Texas Health Insurance

When Life Gives You Kidney Stones…Make Lemonade!

June 2nd, 2011

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Research reported by The American Urological Association shows that lemonade is an effective way to slow the development of new kidney stones for past sufferers.

One of the factors that form kidney stones is when the urine doesn’t contain enough stone-preventing substances. Citrate, which is naturally found in lemon juice, is one of those substances. When made into low-sugar or sugar-free lemonade, lemon juice increases the amount of citrate in the urine to levels known to inhibit kidney stone development. Lemonade also helps patients pass a lot of urine. But lemonade isn’t the sole factor in preventing kidney stones. It’s only part of a stone preventing diet.

When hydrating this summer, consider replenishing your fluids with low-sugar or sugar-free lemonade…your kidneys will thank you!

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Warning! Protect Your Kid Against Window Cords

June 2nd, 2011

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When shopping for window coverings that will go in a home with small children in it, the one sure way to keep little ones safe is to go cordless.

Given the number of deaths of infants and toddlers who strangled in the cords of blinds and shades, it’s the only option recommended by the industry and by safety advocates. About 500 serious injuries and deaths have been documented over the past decade or so.

“There are no acceptable alternatives with cords at this point,” says Linda Kaiser, who founded Parents for Window Blind Safety after one her toddler twins was strangled.

Tens of millions of window coverings have been recalled in recent years, including two unprecedented industry-wide recalls, over concerns that infants and toddlers are at risk of strangulation.

The window covering industry has been offering retrofit kits to help make existing corded blinds and shades safer, but every model that has a looped cord carried the risk of turning into a deadly noose. Nearly every shade made more than a decade ago is likely to have at least the dangerous inner cord — and many of those still for sale today have them too.

“There are millions of products on store shelves that are just as dangerous as they were 10 years ago,” Kaiser said.

If you’re not going to replace all your blinds, then retrofitting needs to be done to window coverings. For some models it’s a relatively simple and effective process, such as removing the cords from Roman shades and holding them in place with clips.

The kits that are provided for free by the industry, which involve clipping loops in cords or mounting a tension device to a wall to prevent the danger of sagging cords, might lessen the danger, but Kaiser’s group believes still leaves considerable risk.

Scott Wolfson, spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said progress has been made and more needs to be.

“We’re trying to mitigate the hazard as best we can going backwards and eliminate the risk going forward,” said

The government, safety advocates, and the industry have been working to reach a consensus on rules that would dictate how shades and blinds will be made so that even corded models would be safer, by preventing access to the cords.

“We are not pushing for cordless (blinds) across all revisions to the standards,” Wolfson said. “We want this industry to survive and to also have safer products that don’t have exposed cord loops.”

It is easier today to find cordless options. In fact, most of the major manufacturers, including Levolor, Hunter Douglas, and Bali, offer a considerable number of cordless options.

Some use a wand rather than a cord or chain to open and close or to change the position of the slats on blinds. Others are spring-loaded and go up and down when the bottom rail is pulled. Some Roman shades come with an option to remove the cords and instead use clips to hold the shades open.

Compared side by side with similar corded models, cordless can cost more, although there are some cordless window coverings now on the low end of the price spectrum. They can also be less convenient to use.

Parents for Window Blind Safety warns that some supposedly cordless Roman blinds still have dangerous cords in the rear, so check out the blinds before buying them to make sure they do not have any visible cords or chains.

The group also warns that even blinds with safety features and modifications, including breakaway cords, shortened cords, wind-up devices, and tension devices, cannot be relied upon to provide a safe environment for a young child. In a series of videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/pfwbs), Parents for Window Blind Safety graphically demonstrates how easily each of those methods can fail, particularly when a toddler is involved. Even a single cord, absent the loop normally associated with the deaths, is shown turning deadly.

