The rising cost of health insurance is one of the top reasons employers are finding it difficult to continue to provide their employees with the same kind of benefits they have had in the past. A reduction in the already very high rate of increase still means you are still paying more. Between 2000 and 2005 the cost of healthcare increased to the double digits.

The health care research organization, Kaiser Family Foundation,noted that since 2000, health insurance premiums have gone up 78 percent and wages only 20 percent. Yes, the rate of healthcare increase has only risen 7.7 percent this year, but it is still no reason to celebrate.

The overall cost of health insurance for individuals now averages $4,242 a year and for a family the cost usual averages $11,480. As a healthcare consumer and the person for which most of the financial burden of these healthcare costs will be funded, make sure you take every necessary step to keep you and your family as healthy as possible and avoid long term expensive illnesses.

The best way to contain healthcare costs is to be proactive with your health. The word wellness is not a new term but it certainly is not taken seriously enough by the general population. Wellness programs are designed to help prevent illnesses and or for early detection. Both will help to keep the cost of healthcare down. Yet, there are still too many individuals who take the "it will not happen to me" approach or wait to be diagnosed with an illness before they may decide to take the proper action to help themselves but the health expenses are already mounting.

My colleagues and I have learned throughout the years that these 8 strategies need to be apart of every individuals life everyday to help them keep their heathcare costs affordable. It is true however, that some will have family histories of certain diseases but that does not mean they should do nothing to help themselves. These strategies are effective for that as well. These strategies are as follows: put yourself first, behavior modification,stress management, healthy lifestyle,proper nutrition,physical activity,life ergonomics and stay on target with annual screenings.

Medically known as cephalalgia, a headache is an ache or pain in the head, neck, and sometimes upper back. One of the most common afflictions, causes can range from stress, eye strain, and sinus tension, to aneurysms, meningitis, and tumors. They can also be caused by more outwardly obvious reasons, such as head injuries or blows to the neck or face.

What’s Hurting
The brain, as an organ, is not capable of feeling pain; it lacks the right nerve fibers to be pain-sensitive. But, there are areas near the brain where pain is able to be felt: a network of nerves surrounds the scalp, face, throat and neck. Additionally, the blood vessels, the surrounding membranes, and the muscles of the head all have the ability to perceive pain.

Types of Headaches
While there are many sub-categories, there are four types of headaches. These are vascular, myogenic, traction, and inflammatory.

Vascular: Vascular headaches are headaches caused by the swelling or irritation of blood vessels. They include migraines (headaches that involve severe pain, nausea and blurred vision), toxic headaches (headaches that are produced by a fever or from over-exposure to toxic chemicals, including alcohol), cluster headaches (headaches marked by clustered episodes of intense pain usually over one eye), and headaches caused by hypertension.

Myogenic: Myogenic headaches are caused when the muscles in the head and neck tighten, causing pain. A tension headache, the most common kind of headache, falls under the Myogenic category. These can either be episodic (coming on every once in a while) or chronic (occurring with frequency). They are often caused by the stresses of lack of sleep, emotional influences, nerves, bad posture, hunger, and physical exertion.

Traction and Inflammatory: Both Traction and Inflammatory headaches are symptoms of underlying medical conditions or disorders. Without treatment, these get worse and occur more often over time. An example of this is a sinus headache, a headache caused by inflammation of the sinuses. This inflammation can be the result of bacteria, fungus, viruses, allergies, or autoimmune reactions.

Diagnosis of Headaches
Though, from a statistical standpoint, most headaches don’t require medical attention, this isn’t always the case. Because some headaches may be warning signs of life-threatening conditions, a medical diagnosis may be needed, sometimes urgently.

Headaches that are persistent and worsening over time, headaches that are frequent in children, headaches that are caused by a blow to the head, and headaches that involve fever, stiff neck, confusion, or unconsciousness are just a few examples of headaches that warrant the attention of a healthcare professional. In these cases, CT scans and MRI’s of the head are typically performed.

Treatment of Headaches
Headaches that are not symptomatic of an underlying condition can usually be treated with over the counter painkillers. However, frequent and prolonged use of this kind of medication is not recommended and can actually lead to Rebound Headaches (headaches caused by withdrawal from medication). Caffeine and certain vitamins – Magnesium, Vitamin B2 – are also sometimes recommended.

Some people find that keeping a diary of when their headaches occur helps them to figure out the “trigger” of their headaches. For instance, certain foods and certain medication can lead to headaches. If a person is tracking when these foods and medications are used and realizes that they have headaches a few hours after consumption, something they are ingesting could be the cause.

