of type 1 diabetes cases occur after age 20.
Previous studies have suggested that a shortage of vitamin D might boost type 1 diabetes risk, although those studies mostly examined the link between vitamin D levels in pregnancy or childhood and the risk of type 1 diabetes in children. Other research, in young adults, uncovered an association between high vitamin D levels and a lowered risk of multiple sclerosis—an autoimmune disease genetically and epidemiologically related to type 1 diabetes—suggesting that inadequate vitamin D in adulthood may be an important risk factor for autoimmune diseases in general.
Long-term study of military personnel
The researchers conducted a prospective case-control study of U.S. military personnel on active duty, using blood samples from the Department of Defense Serum Repository, which contains more than 40 million samples collected from 8 million military personnel since the mid-1980s. Identifying 310 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes between 1997 and 2009, the team examined blood samples taken before onset of the disease, and compared the samples with those of 613 people in a control group.
The researchers found that white, non-Hispanic, healthy young adults with higher serum levels (>75 nmol/L) of vitamin D had about half the risk of developing type 1 diabetes than those with the lowest levels of vitamin D (<75 nmol/L). Although the researchers found no significant association among Hispanics and blacks, the authors said this may be due to the small number of individuals in these groups.
"The risk of type 1 diabetes appears to be increased even at vitamin D levels that are commonly regarded as normal, suggesting that a substantial proportion of the population could benefit from increased vitamin D intake," said Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at HSPH, the studys senior author.
About vitamin D
Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion people have inadequate levels of vitamin D in their blood, and deficiencies can be found in all ethnicities and age groups. While sun exposure is an excellent source of vitamin D, sunscreen, clothing, skin pigmentation, and winter months reduce vitamin D production. Food tends to be a poor source of vitamin D, with "good" sources, such as salmon and fortified milk, containing 400IU or less per serving. "Whereas it is premature to recommend universal use of vitamin D supplements for prevention of type 1 diabetes, the possibility that many cases could be prevented by supplementation with 1,000-4,000 IU/day, which is largely considered safe, is enticing," the authors said.
"It is surprising that a serious disease such as type 1 diabetes could perhaps be prevented by a simple and safe intervention," said lead author Kassandra Munger, research associate in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH.
This study provides the strongest findings to date to suggest that vitamin D may be protective against type 1 diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes (once called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes), the bodys immune system attacks and permanently disables the insulin-making cells in the pancreas. About 5% of the estimated 25.8 million people in the United States with diabetes have type 1, according to the American Diabetes Association. Although it often starts in childhood, about 60% of type 1 diabetes cases occur after age 20.
Previous studies have suggested that a shortage of vitamin D might boost type 1 diabetes risk, although those studies mostly examined the link between vitamin D levels in pregnancy or childhood and the risk of type 1 diabetes in children. Other research, in young adults, uncovered an association between high vitamin D levels and a lowered risk of multiple sclerosis—an autoimmune disease genetically and epidemiologically related to type 1 diabetes—suggesting that inadequate vitamin D in adulthood may be an important risk factor for autoimmune diseases in general.
Long-term study of military personnel
The researchers conducted a prospective case-control study of U.S. military personnel on active duty, using blood samples from the Department of Defense Serum Repository, which contains more than 40 million samples collected from 8 million military personnel since the mid-1980s. Identifying 310 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes between 1997 and 2009, the team examined blood samples taken before onset of the disease, and compared the samples with those of 613 people in a control group.
The researchers found that white, non-Hispanic, healthy young adults with higher serum levels (>75 nmol/L) of vitamin D had about half the risk of developing type 1 diabetes than those with the lowest levels of vitamin D (<75 nmol/L). Although the researchers found no significant association among Hispanics and blacks, the authors said this may be due to the small number of individuals in these groups.
"The risk of type 1 diabetes appears to be increased even at vitamin D levels that are commonly regarded as normal, suggesting that a substantial proportion of the population could benefit from increased vitamin D intake," said Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at HSPH, the studys senior author.
