Category Archive : Medical

How Do Exoskeletons Work?

Exoskeletons tend to be the stuff of dreams, especially for fans of science fiction. There are many examples of how this device is used in fantastic settings, in some of our favorite pieces of sci-fi entertainment. In Aliens, the heroine fights a gigantic, acid-spewing Alien queen with the use of a power loader exoskeleton. In all of the Iron Man movies, Tony Stark uses a variety of exoskeleton suits to save the day. In the billion-dollar grossing Avatar movie, an amplified mobility suit/ exoskeleton is used by the bad guy mercenaries to take on the Na’vi, and of course who could forget the robotic exoskeleton that is Robocop?

Such futuristic outfits are fantastical in their idea of what exoskeletons would eventually look like, and what they might be used for. But these robots are not actually fantasy. In the current day, exoskeletons do exist and provide an important service to their users. Exoskeletons are wearable devices that work hand-in-hand with their operators. They are usually used to augment, reinforce, or restore performance for a human wearer. This is done by being placed on the body, essentially acting as an amplifier to their movements.

Where do exoskeletons come from?

These devices are often made out of metal or carbon fibers (rigid materials) or are composed of soft and elastic parts. Exoskeletons were first invented in the 1960s by General Electric, with the creation of a device called the Hardiman. The first exoskeleton was a large full-body device that was designed to augment the wearer’s strength and enable the lifting of heavy objects, whilst reducing fatigue. At the end of that same decade, gait-assistance exoskeletons were created at the Mihajlo Pupin Institute in Serbia. By the time the 1970s came around, another gait-assistance exoskeleton was created at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Since then exoskeleton innovation has hit a variety of technological heights. Towards the end of the 2010s, a variety of lightweight military exoskeleton prototypes had been developed. The goal for these was to augment a user’s strength and endurance. Post-2010, there were several gait-assistance and restoration exoskeletons that were introduced to the public. An example of this is Ekso Bionics’ various robotic exoskeleton, produced by this industry leader, based in the United States.

How does the exoskeleton work?

To answer the question of how such devices work, we must first begin by discussing the frame of an exoskeleton. Depending on what materials went into making them, they are often lightweight and allow quite a degree of freedom when it comes to movement. The frame goes around the user’s body, or part of their body, depending on the type being used. In some cases, the exoskeletons can contain sensors that are used to monitor and then respond to a person’s movements.

img

What do they run on?

Exoskeletons require different types of power sources to help them operate. They can be either motorized or mechanical, while others run on electricity. Some exoskeletons don’t require any electricity and offer more freedom for a user. One useful example of seeing how these work is in the EksoUE suit. The EksoUE is an exoskeleton that assists patients who have limited mobility or limb injury in the upper body. The exoskeleton technology works with a patient’s affected shoulder and arm during his or her rehabilitation. This device is a wearable upper-extremity type of medical exoskeleton.

This device has interchangeable springs, which allows for different powered active-assisted function movement. The device’s operation is based on the patient’s strength, endurance, and the weight of their limb or extremity. This is often how most other exoskeletons work, as they are based around the user who is operating them. In the case of the EksoUE, how the exoskeleton operates is based on how the patient utilizes the device. These devices are often used for occupational or physical therapy sessions. This helps to allow for longer and more high-intensity therapy sessions and is a huge assist in increasing muscle activity, and motor functions.

5 Ways Therapy Can Help Your Child

Going to therapy can benefit young children, young adults, and the whole family. Whether your child has been diagnosed with a mental health issue or just needs a little extra support, working with a child psychologist can have incredible benefits. The decision to take your son or daughter to a therapist might feel scary. If you’re worried about putting your kid in therapy, you don’t need to be. Here are five ways therapy can and will help your child.

It will help him or her learn ways to cope with anxiety and depression

More and more children are diagnosed with depression or anxiety and the two disorders often go hand in hand. Your kid might be struggling with anxiety if you notice he or she is hesitant to leave you, is acutely afraid in certain situations (like sleepovers or doctor’s visits), and worries about the future. If your son or daughter is often sad, has a change in sleep or eating habits, or lacks the motivation to do fun things, he or she may have depression. A child psychologist in NYC can help your child learn to cope with these disorders. Cognitive behavior therapy can help your kid learn ways to regulate his or her emotions and develop coping strategies for getting through the day. Tackling these conditions while your child is still young will have enormous benefits in the long run.

