Women With IBS Symptoms, More Than Just A Pain In The Gas

Sometimes women have to stomach a lot, like taking care of the kids and then solving the problems of the world. What's crazy is that all that could occur in 24 hours. When it comes to IBS or irritable bowel syndrome the super woman cape soon returns to the closet. It's hard to explain IBS except that it's a "pain in the gas" and more.

Women often find themselves isolated, and embarrassed when IBS symptoms pop up at the worst possible times. They hate having to explain their food choices, and even worse, not being able to go out dancing with friends, because IBS would flare up for sure. How about spending half the night in the washroom, so at some point they stop asking you out anymore. Many women are socially isolated for so long because of irritable bowel syndrome, they no longer care to pursue a life outside the confines of their own homes. Many have been struggling with IBS for years. Women have usually try a number of prescription medications and natural remedies, but none have come close to helping until now.

The most common symptoms that IBS patients feel are frequent looseness of the bowels, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea and or constipation, mucous secretion in the stool, intestine urgency or incontinence, and a sensing of uncompleted elimination after a movement. IBS is believed to be a disorder that is chiefly felt in the lower digestive tract, so the symptoms tend to rest located below the navel. In some instances symptoms in the upper gastrointestinal tract have likewise been tied to IBS, these include: difficultly swallowing, a sensation of a lump in the pharynx or a shutting down of the throat, heartburn or stomach upset, nausea, and even chest annoyance.

Addressing bloating for IBS can be slippery. The same nutrients that might help relieve some of the additional symptoms may in reality exacerbate gas pain , which successively leads to bloating. Consuming foods that are higher in fibre is outstanding for the gut and may arrest some of the cramping, but these equivalent foods can induce inordinate amounts of gas. Adding fibre to a diet assists regulate bowel movements, particularly because soluble fibre helps dampen the texture of your stool, making it gentler for the undigested nutrients in your stomach to pass through. Even so, inserting fibre into your diet ought be done bit by bit in order to help your body conform to the modification in diet.

Exploration into irritable bowel syndrome has discovered that an overgrowth of bacterium in the bowels is present in some patients. Notwithstanding, IBS has likewise been associated with certain antibiotic drugs. It appears that the cause of irritable bowel syndrome could be a deficiency of balance between good bacteria, which is forever present in the intestines, and bad bacterium, which should not be present. Pro-biotics usually found in yogurt are sometimes advocated to improve the balance. When an overgrowth of bacteria is thought to be the causal agent of irritable bowel syndrome, physicians may dictate antibiotics.

IBS is a grievous circumstance. Patients enduring IBS tend to have a far higher rate of hospital care, lost workdays, depressive disorder, and abdominal surgeries than healthy persons and patients with additional gastrointestinal sicknesses. As a whole people with irritable bowel syndrome used threefold as many sick days as people without these gut symptoms.

Although IBS causes a patient to be really uncomfortable, it does not cause any lasting harm to the intestines. The irritation induced by IBS can be decreased by a balanced diet, stress management tactics and suitable medications. By ascertaining the causal agents or triggers of IBS it is conceivable to in effect control or even wipe out the symptoms you may have. The intensity and relative frequency of IBS does vary widely from person to person, but once you have nailed down what appears to cause the onslaught of your symptoms you can determine how to ward off these irritants and find a better way of dealing with IBS.

Health Insurance Scam Warnings

Health Insurance Scam Alerts

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has recently issued a warning to PPO organizations about unauthorized insurers soliciting businesses. What really concerns me about this warning, is that compared to the average consumer, I would expect a preferred provider organization to be sophisticated enough to determine if an insurer is real or bogus. The TDI recounts a study by the US General Accountability Office that over 200,000 policy holders have been affected by unauthorized insurers nationwide. This left over $250 million in unpaid medical claims for the providers and policy holders to sort out.

I would have assumed that individuals had been the major victims, but actually small businesses were hit very hard. So if you are solicited by an insurance agent, you should feel free to contact your state insurance department to verify his or her license to do business in your state. Also make sure you obtain the name of the insurance company your business is being sought for, and check them out with your state insurance board as well. Take this advice if you are an individual, seeking insurance for your family, or if you are a small business owner or representative looking to cover a company.

