Uncategorized

Healthy Heart Tips

When you leave the house these days, you probably think to yourself, “phone, keys, wallet… face mask.”  Masks are essential in keeping you and those around you safe by reducing the spread of COVID-19.  In today’s world, face masks are needed for practically every activity where you might come into contact with another person; this includes the gym. But how do you get the most out of your workout (and remain safe) while wearing your face covering?

Below, we’ll go over how wearing a face mask affects you, plus what to do and what not to do while wearing a mask during your daily dose of exercise.

Why Wear a Mask During Exercise?

Masks are recommended by the CDC and other healthcare professionals to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in shared spaces. Many scientists have also been studying the benefits and adversities of donning a mask during exercise. Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, found one’s heart rate will likely increase 8-10 beats per minute while wearing a mask, but that would only be noticeable during high-intensity exercises.  An informal study at the University of New Mexico also found that some people may experience dizziness upon exertion.  On the bright side, the more you exercise with a mask on, the more your body will be used to reduced oxygen levels while you work out, meaning when this is all over and you can ditch the mask, you will be an unstoppable powerhouse!

While wearing a mask may seem slightly unpleasant, you’re still encouraged to wear one to avoid potentially spreading any infectious particles throughout an indoor environment.  People suffering from any pre-existing respiratory conditions – such as COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, or any other condition affecting their heart and lungs – could be at a higher risk of adverse effects and should consult their physician before attempting to exercise with a face mask.

Ultimately, as long as you consult your primary physician and monitor how you’re feeling throughout your workout, you should be fine to exercise while wearing a mask.

To Do or Not To Do

OK, so now you know the potential effects of sporting a face covering while being active, but let’s break it down a little more.

Here is a list of “dos and don’ts” recommended by scientists and athletes:

• Do: Wear a cloth face covering made from synthetic materials. These tend to hold less moisture and will allow you to breathe easier. Try to get cloth masks that are marketed as having two layers or fewer; these are better at preventing overheating. Be sure to pack extra masks to change them out if you plan to exercise for more than 30 minutes.
• Don’t: Wear a paper mask or any form of surgical/PPE wear. These accumulate a ton of moisture and result in difficult breathing and diminished effectiveness when it comes to blocking any germs.
• Do: Take the break. Exercising with anything covering your nose and mouth will restrict the amount of oxygen going to your lungs. If you start feeling dizzy, nauseous, shortness of breath, numbing, or tingling, that’s your body warning you your oxygen is running low. It’s essential to listen to your body, and if it tells you to slow down, then switch your run for a walk and allow your breath to stabilize.
• Don’t: Overexert yourself. If you haven’t worked out in a while, wearing a mask could make getting back into the rhythm even harder. Take it slow. Overexertion can trigger other adverse effects, such as lack of oxygen, heart arrhythmia, low blood pressure, low blood glucose, and dehydration.  All of these could lead to serious health risks and complications that could further restrict your gym time.

Avoid the Gym Altogether

If you’re more comfortable staying away from the gym during this time, you’re in luck. There are still plenty of ways to achieve your health and fitness goals.

Here are some unconventional ways to get fit and stay safe:

• At-home workouts are all the rage. You can find great personal and group workout classes online. Don’t have the equipment? Look around your home and get creative. A backpack that weighs 10 pounds is the same as a 10-pound medicine ball.
• Be sure to maintain a balanced diet. We know snacking is tempting in times of uncertainty but try to go for carrots and hummus versus chips and dip.
• Take your workout outdoors. Sunshine and sweat is the perfect combo for a great workout. If you need some form of social contact, try tennis. This sport allows you to work out and see a friend from a safe distance.

If you’re immunocompromised, it’s best to avoid public spaces and limit your exposure. If it’s unavoidable, use the CDC‘s recommended precautions when going out to prevent yourself and those around you from contracting and spreading this disease.

As summer draws to an end, it’s time for the great pumpkin invasion. Soon (if not already) pumpkin spice flavored and scented everything will be available for your autumn enjoyment. Why do some of us love this stuff so much? According to science, it’s less about the taste and more about the aroma – pumpkin spice makes us happy.

Pumpkin spice is typically a combo of nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. Sometimes clove makes an appearance, too. The first pumpkin spice thing was created in 1934 by McCormick & Company, who introduced the mix so that their customers wouldn’t have to buy four bottles of spices to make pumpkin pie.