It can provide him or her with emotional support

Children have plenty of emotional needs. They want to feel loved, respected, and valued. They need to be heard and appreciated. They want to feel like what they’re going through is valid and they need help to build their self-esteem. As a parent, you give your child emotional support, but family therapy and group therapy can help them as well. As a family, you can work with a mental health professional to build strong relationships. In group therapy, your child can learn empathy for others and gain support. This is invaluable for helping your child grow into a healthy adult.

It can give your child the confidence to try new things

Working with mental health professionals can give your child the confidence he or she is lacking. Maybe your eight-year-old has yet to have a sleepover with a friend. Perhaps your 13-year-old wants to learn to surf but feels too afraid or anxious. The skills your son or daughter learns from a therapist can help boost confidence. He or she will feel more prepared to try something new and will be begging you for surfing lessons for beginners.

It will help your kid better understand the world

A therapist can help your child learn more about the world and how it works. A great therapy session might be the first time your son learns how to change his behaviors or your daughter learns why she feels the way she does. It can be difficult for children to learn about mental health and how it affects them. A great therapist can give your child perspective on the world and how he or she fits into it.

It will help him or her to have a healthy life

As a parent, your number one goal is to make sure your child is healthy and happy. Finding him or her the right therapist will help you reach this goal. Your son or daughter will learn how to manage feelings and interact with others in positive ways. They’ll feel more well-adjusted, content, and confident. If you want to make sure your children grow up to be healthy adults, put them in therapy.

Find an amazing clinical psychologist and get your son or daughter therapy. He or she will thank you and you’ll notice incredible changes.

Taking Care of Yourself

Being healthy is about making the right choices every day. But in this busy world, too many of us make the wrong choices.

It’s up to us to make healthy choices. It’s up to us to take extra precautions to create the safest environment and the healthiest habits that we can. At its most basic level, this means knowing how to take care of ourselves.

Fuel Your Body

You’ll get out of your body what you put into it. If you put in processed junk foods and skip your healthy supplements, you’ll get bad health outcomes. Choose more wisely, and you’ll be healthier.

This begins with your diet. Your best bet for simple, healthy eating is to focus on whole foods. “Whole” foods are the unprocessed ones: Meats, fruits, and (especially) vegetables should be your go-to choices. Don’t stay hungry; just eat the right stuff, and focus on making sustainable changes. In other words: Just eat “real food!”

Supplements can make a great deal of difference, too. Take CBD, for example. CBD is a product that comes from hemp, the same plant that can be dried and smoked like marijuana. Marijuana gets users high because of a compound called THC. As you might have guessed from their different names, though, CBD and THC are not the same thing. CBD won’t get you high, but it does offer a wide range of health benefits. THC will get you high (and may have health benefits, too). Modern hemp cultivators can and do create strains of hemp flower that offer CBD with low levels of THC (and vice versa), so consumers can choose between THC flower and CBD flower. Hemp CBD flower (and other CBD products, including CBD edibles, CBD vape oils, CBD tinctures, and more) like those sold by Plain Jane can be a healthy and sober part of your daily health routine. CBD-rich hemp flower or another CBD product could ease pain or nausea and reduce symptoms of anxiety.

img

Calendar Your Care

You’ll find a lot of very useful advice for managing your health online, in magazines, and in books. But rarely will these pieces of advice be very specific to you. You’re unlikely to read an article that reminds you that you should head to your local New Jersey audiologist because not everyone needs audiological evaluations in New Jersey.

You might, though! You might need an expert to tell you why you’re experiencing hearing loss. You may have an issue with your outer ear, middle ear, or inner ear. You might need a hearing test or an examination of your ear canal (which includes those parts we mentioned, like the middle ear and inner ear). You may even need hearing aids or a cochlear implant, and you may very well need to head to a specialist, not just a primary care physician. Then you may need to go back regularly for audiology care, whether you have hearing loss right now or are worried about hearing loss in the future (and who isn’t?).

Or maybe it’s the eye doctor. Or maybe it’s the ear, nose, and throat doctor. The bottom line is this: Habits won’t help you make your doctor’s appointments. Do yourself a favor and create a calendar that will ensure that you’re reminded of every appointment with every specialist you need to see.

img

On the Move

Your body wasn’t designed to sit still all of the time. If you’re going to be healthy, then you’re going to need more than just healthy food, smart supplements, and medical care. You’re going to need exercise, too.

