Home Remedies

Natural Remedies

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Characteristics of Low Carb Cookies

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 26, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,


A lot of innovation is being done in the field of nutrition so as to create such food items which limit the intake of carbohydrates. This is done mainly to limit the amount of calories that we consume daily so that the body utilizes whatever is available in the form of stored fats. Thus, it is able to burn the excess fats inside the body and in turn, the individual who is consuming such foods is able to lose weight quickly. It is to be noted that such diet provides all the necessary nutrients to the body.

Low carb cookies have caught the attention of everyone around us. This is because low carb cookies have numerous advantages over food items having both high and low carbohydrate content. They have limited carbohydrate content which increases their preference over the food items having high carbohydrate content. While manufacturing the low carb cookies, the conventional ingredients like wheat, oil, sugar and butter are avoided.

Instead of the above specified items which have high fat and carbohydrate content, products like soy flour, almonds etc are used. In fact, soy products have a low fat and carbohydrate content. Besides this, they have highest protein content as compared to any other food item. Thus, they have become popular for other food items with low carbohydrate content. Such food items include muffins, breads and doughnuts which are readily available in the market.

Another advantage of such cookies is that these are high in fiber content. Fibers are needed by the body to absorb other nutrients such as vitamins and proteins. Thus, such cookies aid in their absorption and in turn, help the body to become healthy. Moreover, you can grab few cookies for any meal of the day. For example, if you are running late for office, you can munch some on your way. You can even eat these in lunch or dinner. Besides being healthier option, these are light weight too.

Carpal Tunnel - Why Does My Hand Curl at Night?

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 23, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , ,


One of the unofficial symptoms of Carpal Tunnel is waking up at night due to increased pain and/or numbness in the hand....and from the fingers and wrist clenching and curling forward into a claw.

This not only annoys people, it can scare them. It's not really supposed to do that! Why does it do that?

The answer is pretty simple, but like all simple things it takes a little bit of explaining.

There is a process that leads up to the hand curling while you sleep at night. It goes like this.

1. Lots of use of the hand.

2. Muscles get tighter and tighter.

3. The nervous system sets those tight muscles as the new normal. So muscles get tighter and stay tight, progressively.

4.  A lot of other bad stuff happens under the skin that you don't notice. And continues to as time passes.

5.  The body fights off these negative factors until it starts to lose.

6. You start to feel ache, then pain.

7. You ignore it and avoid thinking about it as long as possible.

8. It -really- starts to hurt, and doesn't go away like it used to.

9. By now, your muscles are REALLY tight. Constantly. 

10. When you sleep at night, you think your muscles relax but they don't because tight is the new normal. It's kind of like you go to sleep at night holding up a 30 pound barbell.

Because your muscles are so tight, they are constantly pulling. Since you're asleep and not paying attention, the natural laws of physics take control, and the muscles on the palm side of your forearm (which are tighter than those on the opposite side) pull, pull, pull. 

The fingers and hand curl forward because the muscles are pulling them forward.

And they constantly pull, for hours maybe. And they get tired. And then they start to hurt. And the nervous system gets scared and does what it does best to protect you...tighten up muscles to guard you. The tightness becomes almost a spasm. Imagine holding up that 30 pound barbell for hours. You would get fatigued, then hurt. The same thing happens while you sleep.

And because the curl and muscle contraction can compress the median nerve, you get more numbness and pain.

The fingers and hand curling forward is not a neurological problem. It is not because of nerve damage. 

This is not something to be scared of. It is, however, a good clue that there is something that you need to start dealing with. And you might as well deal with it the RIGHT way.

If you are ready to Eliminate your Carpal Tunnel, get The Carpal Tunnel Treatment That Works.

By

Copper Deficiency Linked to Aneurysm and Stroke Risk

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 14, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,




Don't underestimate the importance of copper in your diet. It's true that your body only needs it in small amounts, but having the proper copper levels in your body are critical to your long-term survival. The body needs copper for the many tasks it performs, from building the enzyme ceruloplasmin (this carries iron in the blood) to its major role in the production of collagen. But for my money, the most important thing about this little trace mineral is its ability to help produce elastin.

