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Calcium and Magnesium supplement at 60:40 ratio, with Vit D, C and K

If someone is concerned with calcium supplements and dementia, it is important for us to see the research behind the concern in order to provide information on whether that research is valid. Yesterday, an article was published on aol.com stating that calcium supplements are tied to higher dementia risk in women. However, within the article, they mention that most of the women who were studied has already experienced a stroke, and did not mention the dose of calcium they were taking. Here is a link to the article:

http://www.aol.com/article/2016/08/18/calcium-supplements-tied-to-higher-dementia-risk-for-some-women/21453942/

When it comes to calcium intake, we suggest taking it along with other nutrients to promote its absorption and utilization in the body, such as magnesium vitamin D, and vitamin K. Further, when looking at a study showing effects of nutrients, it is important to evaluate whether the study was conducted well. Another one of the limitations of the aforementioned study was that researchers could not access the effect of calcium supplementation on brain white matter lesions.

We have seen a number of positive studies on calcium, including one showing that calcium supplementation is associated with reduced all-cause mortality. Here is a link to a publication in which we describe this study:

http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2014/12/In-The-News/Page-01

Here is a link to an article in which we further discuss the importance and dosing of magnesium:

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/may2008_Magnesium-Widespread-Deficiency-With-Deadly-Consequences_01.htm?source=search&key=magnesium

We even gave special attention to magnesium in an article entitled, “Nutritional Strategies to Combat Alzheimer’s,” in which we discuss magnesium’s support for neuronal health. In people with Alzheimer’s disease, magnesium levels have even been found to correlate with the severity of the disease. Here is a link to an article in which we mention this:

http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2013/3/Nutritional-Strategies-to-Combat-Alzheimers/Page-02

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Connie’s comments:

Take calcium and magnesium in the afternoon and iron rich foods in the morning since calcium and iron cancel each other out.

Take Vit D, K, E, and A with fatty whole foods (fish, avocado, walnut) and water soluble vitamins with non-fatty whole foods. Most processes in the body absorb vitamins and minerals from whole foods and supplements with Vit C. Always eat your fruit after a protein meal. And consume water 15-30min after the meal, not to dilute stomach acidity. Chew food well and add probiotics and digestive enzymes (papaya,pineapple). All the above tips can help maintain a good weight and reduce stomach bloating/size.

 

Precision Medicine, how others remained healthy despite the odds

Why some people with elevated genetic and environmental risk factors for disease still manage to maintain good health, and how people suffering from a chronic illness can maintain the highest possible quality of life?

The answer is multifactorial. Many are blessed with support system from social networks, nurturing environment at home and at work and a strong spirit to survive despite the odds.

Email motherhealth@gmail.com your stories of health survival to get included in the new book, Surviving health odds, winning health stories around the world.

One sample story is one located in Africa, a small village where most of the inhabitants are infected with AID virus except for one strong and happy woman. Scientists from all over the world wanted to test her blood and other body fluids to find out her secret for her strong immune system.

What is your story? Let us all compile them and later on have an input function in the upcoming Health Mobile Outpatient application to get reporting analytics (while providing data privacy to all, HIPPA compliance) and record your lifestyle, gene data, patient generated health data and more.

Global Benefits, together we can

  1. help impact health and health governance.
  2. point out environmental disasters that can affect health of humans, animals and plants.
  3. point out food manufacturing systems that can affect our health
  4. identify genes within families that can have an impact on our health
  5. identify laboratory tests that can prevent health emergencies
  6. identify signs of health within families, communities that can provide warning signals of impending health issues
  7. and many more health cues that can help others protect their lives, maintain health and promote wellness

Known facts:

  • There are more men who gets Parkinson
  • More women who gets Alzheimers
  • More african americans who have vascular disorders
  • More latina who have obesity health issues
  • More Chinese who have liver cancer (based on global statistics)
  • The top health issues in the world are drug abuse, alcohol abuse, tobacco abuse, depression and obesity (vascular, heart,immune system)
  • Developing countries have more lung cancer issues
  • Western world have obesity and depression as major health issues

HIPAA and your health data rights

HIPAA at 20: A Bipartisan Achievement

By the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Treasury

Twenty years ago, the summer games of the XXVI Olympiad had just ended in Atlanta.  We were dancing to the “Macarena,” the number one song on the radio.  The first cellular phones were just hitting the market. And on August 21, 1996, our nation committed to transforming health care coverage with the enactment of historic, bipartisan legislation called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA for short.

Many are familiar with HIPAA as a medical privacy and security law.  But it is that and so much more.  A key component of HIPAA’s initial purpose was to allow people to transfer and continue health insurance after they change or lose a job.  This was first made possible in 1985 by passage of health insurance continuation provisions in the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). HIPAA then built upon these gains, and most recently, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) amended and expanded many of the original HIPAA consumer protections.

