Latest U.S. Census Estimates Show 45.7 Million Americans Are Uninsured

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Aug 27,2008

Consumers Union’s Cover America Tour Puts a Face on Uninsured and Others Struggling to Afford the Health Care They Need

The U.S. Census Bureau released a report today that estimates that 45.7 million Americans were uninsured in 2007 compared to 47 million in 2006. While the report shows a slight drop in the number of uninsured, it underscores the urgent need to expand access to health coverage, according to Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

“It’s important to remember that there are real people and families behind these statistics,” said DeAnn Friedholm, Health Reform Director for Consumers Union. “The new census figures are a reminder of how important it is to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health coverage.”

Consumers Union’s Cover America Tour has been traveling across the country this summer chronicling the challenges that Americans face getting affordable, high quality health coverage. The group has collected nearly 4,000 stories from Americans across the country about their health care experiences. The Cover America Tour is posting videos of people talking about the difficulties they are experiencing, including those who are uninsured at: www.CoverAmericaTour.org.

The drop in the number of uninsured is due, in part, by the fact that more people were covered by government health insurance programs during this time. The U.S. Census report found that more people were covered by government health insurance programs — increasing from 27 percent in 2006 to 27.8 percent in 2007. During this period, the number of people covered by government health insurance increased to 83 million up from 80.3 million in 2006. At the same time, the percentage of people covered by employer-sponsored health insurance coverage decreased to 59.3 percent in 2007 from 59.7 percent in 2006. These numbers do not reflect the downturn of the economy in 2008.

“Nearly 46 million Americans have no health coverage and remain vulnerable to financial disaster if a serious illness or accident strikes,” said Adrienne Hahn, Senior Attorney/Program Manager for Consumers Union. “This report shows how critical Medicaid, Medicare, and SCHIP are in providing a safety net to Americans who can’t afford health coverage, especially during tough economic times.”

Source: Consumers Union


How Alcohol Affects The Brain

I once had the unusual, though unhappy, opportunity of observing the same phenomenon in the brain structure of a man, who, in a paroxysm of alcoholic excitement, decapitated himself under the wheel of a railway carriage, and whose brain was instantaneously evolved from the skull by the crash. The brain itself, entire, was before me within three minutes after the death. It exhaled the odor of spirit most distinctly, and its membranes and minute structures were vascular in the extreme. It looked as if it had been recently injected with vermilion. The white matter of the cerebrum, studded with red points, could scarcely be distinguished, when it was incised, by its natural whiteness; and the pia-mater, or internal vascular membrane covering the brain, resembled a delicate web of coagulated red blood, so tensely were its fine vessels engorged.

I should add that this condition extended through both the larger and the smaller brain, the cerebrum and cerebellum, but was not so marked in the medulla or commencing portion of the spinal cord.

no-alcohol

The spinal cord and nerves
The action of alcohol continued beyond the first stage, the function of the spinal cord is influenced. Through this part of the nervous system we are accustomed, in health, to perform automatic acts of a mechanical kind, which proceed systematically even when we are thinking or speaking on other subjects. Thus a skilled workman will continue his mechanical work perfectly, while his mind is bent on some other subject; and thus we all perform various acts in a purely automatic way, without calling in the aid of the higher centres, except something more than ordinary occurs to demand their service, upon which we think before we perform. Under alcohol, as the spinal centres become influenced, these pure automatic acts cease to be correctly carried on. That the hand may reach any object, or the foot be correctly planted, the higher intellectual centre must be invoked to make the proceeding secure. There follows quickly upon this a deficient power of co-ordination of muscular movement. The nervous control of certain of the muscles is lost, and the nervous stimulus is more or less enfeebled. The muscles of the lower lip in the human subject usually fail first of all, then the muscles of the lower limbs, and it is worthy of remark that the extensor muscles give way earlier than the flexors. The muscles themselves, by this time, are also failing in power; they respond more feebly than is natural to the nervous stimulus; they, too, are coming under the depressing influence of the paralyzing agent, their structure is temporarily deranged, and their contractile power reduced.

This modification of the animal functions under alcohol, marks the second degree of its action. In young subjects, there is now, usually, vomiting with faintness, followed by gradual relief from the burden of the poison.

Effect on the brain centres
The alcoholic spirit carried yet a further degree, the cerebral or brain centres become influenced; they are reduced in power, and the controlling influences of will and of judgment are lost. As these centres are unbalanced and thrown into chaos, the rational part of the nature of the man gives way before the emotional, passional or organic part. The reason is now off duty, or is fooling with duty, and all the mere animal instincts and sentiments are laid atrociously bare. The coward shows up more craven, the braggart more boastful, the cruel more merciless, the untruthful more false, the carnal more degraded. ‘ In vino veritas ‘ expresses, even, indeed, to physiological accuracy, the true condition. The reason, the emotions, the instincts, are all in a state of carnival, and in chaotic feebleness.

Finally, the action of the alcohol still extending, the superior brain centres are overpowered; the senses are beclouded, the voluntary muscular prostration is perfected, sensibility is lost, and the body lies a mere log, dead by all but one-fourth, on which alone its life hangs. The heart still remains true to its duty, and while it just lives it feeds the breathing power. And so the circulation and the respiration, in the otherwise inert mass, keeps the mass within the bare domain of life until the poison begins to pass away and the nervous centres to revive again. It is happy for the inebriate that, as a rule, the brain fails so long before the heart that he has neither the power nor the sense to continue his process of destruction up to the act of death of his circulation. Therefore he lives to die another day.