Elastin is found primarily in the artery walls, lungs, intestines, and skin and is a structural protein that gives your body flexibility and healthy connectivity. Copper is absolutely necessary in manufacturing elastin, helping create our elastic fiber. No copper, no elastin, right? It's easy to see that copper deficiency would lead to a loss of elasticity in the tissues found in your arteries, skin and organs. And if your body goes without normal elastin production, big problems will arise.
Copper deficiency and its link to aneurysm

As elastin production deteriorates, so does the viability, flexibility and connectivity of body tissue. So what happens when tissue in your arteries and organs are weakened? Those weakened tissues become prone to thinning. Arteries will balloon at their weakest point with the possibility of rupturing, kind of like a garden hose with a weak spot bulging in the line... pressure will eventually blow it out. In your arteries, those weak, bulging spots are called aneurysms. Of course, aneurysms can be life-threatening, especially when they blow. I don't think it's a stretch to think that weak tissue, resulting because of less elastin, will sometimes cause existing aneurysms to worsen, or new ones to develop. And as shown, less elastin is a direct result of a copper deficiency.

Copper deficiency and its link to hemorrhagic stroke

A blood vessel that leaks or breaks into the brain results in a hemorrhagic stroke, which account for twenty percent of all strokes. Again, without elastin, blood vessels lose elasticity. Tissue starts to harden, fissures form on the inside of the arterial wall, and begin to crack. These cracks are weak spots which slowly get worse, begin to leak, then break. Absence of proper copper levels means less elastin, causing tissues to harden and weaken. There appears to be a correlation here between hemorrhagic stroke and low copper levels in the body.

What other conditions does copper deficiency create?

Did you know that a doctor can tell if you have copper deficiency by looking at the color of your hair? Copper is a crucial component in the creation of hair pigment. White, gray and silver hair are quick give-aways to a trained eye. Here's something that got me thinking: isn't it interesting that Albert Einstein, famous for his white crazy hair, dropped dead of an aneurysm when he was 68? 

What are the chances that he had a copper deficiency?

Varicose veins and hemorrhoids are common conditions too, but they wouldn't be as common if people would keep a normal level of copper in their systems. These two ailments are caused by weak tissue, tissues that are struggling to maintain their elasticity, but can't because they lack the trace mineral that can help create the elastin they need. If you suffer from either of these two ailments, you might consider having your copper levels tested.

How do you maintain a proper copper balance in your body?

The body does not manufacture copper, so you must ingest it. There are many foods rich in copper, like pumpkin and sunflower seeds, garbanzo beans, lima beans and soybeans. Do you like cashews? This is one of the best copper foods you can eat, second only to sesame seeds in copper content. If you have copper plumbing, you are getting trace amounts of it in your drinking water. And of course, there are supplements to help you get your daily allowance.

Now, don't overdo it. Remember, copper is a trace mineral, and your body needs only a small amount daily to ward off any copper deficiency malady. Copper toxicity is not something you want, either, so follow the established guidelines of two milligrams daily. That's all you need. The important thing here is that your body has a consistent flow of this natural mineral. Avoid copper deficiency in your diet, and you will avoid some of life's biggest pitfalls.

COPD Life Expectancy

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 14, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , ,























COPD is the abbreviation used for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It is also known in different names. For example, chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD), chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), chronic airflow limitation (CAL) and chronic obstructive respiratory disease (CORD). It is a progressive disease which means it gets worse over time. It causes lungs problems and almost destructs them completely. This is one of the major causes of death in almost all the global nations. In USA, it is the fourth highest death cause disease. It is deadly and almost over than 82,000 people die every year due to this. Generally, the COPD life expectancy is very less and also it causes a large number of severe health problems in people. But, on the other hand, if it is detected early due to their early symptoms and also get it treated in its early stages, then the life expectancy can be greatly increased. If not, the sufferer's life will be greatly limited.

The most common symptom of COPD is breathing difficulty. It can be a huge disability that gets worse as this disease progresses. There are many techniques and exercises that help to decrease. Two of the most well known techniques are pursed lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing. If you ever feel short of breath and you feel like you are suffocating, it helps to remember these quick and easy breathing tips. Sit and relax in a quiet and comfortable place, breathe in and out through your mouth going as fast as you need to, lower your head and shoulders and begin to slow down your exhalations. Repeat this a few times and you will feel a great deal of comfort as these exercises have been proven to help with breathlessness.