You can’t “outrun your fork,” as one old saying goes, so don’t view exercise as a substitute for healthy eating (or, for that matter, for medical treatments or for supplements like CBD). But you should view exercise as an essential supplement to these other healthy choices. Getting moving can improve your mental health and your physical health, and experts say that just 150 minutes of exercise a week can make a huge difference in your health.

What Can I Do With a Degree in Sports Psychology?

A degree in Sports Psychology can open the door to a variety of careers. Since sports are such an integral part of our lives, it’s no surprise that sports psychology is a growing field. While athletes may appear unstoppable on the field, more often than not they are being assisted behind the scenes by a sports psychologist to strengthen their mental health in order to enhance their athletic performance and personal goals.

In addition to the obvious physical requirements of being an athlete, there is an also extreme psychological side to sports. With a degree sports in sports psychology, you can work with athletes to ensure that they maintain their strongest performances by providing them with an essential support system. By providing an athlete with psychological and motivational assistance, a sports psychologist can help athletes strengthen their mental health and reach their ambitious goals.

img

For sports psychologists who work directly with athletes, some of their responsibilities could include helping these athletes develop a competitive mindset, creating efficient pregame routines for the athletes, ensuring the athletes effectively handle loss, and helping the athlete enhance the quality of their practice. It is also common for an athlete to require the assistance of a sports psychologist when they become injured. A sports psychologist provides the necessary support for an athlete to get through the recovery process as well as return to their sport. The psychological aspects of sports injury can be traumatic for some athletes, but with the assistance of a sports psychologist, it is possible for an injured athlete to have a successful recovery and return to their sport.

Some of the more specific career paths that this degree may be used for include: team coach, sports research specialist, sport psychology professor, clinical sport psychologist, applied sport psychologist, and sports rehabilitation therapist. A sport psychology degree will allow you to thrive in these areas, as you will be capable of assisting athletes on both a physical and mental level—two of the most important aspects of becoming a successful athlete.

While it may sound limited, there are many career options outside of the sports world that one can choose from with a sport psychology degree. This degree expands beyond the realm of sports and has been increasingly recognized as “performance psychology”, and will allow you to work with people in all aspects of society. Doctors are among some of the professionals who often benefit from performance psychology. A performance psychologist may assist a doctor in gaining the confidence they need to perform a difficult surgery or return to their practice after losing a patient. Overall, this degree will allow you to work with a wide variety of people on an individual level as you assist them in obtaining their personal goals.

As a sport psychologist, it is important to understand what are OKRs and how they can be implemented in your work. OKR stands for “objective and key result,” so by utilizing this method you will help your clients understand their goals and how to achieve them. The OKR system is commonly used by businesses and teams to work together to reach an outcome rather than focus on individual performances. Research has shown that goal setting is an effective management tool as it allows teams to become more successful than they would otherwise.

img

The sport psychology degree comes in various forms and can be attainable through different types of higher-level education. Faulkner University provides students with the opportunity to receive a bachelor’s degree in sports psychology. This private university is a good choice, as its students take a variety of sports psychology courses while developing psychological perspectives and research methods. Faulkner University offers an online sports psychology degree option.

It is possible to further your sports psychology bachelor’s degree by receiving a master’s degree in sport psychology. For example, Drexel University offers online programs to achieve a master’s degree in Sport Coaching Leadership. Similarly, the University of Denver offers a master’s degree in Sports & Performance Psychology. If a full degree program does not fit into your schedule, California Southern University offers an accredited sports psychology certification program that will provide its students with similar benefits to the full sports psychology degree.

These national universities offer sports psychology degree programs in which the student will gain practical experience in the sports psychology field. Although these undergraduate programs and graduate programs may be executed in different styles, they are all national universities with accredited sports psychology programs. Regardless of whether you attend online programs or rely on a classroom setting, by attending a national university, you will be exposed to courses in sport science and higher-level sports such as those in the NCAA division, which will provide invaluable educational and real-world experience while striving toward your psychology degree.

Whether you achieve your sports psychology degree through an online degree program or an in-person degree program, you will experience sport psychology courses that will ensure your success in the world of sports or a related field.