Avoiding the Bogus

Some warning signs to look for are company names that you have never heard of. One tactic unauthorized health insurers use is to make up names that sound a lot like major companies. Another tactic is to claim to be part of a multiple business group, and thus not subject to state regulation. Now, such things do exist under very specific situations, but you can still check them out with your state insurance department. Of course, the last red flags would be very low premium rates or promises that major health issues will not affect underwriting.

Even some experienced and ethical insurance agents have been duped in recent years. Unauthorized insurance companies use very slick promoters who use all of the right buzz words to solicit insurance agents. The agents may be seduced by the thought of being able to offer their clients a very inexpensive health insurance plan that will accept people with health conditions. Of course, insurance agents should always contact their state insurance board about unfamiliar insurance companies, but just like any group of people, agents can get complacent and be naïve.

Also be wary of purchasing a health discount plan when you are shopping for health insurance. A friend of mine, who happens to be a fairly sophisticated lawyer, asked me to check one out for her. I called the number, and was greeting by a very cheerful sounding salesperson who explained the benefits of a very cheap (by health insurance standards) plan. I asked five times if the plan was health insurance, and the question was evaded four times. On the last attempt, the salesperson lost his cheer, and asked me if I wanted health benefits or not. Nailed.

Health discount plans may be a legitimate way to save money. However, they are often sold as insurance, and they are not. Unwary consumers will certainly wish they had done their homework, if they buy a discount plan when they thought they had bought insurance, and then actually have to use the benefits!

How To Get Best Life Insurance Quote?

You can receive Life insurance quotes from the diverse sources which includes insurance agents, insurance companies, and insurance brokers. It is advisable to insure ourselves through the reliable and reputed insurance companies and the sources.

Availing a life insurance quote has a high degree of credibility but further enquiry should also be done before going for that policy. This can be easily done through listing top five insurance providers and then moving through the list and then narrowing down your search. This would be a good method as it can reduce scam and you will attain good value for your money.

Though, the insurance agents are also a good source but since they are associated to a single insurance company, you can't get a policy in accordance with your needs. In order to find out the right policy, you need to visit different agents in different locations and then decide on a policy which will suit your needs.

The same problem you may have to face by meeting the life insurance companies directly. They may not provide you a good piece of advice as they have their own interest and may not tell you about the best policy available in the market. They are only concerned about their business rather than giving you a good advice.

The easiest and the best option for obtaining life insurance quotes for many companies and that also in the shortest possible time are the brokers. Though, the Internet can also provide you with the same services but questions are raised on the integrity of the quotes and the reality of the actual coverage.

Brokers have association with many companies and are independent, so they can easily cater to their client. They can find out the best policy which can suit their personal requirements and can offer you competitive quotes which can reduce your work like obtaining insurance which can handle the paper work and the other legalities. However, you should make sure that your broker is credible and has a reputation for excellence.

Taking An Online Health Insurance Quote

Medical bills are exorbitant and paying them without insurance is next to impossible for most people. Health insurance is a necessity in today's time providing you health and financial security. Shopping for a good health insurance can be tiring and cumbersome if you look around physically. However, as you become aware of the costs, you might be discouraged. If you are looking for a comprehensive insurance cover within your budget, the best first step would be to take an online health insurance quote.

You can save a huge amount if you purchase or take an online quote from the health insurance providers, with their service portals that are always ready. Underinsured and uninsured medical care can not only be financially taxing but can also spell disaster in a family. With online health insurance quotes that are available you can look for a scheme that is affordable and fulfills your requirements. Online health insurance quote may be the best way to find the cheapest rates available while getting them fast and easily online. The major advantage about online health insurance quote is that they are free and you can avail them for as many companies that you want. No one can foresee an illness and sudden medical emergencies can be aptly handled by health insurance.

Medical care costs are rising each day and handling such health care emergencies without insurance can be financially destabilizing. Many people who did not take insurance for a rainy day have landed in debt due to improper health care management. Prescription drugs, hospital bills, maternity care and all these quickly add up to a huge amount of money that paying without insurance becomes impossible. Online health insurance quote is just a click away and will be able to save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

You can find the best and cheapest health insurance in minutes through online quotes. They provide you with information on the latest insurance coverage that is available with the maximum discount that can be provided. Do not think that health insurance is out of your reach as there are many schemes out there that might seem tailor made for you. So, log on and click to safe guard your family from sudden medical emergencies for life.

