health Archives - Page 5 of 5

Transforming Your Life for Better Health

August 20, 2016

Eating better is part of transforming your life for better health — Photo by CC user FotoshopTofs on Pixabay

You may already know that the foods you eat can affect your health, but did you know that some of those foods can increase your chances of developing a chronic illness? As you get older, your body starts to alter its functions a bit. Depending on the way you’ve lived your life up to this point and the foods you have eaten, you may be on track to develop heart disease, diabetes, or some other type of disease.

Just because you may have health insurance and access to a good doctor doesn’t mean that you don’t need to be mindful of your actions or the foods you eat. On the contrary, you need to be more proactive about your health because once you develop a severe health issues, there’s often no turning back the clock. Medication can only do so much, and while it may enable you to live symptom-free and comfortably, you may not enjoy the side effects of those medicines. Regardless of your age, health, and current lifestyle, you may want to consider making the following changes to your daily routine.

Educate Yourself

Life is all about changes and some of those changes are not very fun or exciting to make. Sometimes, making changes can be hard because of the habits you have. However, in order for you to overcome the personal limitations that are interfering with your health, you need to know what they are, how you’ve become restrained by them, and what you can do to break free of them. Don’t just look for surface information and accept everything that you read with no questions asked. Challenge yourself to dig deeper so that you know that the information you are going to rely on to change your life is credible, sensible, and valid.

Get a Second Opinion

You may trust your current physician with your life, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from getting a professional second opinion about your health. Physicians are human and sometimes they make mistakes. To avoid being one of those people you hear about on the news that has been duped by their doctors into taking medications and undergoing treatments that they don’t need, you should see another doctor just to be safe. A professional second opinion may also alert you to underlying health conditions that you may have been unaware of.

Redo Your Household Menu

Now you don’t need to revamp your kitchen, refrigerator, and cupboards so that they only contain products from your favorite chefs, but you do need to stock them up with healthier foods. Keep in mind that everything that is advertised as good for you really isn’t. Learn how to identify common marketing terms that are used in the food industry to camouflage the more popular names for sugar, fructose syrup, sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients. You should also learn the names of popular ingredients that are beneficial to your health. Food items that are made by Hamptoncreek are just one of many brands that made for health enthusiasts that you should buy.

Get Your Home in Order

If you have gotten used to living a certain way that is not conducive to the lifestyle you want to live, you need to start making changes inside of your home. Throw out those items that you have been holding onto for years with no plans to use. Donate any furniture, clothing, and any household goods that you no longer need to charity. Get organized and toss out all of the clutter. By getting rid of these things, you are letting go of the clutter that has attached itself to you in the form of emotional baggage. Don’t be surprised if you feel like a fog has been lifted or a great weight has been removed from your shoulders.

Use Fitness Tools

You won’t believe how hard it is to get motivated about improving your health and activity level until you can see your progress as you make it. Even though you may not see those inches sliding off the very split second that they disappear, you will be able to see how many steps you are taking, measure your blood glucose levels, and keep track of your heart rate. Depending on the kind of fitness tools you decide to use you may be able to track more of your vitals.

It is never too late for you to commit to transforming your life for better health. Regardless of your motivation for doing so, the changes you need to make to get the results you want are worth it.

You Are Free to Live Your Life the Way You Want To – Or Are You?

Health & Fitness

August 18, 2016

You Are Free to Live Your Life the Way You Want To ... except when you are sick — Photo by CC user erix on Flickr

The funny thing is that ‘freedom’ is one of those words that is relative to what you are talking about and what one person considers to be ‘free’ the next person may see as being anything but. In this country there is an old saying that “I can do whatever I want. I am free and 21.” Well, that really isn’t the case and never has been, really – unless of course you don’t ever accept the consequences for what you have done or are about to do. This is one of the reasons why we require so many people to study the Master of Public Health program. With too few people really paying attention to the ramifications of what they are doing, there is always some public health crisis to be dealt with. So are you free? Here is some food for thought.

Communicable Diseases

Whenever the latest scare of a pandemic hits there are too few people who take it upon themselves to stay home when they come down with flu-like symptoms. The only way to stop the spread of contagions effectively is to keep them at home – the sufferer and the contagion that is! Imagine you, as a person studying for your degree in public health. If you took conventional classes and attended the college campus, then you’d need to stay home if you came down with what appeared to be the flu so you didn’t pass it around campus.