Why We See Pumpkin Spice Everywhere

As you’ve probably noticed, pumpkin spice is no longer limited to pie. Seventeen years ago, Starbucks popularized pumpkin spice in its now infamous seasonal latte. Since then, pumpkin spice has crept into an amazing number of products – including pasta sauce, potato chips, Spam, cereal, deodorant, beef jerky, nut milks and even Marshmallow Peeps.

Last year, Forbes valued the entire pumpkin-spice industry to be worth an estimated $608 million. But are pumpkin spice products a healthy treat?

Is Pumpkin Spice Bad for My Teeth?

There’s nothing inherently unhealthy about nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. Some have even been credited with having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits. But that’s assuming you’re consuming actual spices, not artificial flavors. The problem is, pumpkin-spiced foods and drinks often contain lots of added sugar, which is not good for your teeth or your overall health. But you can still enjoy pumpkin spice! Here’s how:

Make or purchase your own spice blend – Use it to flavor hot beverages, or sprinkle it on your oatmeal or yogurt. Or anything that you feel could use a little fall flavor.

Check out healthy pumpkin spice recipes online – Here’s a good place to start, especially if you’re following a paleo eating plan.

Pick the right treat – Try to choose a pumpkin-spice item that has no or lower amounts of added sugar.

Brush your teeth afterwards – If you do have a sugary snack, be sure to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water after you finish.

Limit the lattes – Besides all that sugar, coffee is an acidic drink that can weaken dental enamel plus stain your teeth. Skip brushing for an hour after having acidic foods or drinks to avoid damaging softened enamel (rinse with water instead).

Avoid sticky pumpkin-spiced treats – The longer sugar lingers on your teeth, the more damage it can do.

See a dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings – No matter what season it is, it’s important to see your dentist twice a year to keep coffee and these sweet treats from dimming or damaging your smile.

At Greg Says we advise that if budget constraints are keeping you from getting the dental care you need, consider getting a dental savings plan – an alternative to traditional dental insurance that can save plan members 10-60% on a wide variety of dental treatments.  Go to www.dentalplans.com for details.

Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News)

Here’s evidence that prescription drugs don’t have to cost a fortune: New research finds Medicare saved billions as more generic cholesterol-lowering medications became available, even though the number of Americans using the drugs increased.

“One of the most important contributors to our health care costs is expenditure on prescription drugs,” said study author Dr. Ambarish Pandey, a cardiologist and assistant professor of internal medicine at University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center. “The switch to generics is an effective strategy to cut the costs incurred by health systems.”

Between 2010 and 2018, patents on a number of cholesterol-lowering drugs expired – including Crestor and Zetia – and generic versions became available.

For the study, researchers analyzed Medicare Part D Prescription Drug data from January 2014 through December 2018. They found that the number of prescriptions for statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs climbed from 20.5 million to 25.2 million in that period, a 23% increase.

But even though prescriptions for the drugs rose, total costs decreased, according to the study.

The number of prescriptions for generic cholesterol-lowering drugs rose by 35%, from 17.8 million to 24 million, while overall spending on statins fell by 52%, from $4.8 billion in 2014 to $2.3 billion in 2018.

Statins are the most popular type of cholesterol-lowering drug in the United States, prescribed to more than 35 million people.

During the study period, Medicare still spent $9.6 billion on brand-name cholesterol-lowering medications, but could have saved an additional $2.5 billion of that by switching to generics more quickly when they became available, the researchers noted.

The findings were published Sept. 9 in the journal JAMA Cardiology.

“It’s important for our health care system to find avenues to become more cost-efficient and accessible,” said study first author Dr. Andrew Sumarsono, an assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern.

“Even though there is still a lot of work to be done, it is encouraging to see how quickly patients switched to generic options once they became available,” Sumarsono said in a UT Southwestern news release. “This rapid switch to generics saved Medicare a lot of money.”