Simple But Amazing Products You Should Definitely Have in Your Medicine Cabinet

Your medicine cabinet is a great place to keep treats and treasures that can enhance your sense of well-being. Whether it’s over-the-counter drugs, safety must-haves, or natural remedies, keeping a fully stocked medicine cabinet is super important for your health! Are you looking to grow your collection of miracle workers? Keep reading below to find simple but amazing products you should definitely consider keeping in your medicine cabinet.

Calerie

Calerie is an all-natural NAD and NMN supplement company. Calorie restriction is one of their biggest focuses: CR is actually the only consistent intervention known to increase lifespan! They are dedicated to promoting calorie restriction for healthy weight loss and weight management, and their clinical trial showed minimal risk factors. Calerie participants displayed such good results that the company is now producing a variety of supplements!

Calerie Lifespan is weight management and anti-aging supplement with NAD+ for balanced cellular health and increased longevity. Benefits for this product include healthier weight management, intermittent fasting support, energy metabolism boost, and increased longevity. If you’re concerned with weight loss, metabolic rate, and the aging process, this vitamin supplement could make a great addition to your medicine cabinet.

They also have a few upcoming products that you should be on the lookout for Entourage, Sirtuin, and Immunity supplements. These supplements are sure to make a big impression, and when do they, it’ll be a great idea to add them to your collection of vitamins.

CBD Oil

Have you heard of CBD, but aren’t quite sure what it is (or what it can do for you)? Let Bloom & Oil be your guidebook! Bloom & Oil is a website that is full of informed CBD experts who give out advice, tips, recommendations, and information related to cannabis and CBD. In addition to that, they also give reviews on CBD products for you to use! Visit bloomandoil.com for the full scoop on CBD.

Imagine this: Beauty products combined with CBD. It sounds like a dream, but it’s a reality with the Emerald Deep Moisture Glow Oil! This luxury CBD facial oil is deeply moisturizing, fantastic for dull skin, reduces redness, and improves blemish-prone skin. In addition to containing CBD, it also has Hemp Seed Oil, Squalane, MeadowFoam Seed oil, and Borage Seed oil, which are all essential to keeping your skin moisturized!

There’s another star featured on Bloom & Oil: the Lord Jones Royal Oil! This oil is perfect for anyone looking for a multi-purpose oil that has no scent, no coloring, and no other additives. You can apply this oil to your skin or you can ingest it; whichever way you choose, you’ll get a relaxed sensation that will last a couple of hours.

These two oils are great additions to your medicine cabinet. Visit bloomandoil.com to stay up to date with any more product reviews they have to offer!

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been credited for years as being a key superfood. This powerful combination of fatty acids may provide positive effects for your health, such as protecting your skin, hair, and teeth while boosting your heart’s health, and having important antimicrobial effects. You can either digest coconut oil in small doses or apply it to cuts or blemishes on your skin as a topical ointment. Whatever the need may be, there’s a good chance that coconut oil will be a key player in your medicine cabinet’s future.

The best part about stocking up your medicine cabinet is that all the products are selected with your best overall health in mind. We hope that these products are able to make a positive impact on your well-being!

Staying Happy While Staying Home

Not getting out as much lately? You’re not alone: All over the world, people are finding themselves unable to get out and enjoy the bars, restaurants, and outdoor spaces that they’re used to. The precautions we’re taking now are essential to limiting the spread of a deadly disease, but these measures also have dangers of their own. Staying home can be boring, of course, but it can also worsen mental illness. The experts at Psychology Today, among others, have written on the mental health dangers of a quarantined lifestyle. As Psychology Today points out, previous evidence from quarantines related to SARS demonstrates that quarantines bring out symptoms of psychological distress.

Anyone can suffer in a quarantine. Here’s what you need to know about staying as happy and healthy as possible when you can’t get out of the house the way you used to.

Treat Yourself at Home

Over the course of your daily life, your home might not usually play a huge recreational role. Urban dwellers in small apartments may find that they go to the bar more often than to the liquor store and to restaurants more often than to the grocery stores or convenience stores. That has to change now, though.

So, stock up on the good stuff and treat yourself! Get some fine wine from the local liquor store — many are offering curbside pickup and other limited-contact delivery options. Be sure to take advantage of delivery so that you keep yourself safe; it’s worth waiting a few business days or hours for that Pinot Noir.