How To Choose The Appropriate Insurance Company

I believe that there are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing an insurance company. I believe that it is necessary for you to do your homework and not just go with the first company to call. With that in mind I want to introduce to you several parameters to consider when choosing your health insurance company.

The first factor to consider is insurability. In a previous article I addressed the utilization of common sense in being insurable and what makes you uninsurable. Depending on your level of insurability will determine the number of carriers that will be willing to insure you.

If you are healthy you might have scores of companies willing to extend insurance to you. The converse is just as valid. If you are sickly you might only have one or two companies willing to take on the risk of providing you with health insurance. Therefore, do your homework and find a company that will insure you.

The second factor to consider is the company's financial rating. This cannot be overlooked. Too many people that I have counseled with came to me having a previous carrier that is not financially strong enough to pay their claims. Common financial rating companies are A.M. Best and Standard & Poors. Getting a company's rating from them is akin to checking out a bank before getting your mortgage through them.

Third, consider the companies network. There is no sense in going with a company if your doctors do not accept them. Also, in checking out their network, check out the company's coverage outside of the network as well. Ask your agent that, "If I were to travel and become ill, will I have the same level of coverage, as I would, if I were home and became ill?" You want the peace of mind to know that you were to go on a vacation and became ill, that you would still have coverage.

Forth, consider the coverage. The coverage must cover what is important to you, the consumer. If preventative care is very important to you, then a policy that does not offer preventative care should not be a consideration. I want to know from a company that if I invest money into an insurance policy, that the benefits provided by that company will meet my needs.

Most people would list the coverage requirement higher in the list, but I do not. The reason for this is that if I have a policy that promises me all these great coverage benefits, but the company won't insure me, or they will insure me, but cannot pay their share of the bill, or even worse they will insure me, but their network is so small that they have no doctor coverage, then what good is the benefits that the policy gives?

I only purchase an insurance policy for my family if I am positive that the company will provide coverage, pay the bill, give me a large list of doctors to choose from and have great coverage benefits.

Finally, I consider price. The price I pay for an insurance policy must be reflective of the quality of policy I purchase. I would not expect a Mercedes to cost the same as a Yugo. By the same measure I do not expect a quality health plan from a reputable insurance company to be the same cost as a fly by night discount plan. I encourage you to not be afraid to pay for quality. It will cost you less in the long run to have a quality insurance plan versus going with a cheap plan and gambling that you will never be seriously ill.

Consider these five factors when purchasing your next insurance policy and I will tell you that you will sleep better at night knowing you have done your homework and chosen the best policy for your family.

Proven Tips That Can Lower Your Health Insurance Costs

Is the rising cost of health insurance getting you down? Don't feel alone. There are currently millions of uninsured Americans who simply can't afford to pay the outrageous premiums to get medical coverage. Fortunately, most states will step up and help low-income families cover their children at least, but what happens if mom or dad gets sick? Who's going to pay the bills than? What if the breadwinner of the family, whether it's mom or dad, is unable to work anymore and they run up large amounts of medical bills?

The system simply isn't working anymore, however, there are a few things we can do to keep our monthly premiums manageable, for those of us who can afford to make minimum payments to have a health insurance policy. Let's take a look at some of those.

There are things you can exclude from your health insurance policies that will decrease your monthly cost. This isn't the case on all policies so you'll need to look around, but it is possible to do. You should grab a few free health insurance quotes and afterward contact the agents directly. The reason I say this is so you can go into the conversation with their quote your hand. If they want your business they'll work with you to find ways to bring that number down, if possible. Get the quote first!

Another thing you might consider is to raise your deductibles. The deductible is the amount of money the insurance company expects you to pay each year before they start paying anything. An example of this would be what's called 80/20 pay. This means that you'd pay the first 20% of the of the costs of your visit to the doctor and the insurance company would cover anything after that. So if the cost was $100 for your medical needs then you would be expected to pay $20 and the insurance company would take care of the other $80. You'd only pay up to a maximum amount every year on your deductible.

Deductibles vary anywhere from zero to $5-$10,000. The higher deductible you carry on your policy, the lower your monthly payment will be, however, if you carry a high deductible this means that you will be paying a large portion of your everyday medical care out-of-pocket. If you could possibly set aside enough money that would equal your annual deductible amount you would be in very good shape because the average person only goes to the doctor once or twice a year. This would make your payments minimal, your out-of-pocket costs would be covered if you have the money set aside and you would be covered in case of any major medical emergency. Just another option to think about.

