Become an Expert: Asthma

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The Neurobiology of Decision-Making and Responsibility http://ping.fm/iiECZ

Fruits and Vegetables During Childhood Promote Lifelong Health http://ping.fm/ew0Hy

Molecular Imaging App - new from the Internet Medical Association http://ping.fm/sJEo9

Chant for Health: Psalm 27:14

(D) Don't be impatient

(G) Wait for the Lord, and

(C) He will come and

(F) Save you. Be

(D) Brave, stouthearted and

(G) Courageous, yes

(C) Wait and He will

(F) Help you.

From the The Living Bible translation

Home Schooling - Android Apps on Google Play

Home Schooling - Android Apps on Google Play

Become an Expert Series from Stay at Home Mom

A Courageous Look at Disease

We all will face health challenges at some point in our life. Although some people will pass away quickly, many of us will undergo a more gradual process. The disease that kills us may take only a few days, or it may take years in the process. Chronic disease starting at a very young age, sometimes back to the moment of conception, afflicts many of us. So it is a worthwhile task to examine how you will react to disease, how you will look at disease. Will we face it with courage, or will it overwhelm our spirit? In order to prepare yourself to act courageously in the face of disease, it can be helpful to look at Stiliyan Petrov, the Aston Villa captain midfielder, after he was diagnosed with acute leukemia.

Petrov was in peak condition, an active, professional footballer. The popular, consistent player had made 30 appearances for his team that season. Then after a game against Arsenal, he wasn't feeling well and made an appointment to see the doctor. He got some tests, which discovered that he had acute leukemia. Within one week. Petrov announced his retirement from football so he could devote his attention to the leukemia.

But then what did he do? He didn't hide from the public nor did he wallow in his new diagnosis. Instead, the very next day after his retirement announcement, he went to his team's game against Chelsea. He cheered them on and gave his team his support, knowing that they would support him back.

One important thing that Petrov did was to share his situation with his closest friends. As a public figure, he made the decision to also share it with all of his fans. By doing this, he was strengthened, and encouraged to give his all to overcome the disease. He shared what was going on with his family and friends, and got strength from their support.

Another important action that Petrov took was to take some of the focus off of himself. Of course, he needed to concentrate on fighting the leukemia, that's why he retired. Yet, in spite of the sudden serious diagnosis, he nevertheless still showed a genuine interest in, and concern for, his teammates. Through his outward, positive encouragement of others, he demonstrated for them his courage in the face of disease.

How will each of us respond to disease? When it comes upon us, will we look at disease with courage, or with fear? By building up courage today, perhaps through the regular practice of courage builders, we can help ensure a courageous response.

Published by Tom Heston MD

Tom Heston MD is a Johns Hopkins trained physician who practices clinical medicine in the Pacific Northwest.

Santorum, Childhood Pneumonia, and Universal Health Care

oday, Rick Santorum quit the Republican race for the 2012 Presidential nomination. The decision was a wise one, given that his 3 year old child Bella was just hospitalized for pneumonia, a life threatening condition. It appears that after receiving proper medical care, that his daughter will do well and fully recover. But what if Santorum was like the millions of Americans who do not have health insurance or the means to pay cash? What would have been Bella's chances of recovery then? Or, what if Bella lived in a remote part of the country, where access to care can be greatly limited due to the closure of small, critical access hospitals?

World wide, pneumonia is the #1 killer of children under age 5, being responsible for about 1 out of every 5 deaths in this age group. Children of all backgrounds get pneumonia, and many of them die even with access to the best medical care. But the risk of death from childhood pneumonia greatly increases when access to care is limited. Children with pneumonia need access to intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and advanced respiratory support. Without these, the risk of death greatly increases.

In the case of Santorum's daughter Bella, several things improved her chances for a full recovery. First, the child had an attentive care giver, who brought her to medical attention promptly. Secondly, Bella had access to advanced medical care, including the best medications, the best equipment, and fully trained doctors, nurses, and respiratory technicians. In spite of all of these advantages, Bella still required a 3 day stay in the hospital for her pneumonia. Pneumonia is really serious in such a young child.