Just be wary of the effects of alcohol on your body. Alcohol isn’t exactly healthy, and therapists caution against it as it is a depressant. Keep that in mind, and don’t place too many beers and wine orders with liquor stores and convenience stores. Balance things out with food and other treats, and be mindful of your health.

Stay Informed

The news can be depressing these days, but that doesn’t mean that it’s bad for you. In fact, Psychology Today writes that research has found that staying informed mitigates some of the effects that quarantined life has on a person’s mental health.

Of course, this does not mean that you should immerse yourself in internet rumors and sensationalist news sources. What it means is that you should set aside a little time each day to keep track of the situation and learn any key facts that you might need to know about keeping yourself safe — and sane!

Get Moving

Exercise isn’t easy when you’re stuck at home. Some social isolation guidelines allow for outdoor exercise, but that’s not necessarily an option for some urban dwellers. Gyms are closed, and other exercise options are off-limits, too. So, what can you do?

Body weight exercises are a good alternative to a gym trip. Climbing stairs, if you have some in your home, can be a good workout as well. And standing and stretching is a good bare-minimum way to keep from sitting or lying down all day long. A little movement will be good for both your psychical and mental health.

Get Online Therapy

Therapy is one of the best things for mental stress and mental illness. So, what can you do while you can’t go visit a therapist or counselor in person? In a stay-at-home situation, mental health care may seem inaccessible.

Thanks to online therapy and online counseling, mental health care isn’t as hard to come by under quarantine circumstances as it might have been a few years ago. Online counseling services can involve local or global care; a San Francisco therapist might offer online counseling in San Francisco, or he or she might offer online counseling in Idaho or around the world. That’s the power of online chats and face-to-face therapy over videoconference software: A San Francisco therapist isn’t limited to San Francisco at all!

Different Ways Men Can Improve Their Health

While many differences exist between men and women, significant differences are those that relate to health. For instance, men are more likely to make unhealthy choices and engage in habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking.

Men are less likely to visit a primary care physician and have regular checkups and receive medical and preventive care compared to women. Additionally, men are at risk of developing health conditions that don’t affect women, such as low testosterone and prostate cancer.

Visiting a primary care physician and medical professionals with specialized practices can help men prevent the onset of health risks such as heart disease, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and other forms of cancer. Having regular screening tests enables doctors to find conditions and treat them early.

img

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Some people avoid seeking medical treatment because they don’t have medical insurance and can’t afford out-of-pocket costs. A health insurance plan is crucial to health outcomes, as having health insurance may help someone feel more secure about visiting a medical professional or facility.

A health plan enables people to receive regular preventive care, utilize emergency services, and pay for prescription drugs. Communicating honestly and establishing a good rapport and physician-patient relationship with a doctor ensures effective treatment plans and prevents inaccurate diagnoses and unnecessary tests.

Men who need a primary care physician and seek health coverage for medical costs should use online tools and visit HealthInsurance.com, a website that provides health insurance quotes online. This resource gives free quotes and extensive information regarding healthcare in the United States, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and insurance companies.

Using HealthInsurance.com, men can review and compare health insurance quotes for available plan options in the United States, and will have enough information to make a choice that suits their health and financial needs.

img

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Another way for men to improve their health is to change their skincare routine. Some men may think regular shower gels and soap are sufficient for washing their faces. The truth is, in many cases, regular soap harms facial skin more than it helps.

Regular bars of soap, designed to cleanse the body rather than the face, can be too harsh to use for facial cleansing. Ordinary soap may cause facial dryness. For fresh, better feeling skin and improved health, men should use face washes and skincare products from an expert source on health and skincare, such as Mallama.

Mallama creates personal skincare products for men, made from all-natural ingredients. These vegan, nontoxic products benefit all skin types and optimize the skincare application process. A percentage of sales from Mallama products goes toward organizations that complete positive environmental work.

With such donations and Mallama’s use of recycled packaging, Mallama skincare products contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable Earth. While improving men’s health and skin, Mallama simultaneously helps the planet.

img

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Men can improve their health and maintain good physical ability and weight by staying physically active. Incorporating activities such as jogging, walking, and swimming into a regular exercise routine can improve outcomes and benefit men’s health as they age. Adhering to a healthy diet comprised of vegetables, fruits, and meats that provide lean sources of protein can improve men’s health.

