09 May 12 Making your business more green
One of the new “games” to play in reputation management is to suggest your business is in some way friendly to the environment. An increasing percentage of the population believes you run a better business if it is more sustainable and “green”. In this, there’s actually an ironic benefit. Insurance companies also believe you should run your business in ways that reduce risk. This means keeping all your policies, processes and procedures under review to ensure they are safe. If you find ways to reduce the risk of claims, the insurer will respond with discounts. So, for example, your business may benefit if both the public access and the employee-only parts of your premises are redesigned in a more environmentally friendly way. If you use paint that does not fume and has reduced levels of toxicity, this reduces any risk of allergic reactions and illnesses.
Using natural light wherever possible, fitting LED lights and generally using power-efficient equipment reduces heat and the risk of fire. It also makes the premises more comfortable and popular with customers. Ask your insurer whether there are incentives to upgrade the building by fitting energy-efficient systems. If you comply with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the Insurance Information Institute reports that, as from 2010, there are more than twenty insurers offering up to 10% discount on premium rates. One of the factors you might want to consider is the use of solar or wind power. Ignoring the capital cost to produce enough electricity to allow you to “go off the grid”, one of the main worries is the risk of outages. Some insurers are now offering specialized business interruption coverage to boost confidence.
When it comes to the vehicles used in the business, some of the commercial auto insurers offer discounts if you buy or lease hybrids. Even though you may not be impressed by the claimed threats of global warming or climate change, the insurance industry is firmly on the side of reducing emissions. The better the fuel-economy of your fleet, the lower the premium rates are likely to be. Similarly, the idea of pay-as-you-go will both save you money on the premium rates if you reduce milage to the absolute minimum and persuade your employees to drive more safely. The more safely and efficiently you run the fleet, the lower the premium payments. It also makes an excellent add-on to your marketing to show how much you care about the environment and that you are committed to reducing America’s dependence on imported oil. If you build environmental factors into your current risk management system, there’s a real chance of improving your bottom line, negotiating discounts on your business insurance rates, and giving yourself some marketing copy that will enhance your reputation with green customers. In this instance, there’s no reason why your skepticism about climate issues and other environmental factors should stand in the way of improved profits. Talk this through your your business insurance advisor to find out what your state’s insurance industry has on offer if you do decide to become more eco-friendly.
09 May 12 Various acne solutions
Any person who has ever had problems with acne has definitely tried to use the widely advertised solutions for getting rid of those pimples. Some of them have probably tried domestic remedies too. And only a part of those who struggle with acne breakouts actually go to a doctor in order to receive an adequate treatment for the condition. Still, it really depends on the effectiveness of every measure taken to stop acne for an individual since for some people simple gels will work perfectly while others will only see results after using drugs like Accutane. So let’s take a look at some of the most popular measures for treating acne and analyze their potential effectiveness.
Home remedies
Home remedies for acne start with general hygiene tips such as washing your hands and face regularly to the use of toothpaste and garlic as topical remedies for pimples. While some of these remedies can deliver a certain degree of relief relying solely on them won’t get you any far. In fact over using them, especially when it comes to hygiene can make your problem even worse. So if you’ve tried a range of home remedies and didn’t get any suitable result it’s a clear sign that you should move on further to more serious solutions.
Topical solutions
This kind of accutane is definitely the most widely advertised with lots of new products being delivered to the multibillion market it’s estimated as. Most of the gels, cremes and lotions that have attractive packages and positive slogans tend to deliver a narrow set of effects that are supposed to eliminate acne. First of all they dry out the skin in order to remove the excess of oil, which is beneficial for acne breakouts. And they also usually have certain antibacterial properties in order to eliminate the infection that is causing inflammation in the pores. Such solutions can have a rather high effectiveness rate only for mild to moderate acne breakouts and often required to be used on a regular basis in order to sustain any results.
Antibiotics
If you go to a doctor with the hope to treat acne breakouts he or she will usually prescribe you with a course of general antibiotics administered both externally and internally. Since the main reason for inflammation in acne is the bacterial infection using antibiotics can actually help. However when you end the course it’s likely that new breakouts will take place after some time because of the bacterial development in the pores. This may require repetitive use of antibiotics that can actually help get even better results.
Heavy artillery
For some people all the measures mentioned above won’t deliver any suitable results. That’s when the heavy artillery comes into the scene in the form of Accutane. This drug has received a lot of controversy in the last couple of years due to its potential side effects. But there’s no denying the fact that Accutane really helps getting rid of the most severe forms of acne. This drug should be used only under strict medical supervision and requires regular blood tests and exams to be performed. Yet if used right it can work wonders with acne.