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10 Best Zoos for Kids

June 2nd, 2011

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1. Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo

It’s unbelievable how close kids can get to the animals here. In Wallaroo Station, the zoo’s four-and-a-half-acre Australian-themed children’s area, kids can brush a goat’s fur, feed birdseed lollipops to parakeets, and walk down a path as kangaroos and wallabies hop in front of them. They can ride on a llama or, in another part of the zoo, a camel — which makes the pony treks seem almost trite. In Lowry’s expanded Safari Africa exhibit, your family can climb up on a platform to offer one of the giraffes a snack. “Kids squeal in delight when the giraffe sticks out its 18-inch-long tongue to snatch a cracker,” says Craig Pugh, acting director. Other cool animals that your children can feed: a white rhino, stingrays, and lorikeets.
Since Lowry Park is the only zoo in the country with an accredited preschool and kindergarten on-site, the staff is especially comfortable fielding questions from families. When your little kids need a break from the animal action, head to the playground or one of five rides including a kiddie coaster. And if you need to relax or nurse, there’s even a “mommy stop,” a shaded area with benches and child-size picnic tables.

2. Brookfield Zoo, IllinoisThe Hamill Family Play Zoo is the most awesome exhibit for kids. Inside a hollowed-out tree, kids can dress up in animal and zookeeper costumes, make an art project, get their face painted, and pet a hedgehog, an armadillo, and other wildlife. On weekends in the summer at the Chicago-area park, they can release ladybugs in the nearby children’s garden or help harvest some of the crops. “We’ll parade across the zoo with kids carrying the corn to the bison exhibit or the herbs to the area where monkeys live,” says Stuart Strahl, Ph.D., Brookfield’s director. “We try to make it as informal as possible. Kids need unstructured playtime.”
As your family walks around, chances are you’ll stumble across a “zoo chat” — there are about 300 of them a week — in which keepers answer questions about the different species on exhibit. Or you might see a zoo employee showing off a hissing cockroach or another small animal in a “critter cart.” It’s practically impossible to do everything in a day, but try not to miss the dolphin show, butterfly exhibit, and the traditional children’s zoo, where kids can pet farmyard animals, take a spin on one of the country’s largest hand-carved wooden carousels, and use telescopes in the playground to spy on the Mexican gray wolves in the distance.

3. St. Louis ZooThere’s no zoo that showcases penguins better than here. At the entrance to Penguin & Puffin Coast, your family will see the Humboldt penguins in a setting designed to resemble the shoreline of Peru, complete with a 22-foot waterfall. Then you walk inside a chilly cove and watch three other species (the zoo has 91 penguins in all) as they swim or congregate above the water. “Even toddlers in strollers get a great view,” says Louise Bradshaw, education director.
The playground is also ingenious. Kids can go down a clear tube slide that crosses through the river-otter exhibit, giving them a nose-to-nose view. Infants and toddlers have their own place to hang — the Cubs & Pups Pad in ZOOmagination Station, an indoor area with animal puppets and costumes. A sea-lion show, insectarium, and train tour are also big hits with kids under 8.

4. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG AquariumKick off your day in the fun-filled Kids Kingdom. Your little ones may come face-to-face with a reindeer or get licked by a white-tailed deer (yes, antibacterial soap is nearby). Kids can crawl underneath the meerkat exhibit and pop up in an acrylic dome just inches away from the animals. “The mammals like to sit on top of the dome, so parents get a picture of what looks like a meerkat on top of their kid’s head,” says Henry Kacprzyk, Kids Kingdom’s curator. A bridge with an alligator below and a big playground with spider webbing round out the fun.
Save time to see the two-story shark tank in the aquarium and the Water’s Edge exhibit, where children can walk down a 30-foot tunnel with polar bears swimming above and around them.

5. Fort Wayne Children’s ZooThis park was designed for little ones. Near the entrance is Indiana Family Farm, where children can peek into the chicken coop, brush the goats, and pump water into a trough. The 20-foot-high tree house in the Indonesian Rain Forest has an entrance that only small kids can fit through. Over in the Australian-themed area, children can burrow into a tunnel and pretend to be wombats or ride in a log boat to get a look at Eastern gray kangaroos and dingos.
When the new African Journey opens on June 6, there will be child-size caves, close encounters with lions, and a chance for families to feed the giraffes.
There are at least four “creature features” daily, when keepers talk about the animals they care for. Healthy children’s meals and low-cost wagon and stroller rentals make your outing even easier.