Limiting and avoiding the intake of foods high in saturated fat and salt can be beneficial. Men can preserve and enhance their health, the way they feel, and the energy they have by getting adequate sleep and rest, following stress management practices, and avoiding nicotine and tobacco products and the excessive consumption of alcohol and other substances.

Routine medical checkups, a skincare regimen, and other ways of tending to one’s physical, mental, and emotional health can improve men’s health and quality of life.

Does Vaping Cause Lung Cancer? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

For years now, people have been worrying about the effects of nicotine on the body, finally realizing that cigarettes can lead to cancer and another whole host of problems as well. In today’s modern world, smokers have now turned to the vape to reduce the cravings for traditional cigarettes and many teenagers have picked up the habit, just because it looks cool.

It has come to light, however, that vaping is also bad for the body and there have been many illnesses and vaping injury-related deaths in the last couple of years with the number of illnesses and injuries growing steadily. Still many people ask can vaping causes cancer? In this article, we’ll talk about everything you need to know about vaping, cancer, and other health issues it could cause, so you’re well-informed should you decide to vape as well.

Vaping Is Linked To Lung Cancer

It’s important for smokers who are thinking about turning to e-cigs to help with their nicotine cravings to know that vaping could very well lead to lung cancer, just as traditional cigarettes can. As a matter of fact, vaping pens actually contain a chemical called acrolein that has been proven to be harmful to the lungs. So, the answer to the question is yes, vaping can cause lung cancer, just as traditional cigarettes can. If you have cancer due to vaping, it’s important to get help and cancer treatment as soon as possible, so contact your primary healthcare provider for help and to discuss your options.

Vaping Can Be A Gateway Drug

You have probably heard that vaping can become an addiction, just like cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs out there. It has also been said that vaping can become a gateway drug, leading to other drugs you might not have done before. If you or someone you love has a problem with any type of substance abuse, please know that you can get help at drug rehab centres in your area. These centres are private and the staff is dedicated to helping those with addictions get back on their feet and on the road to recovery. The centres also work hard to help patients on the road to mental wellness during their recovery as well.

Vaping Is Addictive

Many smokers are misinformed when it comes to vaping, thinking that there’s no addiction possible with a vaping pen. It’s important to note at this point, that no matter what form you get your nicotine in, it is a highly addictive substance. This also means that dropping traditional cigarettes for vaping will not cure your nicotine addiction. Since it is thought that vaping is not addictive, many teens have decided to give it a try. If you have a teen, make sure to inform them of the dangers of becoming addicted to vaping, so they can make an informed choice as well.

E-Liquids Are Toxic

Many people who vape also don’t realize that E-liquids are indeed toxic. Since vaping and vaping E-liquids are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, many users are left in the dark about the possible consequences and the toxicity of E-liquids. There have been many chemicals found in vaping E-liquids that are known to be toxic and dangerous to your health.

These are just a few of the things that you need to know about vaping, including the chance that vaping can cause lung cancer. If you or a loved one still aren’t sure if vaping can cause cancer and other problems, then it’s important to talk to your primary health care provider about the possibilities of cancer and the other dangers of vaping right away.

Does Your Health Insurance Cover Car Accidents? If Not, What Should I Do?

When you get into a car accident, there are a few crucial steps that have to be taken. Your car insurance and health insurance will be very important during this time, but what if your health insurance doesn’t cover car accidents? Here’s everything you need to know about insurance coverage after an accident.

Know What Your Insurance Coverage Includes

When you’re signing up for healthcare, don’t just choose the cheapest option. You need to compare plans and find one that suits your medical needs and your financial needs. The right health insurance will be the difference in you potentially receiving treatment and preventative care and you staying unhealthy. Make sure you compare insurance policies with Health Quote Gurus and find a plan that will cover everything you currently need and everything you think you might one day need. You can only change your policy at certain times, so it’s important that you choose the right one when you have the chance. In addition to your health insurance, you should understand how your auto insurance works. You and other parties should exchange information at the scene and then you’ll need to report the accident to your insurance company. They will send someone to evaluate the damage done to your vehicle and determine the next course of action. Your coverage might provide a rental car for you if your vehicle needs repairs. Your policy could cover the cost of the repairs or provide you with a payout if your vehicle is totaled. Know what’s covered before you’re ever in an accident, and call your health insurance or your auto insurance if you have any questions.