Exercise, Proper Nutrition and Sleep Among the Cornerstones for Getting off to a Good Start

As August signals the winding down of summer, the bell rings for more than 50 million students who will be returning to classrooms this year. Amidst the back-to-school sales and meet-the-teacher sessions, parents and students should keep healthy habits top of mind to ensure they get off to a positive start. Anita Chandra, MD, FAAP, pediatrician at Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group, and a spokesperson for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, offers five “subjects” for parents to teach this school season.

Early to bed, Early to Rise

For many students, summer is a welcome extended break from daily routines. Since bedtime and other rules of the house may soften during the summer months, it can be challenging to return to a set sleep schedule.

“An abrupt switch from late nights to early mornings can set the stage for irregular sleep patterns that can sap the alertness and energy vital to school performance,” says Chandra. “It’s important to foster good sleep habits within the days leading up to the first day of school.”

To avoid rude awakenings and ensure the 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night that sleep experts recommend for school-aged children, parents should guide their kids in the transition to a back-to-school schedule. Chandra recommends setting bedtimes prior to the start of school and establishing routines that include 15 to 30 minutes of quiet activities such as reading before bedtime. In addition to avoiding caffeinated or high-sugar drinks near bedtime, parents should also curb stimulating activities such as watching television, using the computer or playing video games at night, which can make falling asleep difficult and lead to sleep disruptions.

Proper Nutrition Fuels the Body

The old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day holds some truth. Research shows that kids who have breakfast are more alert in school and perform better on tests. Parents should see to it that kids get a healthy breakfast each and every day. Fresh fruit, foods rich in whole grains, fiber and protein can kick-start the day and improve concentration and memory, while a nutritious packed lunch will help your child maintain his or her momentum. Snacks such as pretzels, granola bars, fruit kabobs and celery with peanut putter are nutritious options that most kids enjoy and can be a great after school treat.

Get Active

With widespread cuts in physical education programs and childhood obesity on the rise, physical activity plays a more important role than ever in a student’s daily routine. “I urge parents to make fitness a family affair,” says Chandra. There are numerous ways that parents can encourage kids to be active. “From family bike rides to a friendly game of tag or a walk to the park after dinner, the important thing is to make fitness fun.” Parents should aim to ensure their children get at least one hour of moderate-intensity exercise each day.

Recognizing stress

Children can experience a great deal of anxiety associated with school, triggered by worries such as incomplete or late homework, not knowing the answer when called upon in class and feelings of not fitting in. While these worries may seem a normal part of school life, it’s important for parents to be on the lookout for behaviors that could signal serious distress and thwart your child’s progress:

  • Irritability
  • Impulsive behavior
  • Frequent nightmares
  • Recurring headaches or stomachaches
  • Consistent lack of desire to go to school

Many children can also become overwhelmed with extracurricular activities and little time to relax after school. A child’s reluctance or refusal to go to these activities may be signs that they’re overscheduled.

“Children are not always forthcoming with, and many times not able to identify, what’s causing them to be unhappy or unproductive,” says Dr. Chandra. “Communication is key to helping your child recognize stress and anxiety and work towards a solution.”

Health examinations and vaccinations

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to make an appointment with your pediatrician to ensure your child is up to date with vaccinations. In addition to proof of inoculation against communicable diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B and varicella, many states now require that students entering kindergarten and certain grade levels undergo vision, hearing and dental examinations.

“These assessments are integral in the detection of health conditions that could cause serious illness,” says Chandra. “Since recommendations can change throughout the year, be sure to stay up on recommendations and check in with your pediatrician if it’s been awhile since your child’s last physical.”

Source: Northwestern Memorial Hospital


Center for Cell Phone Applications in Healthcare (C-PAHC) Now Accepting Members

Medical Records Institute introduces today the Center for Cell Phone Applications in Healthcare (C-PAHC), a membership-based organization that will study and advocate the advancement of cell phone applications in healthcare.

C-PAHC envisions the development of a range of healthcare applications on cell phones and cites them as the future conduit of interoperability for essential health information. As the natural successor to the Mobile Healthcare Alliance, C-PAHC will work with developers to encourage and coordinate these developments.

According to C-PAHC executive director C. Peter Waegemann, “A healthcare revolution is on the horizon. The new capabilities of modern cell phones, smart phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices are creating extraordinary new possibilities for healthcare. C-PAHC will be the premier organization to study and advocate these changes.”

“C-PAHC will become the international center and market place where interested parties can learn what is going on in the field of cell phones in healthcare,” states Waegemann. “C-PAHC will identify applications for which solutions are currently developed and available, as well as those under development. In face-to-face meetings and conference calls, it will provide a neutral platform for developers, healthcare planners, health informatics professionals, healthcare professionals and others to discuss common interests.”

The Center for Cell Phone Applications in Healthcare is currently accepting membership applications, available online at www.C-PAHC.com. Membership benefits include discounts to C-PAHC-sponsored events, complimentary C-PAHC audiocasts, and access to C-PAHC reports and articles, as well as the opportunity to work together to promote common interests and solutions.

C-PAHC plans several national and international meetings within the next six months, including several audiocasts and a developers’ workshop, which will be hosted in conjunction with the 2009 TEPR+ Conference in February 2009 in Palm Springs, California. More information on C-PAHC can be found online: www.C-PAHC.com.

Source: Medical Records Institute


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