6. San Antonio Zoo & AquariumThe San Antonio Zoo has the first children’s zoo especially created for the 5-and-under set. Young explorers get their own entrance to Kronkosky’s Tiny Tot Nature Spot, stone lily pads to hop on. From there, the only problem is what to do first: Dig up carrots to feed the guinea pigs? Look for animal tracks? Dress up like a vet? Or splash in a small stream (while you relax on the nearby beach)? Stop what you’re doing around 2 p.m., when the flamingos are fed shrimp — the snack that makes the birds pink.
Older kids will like the Africa Live! exhibit, where they can watch hippos and crocodiles swim underwater. They’ll also enjoy feeding lorikeets nectar and seeing the Bear Grottos.

7. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical GardenKids flock to the nursery in the children’s zoo. That’s where staff care for and feed the infant animals — some of them in diapers. “We just had a newborn cheetah and a penguin in the nursery, and most likely we’ll have different animals in there this summer,” says Thane Maynard, executive director.
Other family faves: a walk-through turkey cage, a glass bubble that lets kids poke their heads inside the manatee exhibit, and a trek over to the Wildlife Canyon to see a red-haired Sumatran rhino wallow in the mud. Call ahead to register for a stroller safari, where you and your toddler get a guided tour from a naturalist, or a Family Night Hike, on which children can see bats and feed armadillos, aardvarks, and other animals that are most active after dark.

8. San Diego ZooThere are 4,000 animals to see at the San Diego Zoo. Your plan of attack: Hop on the skyride or half-hour bus tour, and then linger at a few of the unique exhibits, such as the ones with giant pandas and the elephants. Only three other American zoos (in Atlanta, Memphis, and Washington, D.C.) have black-and-white pandas, and thanks to a platform, your kids can get what’s arguably the best look at them in San Diego. Afterward, check out the adjacent discovery center, where little ones will have a blast climbing into a panda den and pushing buttons to learn about the animals.
In the Elephant Odyssey exhibit, opening in June, families can watch eight of these African animals get cared for — from pedicures to weigh-ins. Kids can also watch the animals play in the mud. Don’t leave without stopping by the children’s zoo. Out of the 200 animals, about 45 — including meerkats and wombats — have received special training so staff can take them out to meet the kids.

9. Houston ZooTrainers are the rock stars at the Houston Zoo. Throughout the day, families can peek in on them teaching new behaviors to the lions, giving the elephants a bath, or, in the children’s zoo, feeding the fruit bats and pelicans. “The most interesting activities here usually take place behind the scenes,” says Rick Barongi, the zoo’s director. “It’s one thing to tell kids about how these animals are taken care of — and it’s far more memorable for them to watch it up close.”
Under the Butterfly Stage, there’s a morning storytime and a chance to touch small animals like chinchillas and snakes, as well as the Zooper Challenge, a game show that uses child volunteers. And if you have thrill seekers in your household, don’t miss crawling through a tunnel in the piranha aquarium.

10. Bronx Zoo, New York CityThe children’s zoo is a blast. Kids learn about the motions and defenses of animals by pretending to be one. They can sit inside a heron’s nest, try to jump as far as a frog does, pop out of a prairie-dog burrow, climb into a turtle shell, or crawl through an otter log. “It’s pretty cool because the real animals they’re imitating may be watching them,” explains Robert Cook, Ph.D., general director.
Another must-see: Congo Gorilla Forest where your family can get an up-close look at 20 of these animals, babies included. Also catch the Madagascar! exhibit (especially if your family loved the lemurs in the DreamWorks movie); take a 20-minute monorail ride around Wild Asia to see tigers, elephants, and rhinos; and stop by the reptile house to visit the 100-year-old snapping turtle.

