Melanie Cole's Health Radio - RadioMD.com

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Melanie Cole talks with leading health experts as well as regular contributors on health, wellness and fitness. Including segemnts with the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine and Dr. Holly Lucille.

  1. 07/08/2016

    Dental & Vision Insurance: What You Should Know

    People are used to major medical insurance covering most of the cost of services. Vision and dental insurance don't work that way. Dentistry is not considered as a branch of medicine by the federal government. Dentists don't go to medical school, only to dental school. Dental insurance is a bit more expensive because it isn't considered medically necessary. In fact, barbers used to do dental work in the late 18th century. Dentistry was considered "aesthetic only" at one time. You may not need dental insurance if your dental health is good. Out-of-pocket cleanings may not bother you. If you have kids, you may want dental insurance. Dental care for children is included under Obamacare. Ophthalmologists go to medical school and can do medical procedures. Eye health procedures conducted by an ophthalmologist and emergency surgeries are covered by medical insurance. Optometrists do not go to medical school and are covered by vision insurance. Vision insurance covers your eye exams, contact lenses and glasses. If you know you need contacts or glasses, get the insurance for the savings and discounts. Some employers offer vision insurance for as little as $4 per month. Health insurance expert and President of Government Relations for GTL, Marianne Eterno, joins host Melanie Cole to discuss the basics of dental and vision insurance.

  2. 07/08/2016

    Alexander Technique for Pain Relief

    What are you doing to get in the way of how your body should be moving? Are you sitting in a way that's painful? Do you slouch? Crane your neck to look at your cell phone? The Alexander Technique helps undo the acquired tension that prevents the innate system of movement. The neck, head and back are coordinated via Alexander Technique. It's best to see a practitioner to observe your habits and prompt you to make changes. Your practitioner will use a mirror and demonstrations to show how you are holding your body. Verbal cues and hands-on adjustments to lengthen and relax the muscles are also incorporated. Moving with fluidity and grace will bring great relief to your body. Paying attention to your body takes your mind off the stress of daily life. Listen in as pain relief expert Rochelle Reea shares how the Alexander Technique works.

  3. 07/08/2016

    Healing through Ayurvedic Medicine

    Ayurvedic medicine dates back 5,000 years in India and can easily be integrated into your health care. Ayurveda views everyone as one of three body types or doshas. These predominant types determine what you should eat and natural medicines that work for you. Finding out your type is a good place to start with Ayurveda. As a step into Ayurveda, you might want to explore how food can heal. Speak with a knowledgeable practitioner before trying herbal remedies. Some herbal combinations are not right for young children, expectant mothers and those with immune system disorders. Meditation is also part of Ayurveda. This can be practiced by anyone. Meditation can be a huge leap when you're used to being busy. Start small and try to still your mind for 30 seconds and increase from there. Listen in as Dr. Taz Bhatia joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share the benefits of Ayurvedic medicine.

  4. 07/08/2016

    Recovery Post-Plastic Surgery: Plan Ahead

    What sort of recovery should you expect after a cosmetic surgery procedure? First, ask your doctor how long you should expect to be in pain. Most procedures take a few days to a week for pain to subside. This is a general guideline. Every person experiences pain and recovers a bit differently. Second, you will want to know how soon you can get back to life responsibilities. These activities would include returning to work, getting groceries and taking the kids to school. Most people can return to these activities after one week. See how you feel after finishing your prescribed pain medication. Third, you may wonder how long to wait before getting back to an active lifestyle. You should be able to resume light exercise after four weeks. Wait six weeks or more before resuming weight training and greater activity. Enlist family or friends to help manage younger children after surgery. You have to be especially careful when surgery involves muscles, like tummy tucks and breast surgery. Be cautious. When you're ready to get frisky, remember your post-op instructions and be aware of your mobility. Don't engage in sexual positions that irritate the surgery site. You may choose to take time off work and social activities for treatments that redden the skin. Makeup will cover up some redness when the skin has healed. Arnica can help with bruising and swelling. Ice and elevation ease recovery. Avoid heat to eliminate excessive discomfort. Most importantly, follow your physician's instructions very closely. Those post-op instructions are designed for healing without complications. Listen in as Dr. Robert Cohen discusses what to expect when recovering from cosmetic surgery procedures.