Prior to the passage of HIPAA, many people were afraid to change jobs out of fear that a preexisting medical condition would prevent them from receiving health insurance coverage. HIPAA addressed this concern through its portability provisions, which lessened the possibility that an individual would lose health care coverage for a preexisting condition when changing to a new employer’s group health plan or when seeking coverage in the individual market.  HIPAA also required group health plans to provide special enrollment periods for employees and their dependents who experience a qualifying event such as loss of other group coverage, birth of a child, or marriage.

HIPAA prohibited group health plans from discriminating based on health status against an employee or a dependent in terms of eligibility or cost of coverage. The ACA expanded this provision to certain individual health insurance policies.  HIPAA also mandated that all individual and group health insurance coverage, including small employers with 2-50 employees, be guaranteed renewable at the option of the individual or employer. The ACA continued this protection for both large and small employers, and most significantly, to individuals and families purchasing individual market health insurance policies.

Twenty years ago, a considerable portion of every health care dollar was spent on administrative overhead in processes that involved numerous paper forms and telephone calls, non-standard electronic commerce, and many delays in communicating information among different locations. This situation created difficulties and costs for health care providers, health plans, and consumers.

Under HIPAA, standards were developed to improve the way health care data is exchanged electronically.  HIPAA simplified and encouraged the electronic transfer of information by requiring the HHS to adopt standards for certain electronic transactions, and now 93.8% of all health care claims transactions today are conducted in standard form.  The HIPAA standards have helped pave the way for the interoperability of health data to enhance the patient and provider experience.

HIPAA also enhanced privacy and security protections for consumer health data by establishing requirements for most health care providers, health plans and other entities that process health insurance claims, and their business associates to safeguard information.  HIPAA’s Privacy Rule gives individuals important rights to their health information, and sets rules for how the information can be accessed, used and disclosed.  For example, the HIPAA Privacy Rule gives individuals the right to a copy of their health information in the form and format that they request – including an electronic copy.

The HIPAA Security Rule requires health care organizations to safeguard the electronic health information they hold.  Among the rule’s requirements, organizations covered by HIPAA must engage in comprehensive risk analyses and risk management to ensure that health information is secure. This includes implementing physical, technical, and administrative security measures sufficient to reduce risks in all physical locations and on all portable devices to a reasonable and appropriate level. Finally, HIPAA was modified in important ways, including the requirements that breaches of unsecured health information are reported to affected individuals, the Department of Health and Human Services, and in some cases the media. This requirement helps individuals know if something has gone wrong with the protection of their information and helps keep organizations accountable for privacy and security.

Macular degeneration dietary supplementation

By Dr Mercola

The human retina is about the size of a postage stamp andthe macula only about the size of a pencil tip. Yet hundreds of millions of light-receptor cellsare employed. Cone cells produce color vision and are located in the macula.Rod cells produce black and white for night vision. The cone cells arelocated in the center of the retina and are used for reading and finecentral vision. The rods are in the periphery of the retina and are usedfor night and side vision. Degeneration of the rods results in night blindness(retinitis pigmentosa). Degeneration of the cones results in macular degeneration.

From back to front, the maculais nourished by the choroid or blood layer of the retina. Poor circulationwould then affect vision. The choroid has extensions into the retina.If the capillaries (connectors) become leaky, then the chorio-capillaruswill ooze some blood serum behind the retina, called subretinal swelling.If the capillaries become even more leaky, then red blood cells will oozebehind the retina and become a sub-retinal hemorrhage.

VitaminC and bioflavonoids (bilberry, cranberry, blueberry, others) help to keep strong capillaries.

Furthermore, the back of theretina is protected from sunlight damage by brown melanin pigment. Asmelanin pigment dissipates with age, macular degeneration accelerates.Plant pigments like bilberry mimic the light-absorption of melanin.

The blood and its nutrients(oxygen, vitamins, lutein) must pass a membrane, called Bruch’s membrane,which may become calcified over time, blocking nutrient entry and theexit of cellular debris. This can be remedied by taking magnesium, a calcium-antogonist(natural calcium blocker).

Once nutrients have passedBruch’s membrane, they go thru a single-cell layer of cells called theretinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE are garbage-cleaning cells.They digest used-up portions of vitamin A shed from the rod cells everymorning. The RPE accomplishes this by producing an antioxidant calledglutathione peroxidase, which is generated from vitamin E and selenium.

Without Vitamin E and selenium, the RPE will build up cellular garbage deposits.

If nutrients pass through thechoroid, Bruch’s membrane, and the RPE, then they finally reach the retinallight-receptor cells, the rod and cones. These cells are lined with fat– – omega-3 fat called DHA. Studies show that people who consume morefish, which is rich in DHA-fish fat, are less likely to develop maculardegeneration. Vitamin B12 is the glue that keeps the DHA in place. VitaminE protects the DHA-fat from turning rancid.