About vitamin D
Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion people have inadequate levels of vitamin D in their blood, and deficiencies can be found in all ethnicities and age groups. While sun exposure is an excellent source of vitamin D, sunscreen, clothing, skin pigmentation, and winter months reduce vitamin D production. Food tends to be a poor source of vitamin D, with "good" sources, such as salmon and fortified milk, containing 400IU or less per serving. "Whereas it is premature to recommend universal use of vitamin D supplements for prevention of type 1 diabetes, the possibility that many cases could be prevented by supplementation with 1,000-4,000 IU/day, which is largely considered safe, is enticing," the authors said.
Everything You Need to Know About Cholesterol LDL and Heart Disease
Ah, back to cholesterol. I know Ive written about cholesterol a lot in the past, but this one is a game changer. This information blows the doors off the current thinking in the cholesterol-heart-disease world, and itll change the way you think about cholesterol. (Credit goes to Dr. Peter Attia, whose presentation at AHS 2012 just blew my mind. His 10-part series The Straight Dope on Cholesterol is here, and the shortened version on Marks Daily Apple is here and here.) What if I told you that the standard cholesterol test your doctor orders for you is useless? And what if I said its not cholesterol thats important for heart disease risk, its the LDL particle itself?
Okay, now youre probably thinking Hey Burn! LDL is cholesterol, its the bad cholesterol! Ugh. Before I go any further, we need to go over some basics. Cholesterol is cholesterol. There is no "good" and "bad". Cholesterol is only one thing, and its vitally important to every cell in your body. LDL and HDL are something different. Theyre not cholesterol at all, rather they are the molecules that carry cholesterol (and other fats) throughout the body to places where it is needed. Cholesterol cant just float around the blood by itself; it needs a carrier. Just imagine LDL as the "boat", and think of cholesterol as the "cargo". Heres a nice little diagram of an LDL particle. This little guy will be the subject of todays post.
You can see here that the LDL particle is full of cholesterol. LDL particles can vary in how much cholesterol they hold, and their size is proportional in this way. Small ones hold smaller amounts of cholesterol, while larger ones hold more cholesterol.
Your LDL cholesterol is meaningless.
But lets talk about lab tests that measure this stuff. When you get your cholesterol measured, the LDL measurement you get is called LDL-C, and that measures the total amount of cholesterol in your blood that is being carried in LDL particles. This does have a relationship with heart disease; those with higher LDL-C measurements tend to have higher rates of heart disease. But its not perfect. Depending on who you talk to, anywhere from 20-50% of heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels. Theres clearly something missing here.
Enter LDL-P, or LDL particle number. Unlike LDL-C, which measures the amount of cholesterol (cargo), LDL-P measures the number of LDL particles (boats). Why is this significant? Because the sizes of LDL particles can vary, as I said before. You could have an LDL-C of 130 mg/dl, but depending on how much cargo is packed into your boats, you might have lots of small particles, or you might have fewer large particles. And theres a big difference.
Heres a study, one of several that have tested the long-term predictive value of LDL-P in heart disease. This one followed 2500 patients for almost 15 years, split them up into four groups, and tracked their survival. The cut-off points to determine low vs. high were the median values for the population, set at 1,414 nmol/L for LDL-P, and 131 mg/dl for LDL-C. So for example, "high" LDL-P is over 1,414 nmol/L, and "high" LDL-C is over 131 mg/dl (1).
Okay Ill wade through the bullshit for you... High LDL-P is the best predictor of a heart attack. LDL-C, the test you get from your doctor, is only accurate when the LDL-P is consistent with it. Translation... it doesnt matter how much cargo you have in the boats, its the number of boats thats important. And the best way to measure that is LDL-P.
Now think about this for a minute... I mean think critically. More than anything else, this is what I want you to take away from this article... If its the number of LDL particles that really matters, not the amount of cholesterol within them, then cholesterol isnt the problem. BOOM! Let that marinate for a few minutes...
Side note for those who geek out on this stuff like me... Ive spoken before about large and small LDL particles. Large, fluffy LDL particles are the good guys, Ive said. Well, thats not quite right. Although having large LDL particles is likely a good thing, its not the large particles themselves that are beneficial; its because having large particles is indicative of having fewer of them in total. However, in cases where LDL particles are both large and plentiful, like in the genetic disorder Familial Hypercholesterolemia, the risk of heart disease remains very high. It is the number of particles overall that is most important, not the size.