Smoking is one of the most biggest causes of COPD. Each year, three million people are dying as the result of smoking related diseases. Exposure to lung irritants such as dust, smoke, air pollution and other chemicals can also be causes for COPD. Quitting smoking can help but as there is no current cure to COPD, getting rid of cigarettes doesn't help much. It only reduces the risk factor by a little but of course, every little action counts towards the defeat of this chronic disease.

The Pathophysiology of COPD is not very easy to understand. Pathophysiology of COPD shows the structural changes in the airways, dysfunction of Cilia and inflammatory responses. It is these three things that lead to the blockage of airways. The inflammatory response of COPD is usually caused by too much smoking. It can also be caused by the inhalation of lung irritants such as pollens, air pollutants, smoke, dust and other chemicals.

Inhalers can be used to treat chronic diseases such as the first symptom of COPD- the chronic cough. The work that the inhalers do is that they push the medicine or drugs directly into the airways when you breathe in. Some people may get some benefits from using these inhalers but some might not. Some people use inhalers regularly and that might help to reduce shortness of breath and some just use it when they are experiencing troubles of wheezing and breathlessness.

Many people die from COPD every year. as there is no current cure for this disease, it is important that it is diagnosed in it's early stages. If you ever notice a sign or symptom that might mean you or someone you know could have COPD, it is important to contact a doctor of health care provider immediately. If this disease is discovered too late, the results can be deadly.

Breakthroughs In LASIK Surgery

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 10, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


LASIK surgical procedure is actually fairly new, if compared to the hundred years that refractive surgery treatment in general has been in existence. Since the FDA's approval of the Excimer Laser in 1995, nevertheless, LASIK has already made leaps and bounds with regard to breakthroughs.

What Is The Excimer Laser?

The Excimer Laser is actually a process using a broad beam of laser energy to be able to reshape the cornea. It has quite a bit of technical hardware and software required for this method, and also the electricity coming from the laser rapidly wore down all of the optical mirrors and lenses used in the procedure. As a result of continual fixes being made to the units, this got to be fairly pricey.

In 1998, the FDA approved a whole new selection of Excimer Lasers that employed a very accurate laser. All of these more recent Excimer Lasers employed a form of scanning system to discover the specific placement of the eye which really needed modification, and as soon as that point was determined, deliver the ray of energy to it. This method was actually a great deal more patient friendly, because there was indeed significantly less anxiety on the individual to remain perfectly still, because the piece of equipment calculated a person's eye defects on its own. It actually was far more accurate when compared to a laser
eye surgeon previously could possibly be plus didn't come along with as much deterioration than the prior lasers did.

Higher Speeds Lasers

Yet another advancement in LASIK is definitely the development of a higher speed laser. Throughout the 90's, laser devices would typically need to have between 30-90 seconds of being exposed, based on just how major corrections were. At this point, laser treatments need to have between 2-30 seconds of exposure. That's really considerable, specially when considering the fact that when the longer the cornea is subjected to this type of atmosphere, there can be increased assortment regarding results.

Utilizing Wavefront Technology

Wavefront technological know-how is an additional advancement in LASIK. Wavefront technology draws on a theory employed by astronomers for several years. Light is sent inside the patient's eyes, and also the light that is replicated back to the PC is in fact recorded. With such calculations, the laser eye surgeon will be able to identify virtually any errors or distortions in the individual's vision.

Utilizing this type of data, the computer could certainly create a 3-D map of the individual's eyes. The technological innovation has the ability of computing aberrations for example nearsightedness and also farsightedness, and halos and starbursts. Wavefront technology has generated exceptional final results. In VISX's FDA medical study, a year after the procedure, 98% of participants got 20/20 eyesight, or even better, not to mention did not really need eyeglasses or even contacts.

All-Laser LASIK

The most up-to-date advancement regarding laser eye surgery is all-laser LASIK, an entirely bladeless surgery. The iFS IntraLASE Femtosecond laser happens to be providing a lot more people the chance to have vision surgery who prior to this were advised they were not hopefuls. Step one with this eyesight procedure is the development of the corneal flap, that prior to this was initially carried out utilizing a microkeratome blade. While using the innovative technology, a laser is in its place employed in this stage, creating a a lot more correct flap faster.

What Color Should Your Teeth Be?