05 May 12 Tramadol and barriers to pain management
For once, we can start with the selfish position. When you are the patient, the healthcare issues should be all about you. As the patient, you are entitled to be the centre of attention. Except, of course, you should never allow this to go to your head. Physicians are entitled to a measure of respect. They do, after all, have the expertise to help you recover. So let’s go on with the idea that all treatment should be a partnership between you and the physician. They have the skills and there’s no need for you to continue suffering needlessly.
As a statement of the obvious, most people end up seeing their regular physician because they are in pain or they have symptoms as warning signs of pain to come. Fear is a great motivator even though, in these difficult economic times, it can be expensive to get advice and treatment. So the first potential problem is in yourself. When do you decide to make an appointment? Some people delay. This is understandable for economic reasons. When you do not have current health insurance or access to Medicaid, waiting until it’s an emergency has become a standard response. But when you are covered by a health plan, delay is less justifiable. Even though you may think it good to accept the pain, perhaps it’s a macho thing, the longer the delay, the more ill you may have become and so the more intensive the treatment you may require. Catching a problem early is always best. Suffering in silence simply makes you a victim of yourself. This also applies to people who believe they should not take any painkillers because of the risk of side effects. If you have fears, talk to your physician and ask for reassurance.
Even when you have taken the first step, you can be unlucky and run into a professional who’s not sympathetic to those in pain. Unless you address this problem, you can get second-best treatment. This requires you to be polite but firm. You have to work with doctors who are prepared to take pain seriously. If you have doubts this particular doctor is interested in pain management, negotiate to see another doctor – this may require you to get a reference from a primary care physician to someone better qualified. You must work within the terms of your health insurance. Ideally, you are looking for someone prepared to draw up a pain management plan. To prepare yourself, you should do some reading to identify the treatment options. As a first step, you will benefit if you keep a pain diary. Record when and how much it hurts. It’s too easy to gloss over details that may actually show a pattern to assist diagnosis and the selection of the best treatment.
In all this, remember drugs like Ultram or its generic tramadol have years of track record showing them both effective and safe. There’s no sense in denying yourself access to this drug in the short-term. Even if the pain management plan actually works through physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy so you no longer need to rely on painkillers all the time, Tramadol is the ideal fallback should pain flare up.
27 Apr 12 Prednisone and balancing the risks
Let’s start with a few words about aspirin. Over the generations, this has been a household staple for minor problems. For most of this time, it was not necessary to get a prescription. You can take quite high dosages over long periods of time without adverse effects. This is not to say aspirin is completely safe. If you take an excessive amount, it becomes poisonous and there’s a risk of death. But few people abuse this drug. With the corticosteroids, the FDA recognizes the more serious risks if you take any of the drugs in too high a dose or for too long. That’s why they are prescription only. The idea is to force you to see a doctor and get positive instructions on how to avoid the adverse side effects. Put it this way. There are real benefits from treatment using these drugs, but you have to manage the risks. Failure to do so means you could end up more seriously ill.
What then is the problem? If you are taking the drug as a pill, the active ingredients go into your bloodstream and are taken all round the body. You don’t get to decide which part of your body to target. As a result, you can quickly experience effects in unexpected places. For example, your legs may swell with fluid retention and your moods may swing quite rapidly. If you persist in taking the drug over time, it can make your immune system less effective, affect your eyesight and reduce the calcium level in your bones making them more fragile. None of these effects are desirable and, if you don’t take care, the risk of them affecting you grows more real.
So let’s start with a simple rule. If you can get good results without having to use a corticosteroid, don’t take one of these drugs. But if you have tried the alternates and the results were not good, the next rule is to take the smallest possible dose for the shortest period of time. Fortunately, the manufacturers now package the corticosteroids in a wide range of dosages. This makes it easier to manage the dosages to minimize the risks. Now let’s assume you get good results from the corticosteroids and you want to continue enjoying the benefits. Ask your physician about switching to a different delivery system. For example, if you are experiencing asthma, using an inhaler delivers the drug to the surface of the lung and reduces exposure to the rest of the body. If you have eczema, a topical cream rubbed into the affected area gets better results. To counteract the risk of weight gain, you must go on a strict diet and exercise. You need to keep your calorie intake low and increase bone strength through activity.
So let’s be clear. Prednisone and the other corticosteroids are highly effective in reducing inflammation and the pain you feel when suffering from a range of different diseases and disorders. But, without proper management, the same drugs can cause serious problems. In particular, note the need to avoid contact with anyone who has an infectious disease and, if you take Prednisone for any length of time, do not stop suddenly. Stay safe and get the benefits.