Which Plans Cover Car Accidents?

No matter your insurance coverage, your medical bills after an accident will be covered in the same manner as any other bills. If you’re in a car accident and experienced whiplash, you’ll visit the hospital and pay your usual co-pay. The costs of your treatment will be added to your insurance deductible and you’ll usually receive a bill in the mail a few weeks later. You won’t be expected to pay everything upfront since it needs to be run through your insurance. The hospital or doctor’s office will bill the insurance, who will send you a bill outlining how much you owe and how much was covered by your insurance policy. You can expect that anything not covered by your policy before will still not be covered, so there is typically nothing to worry about if you know the details of your plan.

What if Insurance Won’t Pay for Medical Care?

If your insurance company refuses to pay for a significant portion of your medical care (or any at all), you’ll be responsible for the costs. The hospital or doctor’s office will bill you for the treatment you received. Without health insurance, this could be thousands of dollars. Depending on the hospital, you could work out a payment plan, but you’ll ultimately have to pay the bill. In this scenario, you may want to seek compensation from the other driver if the accident wasn’t your fault. You can contact one of the excellent attorneys that specialize in handling personal injury cases to find out your options for legal action. If you have been seriously injured in an accident that was entirely the other driver’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Your lawyer can help you file a claim and receive remuneration from the other party’s insurance.

If you’re in a car accident, stay calm and start collecting information. You should already know what will and won’t be covered by your health insurance and your auto insurance. Ask your insurance providers what is covered by your plans and avoid surprises.

How to Help an Addicted Friend or Relative

Living with an addiction is hard. Living with a person who is having a hard time overcoming their addiction can be even harder. When you’re young with no responsibilities it is easy to sweep addiction under the rug by saying to yourself “it’s only a phase.” 

This may be the case for some people but for others, it could be the beginning of a battle. When you’re trying to help your addicted friend or relative overcome their battle with addiction, it is important to have a lot of patience and understand that although it is frustrating for you to deal with mishaps, it is an everyday struggle for them to deal with their problem.

Avoid Triggers

The first step in helping a loved one with their addiction is to know what triggers them. In many cases, addicts are sober for long periods of time and then “fall off the wagon.” This fall doesn’t usually happen for no reason. Sometimes the person has just reached their boiling point with everything happening around them or they are triggered by emotion and it sets them spiraling down a wormhole. Have a long chat with them and try to determine how they are feeling before they decide to use their substance of choice. It may help for them to keep a journal to help track feelings that are overwhelming and urges. 

If you are interested in keeping your writing on hand all of the time so you can jot down your thoughts as they occur, a digital journal might be another option for you.

Don’t Micromanage

Although it is a good idea for your loved one not to have access to cash money or assets they can pawn for cash, they must still feel as though they have some freedom. Micro-managing can make an adult feel as though they’re being treated like a child. This is especially true for alpha leaders who work hard and feel as though they should be able to spend their earnings as they please, even though it may be hurting them. Limit micro-management and speak to them with endearment when you tell them you’re decreasing their access to certain things to help them.

Take The Road To Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation can be possible with the help of professionals and the support of loved ones. There are centers like the Los Angeles drug rehabilitation center that offers a variety of in-patient and out-patient support. If your loved one is working there are evening and intensive outpatient options that are available. 

Professional medical help is expensive but there are short term health insurance options that will accommodate your needs. If you’ve missed the Healthcare Marketplace deadline for the year, you can still find the best short term health insurance that will cover you and your family for a reasonable rate.

Addiction is tough but there are options. The best way to help your loved one is to ensure that you aren’t centering your life around their addiction because you might find yourself feeling down. If your loved one left and went on a binge, don’t stay home and wait up for them. Go see that movie you wanted to see or take a long walk by yourself. Take care of yourself and try not to be angry with them.

Tell your loved one how it makes you feel when they go out on their binges, tell them how much it disappoints you when you’re unable to go places with them because of their addiction and above all else tell them that even though you’re disappointed with their actions you still care for them and want them to seek help even if you have to go to appointments and sessions with them.