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 09, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Although we live in a society that highly regards shiny white teeth, is that really the way we were meant to look? It seems that more and more people are decided to bleach their teeth beyond recognition because it is considered to trademark a healthy appearance. You are probably aware that drinking coffee or tea will tend to stain your teeth yellow, but were you aware that the aging process actually changes the colour of your teeth?

Have you ever seen an old piano? Think about it. All piano keys used to be made of ivory; the tusk bone of an elephant. These were gleaming white at the beginning, and now those pianos sit decrepit in a corner with yellowed, cracked keys which may even have warped out of shape. This is what is naturally in store for your own teeth, although you should not worry too much; yellowed, warped piano keys are often twice as old as you will ever expect to be! The point is that the tissues that make up your bones and teeth will change over time and as you age will become more yellow. This colour change can be confusing, and often foods and drinks are blamed instead of pure genetics.

Younger people will have the most naturally white teeth of anyone, but even if you look closely at them you will see that few can be said to have perfectly white teeth. This is because on the whole, white is not a natural colour! Certainly close shades are in existence and are very flattering, but there is no escaping the slow colour shift from near white to nearer yellow. Sad, but true! Regardless of this fact, you have probably already armed yourself (to the teeth) to defend a whitened front.

Essentially, teeth whitening can be seen as another way to stop the aging process. In the same way that you use moisturising creams to stop wrinkles and hair dye to keep away the grey, various teeth whitening products such as toothpastes, polishes and adhesive strips are being used to make teeth whiter and more youthful. It is a somewhat unconscious effort by Westerners to remain in the blossom of youth for ever longer; white teeth are the trademark of preteens and teenagers, but certainly not of the middle aged and retirement set! Whatever the conscious and subconscious reasons for whitening your teeth, it is best to come into the venture with the knowledge that you may not ever have a perfectly white set. But that is no reason to despair!

You know there are plenty of teeth whitening options available, so choose one that is right for you and do the best you can to bleach away stains and natural colour changes. Society (especially North American society) is cultured to put a lot of value on teeth, and obviously you are not expected to be any different. Medically speaking, teeth whitening is a safe procedure so long as you have it professionally done or pay close attention to packet instructions.

Do not be tempted to over bleach or you can damage your gums and the roots of your teeth, a painful situation that is best avoided. It can be appealing to squeeze a tube of bleach on the enamel and leave it overnight, but believe me, it is not worth it! Be patient, be safe, and most of all be understanding to the fact that your teeth are not horribly stained, they are just growing older like the rest of you! There is nothing wrong with that, now is there?

7 Powerful Winter Home Remedies For Acne

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 07, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , ,



We are in the middle of winter (well in most countries, anyway) and if you have acne, you might have noticed that your acne can worsen during the winter months. Or if you never had acne, you've just seen your first pimples flare up on your skin, mostly on your face.

Many people notice a drastic change in their acne during the winter months, particularly when they live in areas where winters are quite harsh and cold. If you have light acne in summer, you will see that your acne will really liven up during the winter season. Also your acne scars will become much more visible, because the summer tan is gone so there is nothing to hide them.

Before panic sets in, you need to know the most important things you can do by yourself to keep your skin clear of acne, or at least how to avoid worsening it.

What is with winter and acne anyway?

During the winter, we are mostly indoors, which means we are exposed to dry air pretty much all the time. Well, except when we go out to the biting cold, so we're then exposed to a sudden change in the air temperature. If you think you're skin will not suffer due to these factors, you're sadly mistaken. Our skin is the first contact with the outside word, so it is greatly affected by pretty much everything going on around us.