Eco Insurance - Do Your Bit

As a society we are fast beginning to realise that what we do has an effect on the environment around us. Upon realisation of this fact we start to wonder what we can do as our small contribution. Especially considering the carbon footprint for the average UK household which currently rests at 26,316 Kg of CO2.

Environmentalists believe that to halt Global warming we each need to shave 2,500 Kg off this amount a year, a figure nearing 10%. If we look at some of the key areas of CO2
Production in the household we see this is certainly a possibility; Gas, coal and oil account for 3,876 Kg, electricity 3,127 Kg and use of car 2,600 Kg.

These are certainly figures we can certainly do some work at decreasing. Take for instance your car; there are many options to avoid using it unnecessarily, try walking or using a bike if your journey is a very close one. Alternatively use public transport; a bus for example will save much CO2 production. Another suggestion in this area is eco-friendly car insurance. This is much cheaper than at its inception, with good deals now being found through many companies. These companies work by offsetting your CO2 production, investing money into green schemes such as; forestry, energy saving and renewable energy schemes. Consider buying a car with a smaller engine; be sure to check to consumption figures as not all small engines are as economical as you'd think. Another possibility is having your car converted to dual fuel or buying a diesel engine as this is much more economical on a fuel consumption basis. Who knows you might even save money on your motor insurance policy in the process.

In terms of carbon fuel reduction, such as coal, gas and oil, you can help reduce this by making your home more energy efficient. There are many way's you can reduce your heating bills and save on your CO2 production. Are you windows double glazed? Is your loft insulated? Do you have cavity wall insulation? Do your appliances have good energy saving ratings? If the answer to any or all of these is no then you can make a big saving on CO2 production and indeed your utility bills by addressing these issues. Several insurance companies are now offering Eco house insurance amongst their policies, again using a percentage of funds to offset CO2 production. If you can find a company offering this whilst looking to renew you policy you can further shave more carbon emissions by the offsetting action it offers.

On closer inspection of the ethics of these companies they appear to be sound. They work out how much the carbon emissions will be on average for a vehicle or household and then aim to offset somewhere in the region of 20%. This is done by donating money to schemes which are developing alternatives to fossil fuels and forestry schemes whereby many new trees are planted which helps to absorb some of the carbon emissions in the short to medium term. If you consider that 20% of your average carbon emissions for your car works out at 520 Kg you are well on your way to shaving that 2,500 Kg of your household carbon footprint. With the added reduction from making your home more environmentally friendly you should be virtually there.

It's not that hard when you think about it…

Health Insurance Choices

Medical Insurance Glossary - Common Terms You'll Need To Know

In order to get the right health insurance policy, you'll need to do your homework. No one can make that informed decision but you. But, there is lots of tricky terminology that you have to understand first.

Here are some of the most common terms you'll need to know in order to choose the right insurance plan.

Premiums and Deductibles - Your premium is how much you pay each month. If you are getting group insurance through your employer, this is how much they will take out of your paycheck for insurance. The deductible is what you pay when you go to the doctor, hospital or use your insurance to buy prescription drugs or supplies.

Coinsurance - This is what you have to pay after the deductible. The deductible will be a fixed amount after which you split the cost with your insurance company. Coinsurance is usually expressed as a percentage. For example, you might have a rate of 10%. That means that you pay 10% and the company gets the rest.

Copayment - You might have heard of "co-pay." This means a system where you pay a certain amount of each doctor visit and your company gets the rest. For example, your co-pay might be $10. Each time you go to the doctor, you pay $10 and then the insurance company gets the rest. This is a common feature of group health insurance plans.

Out-Of-Pocket Expenses - Most simply put, this is what you are required to pay in deductions and coinsurance or co-payment when you get medical care of some sort. Some insurance plans offer a "maximum out-of-pocket" rate, meaning that if out-of-pocket expenses reach a certain level, they will pay the rest.

Health Insurance Savings Account, or HSA - This is a tax-free savings account you can put money into. You can access and use this money when you have to pay for the doctor or other medical expenses. Many carriers use an HSA and pick a plan with a low premium and high deductible; this way, when they go to the doctor and have to pay that high deductible, they can use this extra cash, and it saves them money.

