Appeal A Decision On A Health Insurance Claim

All consumers have the opportunity to appeal a health insurance plan decision. Under the Affordable Care Act, effective September 2010, consumers have the right to appeal through their health plan's internal process, which may consist of several levels of appeal. The act also allows an external appeal process, with a non-partial decision-maker. You can appeal a medical determination of care or claim decision made by your health plan. Appeals allow for different reviewers who may have different opinions about the decision.

Instructions

1. Read your explanation of benefits document to assure you understand the claim decision. Call the phone number listed on this document to obtain a full explanation of the claim decision. If your claim was denied for a reason such as benefit exclusion, and the health plan does not cover the services you obtained such as cosmetic surgery, you may not have a strong case for appeal. If you still do not understand the decision, contact your state's insurance regulator for assistance (see Resources).

2. Collect written documentation regarding the decision, including correspondence with your health insurance company, your medical records and notarized statements from your doctor or health care providers as it relates to the claim you wish to appeal. The information you collect must support your appeal and attempt to show why the health plan decision should be re-reviewed.

3. Call your health plan or send them a written request to file a first-level internal appeal. Your provider or a legal representative can file an appeal on your behalf. Follow your health plan's appeal procedures and provide any supporting documentation showing why the decision should be overturned. The health plan will make a determination within a specified time frame, based upon risk, their policies and applicable laws.

4. File a second- and third-level appeal or however many your health plan allows until the appeals are exhausted, should each level uphold the original decision. Initiate an external appeal with an independent impartial reviewer after you have exhausted all internal levels without a decision favorable to you. The directions on initiate these appeals are located in the written documentation sent to you with each subsequent decision.

5. Call your employer's Human Resources department benefits representative to advocate on your behalf if coverage is through an employer-sponsored plan. HR may escalate the issue to their insurance broker, if they support your appeal. Some companies retain the final right to override the health insurance company's decision to pay the claim.

Appeal The Denial Of Insurance Coverage For Emergency Room Treatment

If you have been paying your health insurance premiums, your health insurance provider is legally obligated by contract law to make good on benefits covered by its policy. All health insurance policies have exclusions, and no policy covers everything. Generally the insurer's obligations are clearly defined in the policy. Insurance companies can, however, require documentation before paying claims. If you believe you have been unfairly denied an emergency room insurance claim, you can appeal the decision within the company and to state regulators.

Instructions

1. Gather documents. Get a copy of the emergency room attending physician's notes and statements, as well as any records from the ambulance service, paramedics or police, if applicable.

2. Ask the physician for a letter verifying the treatment provided was medically necessary and for a bona fide emergency. This latter stipulation may be important to justify any added expenses if you went out of network for the emergency treatment. If you have a primary care physician, he may be able to assist you with a letter as well.

3. Appeal to the claims director for your insurance company. Frequently this individual is a physician as well. Check your policy for specifics on where to address your appeal. Include a copy of all your emergency treatment records as well as any relevant details from your personal medical history that support your claim. Include copies of your bills.

4. Appeal to your state insurance commissioner. You can find contact information via the link to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (see "Resources").

Afford Cosmetic Surgery After Weight Loss

Cosmetic surgery after weight loss is often too expensive for many to consider. Unless you can have a doctor verify your medical need for it, insurance companies will not pay for cosmetic surgery, as they consider it an elective surgery, meaning it's optional. In order to afford cosmetic surgery after weight loss, you must be willing to be creative. Consider how important the end result is, and this will motivate you to find a way to afford the surgery.

Instructions

1. Offer to become a spokesperson for your surgeon or clinic once the surgery is complete. Set a time limit (for instance, one year) where you will promote the clinic, agree to have before and after photographs taken, and possibly be in commercials or other advertisements. In exchange for allowing the surgeon to show off his work, you might be able to receive cosmetic surgery for little to no cost.

2. Set up a payment plan. Some clinics will do this at no charge, while others will refer to you an outside financing source. Visit a few reputable surgeons to get an idea of what such payment plans will cost per month, and what type of down payment may be required.

3. Start a blog where you can discuss your weight loss, and sign up for a web advertising service to earn money. A blog could be a great outlet and an avenue to help others who desire to lose weight. You will need to promote your blog and gain a following to earn any substantial income. This income can then be put toward your cosmetic surgery fund.

4. Pick up a second job as a newspaper carrier, landscaper, or something else that requires physical work. This will help you keep the weight off, and you can put that extra income toward your cosmetic surgery. Try to keep the big picture in mind, and think of what you will look like once you have the cosmetic surgery. This will help you plow through the hours of a second job much more easily.