Here are some proven tips and acne home remedies that you can employ right away from the comfort of your home, to help you go through the winter unharmed.
  1. Put a vaporizer in your bedroom. This will moisture the already dry air due to the constant heaters. Also you can use a humidifier for better results. When I was a kid, and all these gadgets were not available, I remember my mom every night putting a bowl of water in the room. This kept the air moist and it really helped. I guess old home remedies are still some of the best, even if now we have these modern gadgets that do it faster and more effective.
  2.  Open your windows for about 10-15 minutes every morning. This will allow to mix the air a bit, so the dry air leaves your room, being replaced with fresh air. Just make sure you have an extra blouse or a warm robe on you, so you don't catch a cold. Some people are more sensitive than others, so make sure you know what works for you best.
  3. Drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated. This tip is good all year around, not only for the winter months. However, you might feel less thirsty in winter (because heat promotes thirst stronger), so do not forget to drink your 7-10 glasses of water per day (at least).
  4. Change your skin cleaser. You might not be aware of it, but there are different cleansers for different types of weather. For example if you're using cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, they are not the best in winter. Why? Because they dry your skin - which you definitely want to avoid in winter. Switch for the winter months to milder cleansers, such as Dove or Neutrogena, they're available pretty much everywhere.
  5. Keep your skin moist by using moisturizer. If you haven't used them yet, now it's the time to start. Make sure you use a moisturizing gel or lotion, not cream.
  6. Cut back on using over the counter acne fighting medication, such as creams and lotions. They are great but definitely dry your skin (since one of the ways of fighting acne is to dry out the pimples). Winter is not the best time to have a dry skin, so I don't say stop using these, but use them every second day instead of every day, at least for the next 1-2 months until the weather is improving. Note: if you have doctor prescribed treatments, make sure you do not change those, not at least without your doctor's consent.
  7. You need a way to sweat out the toxines during the winter. This is maybe one of the most overlooked home remedy that you can employ in winter. Basically what happens is, during summer, with exercise, sports, jogging, you sweat. Then you drink plenty of water. Which means, through sweating you release all the toxins out of your body. However during the winter, people become more sedentary in nature, and exercise much less than in summer. So you need to find a way to release those accumulated toxins during the winter as well. Find a nearby sauna (unless you're one of the lucky ones to have a sauna at home), go to a gym, but don't stop exercising in winter.
There are much more things you can do, but if you adhere to these 7 only, you will get through winter with a clear, shiny face.

Should I Have A Face Lift?

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 07, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , ,



Good question! A face lift is major surgery and surgery means blood, mess, discomfort, stitches and time out to recover. A face lift is expensive too.

There are risks to consider, one is hematoma when the blood collects under the skin and has to be surgically removed. Damage to the nerves that control your facial muscles is another although this is less common. Slow healing time can also be a problem although this is found mainly in smokers. Oh! and don't forget the usual risks that are involved with anesthesia.

On the plus side, the effects of a face lift are quite dramatic. It is without a doubt the fastest and most permanent way of shedding your 'old' face and regaining some of that youthful beauty you were born with..

If you've considered these things and decided that the final outcome is worth it, then proceed, but first please ask yourself these questions.

Why do I want a facelift?

Am I doing this because its going to help me find the job that I really want? This is a valid reason for going ahead. It shouldn't matter to those that hire people how old the applicant is or what they look like, but in the real world we know that these things do play a part. If you have a job that has a lot of public exposure, this may also be a good reason to proceed.

Am I doing this because my partner wants me to?
Red alert! Never let anyone else talk you into having a facelift. It is a very personal decision and one only you should make. Ask yourself why are you with someone who values you only for your appearance. Honor yourself, you are more than your face! Perhaps you should be working on your relationship and leaving your face alone!

I'm thirty five and have lots of wrinkles around my eyes and cheeks, and my neck is all mottled
A face lift won't help this situation. You are better off exploring the avenue of laser resurfacing or even chemical peels, they will strip the old layer of skin off and reveal a smoother younger appearance. It sounds like you have a lot of sun damage, get educated on the use of sunblock! Its everybody's most important cosmetic.

I'm depressed and don't feel good about myself. Maybe a facelift will help me feel better?
It may for a little while, but it sounds like you have a self esteem problem. Learn to love yourself the way you are first. Then if you still feel a facelift would give your morale a boost, go ahead.

I'm in my early fifties and notice my face is starting to sag quite badly. I can afford the surgery and reckon I might just do this for myself. A good idea, you've thought it through and decided its something you want not something you need.

Find a professional surgeon in your area and follow all his/her advice on how to prepare for your face lift. Don't forget to mention any medication you are taking and if you are a smoker, stop two weeks before surgery is scheduled. It will speed your recovery time. Good luck!

Exercise Tips Without Joining a Gym

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 05, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Exercise. I know.... I know, that word makes most people cringe, but it doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to join a gym, you can exercise at home. Many people pay high gym membership fee's and never go back!! That's just crazy!!