In front of the photoreceptorsis the nerve layer of the retina. These nerve cells transmit visual signalsvia the optic nerve to the brain. It is in this nerve layer thay luteinand zeaxanthin reside. These are two yellow dietary pigments that worklike sunglass filters to protect the underlying macula from solar radiation.Blue-eyed adults have far less lutein and zeaxanthin in their retinas.

A recent study shows that 60-yearolds who had adequate retinal levels of lutein and zeaxanthin retainedthe ability to see faint light as well as 20-year old adults!! How’s thatfor anti-aging. Lutein and zeaxanthin are acquired from spinachand kale, and from food supplements as extracts of marigoldflower petals. At least 6 milligramsof lutein and zeaxanthin should be consumed daily. (Centrum multivitaminonly provide 1/4th of one milligram!.)

A nutritional regimen for macular degeneration should include:

1. Habitual wearing of UV-blueblocking sunglasses when outdoors in daylight.

2. Consumption of spinach andkale

3. A daily food supplementregimen that include lutein (6-12 mg), vitamin E (200-400 IU), selenium (organic, nor selenate or selenite) 200 mcg; vitamin B12, 300 mcg; magnesium 400 mg; vitamin C 500-2000 mg; bilberry 120-240 mg; DHA-rich fish oil providing 1000 mg of DHA; sulfur-bearing nutrients (glutathione, lipoicacid, N-acetyl cysteine or taurine).

4. Avoid high-dose calcium supplements without balancing magnesium (60:40 ratio).

5. Avoid hydrogenated fats that interfere with the omega-3 fats.

6. Avoid very low-fat diets, that rob the retina of omega-3 fats.

7. Eat sulfur-rich foods, such as garlic, eggs, asparagus, onions.

 

Telehealth reimbursement

Reimbursement

While hospitals and physicians may be willing to jump on the mobile health bandwagon, they need help from governing bodies to be successful. Much like the regulation issues, the reimbursement opportunities for mobile health are falling behind the demand.

Telehealth services, for example, are not necessarily reimbursed through Medicare without some specific criteria. This could be the patient and/or hospital is not located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or in a county that is outside of any Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

In many instances, telehealth services are also only allowed following a face-to-face meeting between the physician and patient. Medicare will also only cover these services if they mimic what would happen during a physical doctor’s visit.

“There is no single widely-accepted standard for private payers,” the HRSA website reads. “Some insurance companies value the benefits of telehealth and will reimburse a wide variety of services. Others have yet to develop comprehensive reimbursement policies, and so payment for telehealth may require prior approval. Likewise, different states have various standards by which their Medicaid programs will reimburse for telehealth expenses.”

Even if providers are completely onboard the telemedicine train, that does not mean the payer is. While the government is working on ways to reimburse telemedicine or mobile devices, not all private payers have systems like this in place, meaning there is no chance at reimbursement.

Connie’s comments: Consumers should influence health insurance companies to reimburse telehealth such as video chat with doctors ($40-$90 per 15min or more minutes or video chat). We should also petition our lawmakers to adopt a one licensure for all states for both nurses and doctors and other allied health care professionals. Telehealth will greatly reduce chronic care costs. Motherhealth – Health Mobile Outpatient application will provide video chats, telehealth for nurses and doctors to be proactive with health monitoring.

Eye health: Lutein and zeaxanthin food sources

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that eating green leafy vegetables, which are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, may decrease the risk for age related macular degeneration. The goal of this study was to analyse various fruits and vegetables to establish which ones contain lutein and/or zeaxanthin and can serve as possible dietary supplements for these carotenoids.

RESULTS

  • Egg yolk and maize (corn) contained the highest mole percentage (% of total) of lutein and zeaxanthin (more than 85% of the total carotenoids).

  • Maize was the vegetable with the highest quantity of lutein (60% of total) and orange pepper was the vegetable with the highest amount of zeaxanthin (37% of total).

  • Substantial amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin (30-50%) were also present in kiwi fruit, grapes, spinach, orange juice, zucchini (or vegetable marrow), and different kinds of squash.

The results show that there are fruits and vegetables of various colours with a relatively high content of lutein and zeaxanthin.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the dark green leafy vegetables, previously recommended for a higher intake of lutein and zeaxanthin, have 15-47% of lutein, but a very low content (0-3%) of zeaxanthin. Our study shows that fruits and vegetables of various colours can be consumed to increase dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9828775

Is the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Good or Bad for Telehealth?

By Eric Wicklund

Critics say it promotes cronyism, while advocates say the program will help doctors and health systems expand their telehealth networks across state lines.