So what makes my LDL particle number go up or down?
How does our diet affect our LDL-P? This is still new, so not much research has been done on the subject, but we do know one thing that increases your particle count... sugar. Specifically, fructose and high-fructose corn syrup are the enemies here; they clearly increase LDL-P (2). And that includes anything made with high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, brown rice syrup, crystalline fructose, or any of the million names sugar hides under on a food label. Perhaps worst of all is agave nectar, which can be up to 85% fructose. Ironically, foods high in sugar are currently allowed on so-called "heart-healthy" diets because they dont increase cholesterol. With this new information on LDL particle number, whether or not a food increases cholesterol is completely irrelevant.
And what of saturated fat, demonized because it increases cholesterol? Well Ive already addressed this several times, the best of which can be seen here. But using the data on LDL-P, I have a new angle to work from. I dont think we know what eating saturated fat, or any other fat for that matter, does to our LDL particle number. What we do know, however, is that fat from milk and eggs (primarily saturated) makes your LDL particles larger (3,4). Since large particles are associated with a low total number, this could be beneficial. Just think about it logically... making the LDL particles larger means that even if these fats do increase cholesterol, they likely do NOT increase the number of particles. Artery-clogging effect mitigated :). As if I needed another reason to eat butter.
"Ive never heard of LDL-P, youre clearly just some gullible douche blowing smoke up my ass."
Thats your reaction at this point in the article. I dont blame you; theres a lot of misinformation out there. But chew on this... In March of 2008, both the American College of Cardiology and the American Diabetes Association released a joint statement saying that "the measurement of LDL particle number (LDL-P) is a more accurate method of quantifying cardiovascular risk than traditional measurement of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (5)." This is not bullshit, its just new. And heres another paper on LDL-P... this stuff is real (6).
Yet your doctor doesnt test for it. A.) Because hes never heard of it, and B.) Because its expensive. Currently, theres only one way to test LDL-P, and thats through NMR LipoProfile, which you can order online at various websites at about $129. As an alternative, though, you can also get a test known as "apo-b" which measures the number of apolipoprotein-b lipoproteins in your blood, of which LDL is the only one. Thats a mouthful. Its basically another way to measure the same thing, and your doctor may be able to order this one more easily.
So there it is, LDL-P. The next big thing. Theres so much more detail to this topic that I just couldnt go into, but if youre a complete dork and want to know more, like the mechanisms by which this all works, check out Peter Attias articles (erenced in the intro) and have at it. Or listen to Chris Kresser explain it on The Paleo Solution Podcast if thats more your speed. Same information, different guy. Thanks for reading, peace Im out.
Okay, now youre probably thinking Hey Burn! LDL is cholesterol, its the bad cholesterol! Ugh. Before I go any further, we need to go over some basics. Cholesterol is cholesterol. There is no "good" and "bad". Cholesterol is only one thing, and its vitally important to every cell in your body. LDL and HDL are something different. Theyre not cholesterol at all, rather they are the molecules that carry cholesterol (and other fats) throughout the body to places where it is needed. Cholesterol cant just float around the blood by itself; it needs a carrier. Just imagine LDL as the "boat", and think of cholesterol as the "cargo". Heres a nice little diagram of an LDL particle. This little guy will be the subject of todays post.
 |
| The LDL particle, chock full of cholesterol. |
You can see here that the LDL particle is full of cholesterol. LDL particles can vary in how much cholesterol they hold, and their size is proportional in this way. Small ones hold smaller amounts of cholesterol, while larger ones hold more cholesterol.
Your LDL cholesterol is meaningless.
But lets talk about lab tests that measure this stuff. When you get your cholesterol measured, the LDL measurement you get is called LDL-C, and that measures the total amount of cholesterol in your blood that is being carried in LDL particles. This does have a relationship with heart disease; those with higher LDL-C measurements tend to have higher rates of heart disease. But its not perfect. Depending on who you talk to, anywhere from 20-50% of heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels. Theres clearly something missing here.