However, since you are probably studying a Master of Public Health online program, you wouldn’t have this concern. The point is, those who are sick with something that is communicable should consider what the next person would do if they came down with the illness. Babies and old people could die. Yes, you are free to choose whether or not to stay home but are those people free from your ill-placed decision to take your germs in public? Not so much.

HIV and STDs

Then, what about HIV and STDs of all kinds? In the 60s it was all about ‘Free Love’ and sleeping with whoever struck your fancy. Well, times probably haven’t changed much but is that ‘free love’ really free? Having sexual relations with multiple partners puts everyone at greater risk for these potentially fatal diseases and so in reality, you may not be as free as you thought you were.

Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancies seem to be slowing down to some extent but they are still a consequence of failing to act responsibly. While kids have more liberty in their lives than at any time in the past, they are not free from the consequences of unprotected sex. Yes, they may be free to run around town and in that respect, free to choose whether or not to have sex, but what happens if the girl becomes pregnant? She may be free to abort the baby but is she free from any kind of consequence at all? It’s a terrible decision for anyone to face so all that ‘freedom’ isn’t really free, is it? There is always a price to pay.

No matter where you stand on the ethics of these very real public health issues, you have to admit that there are always consequences for everything you do. Simply by asserting your freedom to act in a certain way doesn’t necessarily mean you are free from the consequences of your behavior. So again, the question – you are free to live your life the way you want to but does this mean you are really free? You decide.

The Various Benefits Offered by Bariatric Surgery Support Groups

Health & Fitness

July 6, 2016

More and more people turn to weight loss surgery in order to address their obesity. Bariatric surgery is major surgery, however. Not only is it a major procedure, and one not without risk, it is also a life changing procedure. You must change your entire lifestyle, eating habits, and exercise regime. And you must get used to becoming a whole new person, half the person you were before in size, but twice the person you were before in health. Unsurprisingly, people may have quite a bit of apprehension about having such a procedure done. Luckily, various support groups exist to help them before, during, and after the procedure. These groups are there to discuss important medical issues such as diet and exercise regimes, but also to talk about emotional issues, fears, coping problems, adjustment, and more.

What Are Bariatric Support Groups

In most cases, the hospital in which your procedure is completed will also host a support group. However, the also exist in your own community, as well as online. They are designed to be a forum for those who have had surgery, but also for those who are considering the procedure. They have an educational role, talking about eating a healthy, nutritious diet and about exercise regimes. They also discuss what to expect before, during, and after the procedure and have quite a strong focus on the recovery period. In person meetings are usually organized weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Various experts, including bariatric surgeons, participate in these meetings. They will hold presentations about what to expect and they may also discuss possible complications. This helps people to have a realistic view of what to expect and also helps to reduce any fear and misgivings they may have. Sometimes, hospital organized groups will also run seminars where issues such as treatment options, the effects of obesity, and the pros and cons of surgery are discussed.

Before having bariatric surgery, patients have to prepare themselves both psychologically and physically. This is why surgeons also ensure their patients go to counseling sessions before they have surgery. This is done for two reasons. Firstly, it helps the patient prepare properly for what they can expect, and what will happen after the surgery. During these sessions, they will hear about how their family members can help, and the stresses that the family can place on recovery as well, about their exercise options, and about dietary requirements. Secondly, it is an opportunity for the surgeon to determine whether the patient has the proper motivation to make the procedure a success and to make the necessary lifestyle changes.

After the procedure, patients will usually continue to receive counseling to prepare them for the challenges of their new life. The physical recovery period of this type of surgery is around six weeks, but psychological recovery takes much longer. Once a person starts to lose weight, they change and those around them change as well. This can be difficult to adjust to.

The Top Choking Hazards for Children and Toddlers

Health & Fitness

June 2, 2016

For parents, there are many safety concerns regarding their children’s well-being. One of the biggest safety concerns is choking, as children not only tend to put everything in their mouth, their airways are much smaller, which means that food that is too large can easily get stuck and block their airways.

For parents, it is extremely important to know how to handle a situation in which their child is choking, as being calm, cool, and collected could save their child’s life. From taking a CPR course to knowing what objects are the biggest choking hazards, parents need to be prepared in order to accurately handle a situation and, hopefully, prevent it altogether.

Here are some of the top choking hazards that put children at risk:

Coins

Toddlers often put anything they find in their mouth, and spare change can pose a big threat to your child’s well-being. Many people leave spare change in their purse, on the counter, or in other locations that are accessible to their children. In order to keep them from choking on change, do your best to make sure your change is placed in a childproof place.