Looking for the best information and the best rates on Texas Health Insurance Quotes ~ visit www.texashealthandlife.com or give us a call at or 512-246-9955

The 10 Best Beaches for Families: 2011

June 2nd, 2011

~Please visit Texas Health & Life for the Most Affordable Texas Heath Insurance & Texas Medicare Supplement~ Simplicity is the beauty of a beach vacation — the shore is essentially a giant sandbox with free rocks and shells, and the waves are more fun than any pool. But there can be rough spots if you go to the wrong place. That’s why Parents combed through water-quality reports, closings, and advisories for more than 1,000 U.S. beaches. Naturally, we nixed shores with persistent problems and ones where the water isn’t tested. From there, we looked at three other deal breakers: restrooms, calm surf, and lifeguards. Nature trails and other extras helped determine which places made the final cut. These are the 10 best beaches we found, along with our 10 runners-up. All that’s left for you to do: Dive into the most kid-friendly beaches under the sun.

1. North Beach at Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde, Florida

Warm, clear water, seashell-dotted white sand, and nature activities galore helped this beach, located in a county park, rise to the top of our list. Protected by a sandbar, North Beach, near St. Petersburg, has a large lagoon that doesn’t get above 3 feet deep. “It’s like a natural kiddie pool,” says Justin Hamilton, of Bardstown, Kentucky, who visited last summer. “My 2-year-old loved chasing minnows.” The water doesn’t get any cleaner than it is here: Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010, there wasn’t one problem.

When you’re ready for shade, walk over to the playground, where your kid can steer a pretend pirate ship or cool down with a snow cone from the snack bar. If your family is up for more, drive to the park’s Gulf Pier, a great area for spotting dolphins. From there, explore the fort and cannon built for the Spanish-American War or take a surrey-bike ride along the nature trails.

Spend the Night
Sleep in a pink castle! The Loews Don CeSar is a ten-minute drive. Families keep busy with free cake- and cookie-decorating classes, scavenger hunts, and poolside movies. There’s a drop-off kids’ club for 4- to 12-year-olds, and babysitting.

2. Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head, South Carolina

You can’t go wrong with any of the 12 miles of shoreline in Hilton Head, but Coligny stood out for its shallow, calm water. “You’d have to walk out 30 yards for it to get above 3 feet deep,” says Steve Riley, the town manager. Your little swimmer will love to peek in the tidal pools that form during low tide and hunt for beach treasure — sand dollars and seashells. And the beach’s hard-packed sand is perfect for building castles and biking. You can rent three-wheeled dune bikes that are similar to tricycles from a nearby Shore Beach Service stand. At the end of the day, head across the street to the Coligny Plaza, which hosts free entertainment such as magic shows four times a week.

Spend the Night
Steps from Coligny Beach Park, the Holiday Inn Oceanfront organizes free pool- and beachside games. All rooms come with fridge and microwave.

3. Kama’ole Beach Park III, Maui, Hawaii

Part of a a trio of pristine beaches separated by lava-rock outcropppings, this one, nicknamed Kam 3, is ideal for young kids. “The water has only small waves and it’s so clear you can even see the fish from the surface.” says Lindsey Ahrary, who was vacationing from San Jose, California. Kids might spot sea turtles or even puffer fish (remember Bloat from Finding Nemo?). For a better view, you can rent snorkeling gear across the street from the beach, usually for less than $2 per person. The large grassy area behind the beach is perfect for kite-flying, tossing a Frisbee, or eating shaved ice (Hawaii’s version of sorbet) from one of the nearby stands.

Spend the Night
Since there isn’t a resort on this beach, stay at a budget-friendly vacation-rental condo. A mile away, the Outrigger Palms at Wailea offers a full kitchen, a pool, and Island Explorer backpacks for kids staying three or more nights.

4. Coronado Central Beach, San Diego

This 2-mile stretch of beach — just over the bridge from downtown San Diego — has everything families could want: perfect weather (it rarely rains in the summer), spotless white sand (the town even invented an environmentally-friendly rake to clean up the kelp), and warm, gentle water. Plus, there’s no smoking allowed on this beach — or any in California. Tide pools filled with sea creatures form in front of the famous Hotel del Coronado, where you cool off with a cone at MooTime Creamery.