5. Take out a home equity loan, or money out of a retirement/savings account. While this is not the best financial move, if you really want the surgery, you may want to consider going for it. After weight loss, you may have difficulty carrying around a lot of extra skin, so using money from these sources might be beneficial for your mental well-being.

Family Beach Vacations On The U S East Coast

Pick a fun East Coast beach for your family vacation.

With beaches lining the eastern seaboard, singling one out for your family vacation can appear daunting. Family-friendly attractions fill quaint towns all along the coasts, but some places have more pizzazz than others. Beyond rollicking in the waves, you can take your family to amusement parks, nature parks and cultural attractions such as museums.

Clearwater, Florida

With beaches, adventure attractions and cultural fare, Fodor's ranked Clearwater, Florida, as the nation's top family beach on the East Coast. Nearby attractions include Tampa's indoor water park called Adventure Island, Busch Gardens amusement park and J.B. Starkey's Flatwoods Adventures, a working cattle ranch that the Florida Audubon Society has designated an important bird area. Around dusk, head to Clearwater's Sunsets at Pier 60, where street performers play and artisans display crafts for two hours before sunset and two hours after. Florida Monthly readers voted the Pier 60 sunset as the second-best in the state. The whole family will enjoy nearby botanical gardens with free admission, 150 types of animals and a special trail targeted to children. Clearwater also offers the Salvadore Dali--a museum featuring the largest collection of Dali work outside Spain--and the nearby Leepa-Rattner Museum of Arts, which hosts works from Picasso, among others.

visitclearwaterflorida.com

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, features 60 miles of white sandy beaches and tons of family-friendly activities. The kids can learn to surf, the family can explore inlets on kayaks and everyone can don scuba gear and see underwater wonders. Myrtle Beach, also known as the golf capital of the world, offers more than 100 golf courses. Take the kids to the 312-acre Myrtle Beach State Park, which features 1 mile of beaches, campgrounds, cabins and a nature center. Or, you might schedule your trip to coincide with one of Myrtle Beach's family-friendly festivals including September's Beach, Boogie and BBQ Festival, complete with a Kid Zone, wake board demonstrations and free rides on the lake. Myrtle Beach businesses also rent out jet skis, offer parasailing tours and sunset cruises.

visitmyrtlebeach.com

Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City, Maryland, offers fun family activities such as an ice skating rink, the chance to sail on a pirate ship and paintball. Adults will love the fishing, golfing and affordable hotel rooms. Ocean City's Boardwalk features family-friendly activities including Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, pier games and Jolly Roger at the Pier, an amusement park with roller coasters, miniature golf and a Ferris wheel. The pirate ship, Pirate Adventures, departs several times each day. On it, kids can sing pirate songs, take the sailor oath and hunt for treasure. The ice skating rink at Carousel Resort Hotel features professional ice shows at night during July and August. The building that houses the rink also contains pool tables, pinball and video games. Dad might enjoy his pick of championship-level golf courses. Mom can schedule a massage or facial at one of the local spas. The whole family can enjoy a sightseeing cruise.

ocean-city.com

Ocean City, New Jersey

Ocean City marks New Jersey's most family-friendly beach destination. The city's laws banning the sale of alcohol mean that the rowdier crowds typically stay out, leaving families like yours lining the 8 miles of beaches. However, attractions like Atlantic City's boardwalk--with its famous salt water taffy--remain within a close drive. Ocean City also has its own 2 1/2-mile boardwalk with two amusements parks and a water park. The Travel Channel selected the town as one of the nation's Best Family Beaches in 2007 and Best Beaches in 2009. Surfer Magazine has also named the destination as one of the Top Ten American Surf Towns. Besides beaches, you can enjoy tons of restaurants and the 12-hole Ocean City Public Golf Course.

oceancitychamber.com

Adjust To Being An Empty Nester As A Single Parent

Empty Nest Syndrome hits many parents as the kids go off to college, get married or just simply leave home. While an empty nest might be hard to adjust to as parents it's a little bit harder if you are a single parent and that last child is leaving the nest. It's easy to become depressed while the adjustment period takes place.

At this time in your life you will have to readjust your thinking to taking care of yourself and not worrying about the kids. It's a fact of life that our little birds fly the coop.

This might be the first time in over 20 years that you will only have to care for yourself and put your own needs first. Quite a foreign concept to many of us single moms.