Hot Dogs

Due to their size and shape, hot dogs are extremely dangerous for children. Many parents feed their children hot dogs, because their soft texture is easy for their children to eat, but their size and consistency pose quite a threat, as they can easily slide down their throats without being chewed, thus blocking their airways. By cutting them in small, irregular shapes, you can help to prevent them from choking.

Hard Candy

While many kids love hard candy, the small size and slippery texture is easy to choke on, especially if your kids are laughing or running while eating the candy. Many doctors recommend parents should avoid giving children under four hard candy, as they are typically not old enough to handle hard candy properly.

Safety Pins, Paper Clips, and other Household Objects

Small household objects are extremely hazardous, especially if they fall on the floor or are left sitting in a common area. Objects like safety pins, paper clips, nails, thumbtacks, batteries, buttons, and other household objects of similar sizes should be kept out of reach of children. Plus, if you throw away any of these items, make sure to put them in a trashcan that your child cannot get into, as many children often get into trashcans and pull out dangerous items.

Nuts and Raw Veggies

While many parents like to give their children small finger foods they can gnaw on, raw veggies like carrots or celery are easy to choke on because they are so hard to chew. Similarly, nuts and popcorn are so small that eating them whole can pose a big risk to their safety, especially if they have an allergy. Try to avoid giving your children whole nuts and popcorn.

Grapes

The size of grapes are particularly dangerous because of their circular shape. In order to keep them from choking on grapes, make sure to cut in them half or quarters, and if they have seeds inside, make sure to remove them.

Knowing the top choking hazards for children can help you take preventative measures to keep them as safe as possible.

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/child-eating-kids-childhood-meal-881200/

Tips For Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Literally)

Health & Fitness

May 6, 2016

You’ve met the girl or guy of your dreams, you’ve hit it off and you want it all to be perfect. You want to do what you can to make it last – a healthy relationship is a good relationship, and the stronger and healthier you can make it upfront, the better you have of sticking together. Plus, you want to stay healthy, literally, in your life to enjoy it.

Here are a few tips to help you and your partner find that health relationship and stick with it. Also, the plus about going the healthy track with someone you’re interested in, you can support each other!

Be Safe in the Bed

It’s a new relationship- passionate, exciting and you really can’t keep your hands off of each other. But remember other hands may have touched, too. Be healthy with this new relationship, and keep your sex life safe. Part of this entails telling each other about any health issues regarding sexually transmitted diseases. You don’t have to reveal all of your past partners or past history, but be honest, especially in regards to any STD’s or past risky behavior. Be safe in your actions, too. Use condoms. For variety, take a look online. Yes, you can buy condoms online, and thought your new relationship may not need spicing up; you can still check it out.

Exercise Together

Maybe you are an avid exerciser – you love to get up early and bike on a Saturday morning or hit the gym every night after work. Or maybe not. Maybe your new girlfriend or boyfriend loves to exercise – or hates it. Either way, getting into an exercise program is so much easier with someone, and it can do wonders for your health. The fun thing about getting involved with exercise with your significant other – you can try new stuff. Maybe she’s into yoga, but you’re into rock climbing. Give each other’s thing a try. You never know – you may be one the grabbing your yoga mat and heading into crow pose before you know it. You can also do fun dates together that incorporate exercise. Go for a fun hike or take the dog for a walk, run a 5K together or do some hot yoga. The more fit you are, the more it opens up the things you can do together.

Eat Healthy

Just like exercise is something fun to do together, so is healthy eating. From shopping to cooking, a healthy meal can be an amazing date. You can take it a step further, and hit the farmer’s market early in the day, bring your yummy finds home and prepare a romantic meal together later. It’s a fun, healthy way to spend the day. You can also go on dates to new, healthier restaurants instead of your usual pizza place. Again, things like this can be much more fun with someone you enjoy being with. Exploring new foods in fun ways is a great date as you are getting to know your new partner better.

Encourage Each Other

Even if you’re not eating every meal or spending every free moment together, you can encourage each other to be the best each of you can be. In the excitement of a new romance, everything seems new and fresh. It’s a great time to gear into good health. Think about how much better you feel eating healthy, or how much more energy you have getting more exercise. Maybe one of you is already there in a good healthy place; bring the other one with you. It’s easy to slip into each other’s habits – choose the good ones. You can also encourage each other to make other healthy choices – stop smoking or drinking too much, get that check up from the doctor, let go of stress.