Enter LDL-P, or LDL particle number. Unlike LDL-C, which measures the amount of cholesterol (cargo), LDL-P measures the number of LDL particles (boats). Why is this significant? Because the sizes of LDL particles can vary, as I said before. You could have an LDL-C of 130 mg/dl, but depending on how much cargo is packed into your boats, you might have lots of small particles, or you might have fewer large particles. And theres a big difference.
Heres a study, one of several that have tested the long-term predictive value of LDL-P in heart disease. This one followed 2500 patients for almost 15 years, split them up into four groups, and tracked their survival. The cut-off points to determine low vs. high were the median values for the population, set at 1,414 nmol/L for LDL-P, and 131 mg/dl for LDL-C. So for example, "high" LDL-P is over 1,414 nmol/L, and "high" LDL-C is over 131 mg/dl (1).
Okay Ill wade through the bullshit for you... High LDL-P is the best predictor of a heart attack. LDL-C, the test you get from your doctor, is only accurate when the LDL-P is consistent with it. Translation... it doesnt matter how much cargo you have in the boats, its the number of boats thats important. And the best way to measure that is LDL-P.
Now think about this for a minute... I mean think critically. More than anything else, this is what I want you to take away from this article... If its the number of LDL particles that really matters, not the amount of cholesterol within them, then cholesterol isnt the problem. BOOM! Let that marinate for a few minutes...
Side note for those who geek out on this stuff like me... Ive spoken before about large and small LDL particles. Large, fluffy LDL particles are the good guys, Ive said. Well, thats not quite right. Although having large LDL particles is likely a good thing, its not the large particles themselves that are beneficial; its because having large particles is indicative of having fewer of them in total. However, in cases where LDL particles are both large and plentiful, like in the genetic disorder Familial Hypercholesterolemia, the risk of heart disease remains very high. It is the number of particles overall that is most important, not the size.
So what makes my LDL particle number go up or down?
How does our diet affect our LDL-P? This is still new, so not much research has been done on the subject, but we do know one thing that increases your particle count... sugar. Specifically, fructose and high-fructose corn syrup are the enemies here; they clearly increase LDL-P (2). And that includes anything made with high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, brown rice syrup, crystalline fructose, or any of the million names sugar hides under on a food label. Perhaps worst of all is agave nectar, which can be up to 85% fructose. Ironically, foods high in sugar are currently allowed on so-called "heart-healthy" diets because they dont increase cholesterol. With this new information on LDL particle number, whether or not a food increases cholesterol is completely irrelevant.
And what of saturated fat, demonized because it increases cholesterol? Well Ive already addressed this several times, the best of which can be seen here. But using the data on LDL-P, I have a new angle to work from. I dont think we know what eating saturated fat, or any other fat for that matter, does to our LDL particle number. What we do know, however, is that fat from milk and eggs (primarily saturated) makes your LDL particles larger (3,4). Since large particles are associated with a low total number, this could be beneficial. Just think about it logically... making the LDL particles larger means that even if these fats do increase cholesterol, they likely do NOT increase the number of particles. Artery-clogging effect mitigated :). As if I needed another reason to eat butter.
"Ive never heard of LDL-P, youre clearly just some gullible douche blowing smoke up my ass."
Thats your reaction at this point in the article. I dont blame you; theres a lot of misinformation out there. But chew on this... In March of 2008, both the American College of Cardiology and the American Diabetes Association released a joint statement saying that "the measurement of LDL particle number (LDL-P) is a more accurate method of quantifying cardiovascular risk than traditional measurement of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (5)." This is not bullshit, its just new. And heres another paper on LDL-P... this stuff is real (6).
Yet your doctor doesnt test for it. A.) Because hes never heard of it, and B.) Because its expensive. Currently, theres only one way to test LDL-P, and thats through NMR LipoProfile, which you can order online at various websites at about $129. As an alternative, though, you can also get a test known as "apo-b" which measures the number of apolipoprotein-b lipoproteins in your blood, of which LDL is the only one. Thats a mouthful. Its basically another way to measure the same thing, and your doctor may be able to order this one more easily.
