Comparing Americans who are without health insurance vs insured

data : US Census

Comparison  and data on Non Insured in United states  vs Insured 

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Basking in the Sun and tooth decay have no connection? wrong read this and you will find out

Dental caries which is commonly called as tooth decay is a phenomenon which every individual suffers.  Many factors build up the tooth decay, your lifestyle, your sweet tooth, even your childhood chocolate habits and once the tooth decay sets in, it is pretty much irreversible.  However a team of researches with the Nutrition Reviews, under Dr.Phillipe Hujoel of University of Washington conducted a review into the causes of tooth decay.  The review which encompassed 24 clinical trials on more than 3000 children and started in 1920 to end in 1980.  

The aim of the review was to determine the real causes of dental decay. The research of the reviewers showed that those who were associated with Vitamin D had approximately 50 percent less incidence of tooth decay. 

Dr.Phillipe Hujoel who conducted the review said. "My main goal was to summarize the clinical trial database so that we could take a fresh look at this vitamin D question,." 

Everybody who is associated with the medical field knows that Vitamin D is a vital ingredient for supporting bone health but the effects of Vitamin D on the tooth have been historically disputed.  Way back in 1950 the American Dental Association had strongly opposed the view that Vitamin D was in any way related with dental decay.  

Even with the latest finding by Dr.Hujoel and his team,  the National Research Council, has marked the issue that Vitamin D carries fighting benefits against tooth decay as "unresolved."  Even the current reviews by the US Department of Human Health and Service jointly with American Dental Association could draw no relation between the Vitamin D and tooth decay.

However Dr.Hujoel is not worried, he adds that, "Such inconsistent conclusions by different organizations do not make much sense from an evidence-based perspective,"   His team of researchers reviewed increased vitamin D levels in children through the use of supplemental UV radiation or by supplementing the children's diet with cod-liver oil or other products containing the vitamin.

Dr.Hujoel reviewed the clinical trails in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Austria, New Zealand and Sweden. The trials were conducted in institutions, schools, medical and dental practices, and hospitals and the subjects were from ages 2 to 16 years.

Another medical personality familiar with the research, Dr.Michael Hollick, Professor, Boston University Medical Centre has also confirmed the link between Vitamin D and tooth caries.  Dr.Hollick said that, "the findings from the University of Washington reaffirm the importance of vitamin D for dental health." He went on to add that "children who are vitamin D deficient have poor and delayed teeth eruption and are prone to dental caries."

In view of the above study, readers are requested to increase their intake of Vitamin D through sun rays or other additives.  Children in the house, who now a days shun from playing outside, should be coaxed into letting their video games and internet go for a few hours a day and going out in the Sun, especially the rising Sun.  Proper dental care and grooming is a requirement which the parents should teach their children, through proper brushing techniques, using the right tooth paste and washing mouth after eating.  

Parents can visit the Healthy Speak blog to know the advantages of proper grooming and dental care.

The moral of the story is that the health of your teeth is in your hands, get some Sun, proper toothpaste and your teeth could last you a lifetime.

Vijay Prabhu

Hosting a dinner party at home, a guide to give you essential tips for getting started

Image courtesy shopping.kitchensofindia.com

There is nothing more beautiful than inviting your friends over for a good dinner party so you can enjoy their company and good food.  Be it inviting your boss and his family because you need a promotion or you want to make friends with your uptight colleague.  However throwing a good dinner party is a very messed up idea if you don't go through it in a proper way.  Need help getting started on hosting your a dinner party?  Read on for my tips and share some of your own! Let's party.

1. Always go with your regional dishes.  That is if you are a Punjabi, go for punjabi food, if you are Marathi go for marathi food.  Remember, your friends know you for what you are so, it will be easier for you to go with the tried and tasted food.  Your friends will also enjoy a different cuisine from what they usually have, assuming your friends are not from your own region(a boss never is).

2. Use trusted, make-ahead recipes you've already made at least once.  You can get best ingredients from Kitchens of India here.  They have a mix of every make ahead recipes of almost all regions of India.  Visit their site to get a informed view of various recipes available.

3. Never try out a new dish on the day of the party.  Try out a exotic recipe only when you are alone in the private.  A hashed recipe at a dinner party will doom your party and tarnish your reputation.  

4. I am advising you to go with make-ahead dishes because they reheat well and the more important thing is you wont be slaving away in the kitchen when your dinner party is in a full swing.  This way you wont miss socializing and sharing the latest gossip in the town and your guests wont feel insulted.

5. Fix the ambience in advance.  The ambience of the party is a very important thing.  If you are throwing an outdoor party, remember to order the chairs and fans.  If the party is indoors, start the airconditioner two hours in advance.  If you are having a cocktail party keep the drinks ready with beer in the refrigerator.   Don't go for a themed party till you have become accustomed to throwing parties.   