A new relationship is amazing – and maybe this is the one. If it is, you want to start with honesty and good choices – from sex and past behaviors to current habits and healthy choices. Enjoy each other, and encourage each other to be healthy and be around for each other for a long time. Leave your old baggage behind, from your bad eating habits to old, unhealthy relationships and enjoy this new one!

Image Source: http://www.fitnesswellnessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Ways-for-Couples-to-Exercise-Together-500×258.jpg

The ‘tummy tuck’: why an abdominoplasty could change your life

Health & Fitness

May 5, 2016

In today’s health-conscious world, more people are taking charge of their diet and exercise regime. People want to lose the extra baggage, get fit and change the way they feel about themselves by adopting a more positive mind-set.

For those people who lose a lot of weight though, this can lead to the problem of large amounts of saggy, excess skin. It can be very painful, upsetting and give people who have worked so hard for the body of their dreams low self-esteem.

There is a procedure that can help though: the abdominoplasty.

What is an abdominoplasty?

An abdominoplasty, or ‘tummy tuck’, is an operation that rejuvenate the skin around the stomach and abdomen. It removes excess skin and fat, contours the body and gives back confidence to the patient.

There are certain requirements you must meet to be eligible for the surgery, as it’s mainly performed on those of a normal, stable body weight who have developed excess skin or fat. For example, it could be through pregnancy, weight loss, aging, genetic or due to prior surgery.

This is certainly not a surgery to be taken lightly, though. There is a misconception within the industry that these will be given to people who just want to improve their contour after being encouraged by friends and family, or for those with unrealistic body expectations, which is not the case. You can also not apply if you smoke or have a significant medical history.

A lot of people contemplating an abdominoplasty often think that it will be very expensive, but truthfully the financial implication will be entirely dependent on your case. The cost usually includes the price of the surgeon, hospital care and the anaesthetic fee, although some clinics have specific packages.

How do I know the right surgeon to go for?

This is a tough field with a lot of competition, as plastic surgery has become one of the most sought after services in the medical industry. Plus, given how serious the surgery is, many people delay it out of fear of something going wrong or of picking a fraudster.

For these reasons, it can be difficult to know who to trust, and you need to know that whoever you pick will perform your surgery to the highest standard. The best thing to do is to base your decision on research into the field. Always make sure that you ask for references of previous patients and before/after photos to see the quality of their work.

The great thing about searching online is that practitioners will often post case studies online, so that potential patients can see how transparent they are. For example, people in search of an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) in Manchester would come across Gary Ross and find tonnes of case studies already on his website. This is a great place to start, and will help to build that initial trust with you even before your first consultation.

Are you thinking about a tummy tuck? Or have you already had one? Let us know your story.

Laser Liposuction Surgery for overcoming Body Fat

Health & Fitness

April 14, 2016

Photo by CC user BestInPlastics on Flickr

Liposuction has become a common surgical procedure, especially for those who carry extra body fat and failed in diet. As the technology is getting upgraded, the procedure has become easier and faster. One such is the laser liposuction technique where lasers are used to break up fat before its removal from the body.

There are two types of laser liposuction- Internal and External.

External Liposuction is done by using laser pen or pad outside the patient’s body before the surgery.

Internal laser liposuction is done by using laser attached into suction device which is inserted into are to be treated.

Areas where laser liposuction is performed:

Abdomen
Thighs
Knees
Arms
Face
Neck

Does it really work on the affected area?

Compared to traditional way of lipo surgery, the laser technique does work wonders. Though there will be certain alteration in the initial stage. Moreover, you must know that after the surgery, there will be change in shape of the body. In addition to this, the laser technique doesn’t reduce the stretch marks formed on the fatty area. However, having a consultation from reputed surgeon of Sono Bello will certainly help you to get the best return.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Laser Lipo:

Advantages of Laser Lipo Surgery:

No need to wait for long hours, it is available instantly
Possible reduction of stretch marks
Quick recovery from fatty area

Disadvantages of Laser Lipo:

Quite Expensive compared to traditional surgery
Risk of internal injury or burning of cells
Change in body shape
Fluid Imbalance
Cell Infection

Different Types of Laser Liposuction:

Surgeon may suggest any of the below mentioned laser liposuction depending on the condition of the patient:

Vaser Lipo: This includes the use of ultrasonic technology rather than using laser technique on the fatty area.

Smart Liposuction: This technique helps in removing smaller amounts of fats. Here, lasers are used internally to complete the process faster.

Ultrasonic Lipo: This technique used by concentrated sound waves to break down the fat concentration.