So there it is, LDL-P. The next big thing. Theres so much more detail to this topic that I just couldnt go into, but if youre a complete dork and want to know more, like the mechanisms by which this all works, check out Peter Attias articles (erenced in the intro) and have at it. Or listen to Chris Kresser explain it on The Paleo Solution Podcast if thats more your speed. Same information, different guy. Thanks for reading, peace Im out.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
5 food that cools the body
Summer makes the body sweat easily so make you thirsty quickly. So the body is not dehydrated quickly, you should be diligent to consume the water balance in the body fluids. In addition, there are other delicious foods that can cool your body. Check out more reviews as reported by Genius Beauty the following:
1. watermelon
In addition to being one of the treats of summers most delicious and healthy, watermelon is rich in vitamins A, C, and antioxidants. Besides the content of watermelon is 90% water. According to nutritionists, watermelon is the right choice to help cool the body and replenishes the electrolyte reserve, which is lost by the body due to sweat due to the summer.
2. lettuce
If you are not able to drink more water, try to eat a little lettuce. Just like cucumber, lettuce has a water content of 95%. On hot summer days the person sweats a lot, even though just sitting at a computer in an office all day. If you do not meet water intake, can lead to dehydration.
3. mint leaves
Fresh mint will provide coolness in your mouth and your body. Add mint in drinks and salad so fresh.
4. spicy foods
Surprisingly, spicy foods actually help during the summer. Theore many spicy dishes from the East. Eat something spicy certainly stimulate perspiration which will help maintain the level of thermoregulation, which maintains the internal temperature that is within the range that can be tolerated. Spicy foods can lower body temperature but do not forget to drink plenty of water.
5. soft drink
Consumption of alcoholic beverages when heat causes fluid loss and increase dehydration. Try soft drinks such as the mojito. Also, avoid drinks that are too sweet because it can increase your thirst.
Among the five food on, which one was your favorite?
1. watermelon
In addition to being one of the treats of summers most delicious and healthy, watermelon is rich in vitamins A, C, and antioxidants. Besides the content of watermelon is 90% water. According to nutritionists, watermelon is the right choice to help cool the body and replenishes the electrolyte reserve, which is lost by the body due to sweat due to the summer.
2. lettuce
If you are not able to drink more water, try to eat a little lettuce. Just like cucumber, lettuce has a water content of 95%. On hot summer days the person sweats a lot, even though just sitting at a computer in an office all day. If you do not meet water intake, can lead to dehydration.
3. mint leaves
Fresh mint will provide coolness in your mouth and your body. Add mint in drinks and salad so fresh.
4. spicy foods
Surprisingly, spicy foods actually help during the summer. Theore many spicy dishes from the East. Eat something spicy certainly stimulate perspiration which will help maintain the level of thermoregulation, which maintains the internal temperature that is within the range that can be tolerated. Spicy foods can lower body temperature but do not forget to drink plenty of water.
5. soft drink
Consumption of alcoholic beverages when heat causes fluid loss and increase dehydration. Try soft drinks such as the mojito. Also, avoid drinks that are too sweet because it can increase your thirst.
Among the five food on, which one was your favorite?
6 Things You Need to Know About Ethics and Corporate Compliance in Healthcare
With the increased attention the US Government has been giving to financial crimes, fraud in the healthcare system and corporate fraud in the last couple of years, ethics and corporate compliance training(CCT) courses have also come into the spotlight. Though the importance of this type of training is evident in all types of companies and institutions, they are especially needed in the healthcare system, due to the large number of ethical issues usually involved in the medical field. Read on to find out more about ethics and CCT in healthcare.
• The USA has a non-profit organization that offers ethics and corporate compliance resources for medical professional within the country, called The Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). Apart from these resources, which include publications, educational courses, conferences and even a social network, the HCCA also helps individuals get their certificate in healthcare compliance.
• For an ethics and corporate course to be efficient it has to be implemented on all levels, from senior management to employees. Healthcare facilities are urged to designate a compliance officer, which can be represented by any member of the institution, to overview the efficiency of the course. The compliance officer will be responsible for reporting any worrisome issues or criminal conduct he or she has observed during executive meetings.