Spend the Night
The only resort along this stretch of sand, the Victorian-style Hotel del Coronado offers family s’mores nights, a drop-off kids’ program for 4- to 12-year-olds, and babysitting

5. West Beach at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter

On the southern tip of Lake Michigan, this beach has great views of the Chicago skyline. But what draws families here are the normally calm water and Junior Ranger program. Kids can earn a “beachcomber badge” by completing a dozen or so family activities on a sheet handed out by park rangers. “We ask kids to do things like find three different-colored types of rocks near the shoreline, and look at the plants in the dunes and point out which kind they saw the most,” says Bruce Rowe, the supervisory park ranger. When the kids are done at the beach, head to one of the four nearby nature trails, each about 1½ miles long. The stroller-friendly Long Lake Trail takes you past forests and marshes.

Spend the Night
The closest place to stay just opened last fall: The Duneswalk Inn, about a ten-minute drive from the beach, is a renovated 1881 mansion. The rooms aren’t froufrou, and one suite even has bunk beds.

6. Mayflower Beach, Dennis, Massachusetts

Cape Cod has more than its share of beautiful beaches, but the water here is calmer than at most. “It has huge tidal flats that are teeming with sea life,” says Karen Flam, who makes the trek to Mayflower every year from Philadelphia. “My 6-year-old daughter, Allison, sits out there for hours digging for sea snails and hermit crabs.” Make plans to come to the beach for the annual sand-sculpture contest in late August — there are categories for kids 3 to 6 and 7 to 11, as well as for families working together.

Spend the Night
The Lighthouse Inn, about 5 miles from Mayflower Beach, offers family entertainment such as sing-alongs, clowns, and magicians. Plus, the inn coordinates a daytime and evening drop-off program for children 3 and up.

7. Coquina Beach Park, Bradenton, Florida

This beach, on the southern tip of Anna Marie Island, near Sarasota, is famous for “coquinas,” colorful mini seashells. “Every morning, there’s a row of shells on the shoreline for kids to scoop up,” says Debbie Meihls, executive manager of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Another activity: kayaking. You can rent one on the beach or sign up for a guided eco-tour; either way, you’re likely to see dolphins, manatees, and stingrays. Shady Australian pines, warm water (it averages 82°F year-round), and a 1½-mile paved nature trail also make Coquina fun.

Spend the Night
The Tradewinds Resort, just a 1-mile trolley ride from the beach, gives families a seashell guide and loans out buckets, sand tools, and floaties. A great money saver: Each room has a full kitchen.

8. Cannon Beach, Oregon

You can’t miss Haystack Rock sticking 235 feet out of the water on Cannon Beach, about 90 minutes from Portland. A state-protected marine garden, the tidal pools near the rock are filled with sea life such as orange and purple starfish. “We often have volunteers at Haystack Rock during the summer to talk about the tide-pool creatures and nesting seabirds,” says Nala Cardillo, coordinator of the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. The downside: The water, while pristine, rarely gets above 60°F in the summer — so if your kid wants to do more than dip his toes, rent a wetsuit (they come in toddler sizes) at the nearby Cannon Beach Surf Shop.

Spend the Night
On Cannon Beach, the Surfsand Resort hosts free ice-cream socials and hot-dog roasts for families. Check out the indoor pool, fun games like beach musical chairs, and a program for kids 4 and up with ocean-themed activities like seashell crafts and sand art. Plus, kids eat free in the resort’s two restaurants.

9. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York

With clear-blue water and towering dunes, this wide white-sand Long Island beach is the place to be for families in the summer. Even though multimillion-dollar mansions overlook the beach, the atmosphere is down-to-earth. The Chowder Bowl sells club sandwiches and, of course, clam chowder, and there are fireworks on Labor Day weekend. “It’s common to see three or four generations of a family enjoying the beach together,” says Larry Cantwell, the East Hampton Village administrator. Since parking is by permit only on weekends and hard to come by always, it’s best to bike here or stay at a hotel that will drop you off or give you a pass.

Spend the Night
Three miles away, East Hampton House Resort entices families with a heated pool, a playground, tennis, and a parking pass to Main Beach.

10. North Beach, Racine, Wisconsin

On the shore of Lake Michigan, this beach in downtown Racine will keep your family active. When your kid isn’t enjoying the summer water, she’ll probably want to set sail on the pirate ships and swing on the ropes at Kids’ Cove, one of the state’s largest playgrounds. Your family can play volleyball on nets available to borrow or rent a kayak or surrey bike at the nearby pier. Pedal or walk on the bike path about three blocks to Racine Zoo, where kids can feed a giraffe.