RELATED ARTICLES

Blood Pressure Meds Can Affect COVID-19 Care

Cost Puts HIV-Preventing PrEP Out of Reach for Many

Common Meds Tied to Faster Mental Decline in Seniors

Many Americans Struggling to Afford Health Care in Pandemic

The summer months are often a time for living out our travel fantasies. Whether it’s an international jetset, or just a quick weekend getaway with family, the enjoyable weather and more open schedule makes for a perfect chance to plan a vacation. However, we’re still living in the world of COVID-19, and it’s possible that those trips will end up being cancelled. With that in mind, travel insurance can help us to recoup some of the losses that come if flights, hotel stays, events, or car rentals don’t actually happen. But how does travel insurance work, and what kind of costs can it protect?

Travel insurance is coverage for prepaid costs relating to a trip or vacation. Much like a health or life insurance policy, policy-polders pay a premium in order to insure their bookings. For folks who travel often, it’s possible to have ongoing travel insurance that covers any of your trips; if, on the other hand, this is just for a single event, policy holders can choose to purchase coverage for a single trip. There are a variety of quotes and companies offering the insurance, so prices generally vary.

The standard coverage policy covers events outside of your control, and will be stated directly in the policy. Examples of travel insurance claims include:

• Illness, injury, or death of a traveler or their traveling companion
• Illness, injury, or death of a non-traveling family member
• Terrorist attack
• Dangerous or inclement weather
• Natural disaster

Should any one of these events occur, travelers with insurance can then contact their coverage company, file a claim, and request reimbursement for their costs. These policies will all have their own fine print, though, and it’s important to understand what exclusions may exist and prevent you from receiving the money back on a cancellation.

The cost of travel insurance varies based on provider, policy coverage, age of travelers, and length of coverage. However, you can expect for travel insurance to cost between 4%-10% of your total trip cost. So, while that may not be much for a short, single-person weekend trip, the cost of premium may be high for larger family trips.

How Does Travel Insurance Cover Coronavirus? 

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of plans throughout the country to change. While things seem to be opening back up in cities throughout the United States, there is a fear of a second or third wave of infections, particularly this summer or fall. While travel insurance may seem like a good option for staying covered in case of cancellations, a second wave of COVID-19 may not be covered.

In a recent interview, Christina Pedroni, senior vice president of Liberty Travel, said, “If you’re purchasing a standard travel insurance package right now for travel, COVID-19 is already a known event. So, typically, you wouldn’t be covered if you had to cancel because of COVID-19 being in the destination or you being sick from the virus.”

It is, however, possible to get travel insurance that allows you to submit a claim if you have to cancel for any reason at any time. Just be sure to speak directly with a travel insurance agent to find out exactly what you are or aren’t covered for, and how much you’re able to recover should a cancellation occur.

Traveling Safe with Travel Insurance

Traveling is one of the joys of retirement life, especially when it brings us together with family and friends. While traveling in the age of Coronavirus can be a bit nerve wracking, it can be made better with travel insurance that covers you in the event of a cancellation. Just be sure you’re checking directly with the insurer to find out what coverage you have.

Greg Says advises against purchasing the travel insurance offered on the airline’s booking website.  Although convenient, these offerings are usually overpriced and full of coverage exclusions in the fine print.  It’s better to go directly to a travel insurer or work with your travel agent for the coverage you need.

FRIDAY, July 30, 2020 (HealthPayer Intelligence)

HealthPayer Intelligence led with a story Friday with some surprising information.  From the story:  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 90 percent of national healthcare spending goes toward chronic disease management and mental healthcare, which means that strong mental health and chronic disease prevention strategies can help reduce payer spending.

The CDC has named the eight most expensive chronic diseases in the U.S.  The good news for payers is that most of these can be prevented to some degree.  By being aware of preventive care strategies for these eight chronic conditions, payers can actively reduce their healthcare spending and support positive patient outcomes.  Here are the eight conditions as reported by CDC:

1)  Heart disease and stroke – remain the most expensive chronic diseases.

2)  Cancer – consistently one of the most fatal diseases in the U.S.

3)  Diabetes – is also a major driver of healthcare spending.

4)  Obesity – one in three adults and one in five children classified as obese.

5)  Arthritis – affecting around a quarter of American adults.

6)  Alzheimer’s disease – a fifth of Medicare spending went to Alzheimer’s.

7)  Epilepsy – expected to increase from 2017 to 2027.

8)  Tooth decay – without treatment, tooth decay can lead to negative health.

---

Like you probably, Greg Says isn’t surprised by anything on this CDC list.  The good news is that every one of the above items, with the possible exception of tooth decay, is covered by Medicare.