• Following any reports issued by the compliance officer, the healthcare institution is obliged to assess the situation, remedy any harm caused by the criminal conduct (such as offering restitution to all identifiable victims) and make any necessary adjustments to the ethics and corporate course in order to ensure its ongoing efficiency. In order for an ethics and corporate compliance course to have a real impact, the institutions management has to take it upon itself to strictly regulate the way the course is conducted.
• Ethics and corporate compliance in healthcare training is meant to help employees and management deal with issues such as employment, patient privacy, identity theft, diversity, harassment and to improve overall communication between members of the organization.
• Apart from online training applications, hospitals and other healthcare institutions can also take advantage of training DVDs, handbooks, and posters which they can display and distribute at staff meetings. This will help resh everybodys memory on the lessons learned during the ethics and corporate compliance course.
• Most ethics and corporate compliance classes are offered online and can be accessed at any time, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. This leaves hospital management the liberty to organize the training course however they wish to. Additionally, most companies allow an unlimited number of members to sign up, so a hospital manager can easily introduce all staff members at once.
Ethics and corporate compliance training in the healthcare system is slowly starting to get the attention it deserves, as more and more institutions recognize its importance. For more information on this matter or if you have any questions regarding the ethics and compliance requirements, you can contact the HCAA.
Article by : Greg Garner
Article source : 6 Things You Need to Know About Ethics and Corporate Compliance in Healthcare
• The USA has a non-profit organization that offers ethics and corporate compliance resources for medical professional within the country, called The Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). Apart from these resources, which include publications, educational courses, conferences and even a social network, the HCCA also helps individuals get their certificate in healthcare compliance.• For an ethics and corporate course to be efficient it has to be implemented on all levels, from senior management to employees. Healthcare facilities are urged to designate a compliance officer, which can be represented by any member of the institution, to overview the efficiency of the course. The compliance officer will be responsible for reporting any worrisome issues or criminal conduct he or she has observed during executive meetings.
• Following any reports issued by the compliance officer, the healthcare institution is obliged to assess the situation, remedy any harm caused by the criminal conduct (such as offering restitution to all identifiable victims) and make any necessary adjustments to the ethics and corporate course in order to ensure its ongoing efficiency. In order for an ethics and corporate compliance course to have a real impact, the institutions management has to take it upon itself to strictly regulate the way the course is conducted.
• Ethics and corporate compliance in healthcare training is meant to help employees and management deal with issues such as employment, patient privacy, identity theft, diversity, harassment and to improve overall communication between members of the organization.
• Apart from online training applications, hospitals and other healthcare institutions can also take advantage of training DVDs, handbooks, and posters which they can display and distribute at staff meetings. This will help resh everybodys memory on the lessons learned during the ethics and corporate compliance course.
• Most ethics and corporate compliance classes are offered online and can be accessed at any time, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. This leaves hospital management the liberty to organize the training course however they wish to. Additionally, most companies allow an unlimited number of members to sign up, so a hospital manager can easily introduce all staff members at once.
Ethics and corporate compliance training in the healthcare system is slowly starting to get the attention it deserves, as more and more institutions recognize its importance. For more information on this matter or if you have any questions regarding the ethics and compliance requirements, you can contact the HCAA.
Article by : Greg Garner
Article source : 6 Things You Need to Know About Ethics and Corporate Compliance in Healthcare
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Walking and running which one is better
Walking and running, which one is better? - Cardio exercise can be done by running or walking. Both physical activity are equally healthy, but which one is better? Find the answer by listening to a full explanation about running and walking, as reported by Health Me Up below.
Benefit
The benefits of running is to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease risk, prevent osteoporosis, increase energy, and burn calories.
While the benefits of walking more. Such as maintaining a healthy heart, burn calories, improve physical fitness and mind, lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, healthy bones, making a deep sleep, and reduce stress.
Calories burned
If you are running with a speed of 8 km / h, it means youve burned 472 calories. While if it ran on the steps, calories burned was 885.
Then walk as far as 10 km the same as burning 116 calories and up and down stairs as much as 14,484 steps means burning 605 calories.
Both of these activities, either walking or running, depending on the speed and weight.
Negative effects
Error in running position could trigger a knee injury, muscle damage, and heel. Especially if running baoot and do not start out with warming.