Federal officials are stepping in to help the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact – even as critics call the effort “crony doctoring.”

The cross-state licensure compact was launched in 2013 by the Federation of State Medical Boards, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit comprised of some 70 state medical boards and regulatory agencies, and now has 17 states signed on, with another nine states contemplating approval. Last month, the FSMB was awarded a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

“The continuing support of HRSA has been very beneficial to state medical boards in their ongoing effort to increase access to quality healthcare and support the expanded use of telemedicine for patients by streamlining the medical licensure process,” Art Hengerer, MD, the FSMB’s chairman, said when the HRSA grant was announced.

The FSMB and its supporters say the compact will give doctors who want to practice telemedicine across state lines an expedited path to licensure in each state, while preserving the rights of each state medical board to grant the licenses and perform background checks.

But opponents of the compact say it doesn’t make the process any easier for doctors, and allows state boards to restrict telemedicine practices for the benefit of their own doctors.

“(T)he compact protects the power of the state boards to shield physicians in their states from competition. It preserves the multiple fees physicians must pay to each state board,” Shirley Svorny, a California State University-Northridge professor of economics and adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, wrote in a recent op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal. “Most troubling, the compact has distracted attention from, and muted calls for, reforms that would realize telemedicine’s potential.”

Svorny isn’t the only opponent to the compact. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), a small advocacy group of about 5,000 members, has long criticized the FSMB, arguing that its status as a private, tax-exempt organization presents a conflict of interest.

“FSMB has now become part of a lucrative industry that imposes significant expense without value onto patients and practicing physicians,” AAPS Director Paul Martin Kempen, MD, PhD, wrote in the spring 2016 issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. “While non-physicians are being given the authority to practice medicine and prescribe without the physician oversight requirements of SMBs (state medical boards), physicians are being subjected to more expensive and onerous requirements, which bring in revenue for FSMB and other tax-exempt corporations, which lobby extensively and have achieved a high degree of regulatory capture.”

“The compact represents attempts by the FSMB to consolidate its own power and control over physicians, and that it has little relationship to improving quality of care.,” Michael L. Marlowe, PhD, an economist, write in another JAPS opinion piece in 2015. “It thus represents a major misstep for medical care. It is broadly understood by economists that occupational licensing creates market power for members of occupations, with little to no attendant gains in safety or product quality.”

Svorny’s column drew a rebuke from Roger Downey, GlobalMed’s communications manager. In a blog, Downey said the compact “puts in place an expedited pathway for licensure in other compact states for those physicians who desire to expand their practices with telemedicine.”

“The compact will improve and maintain a level of protection for patients that a federal program could not offer,” he wrote. “Plus, most of the major healthcare organizations in the U.S. have publicly expressed support for the compact.”

The compact has plenty of supporters, including the American Medical Association, American Telemedicine Association, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, dozens of health systems and a number of U.S. Senators.

“The compact will continue to ensure state-based regulation of the medical profession while simultaneously promoting access to qualified and experienced physicians in high-need specialties and in rural and underserved areas,” Matt Lopez, CEO of the National Stroke Association, said when the group announced its support of the compact this past January.  “Not only does the compact protect patients, but it will increase the availability of telestroke care and help control stroke risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes.”

In a 2015 position paper, the American College of Physicians said it “supports a streamlined process to obtaining several medical licenses that would facilitate the ability of physicians and other clinicians to provide telemedicine services across state lines while allowing states to retain individual licensing and regulatory authority.”

The ATA, while supporting the compact, also notes that licensure portability is “a contentious issue for healthcare providers.” In its 2015 analysis of each state’s licensure requirements for telehealth, it criticized the patchwork system created by allowing each state to control licensing.

“(T)hese state-by-state approaches prevent people from receiving critical, often life-saving medical services that may be available to their neighbors living just across the state line,” the ATA wrote. “They also create economic trade barriers, restricting access to medical services and artificially protecting markets from competition.”

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Svorny suggests an alternative to the compact: Legislation passed by Congress that enables the physician to be licensed based on where he or she practices, rather than where the patients are located.

“Physicians would need only one license, that of their home state, and would work under its particular rules and regulations,” she wrote. “This would allow licensed physicians to treat patients in all 50 states. It would greatly expand access to quality medical care by freeing millions of patients to seek services from specialists around the country without the immense travel costs involved.”

That, too, drew a response from Downey.

“A national license for physicians sounds good on the surface, but if we are to believe the opinions gathered from 1.8 million nurses [in a separate Wall Street Journal article on efforts for a nurse licensure compact], it isn’t needed,” he said. “And, if enacted, I believe it would lead to less vigilance and regulation of doctors. Applications would be rubber-stamped, unless a whole new level of bureaucracy was established. And that would be more costly and less effective than the present system in terms of public protection.”

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