Things to consider before laser liposuction surgery:

You must be 18+ years of age and should carry no health problem
Fat concentration should in specific body area
You must undergo certain diet and exercise regime

The cost of laser liposuction:

The cost of this laser liposuction procedure depends on the type of surgery you’re undergoing. A reputed surgeon will charge affordable fee for the surgery process. The price of the laser liposuction surgery also depends on the amount of fat your body has and the time and type needed to eliminate the same. Price also depends on the reputation of the clinic and the surgeon who will be treating you.

Conclusion:

Undergoing laser liposuction surgery should be given due importance only if the condition is worsening and all other alternatives are failed.

Guide to Buy the Right Elliptical or Treadmill

Health & Fitness

March 30, 2016

Fitness is such a passionate domain that a person who is actually conscious about his / her health would never miss on taking up all possible measures to keep it perfect. To meet your fitness goals, you need many tools like gadgets, diet plans, and above all fitness equipment. The prime two machines that you would surely see in each and every gym are elliptical and treadmill. The market offers you load of models like horizon elliptical and others, but even more than these machines what you really need to know is how to use them to get the best out of it. While buying these two machines, often people bank on what the store keeper is saying and promoting; that would not be a wise take for sure. You need to know extensively about these two before making the right choice while purchase.

What are treadmills?

Treadmills are machines that offer you the opportunity to increase weight loss, cardiovascular functioning, and bone density, all good for your overall health. It burns more calories (approximately 50 to 250 more calories an hour) in comparison to bike or elliptical trainer and assures building the bone density of lower extremity at its best. You get the decline and incline feature to customize your running.

What are elliptical trainers?

Elliptical trainers offer you the benefits of all kinds of weight-bearing exercises without the impact. This is basically for low impact workout and does not strain your body and joints. The arm handles in this machine allows you a full body workout. This machine is a combination of stairmaster, treadmill, pedal movement of an exercise bike. You can have a complete workout session without pressurising your back, knees, joints and hips.

With ample models in stores like nordictrack x9i and many others, it is quite natural for customers to get confused as to which machine would be the right choice. Here are some points to remember while you plan to buy either of these two fitness machines –

Budget – This is of course the first criteria when you buy anything; if the price is exceedingly high try to look for other models or similar machines that provide similar kind of effects.
Quality and Durability – These are supposed to be one time investment items; you don’t buy treadmills or elliptical trainers every year thus make a wise choice by keeping quality parameter upmost. Check the products minutely before buying and take a test session of around 15 minutes before making the deal.
Space needed – If you evaluate the folded up machine you will not be able to actually gauge the area it needs to be kept. Especially for treadmills, you need to leave space all around to minimize the chances of injury. Also for elliptical trainer, you need to check if the full body movement can be done freely considering the final space it takes.
Stability– Check how stable the model is; just like individuals the machines also have different characteristics and traits. The stability is not the same for all. Test out few models and check the construction. For treadmills, make sure you do the testing without shoes.
Motor and Warranties – The motor capacity should be decided on the fact if the machine will be used once or twice in a day or rigorous by many users. A continuous duty rating of most of the home treadmills are around 1.5 to 2.5. Consumers should not compromise on warranties. Motor warranty for 1 year is compulsory and the warranty for other parts should be for around 3 years.

These pointers if remembered while buying, you are sure to get the best elliptical or treadmill at home.

Optimind for Memory, Focus and Mental Energy

Health & Fitness

March 7, 2016

Whether you have difficulty concentrating, feel foggy, or lack energy, nootropic supplements may offer the solution you have been hoping to find. Optimind and other supplements contain ingredients that help to improve focus, concentration, and enhance cognitive function, memory, and mental energy. If you are searching for an energy supplement, it is important to find a source of information that is not linked to the company selling you their product.

Getting the Information You Need

Making an informed decision is beneficial for your health, wellness, and getting the results you want when taking supplements for cognitive enhancement. Optimind review and information can be found at Brain Enhancement Advisor. If you are looking for independent and unbiased product reviews, you can find reviews and comparisons about the best supplements on this website.

Better Memory and Cognitive Function

The desire for improvements in memory, cognition, energy, and mental performance is common among adults of all ages. The makers of this product claim that it offers improvements in memory, focus, eliminates the foggy feeling in your head, and helps to boost energy levels, so you can get everything done and enhance mental performance and cognitive function. Besides a healthy diet and plenty of Vitamin A, there are some other options like listed below.