  5. 07/07/2016

    Health Secrets that Affect Your Bottom Line

    The work world takes a toll on your body.  We all sit far too much when we work at desks and suffer through long commutes, leading to blood clots and terrible posture. Our schedules are overloaded as we try to balance work life with home life. The incomplete to-do list and unresolved problems keep us up at night, leading to poor sleep. You can't perform your best at work when you're worn down. How can you get back on track? First, make smarter food choices at the office. You may tend to reach for high-fat and high-sugar foods from office vending machines and cafeterias. This affects how you respond to your colleagues and your families after work. Make smarter takeout choices. Carry fruit and nuts to the office for snack time. Second, try to get plenty of sleep. Go to bed earlier. Try some relaxation techniques if you can't easily fall asleep. Many companies are taking on the responsibility of health for employees. Having a wellness program in place seems to recruit better employees. Less absenteeism, better performance at work, and happier families all result. Take advantage if your company has a wellness program. Listen in as Dawn Peters shares how you can improve your productivity and counteract the negative health effects of working.

  6. 07/07/2016

    Tired All the Time? Could Be Adrenal Fatigue

    Stressful situations activate the "fight or flight" impulses. Your adrenals get kicked into high gear so your body is ready for action. But, if you're constantly under stress, your adrenal glands become taxed. The adrenals are very tiny glands and can get overworked. Living a busy lifestyle can be stressful. You may not be sleeping enough. You may have a poor diet. You could be consuming too much caffeine. Your blood sugar may be struggling. All of these factors can exhaust your adrenal glands. How can you give your adrenal glands a break? Get more sleep. Cut back on caffeine consumption. Eat consistently so you aren't skipping meals and gorging. Set alarms on your devices if necessary. Eat foods that fuel your adrenals. Stick with lean protein, nuts, avocado, sunflower seeds and sweet potatoes for snacks. Relax. Try some yoga or meditation. Get a massage. If you're exhausted after making some of these changes, speak to your doctor about testing your cortisol levels. Listen in as Isabel Smith shares how to care for your adrenal glands.

  7. 07/07/2016

    Stress Management through Brain Training

    Some stress is good for your brain. It teaches you how to problem solve under pressure and develops your stress management skills. The problem is that stress can kill memory if you don't work on brain response. Anxiety and stress top the reasons for poor academic performance. You know that stress can mess you up at work. If you feel overloaded and start thinking about stress management, it's a little too late to try training your brain to deal with the immediate situation. Many people get a headache when the stress becomes overwhelming. You have to deal with the immediate pressure and get your brain in shape later. When the stress gets to you, try to stimulate brain circulation with tapping. With your fingertips tap these places with gentle pressure: temples, above the ears, top of the head, back of head where the neck meets the skull, forehead, under the eyes, or anywhere that feels tense. Open the mouth and tap the jaw. Take deep breaths while tapping and exhale through your mouth. Then, squeeze your face, relax and release that tension. Cease tapping and concentrate on breathing with your mouth open. Inhale good energy and exhale the stress. You may feel significantly better after this exercise. The key thing to remember when feeling stressed is to change the energy immediately. Listen in as brain fitness expert Dave Beal shares how to prepare your brain to deal with stress.

  8. 07/06/2016

    Clearing the Confusion of Hormone Therapy

    Eighty percent of women will have menopause symptoms that affect health and quality of life. If you fall in that group, you may want to talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy. When symptoms become cyclical, it's probably time to start. Typical symptoms include weight gain that doesn't make sense, night sweats, forgetfulness, and difficulty sleeping. If you still have your uterus, it's advised you take something that has estrogen and progesterone. There should be equal amounts of both hormones in whatever you use. Systemic hormones go into your bloodstream. Prescribed by physicians, systemic hormones are not advised for those with heart disease, cancer or history of stroke. Systemic hormones are available in IUDs, pills and patches. Vaginal or topical hormones do not go into the bloodstream. These are typically available as creams and sprays. Starting hormone replacement 5-10 years from the last period has proven to be good for heart health and bone density. It slows the thickening of the carotid artery, decreasing risk of heart attack and stroke. In past research studies, women experienced fewer symptoms when they were following good menopause habits. Avoiding sugar, keeping the weight off and working out can help. Listen in as Dr. Diana Bitner shares what you need to know about hormone replacement therapy.

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About

Melanie Cole talks with leading health experts as well as regular contributors on health, wellness and fitness. Including segemnts with the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine and Dr. Holly Lucille.

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