Santorum had all of the advantages, and his daughter lived. But what about the underserved in the U.S. who have poor access to proper medical care? A family without insurance, for example, may delay going to the pediatrician because of financial concerns. Another family may lack the proper knowledge on how to navigate an increasingly complex health care system, which can also delay access to proper medical care. In some parts of the country, there are large geographic barriers to getting medical care, especially with the closing of smaller hospitals in rural areas. Steadily declining Medicare revenues have resulted in the closure of many hospitals and clinics all over the country. And when they close, access to care falls. The equipment and the trained providers leave. Universal health care means access to proper, advanced medical treatment. It is more than just having health insurance, and it is more than just having a hospital close by. You need both.

The problem with large government run health care monopolies is that they often decrease access to care. Having insurance is not enough. For example, Obamacare, if implemented as written, would dramatically cut payments to hospitals and providers, and as a result cause many hospitals to close and many providers to quit and find a different line of work. This means decreased access to care, and a higher risk of premature death from childhood pneumonia.

The ultimate solution to improved access to health care in the U.S. is a hybrid approach combining sufficient resources with universal insurance coverage. Given the limited amount of money available to pay for health care costs, government needs to work smarter, not just reflexively write complex and incomprehensible new laws. Clean up some of the old laws first. Simplify the system, and reform tort laws. Streamlining the system will allow more resources to go to the actual provision of health services, and reduce the current excess amount of money being diverted away into an insatiable bureaucracy and a capricious legal system. Universal insurance coverage is also mandatory. This would create more certainty in the health care market, and let hospitals and providers will know what to expect from year to year. This certainty will help hospitals and clinics properly manage their finances, so they can remain open to see patients.

Tom Heston is a practicing physician specializing in family medicine and molecular imaging. He received his medical degree from St. Louis University and completed Fellowship training at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

NASA Picture of the Day - Add to your homepage

NASA Picture of the Day - Add to your homepage

by WardnerSoftware.com

Don't Say Goodbye

Don't Say Goodbye:

Time will never let us leave

Don't say Goodbye

It's not that easy to leave it behind

Dreams will lead us on I know

But our memories will bring us together again

Don't Say Goodbye

Dont Say Goodbye

We started something that could never end

1

You and I made the sunshine

Even when the sky was grey

The love & laughter that we shared

Made the darkness fade away.

Now tomorrow is coming

and we may part

Today is almost gone

Moments will echo on our minds

and yesterday live on.

2

Side by side we walked together

Even when there was no where to go

The words and the music we created

Showed us the way to follow

Now time is passing

We must move on

Don't let this moment pass

Just remember me in the good old days

and then yesterday will last.

Chant for Health. Heb 13:8

intro / refrain:

4/4:

(F) Jesus is the (Bb) same today as (Eb)yesterday for-(Dbmaj7) ever. He

(F) Stays the same to-(Bb) day tomorrow (Eb)always on for-(Dbmaj7) ever.

6/8:

(F) Jesus Christ is the same (Bbmaj9) day after day, to- (Eb) day always for- (Dbmaj7) ever. He

(F) Stays the same yesterday, (Bbmaj9) now, tomorrow, (Eb) always the same for- (Dbmaj7) ever.

verse 6/8:

1

He is the north star, the sun, the sky, the hope we all live to see.

I count on his truth, which does not change, for all of eternity.

2

He is in our lives, a guide on our seas, constant, never changing.

We count on his faith, his unending love, he gives meaning to our lives.


Coda:

He does not change he stays the same.

He is the one forever on.





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We Thank You Lord

Baby Jesus born on this day
that all of the world just stopped
and began to pray for a

world at peace
a world of joy for you and me
from one, from all
together in unity.

We thank you Lord.

We thank you Lord.

Treat thy neighbor as you would treat unto self.
Give up your shirt
if it will help
somebody else.

We thank you Lord.

For the love in our hearts.