Almost the same as running, walking can also be negative effects on the body. However, in general, errors are often caused by walking baoot in use.
Thats the difference between walking and running. So, already know which one is better and fit you do regularly?
Benefit
The benefits of running is to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease risk, prevent osteoporosis, increase energy, and burn calories.
While the benefits of walking more. Such as maintaining a healthy heart, burn calories, improve physical fitness and mind, lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, healthy bones, making a deep sleep, and reduce stress.
Calories burned
If you are running with a speed of 8 km / h, it means youve burned 472 calories. While if it ran on the steps, calories burned was 885.
Then walk as far as 10 km the same as burning 116 calories and up and down stairs as much as 14,484 steps means burning 605 calories.
Both of these activities, either walking or running, depending on the speed and weight.
Negative effects
Error in running position could trigger a knee injury, muscle damage, and heel. Especially if running baoot and do not start out with warming.
Almost the same as running, walking can also be negative effects on the body. However, in general, errors are often caused by walking baoot in use.
Thats the difference between walking and running. So, already know which one is better and fit you do regularly?
State Medical Societies Obamacares Early Warning System
 |
| A canary for the health care orm mine |
Whatever you think of health care orm, there is a possibility that its implementation could be troubled for years to come. Too few healthy young people could sign up, provoking an upward insurance cost spiral. Bureaucratic meddling could further increase administrative burdens. Washington DCs political and fiscal woes could erode fee schedules. Large regional delivery systems, saddled by inefficient capital, workforce salary inflation and overly optimistic risk contracting could become stressed. The medical-industrial complexs bubble wont necessarily burst, but increased demand and less money could mean a painful contraction.
What will be the first signal that thats happening?
It wont be the pronouncements from the intelligentsia running HHS. It wont be a late Friday press release from the White House. It wont be a breaking news report from the clueless reporters in any of the major media outlets. And, unfortunately, it wont be in a prescient posting by the DMCB.
Itll be an uptick in physician membership in 50 state medical societies, followed by phone calls their affiliated professional liability insurance brokers.
The DMCB is talking about the state organizations that largely make up the base of the American Medical Association (AMA). After seeing many of these organizations up close, the DMCB can assure readers that that is where the resemblance ends. Being much closer to the ground level of clinical practice, these entities are acutely aware of the decline in private practice. Many have watched their membership - and their income - go down as the result of docs joining salaried settings where membership dues are a cost and meetings are time away from patient care. As a result of their hunger for business, the state societies have responded in part by making their suite of member services more turn-key and easy to use than ever before. They have to do that to hold onto their current membership.
Fast forward the possible bleak future described above. The most expensive part of a hospital systems work force will no longer look quite so affordable. Some physicians will have their contracts euphemistically non-renewed, while others will be beat up by less "fixed" and more "performance-based" variable salary arrangements. Since its reasonable to assume that the health orms malaise will be nationwide, its unlikely that these disgruntled docs will be able to simply pull up stakes and get hired in some other comfortably suburban setting in the next county or next state.
Theyll think about private practice.
Theyll wonder if they can start their own businesses, negotiate their own insurance contracts and do so with less overhead and without being told what to do by clueless administrators. Theyll be wondering about finding a practice manager who knows about coding and billing. Theyll think about about cutting out the insurer middleman with a cash-only option. Theyll think about dropping of out Medicare. And theyll realize that they will probably need to buy "malpractice" insurance and want a quote.
There are many good companies that offer support services to physician-owned practices. Theyll get phone calls too, but not like the state organizations. Theyll be the first to know.
Theyll be the canary in the mine.
And in case you think the DMCB is being a pessimistic weenie, consider this anecdote: decades ago, physician staff unhappiness with one health systems managed care contracting led a renegade group of docs to call a state medical society for help. The society obliged and participated in a series of after-hours presentations on physician practice that was attended by almost a third of the staff physicians. The young physician DMCB was in the back of that room.
If the DMCB was in the Obama White House, it would advise that it assign one of its health policy interns to regularly call the execs of a number of state medical societies. If they describe sharp upticks in membership, thatll be cause for concern.
Image from Wikipedia
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