6.  Have the crockery, cutleries, plates and bowls in place.  If you want the flashy kind of dinner plates like the crystal or bone china ones, no need to purchase them.  They are available on rent, just google it or ask one of your friends who throws parties for the address.  This is much cheaper then buying a entire set.  

7.  Same with housekeeping staff.  Do engage the housekeeping staff for this particular day on rental.  This will help you in clearing the after party mess(its always a pain).  Another advantage of renting housekeeping staff is they are trained in party manners and liveried which always creates a good impression with your guests.

8.  Keep the dessert ready.  Remember a good party is remembered by the last item of the day.  The people who visit you wont remember the fancy Scotch you poured them, the fancy dish you service them but a good dessert will always be remembered.  After all the sweets and ice-cream sober up even the most die hard alcoholics.

9. Always keep the telephone number of the nearest hotel serving good food ready.  This helps in case of calamities like food vessel falling, food going bad or even when you get more guest then expected.

10.  There is nothing to write here.  Just have a good party.  Remember the best way to a man's heart is through is stomach so a good party to your boss will help get you that promotion you so desperately seek.

Vijay Prabhu

Are we secure medically as a nation, how does Modern Healthcare touch lives and are we aware of it?

India is a pretty young nation with having completed just 66 years of independence.  Considering the fact that USA and other developed nations are far more mature to us in practically everything from human rights to medical treatment, we are lucky to have these nations as our allies in medical field.  Because as we are growing you will find the day and age of us die of natural causes is way past us.  That 99 percent of Indians will die of some ailments is a simple truth.  Gone are the days when you died a natural death, if you look around you you will find that all around you there is some kind of sickness .  Added to that the pressure cooker style of life we live, where we start our day with immense stress to end our day with sleeping pills only adds to the requirement of a good medical infrastructure in India.  

However, if you step outside in the streets you will find that each and every hospital in India is now named as a "super speciality" "multi speciality" or even "super specialized multi hospital" when in reality they do not even have capable doctors or the facilities on their panel.  Frankly I do not know how they are certified or how they put their names thus.  

In this scenario, considering the hyper stress full life we live in, we should be aware of true and genuine good hospitals giving out best treatment in India.  It is true that India has developed medically leaps and bounds due to key reforms in the medical sector including opening up of the sector.   And along with the low fees being charged by Indian hospitals compared to the western facilities it make a good sense to get your and your near and dear ones treated here.

Even the Middle Eastern and Asians come to India for medical treatment given the expertise and low cost benefits they incur.  A Knee replacement operation cost comparision is given below

Country	UK sterling price including hospital and doctors’ fees	US dollar equivalent	Percentage saving on UK price
UK	£9,500	$16,625
Bulgaria	£2,784	$4,872	71%
Cyprus	£6,842	$11,974	28%
Estonia	£5,410	$9,468	43%
France	£7,300	$12,775	23%
Germany	£6,500	$11,375	32%
India	£3,602	$6,304	62%
Norway	£7,800	$13,650	18%
Panama	£6,152	$10,766	35%
Poland	£4,770	$8,348	50%
Portugal	£8,500	$14,875	12%
Slovakia	£9,546	$16,706	0%
Spain	£7,666	$13,416	19%
Thailand	£4,816	$8,428	49%
Tunisia	£3,600	$6,300	62%
Turkey	£4,100	$7,175	57%
Venezuela	£4,870	$8,523	49%

In this graph you will find that India, Bulgaria and Tunisia are cheaper by as much as 60 to 70 % over the UK price however the other issue is security.  India offers a very good, secure and world class facility along with easy travel norms.  So if so many foreigners are coming to India, why should Indians go out to seek medical treatment at three times the cost excluding the airfare and domicile charges.  It makes no sense.

The medical field in India has grown leaps and bounds since the entry of the corporations in the Hospice business.  Few can match the expertise and costs benefits that these good Indian hospitals give you.  Add to that they have the latest equipment and a very capable team of internationally acclaimed doctors.  So much so that even citizen of the US prefer to get their treatment done here.

Among the corporate hospitals, Apollo Hospital Group stands out.  With branches in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Madurai, Mysore, Vizag among other cities this group fast expanding group has spread out all over India.  With best medical facilities and corporate style transparent structure the group has already made a name for itself.  It even has international branches in Dhaka and Mauritius.  You can visit its website to know about details here.

The dream of a ideal, stress free life is just a dream in today's hyper polluted environment.  Therefore it is always healthy to know the best of the best medical facilities you have.  In many cases when a emergency occurs in a family, because we love the dear one who needs treatment, we tend to rush him or her to the nearby nursing home or hospital.  This has happened to me and it may have happened to you.  More often than not, you will find that the nursing home or hospital is not competent to handle the emergency and then you have to shift to a good hospital.  Therefore it is always useful to know about the best medical facilities along with the equipment and doctors they have so you can rest assured that your near and dear one is a good hands.

This are my views and your views may differ, please write in your comments on this article and help me help others.  If you are interested in Op-ed pages click here

Vijay Prabhu