Genetics and Headaches
While there is no genetic link among certain types of headaches, some types do tend to run in families. This is particularly true for migraines. Most children and teenagers who have reported repeated migraines also have relatives with the same affliction. In fact, if both parents of a child have repeated episode of migraines, there is roughly a 70 percent the child will develop them at some point. If only one parent has migraines, however, the chances of the child developing them drop to between 25 and 50 percent.

Headaches can be range from temporary pain and temporary discomfort to a warning signal your body is emitting. Anything that is prolonged or severe should never be ignored, no matter how common headaches may be.

About Us:The Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado believes in The Osteopathic Difference. In a medical industry focused on treating symptoms, The Center is more focused on finding the cause of these symptoms. The Osteopathic Difference is the application of "Hands on Therapeutics" for both the diagnosis and treatment of complaints, disorders, and pain. The Osteopathic Difference will apply the time proven osteopathic fact that function is directly related to structure, and poor structure will lead to poor function.

While The Center tries to focus on health, and above all else, prevention for all those who cross into its threshold, sometimes the best that can be done is to recognize the source of the “DIS-EASE," and to teach every individual how to manage their symptoms. Believing that it is the most important aspect of any treatment regime, and that it is the primary job of the health care practitioner, The Center works to empower the patient in the maintenance of their own health.

Achieving health is also an elusive place, and The Center will work tirelessly to create a path to health which, when embraced by the patient over time, will allow the patient to enjoy a positive return on their rehabilitation investment. The Center teaches a Mindfulness Yoga Program that aims to educate the patient in the power of the mind to minimize, if not rid the body of, aches and pain. Although the ultimate goal of health is to live without the use of drugs, natural or otherwise, The Center for Osteopathic Medicine recognizes the importance of medicinals and their appropriate use. All styles of "Hands on Manipulation" are practiced at The Center. By combining these Manipulative techniques with Structural Integration, massage, meditation and Western Medicine, The Center for Osteopathic Medicine helps people to identify disease before it manifests, quiet pains that have been previously diagnosed as Chronic, and embrace a holistic mindset to Live in the Present- and within that presence, live completely well.

The information discussed in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms of a health problem, please visit your doctor. The material discussed on this website is not meant to replace the opinion or diagnosis of a medical professional.

Even though acne affects nearly all of us at some point in time, the degree of acne outbreaks that we face can vary greatly from one person to the next. Acne can range from pretty mild with only a few pimples coming up every once in awhile to very severe, in the worst of cases causing disfiguration and permanent scars.

Acne scars can be painful and can last for years if not properly treated. Luckily, there are quite a few acne scar treatments available to people dealing with this common side effect of severe acne. In fact, there are treatments that can help prevent scarring from happening in the first place making these treatments something to consider even if you just suspect your acne might lead to scarring, though certainly an option if you already have existing scars.

Rolling scars are one type of common acne scar, given the name because they appear as if they are rolled up. One of the more popular methods for treating this type of scar is subcutaneous incision. During this procedure, a local anesthetic is used and then a small incision is placed in the scar to break it up.

Obviously this type of procedure is only performed by a qualified doctor and in fact, they even use special needles during this treatment. Afterwards, you will probably experience bruising for a week or so, after which it should disappear along with your scar.

Another procedure that can be used for preventing scarring and treating existing scars is by using dermal fillers. For this procedure, your doctor will usually inject collagen into the scars, giving them a puffed up look and a smoother appearance when compared to your surrounding skin. But it's important to keep in mind that this is a procedure that you'll have to continually repeat from time to time to maintain that appearance. In other words, this isn't a long-term cure, just a temporary solution.

While the first two procedures are effective, according to many experts the most popular treatment for acne scars is laser resurfacing which can totally remove all evidence of acne scarring when done properly. More often than not, your doctor will use a carbon dioxide laser to remove the top layer of the affected skin. This lets the remaining skin heal itself, producing a fresh, scar-free layer of skin in its place.

Needless to say, your doctor will need to have intimate knowledge of how the laser works and the various components that make up your facial structure in order to effectively perform this delicate procedure. Therefore, it is important to be sure you're working with a qualified medical professional.

Even though millions of people suffer from acne, scar treatment may not be necessary for the majority of patients since their acne will typically go away without leaving scars of any sort. But if you are faced with more severe forms of acne that can lead to permanent scars, any of these treatments for acne scar removal can allow you to finally get relief and enjoy clear, acne-free skin.