Pre-existing Conditions - These are illnesses or medical conditions that you have before you take out the policy. In general, anything you have sought medical attention for in the past, especially the last five years, is considered a pre-existing condition. You have to tell them about it in detail, and they will use it to assess the risk of insuring you. Technically, if you had a health condition when you signed on with an insurance company that you didn't know about, it is not considered a pre-existing condition.

Exclusions - This is a really important part of your health insurance policy. These are things that your insurance will not cover. With individual plans, you will have more exclusions. An exclusion might include a carrier's pre-existing conditions, or a certain type of illness.

Primary Care Physician - Some health plans such as HMOs require you to choose a doctor as your Primary Care Physician. In this case, you must go to this particular doctor for check-ups and treatment, or it will not be covered by your insurance. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist or hospital if necessary and you can keep your coverage.

When you're looking for a health insurance plan, make sure you know all the things you need to know. Understand these terms and concepts, and ask whatever questions you need to.

Auto Inurance In Pennsylvania

It is interesting to note trends in car insurance since the beginning of large scale direct marketing of auto insurance through media and internet promotion. A review of premiums in Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2004 (the most recent year of statistics) is illustrative of trends seen nationwide.

In the year 2000, average car insurance premiums in Pennsylvania were $698.56 . This reflects the average premium paid by drivers in Pennsylvania for annual car insurance. This resulted in17 states having higher annual premiums than Pennsylvania in 2000. In the year 2001, this amount changed to $698.56. More recently, premiums in 2003 averaged $812.67. As you can see, there is a marked, change in premiums during that time. However, when you consider the 2004 rates, the trend starts to flatten. For 2004, rates in Pennsylvania averaged $842.66 in Pennsylvania. This reflects a 3.70 percent change from 2003. In 2004, higher premiums were found in 17 states. In 2003, 20 states had higher rates than Pennsylvania.

Looking inside the numbers can shed a little light on premiums in Pennsylvania compared to others. Pennsylvania law sets the maximum speed limit in rural areas at 65 . This the the maximum speed people can drive on highways throughout the state. Lower speed limits are considered by underwriters as being better for claims and therefore, all other factors being equal, companies can offer slightly lower rates in states with lower speed limits. Similarly, the maximum speed limit within cities in Pennsylvania is 55, which is also factored by companies when setting rates.

In 2004, auto insurance premiums averaged $842.66 in Pennsylvania. This is a change of 3.70 percent from 2003 when rates averaged $812.67. Based on the 2004 figures, liability coverage averaged $507.66, collision averaged $312.63, and comprehensive averaged $130.85. There were 17 states with higher average premiums and 32 that were lower. In 2003 there were 20 states with higher rates than Pennsylvania. Taking a look at a longer trend, premiums for car insurance in Pennsylvania in 2000 averaged $698.56 and in 2001, $698.56. In the year 2000, 17 states had higher premiums. DUI and alcohol laws also affect rates charged by companies. Pennsylvania presently maintains a blood alcohol limit for driving while intoxicated of 0.08.

However, cheap car insurance can be found in Pennsylvania if you know where to look and are smart about shopping for quotes. There are many online sites that allow users to obtain instant free quotes online. These can generally be divided into two categories. The first are sites owned by the company that will be writing and carrying your policy. Although they may advertise the ability to see side-by-side quotes from their competitors, usually you are going to get a single quote. The other type of site are what are commonly referred to as "lead brokers" in the industry, but known as "comparison sites" to the public. These sites collect basic information about your car insurance needs, then match you to companies or agents offering policies in your area. This allows the ability to actually compare rates from multiple companies. In addition, because of the competitive nature this type of system creates, most brokers are prepared to offer their best rates up front. However, the downside of these services is that you will likely be contacted directly by a broker, often by phone. Be prepared to get multiple calls after clicking the "submit" button.

Again, finding affordable car insurance in Pennsylvania isn't overly difficult or time-consuming in today's environment. Make sure you are fully prepared with all relevant information about your vehicle, drivers, and driving history before visiting an online quote site in order to save significant time. Then choose one or two of the big direct carriers you hear or see on commercials, together with a couple of the lead brokers in order to get a full range of prices that are available. Don't forget to consider claims history and practices, and don't always go for the lowest rate. Carefully consider your options and decide how much savings is necessary before you switch carriers. People are actually saving hundreds of dollars per year on car insurance in Pennsylvania when they have done their homework and attack the process logically. We hope with the information presented above that you will too.