Spend the Night
A short trolley ride away, the newly renovated Radisson Hotel Racine Harbourwalk has a heated indoor pool, a kid-friendly restaurant, and family specials on the weekend.

Looking for the best information and the best rates on Texas Health Insurance Quotes ~ visit www.texashealthandlife.com or give us a call at or 512-246-9955

Children of Divorce Suffer Academic, Social and Emotional Setbacks

June 2nd, 2011

Texas Health Insurance – Although children whose parents get divorced are not generally affected by harmful setbacks during the period prior to the actual breakup, they often face a tough road ahead after the split. According to a study published in the June issue of the American Sociological Review, the flagship journal of the American Sociological Association, many children of divorce lag behind their peers in mathematical and interpersonal social skills, in addition to suffering from emotional upheaval.According to the study, children of divorce have a greater likelihood of grappling with anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, and sadness. What’s worse, the intensification of the negative emotions they endure begins with the dissolution of their parents’ marriage, and these “internalizing problem behaviors” don’t go away.

The findings were surprising to study author Hyun Sik Kim, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He noted, “People tend to think that couples go through intense marital conflict before they decide to divorce. My original prediction was that children of divorce would experience negative impacts even before formal divorce processes began. But, my study finds that this is not the case.”

On the contrary, the results of the analysis indicate that developmental problems begin with the divorce process, and continue well beyond the delivery of the divorce decree. In addition, the findings suggest that in regards to the developmental impairments suffered following the divorce of their parents, the condition of these children apparently remains the same, with no road to recovery, nor a path of deterioration.

Dr Kim stated, “This study reveals that these negative impacts do not worsen in the post-divorce stage, although there is no sign that children of divorce catch up with their counterparts either.” Texas Health Insurance Quotes

The study involved data on 3,585 children who were a part of the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class 1998 to 1999. The children were followed from their fall of 1998 entry into kindergarten through their fifth grade year. The focus of the analysis was on divorces occurring at the time children were in first through third grades, and compared children of divorce with those from families without a divorce. The effects of divorce on the children were examined during three separate stages including the pre-divorce period from kindergarten to first grade, the period during the divorce process from first to third grade, and post-divorce from third to fifth grade.

Kim pointed out that many reasons exist as to why children of divorce suffer developmental delays. From the start of the divorce process, children undergo stress from witnessing parental fighting over whom is to blame for the divorce, as well as custody issues. In addition, an unstable living environment can be created for children transported between parents, or for those who move with the parent receiving primary or sole custody, that disrupts their social network. For many, the severed family suffers from economic hardship caused by a sudden drop in family income, and lingering effects of a parent’s divorce-related depression can also play a role. Texas Health Insurance

Kim acknowledged, “Having one’s parents go through a divorce can be very unsettling for a child,” and although children of divorce suffer setbacks in regards to “internalizing problem behaviors,” they don’t experience negative impacts on their “externalizing problem behaviors,” which are indicative of how frequently they might become angry, argue, or fight.

Looking for the best information and the best rates on Texas Health Insurance Quotes ~ visit www.texashealthandlife.com or give us a call at or 512-246-9955

Disfigured Heroic Army Private Receives Full Facial Transplant

May 9th, 2011

~Please visit Texas Health & Life for the Most Afordable Texas Heath Insurance & Texas Medicare Supplement~

A soldier from Indianapolis, Indiana has received the nations fourth full facial transplant on Tuesday morning at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

30-year-old Army Private Mitch Hunter (pictured above before the surgery) suffered the tragic facial disfigurement after saving a woman’s life during a car accident ten years ago, during which he pushed a live wire off her and suffered a severe shock.

So sad, but we’re so happy he was FINALLY able to have corrective surgery performed!

The 14 hour procedure required a team of more than 30 physicians, nurses, and anesthesiologists to get the job done, but according to lead surgeon, Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, it all went smoothly. He said in a statement:

“I am very grateful to the entire transplant team for working so well together, ensuring that Mitch’s procedure went smoothly and putting him on course for a successful recovery and new life.”