No, I'm talking about the things we do everyday, like . This is known as low impact exercise and is especially good if you are extra weighty as they will put very little or no stress on the Hip, Knee and Ankle Joint.
Walking, Gardening, Swimming or riding our Bikes

Anything that raises our heart rates, gets you slightly out of breath and makes you feel warmer is classed as Exercise, but whatever activity you choose, you should always, always start slowly and build up gradually, even if it's only Walking. Start off by doing 30 minutes and build up from there. If you take on too much, too soon, you could injure yourself by pulling a muscle, then you won't get any Exercise done at all.

I think 30 minutes per day for 5 plus days a week is good enough. Even with a busy schedule, I'm sure most people could fit in 30 minutes per day, even if it just means walking briskly around your house or garden, or going up and down the stairs a few times.

The benefits of exercise are endless. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel after you get into the swing of it. Talking about swing, keeping fit should be fun, so when I do my 30 minutes, I just pop on my favorite CD and dance to my hearts content. "Exercise isn't Exercise when you are enjoying yourself".

Water is essential for your good health and well being, but even more important when you are Exercising, as you will need to replenish what you are losing through sweat.

For healthy exercise, before you start your 30 minutes, it's important to do some warm up stretches, to warm your muscles through and get them ready for action and is equally important to do more stretching at the end. Do this for about 10 minutes each time and it will help prevent any muscle stiffness. So go find yourself a dance partner and Have Fun getting fit.



How To Beat Unfair Mental Health Funding

Posted by: healthy editor Posted date: August 04, 2016 / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , ,



I happened to be talking to my local politician before Christmas because a fine website on depression, [http://www.DepressioNet.com.au] was about to lose funding for its crucial 24 hour support forums as a result of failure by the Australian government to fund its programs.

So I pinged the pollies and Bill, my local politician, wanted to chat. The one illuminating aspect of our 45 minute conversation was that it was very hard (for politicians) to decide what other health programs should be cut in order to increase funding for mental health because of myriad vested interests.

Watching news reports around the world and back home I see similar difficulties arising. It is somewhat reminiscent of the ‘Yes Minister’ dilemmas that Sir Humphrey Appleby would put to his boss, thereby stymieing him every time.

Just last week in South Australia an identical furore erupted. There, the government was brave (or hassled) enough to announce increased mental health funding. The opposition was equally mean enough to demand to know what (more highly valued) general health programs were to be sacrificed for the increase. Read the report here:   

Now to get back to Yes Minister, Jim Hacker in his early days would have said ‘But we should just fund health needs according to the cost to the community, the individual and the carer. And that should be the minimum amount needed to restore the ill person’s health so as to function in relationships, at work and in the community.’ You wish!

The unfairness is obvious when authoritative reports state: ‘Stigma is systemic in decision-making at the highest political levels. Ultimate responsibility for mental health services lies with government leaders at Federal and State levels.

‘It is they who have ensured these services have had such a low priority in policy-making and funding…

‘The proportion of Australia’s health budget spent on mental health services is under 8%. In comparable OECD countries, the proportion is 12% or more.’ Dare to Care, SANE Mental Health Report 2004 at http://www.sane.org/images/assets/Research_reports_and_images/MHR2004text.pdf

A report by Access Economics for SANE Australia in 2003 calculated the costs of bipolar in Australia as being ‘$16,000 on average’ per year for each sufferer. Yet spending is ‘only $3,007 per person.’

It gets worse. The report states that this paltry $3,007 is even less than spending on the average Australian’s health care, even though ‘the burden of disease – the pain, suffering, disability and death – is greater for bipolar disorder than for ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or HIV/AIDs, and similar to schizophrenia and melanoma.’

And who makes up the shortfall? According to the report, ‘around half (i.e. $8,000) of this cost is borne by people with the illness and their carers.’

‘Mentally healthy’ public outnumber the mentally ill by a factor of 4 to 1. They want their subsidized spas and perfect teeth at the expense of us getting into hospital when we need it! But because they still view the behaviors of mental illness as not symptoms but as plain bad behavior, our health needs are viewed as less deserving than theirs, and funded accordingly.

Because of the ‘Yes Minister’ factor, I think we face an uphill battle persuading the politicians. They won’t shift until public opinion does, to say nothing of favors and kickbacks.

The 4 people in 5 who don’t have a mental illness have something much worse—prejudice. They are the ones who need persuading that mental health deserves equitable funding.


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