Acne breakouts are the concern of many people all over the world. Many people are beginning to take their acne breakouts very seriously. The problem is not always finding a cure; people tend to forget that prevention is always better than cure.

Eating habits have been thought to be related to the outbreak of acne and the deterioration of the condition. Greasy foods are always bad for the body. You can control the amount of greasy food you ingest.

This means that the grease you eat will be visible on your skin. Pores can become clogged in this way and, of course, the clogging of pores will lead to outbreaks. The solution for this therefore is to monitor the amount of grease you consume!

Consuming foods with high levels of antioxidants can mitigate the effects of acne. Boost the food intake of antioxidants. Foods containing vitamins A, C and E help reduce inflammation as help neutralize free radical damage and reduce acne.

- Vitamin A foods consist of: organ meat, sweet potatoes, spinach and apricots

- Vitamin C foods consist of: peppers, lemons, strawberries, broccoli

- Vitamin E foods consist of: shrimp, sunflower seeds, nuts, and oils

Drinking water can sometimes alleviate acne problems. This is because water can detoxify you inside out. It is recommended that you should consume about eight glasses of water daily.

Exercising is not only a way to lose weight. The science behind the act is that it can help reduce stress and it increases blood circulation and oxygen penetration to the skin, which may help to prevent acne. But take a shower as soon as possible after a workout since sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in the pores.

Other measures such as having clean pillow cases, not sleeping with make-up on your face, pulling hair away from your face and not picking or irritating your face in any way can also help to control acne.

So, instead of those frequent and costly trips to the dermatologist and purchasing expensive acne products, consider taking precautionary methods to prevent acne. This will definitely help to boost your appearance and self-confidence as a young person, and help to keep some more money in your pocket.

Proper skin care and acne prevention should be holistic and the root problem must be addressed. Speak to your doctor or check out your local bookshop to understand the topic more. In doing so, you may be better informed than others when presented with doubtful skin care methods.

Many people have differing views about acne. It is made worse when certain experts could not agree within themselves. However, it is better to know the facts about acne before trying any therapy or believing in untested ideas. Here are some known facts regarding acne before you seek any treatment.

Food - No food has been related to acne. However, if you feel that a type of food makes your acne worse, please stop that food after consulting your doctor. No conclusive evidence has yet pointed out to acne and its relation to food yet.

Frequent washing - Frequent washing of the acne-affected area will not treat acne. On the contrary, it may adversely affect your skin. Washing twice a day should be more than enough. Contrary to the popular belief of many people, acne is not caused by dirt. It is the sebaceous gland that gets closed and forms the acne on your skin.

Oral Vitamin A - Derivatives of vitamin A, called retinoids are used topically and orally to treat acne under medical supervision. If somebody takes excessive Vitamin A hoping that it will treat acne, which may make the health worse as Vitamin A in large quantity can have adverse effects on the body.

Medications - Some medications can bring on acne like cortisone, certain anti-tuberculosis drugs and some anti epileptic drugs. Chlorinated solvents can also cause work-related acne.

Hereditary - If your parents had acne, it is likely that you inherit acne.

Hormonal changes - Hormonal changes bring on acne. The hormone, Androgen, is accountable for excess production of sebum. It is well known that women suffer from acne outbreaks during menstruation or pregnancy.

Acne like conditions - Some other conditions such as folliculitis may appear like acne. There are many other diseases that may mistaken for acne. They are Rosacea, Keratosis Pilaris or Perioral Dermatitis. Do not initiate self treatment, it is always better to get diagnosed by a doctor.

When selecting an acne treatment, you could use some of these guidelines. First, select an acne treatment that is based on clinical research. Then choose an acne treatment that you can well afford. No use trying an expensive treatment which you will give up half way.

Ask about the usage requirements regarding your selected acne treatment before you start it. You may decide that it is not for you or you probably cannot follow the directions. Chose an acne treatment that it will work best for you. And finally, be patient. It takes time for acne to heal.

One of the biggest factors leading to acne development, according to most experts, are hormonal changes throughout your body. There has been plenty of medical research to show that the majority of people suffering from acne exhibit oily skin, which leads to acne development. That overproduction of oil in the skin, it turns out, is often times caused by high levels of male hormones in the body (in both males and females). Based on those findings, researchers quickly determined that a proper balance between male and female hormones is one of the best ways to help prevent acne from developing and to maintain healthy skin.