This young hero sacrificed his face for a woman’s life, but luckily, someone was kind of enough to sacrifice their organs after their passing in return.

The anonymous family whose son’s organs were used in the transplant said in a statement:

“We are very proud that our beloved son’s wishes were to donate his organs and tissue, helping as many people as possible. We are honored to respect his wishes. When we heard that there was a match for his facial tissue, we were overwhelmed and did not hesitate to say yes. We are so very happy that the transplant is progressing well. It is a gift to us to know that another young man’s life could be so positively changed because of our son’s giving spirit. Though we grieve our loss, we are also joyful that his passing has made this miracle possible.”

This is truly a miraculous procedure performed on someone who couldn’t have deserved it more!

We’d like to wish the best for Private Mitch Hunter and thank him for not only his service to this country, but his selfless act that cost him his face 10 years ago.

Looking for the best information and the best rates on Texas Health Insurance Quotes ~ visit www.texashealthandlife.com or give us a call at or 512-246-9955

Study: Liposuction Makes Other Parts Of Body Fatter

May 9th, 2011

~Please visit Texas Health & Life for the Most Afordable Texas Heath Insurance & Texas Medicare Supplement~

That fat you take out of your ass will end up on your arms, says a new study.

A major side-effect of liposuction is that, in the long run, it doesn’t reduce the total amount of fat in your body — it just sort of rearranges it.

Typically, fat that’s removed from your thighs, abdomen, or ass will end up in your shoulders, upper abdomen, or arms a year later.

The study was contingent on the women not undergoing lifestyle changes (i.e. dieting and exercising) after getting the surgery, so women who do alter they way they eat will see different results.

BUT, this just goes to show that surgery is NOT the way to go about losing weight! Change the way you eat, exercise, and live and you will start to see change!

Looking for the best information and the best rates on Texas Health Insurance Quotes ~ visit www.texashealthandlife.com or give us a call at or 512-246-9955

Having Friends Has Healthy Benefits

May 9th, 2011

~Please visit Texas Health & Life for the Most Afordable Texas Heath Insurance & Texas Medicare Supplement~

A new study finds that those who are highly social decrease their chances of developing dementia in old age by 70%.

The study, which used a questionnaire to measure participation in social activities, followed 1,138 people for an average of five years. Each participant had the average age of 79.6 and no signs of dementia at the start of the study.

Each answer on the questionnaire that measured individuals levels of social activity was worth a point.

Researchers found each one-point increase on the social activity score was linked to a 47% drop in the rate of decline in cognitive function, as well as reducing the risk of becoming physically disabled by 43%.

Earlier studies have found that severe social isolation is as deadly as smoking and DOUBLES your risk of early death! Also, those with more and higher-quality relationships are at lower risk for a list of illnesses including heart disease and stroke.

So what’s the connection between socializing and our brain? The lead author of the study published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Bryan James, says:

“Socializing relieves stress, and there’s a huge connection between stress and problems with the brain as we get older.”

Makes sense to us! Engage others to engage your brain and keep it in tip-top shape!

Looking for the best information and the best rates on Texas Health Insurance Quotes ~ visit www.texashealthandlife.com or give us a call at or 512-246-9955

What’s Next For The Healthcare Law?

April 7th, 2011

Texas Health Insurance – One year ago, President Barack Obama signed into law a sweeping healthcare overhaul to fulfill a long-standing Democratic pledge to ensure healthcare coverage for all Americans.

Passage of the law was a major legislative victory for Obama and helped change the political landscape, but not always in the way Democrats had hoped. Republicans strongly opposed the law and successfully worked public skepticism about it into sweeping election victories in November.

Here’s a look at the uncertain future of the reform law. Texas Health Insurance Quotes

REPEAL, DEFUND AND TAKE APART

Republicans, who say the law gives the federal government too much control and does little to reduce costs, have pushed a repeal bill through the U.S. House of Representatives after they took control in January. Full repeal, however, is unlikely unless Republicans successfully take control of the Senate and the White House in next year’s presidential elections. Texas Health Insurance Quotes

The Democratic-led Senate will not go along with repeal and Obama would veto any such bill. Democrats argue the law’s reforms will slow the growth of healthcare costs while improving care and reducing the ranks of the uninsured.