Increases Energy Levels Naturally

Are you struggling with low energy levels? Does lack of mental energy interfere with you overall performance at school or work? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many adults in the United States seem to be overworked, overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted. This energy supplement helps to increase your energy levels, enabling you to improve performance and feel better.

Proven Ingredients

The unique blend of nootropic and herbal ingredients offers improvements in memory and energy levels. The formula includes some known nootropics and substances that naturally boost focus and energy levels. The ingredients include phosphatidylserine, vinpocetine, choline, DMAE, tyrosine, alpha lipoic acid, and taurine. Other ingredients include Vitamins B3, B6, B12, D3, and green tea leaf extract. The formula is considered to be safe and effective.

Fast Results, Guaranteed

Some nootropic supplements don’t work immediately and you may have to take them for days, or weeks, to notice a significant improvement in focus and clarity. When you need faster results, you may want to try a supplement that delivers results from the first dose. The makers of this product promise fast results with the use of this product. They guarantee that you will see results within an hour of taking the product.

Favorable Reviews

Product reviews can be a valuable source of information, as long as they are independent and written by users and reviewers with no affiliation with the company selling this product. The average Optimind review is quite favourable and users report results when using this supplement and no serious side effects have been reported. The product is among the most popular on the market and has an impressive following. In addition, the company has a solid reputation, including an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. What the product lacks is clinical research to demonstrate the effectiveness of the product.

In Vitro Fertilization and Your Options of Having a Baby

Health & Fitness

March 1, 2016

Has having a baby been on your mind for some time now?

Unfortunately, many women (and couples) wanting to bring a new life into the world have struggled with this challenge.

One option on the table to conceive a child is in vitro fertilization (IVF), something that countless women and their mates have turned to over the years.

Whether or not IVF is in your current or future plans revolves around your ability to become pregnant with such a procedure, not to mention the expenses involved with in vitro fertilization.

Is IVF Right for You?

Start with taking a look at your current life, what your medical history (now and in the past) is, and what your financial outlook is.

In looking at how you are currently living, is now the right time to try to become pregnant? As millions of women can tell you, the timing has to be as right as possible in order to be able to successfully have a newborn.

In the event you have had trouble conceiving a child in the past or even just recently, will a fertility center be your best option to make your dream happen?

Depending on your location, you could go with a fertility specialist in Utah or another part of the country.

Take a look at the center’s history and of course its success rate at conceiving children.

Does the center have a solid past and present or has it had some issues when it comes to in vitro fertilization? Do other women and couples recommend the specific center you are considering or do they have some not so kind opinions of it? Finally, is the center you are looking at nearby so that you will have ease of travel or are they located a long distance from where you reside?

Another important component of IVF is what it will cost you (as an individual or as a couple) to follow through with the procedure.

The cost of fertility treatments typically vary from person to person/couple to couple. On average, one can expect to pay somewhere in the area of between $12,000 and $14,000 for the entire procedure, though all cases are usually different depending on the individual’s needs.

One option you should certainly investigate is will your insurance provider cover some or all of the costs associated with IVF? In many cases, the health insurer will not offer coverage for the entire process, but it may compensate for diagnostic testing needed to get the process rolling.

Success Rates Truly Do Matter

Also take the time to look into a center’s success rate with in vitro fertilization.

Do numbers back up its claims to be the best choice for you wanting to conceive a baby? Has the center not delivered on its promises at times and actually left women and couples disappointed in their ability to conceive a child?

Patient testimonials (oftentimes found on a center’s website) are a great look into whether or not this might be the fertility center for you. While all patient comments should always be taken with a slight grain of salt, they can be very beneficial to you in making your mind up.

Just as many consumers shop online these days for their lifestyle requirements, you can also use the Internet to learn a wealth of information about IVF. Doing a Google search of your center or centers of interest will help you in finding what facility best suits your needs.

Another key component in the mix is will your center of choice offer any refunds if you ultimately are not able to become pregnant? Refund programs are available with a number of centers that is of course assuming you meet the necessary criteria to obtain one.

One last item to keep in mind is the support you want and quite frankly need from friends and family during the IVF process.

Turn to those you might know who have opted for in vitro fertilization, getting their viewpoints on the success or lack thereof from it.

While patient testimonials might leave you a little skeptical at times, hearing from those you know and trust should give you more piece of mind, helping you in your ultimate goal of becoming a mother.

« Previous 1 … 3 4 5

Tag: health

Communicable Diseases

HIV and STDs

Teen Pregnancy