Since we all go through significant hormonal changes during our teenage years, it's no shock that acne typically occurs during that same time, though plenty of adults get acne too. These hormonal changes regulate much of our bodily functions, growth and development, which is in an almost hyperactive state during puberty. It's only natural that our hormones get "out of whack" during this time, leaving teenagers susceptible to acne development among other things as this increased amount of male hormones flows through our bodies. But why does that cause acne to form in the first place? How are the two things related?

As the body starts producing more male hormones, those hormones excite the sebaceous glands which are oil-producing glands found throughout the skin. As this oil is produced and moves from below the skin up to the surface, it attracts bacteria. Once the oil reaches the skin's surface, through a hair follicle, the follicle can easily become clogged because of the excess, bacteria-laden oil. These blockages are a virtual buffet for other bacteria which are attracted to the area, leading to infection resulting in one of the many forms of acne. Most often, acne forms on the face, neck or back though most people's acne outbreaks occur only on the face.

Bodily changes during puberty aren't the only times when hormones can trigger acne development. Women in particular are vulnerable to this being a cause for acne development as they get older, especially in conjunction with changes that come with their monthly cycles. In fact, birth control pills are often prescribed as an indirect treatment for acne since they help keep the hormones under better control.

Taking all of this into account, it makes sense that experts find that men are more likely to have long-term acne (more male hormones present over a longer period of time) while women are more susceptible to occasional acne flare ups, even into adulthood (in sync with their monthly cycle or other hormonal changes).

Therefore, if you're suffering from acne and nothing seems to be working, it might be a good idea to consult a specialist to see if hormonal factors might be working against you and what can be done to get those hormones under control.

If you're interested in purchasing an elliptical machine, then you can feel confident that there will be a high quality machine available that suits your needs. The first thing you need to do is spend sometime doing your research, and working out exactly what you want from your elliptical machine. You can just purchase the first one you find, or the cheapest one, but that doesn't mean you'll get your money's worth. And if the elliptical machine you buy doesn't fulfill your needs, it will probably end up sitting in a corner never being used.

For most people, the reason for buying an elliptical machine is to get a good overall workout. So you need to look for a machine that fits your body style and is also within your price range. The best elliptical machine for your needs won't necessarily be the most expensive product on the market, and if you shop around, you can find some great machines at very reasonable prices. Focus on what the machine can do for you, and once you have a few models that suit, you'll be able to find the one with the best price.

Some things to consider when buying an elliptical machine include:

Comfort - it's important that you try out the various elliptical machines, and choose one that's comfortable. If it's not, you'll find that you just don't use it as much as you should.

Ease of use - make sure the unit is easy to use, or again, you'll find it just sits in the corner and you've waste your money.

Quality - it's important to make sure your money is spent on a high quality, durable machine that will last you for a long time. In other words, good value for your money. Ask around friends and family, or fitness enthusiasts, if you're not sure which brands are known for their quality products.

Optional Features - think about the various optional features available on elliptical machines, and decide which ones you really need. Some features might include tracking of calories burnt, length of workout, distance traveled and so on. These features usually cost a little extra, so if you don't think you'll use them, don't buy them.

Spend some time looking around, work out exactly what you need for your requirements, and then you can shop around for the best price. If you do this before you buy an elliptical machine, you'll end up with a good product at an affordable price.

What are Ellipticals?

Ellipticals are machines that are similar to cross country machines. Like the latter, they can offer a complete, full-body workout in just a few minutes. Elliptical machines can provide you with a safe, low-impact, aerobic workout. These machines can also be adjusted to provide varying levels of stress and difficulty.

Ellipticals allow you to try out different types of exercises with just one machine. Most ellipticals simulate walking, stair-climbing, cycling, and skiing. By using an elliptical motion, the impact of these exercises is reduced, sometimes even eliminated.

Elliptical machines, like other indoor machines, are ideal for people who do not want to leave their homes to work out, or for those who are easily bored when performing just a few exercises. As with treadmills, the use of ellipticals can help strengthen the heart and the immune system, as well as improve muscle tone. They also provide a total body workout in a relatively short period of time – most manufacturers claim that you only need to work out for twenty minutes or so to claim its benefits.

The main advantage of an elliptical machine is its flexibility. If you go to a gym regularly, you probably perform many exercises using many different machines. An elliptical machine allows you to simulate many exercises with just a single machine, which is ideal for the home environment. Another advantage is the reduced impact on the exercises, which is ideal for people who have problems with their joints, such as those with arthritis. Be aware, however, that the reduced impact means that you burn fewer calories.