A Republican move to withhold funds to stop implementation of the law will meet similar resistance from Senate Democrats.

That leaves Republicans the option of picking apart the law regulation by regulation. This strategy could be more successful. Texas Health Insurance Quotes

Already, a revenue raising provision requiring businesses to file Internal Revenue Service forms on purchases and service totaling more than $600 a year is likely to be repealed with support from both parties.

The bill passed the House, and the Senate is expected to follow. The bill adjusts insurance purchase subsidies for middle income people as a way to cover the $22 billion cost of rescinding the so-called 1099 reporting provision.

COURT CHALLENGES

A number of states have challenged the constitutionality of the law’s requirement that most Americans obtain health insurance or pay a penalty. The rulings have been divided, and the issue is certain to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

A U.S. District Court judge in Florida ruled the entire law unconstitutional, while a U.S. judge in Virginia ruled the insurance mandate unconstitutional and upheld the rest of the law. Other courts have dismissed cases or have found the law’s mandate to purchase insurance constitutional. Texas Health Insurance Quotes

The U.S. Supreme Court could decide as early as next year. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, who played a leading role in writing the healthcare law, and other healthcare advocates believe the law will be upheld.

Conservative critics give better than even odds that the Supreme Court will overturn the law.

If the court does decide that the coverage mandate violates the Constitution, many experts believe the judges would most likely strike down just that provision and leave the rest of the law intact.

A decision striking down the purchase mandate but leaving intact provisions requiring insurers to cover everyone regardless of medical history would wreak havoc on the insurance industry and send premiums soaring.

The law’s major provisions establishing state insurance exchanges, imposing coverage mandates and requirements that insurers can no longer exclude or charge more for preexisting conditions take effect in 2014. That would give lawmakers time to act on any court decision.

STATE ISSUES

Despite the court challenges and stiff Republican opposition, the federal government is moving ahead with implementation that mostly falls on the states. Texas Health Insurance Quotes

A number of state governors, primarily Republicans, have balked at the added cost of the law to already tight budgets. States must set up insurance exchanges to help consumers and small businesses purchase insurance. States also have to maintain their Medicaid coverage for the poor until the program is expanded in 2014 to cover millions more low income people.

The Medicaid healthcare program is run by the states with federal financial aid, and many governors are looking to cut Medicaid spending to help balance budgets that took a huge hit during the economic recession.

The federal government will pick up the cost of expanded Medicaid coverage for three years, but many states worry about future added costs. Texas Health Insurance Quotes

Some states are dragging their feet on establishing the insurance exchanges that are to go into effect in 2014, leaving it to the federal government to step in and operate them.

SAVING THE HEALTHCARE LAW

Democrats note the popular Social Security retirement and Medicare healthcare programs for the elderly also faced stiff political opposition from conservative Republicans and survived legal challenges.

If the healthcare law survives the constitutional challenge, most likely the current political opposition will begin to subside and the law will remain on the books.

Most Americans did not think the costly U.S. healthcare system was working well before the new law. Costs were soaring and millions were going without coverage.

Polling data show that while people are skeptical about the law, most do not want to see it scrapped entirely.

Republicans have yet to put forward a proposal to replace the current law and are not likely to take a comprehensive approach. Instead they most likely would take it step-by-step, starting with limits on medical malpractice lawsuits. They also would push to allow insurers, who are regulated at the state level, to sell policies across state lines.

Looking for the best information and the best rates on Texas Health Insurance–visit www.texashealthandlife.com or give us a call at or 512-246-9955

Stroke Has a New Indicator

April 7th, 2011

Texas Health Insurance-

Blood Clots/Stroke – They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue

STROKE: Remember these Four Letters….. S. T. R. S.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall – she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) ….she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the party.

Jane’s husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital – (at 6:00 pm Jane passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would be with us today. Some don’t die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke…totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the ’3′ steps, STR. Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)

(i.e. It is sunny out today.)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke ——– Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another ‘sign’ of a stroke is this: Ask the person to ‘stick’ out his tongue. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.