But empty nesters don't have to become depressed over being on their own and many of us can use this time in our lives to fulfill our own dreams and aspirations.

Instructions

1. As a single parent who is facing an empty nest it's important to make your dream list. Now is the time to write down all the things you'd like to do with your life. Maybe you want to take a dream vacation and travel or maybe you want to write a book. Time is now your friend and not the enemy.

2. Be sociable. If you are a working parent then the hours you spend at work will help offset the quietness of home. If you don't work then maybe it's time to join a group in your community where you can socialize and have fun.

3. Consider dating again. There are online opportunities to meet new people. If online dating is scary to you then look for single groups in your community and join. It's hard to get back out into the dating world especially if you've been single for awhile. Grab the bull by the horns and take a chance on life!

4. Find a hobby. It will keep you busy and occupy your time. It will help you to relax. If you've always wanted to learn salsa dancing now would be the time to take lessons.

If you are a crafty type person most craft stores offer classes in scrap booking, cake decorating as well as knitting and crocheting. It's also a good way to be sociable and meet new people.

5. Take a class at your local community college. Now is the perfect time to even go back to school for that degree you might have bypassed to raise your kids.

6. Keep the tv on so it gives you the feeling of companionship. Hearing other voices will give you the feeling of being less lonely. It's great for background noise as you do your housework or even while you are on the computer.

Music is also a good way to fill that void and blast it if you need to. Sing at the top of your lungs.

7. Get a pet. A dog or cat can be great companions if the house just seems too quiet without the kids. Walking a dog will give you exercise and an added excuse to go outside. Cats are wonderful snugglers (contrary to their reputations of being independent)

8. Keep busy and don't hesitate to call a family member or friend if you are feeling sad or blue. It's common for anyone who is facing an empty nest to have times when it's lonely no matter how busy you might be. The same kids who drove you crazy are now the ones you are missing the most.

9. Keep in touch with your kids. If they have gone away to college text or call them periodically to see how they are doing.

If your kids have gotten married then still spend time with them without invading their privacy.

Adjust The Gastric Band

A gastric band, used to help severely obese people lose weight, can be adjusted about four to six weeks after surgery and the procedure takes only 10 minutes. Adjustments may be performed periodically after that to help you continue to lose weight. The procedure is done in a doctor's office without surgery.

Instructions

1. Connect the tubing. When a gastric band is first implanted around your stomach, tubing connects it to an access port that's fixed beneath the skin on your stomach. It can't be seen, but it can be felt. This is your doctor's access to inflate or deflate the Lap-Band or Realize Band.

2. Use a gastrotonometer (a type of sensor) to determine the current size of your stoma (the mouth of your stomach). The gastrotonometer will help the doctor to assess how much adjustment needs to be made as well as the band's position. The band, or ring, that constricts your stoma typically is inflated with a saline solution to make it larger or smaller. Just after surgery, you may experience water retention which reduces the stoma size so your doctor may not inflate the band at all at the time of surgery.

3. Inject saline. A surgeon will inject about one-half of the needed amount of saline and then check the gastrotonometer. Many doctors will opt to inject a small amount at a time, rather than a full amount to allow you to adjust to the new restriction slowly.

4. Return for more adjustments. Depending on your weight loss progress, you may return in three to four weeks for another adjustment. Adjustments will be based on whether or not you're losing weight at an acceptable rate or if you've had complications such as nausea, vomiting or obstructions when eating. The band can be completely deflated at any time if you experience obstruction, vomiting or esophageal enlargement.

5. Get an X-ray. Doctors may order an X-ray in which you will have to swallow barium (a contrast agent for better imaging) before and after adjustments for a more precise determination of how much to adjust your gastric band.

Adjust A Dell Laptop Screen

Adjusting the Dell laptop screen reduces eye fatigue and makes computing more comfortable.

The built-in screen on a Dell laptop can be adjusted in several ways, from changing the brightness level to setting the resolution or merely tilting the screen for a better view. Some adjustments can be made using the hotkeys on the keyboard. Changing screen resolution involves going into the Control Panel in the Windows operating system and adjusting the settings with a few mouse clicks.

Instructions

1. Adjust the physical position of the laptop screen by pulling forward on the top of the screen or pushing backward to change the viewing angle.

2. Decrease screen brightness by holding the Fn key while pressing repeatedly on the down arrow key. Brighten the screen by holding the Fn key and pressing repeatedly on the up arrow key.

3. Click the Microsoft "Start" or flag button on the laptop screen and click once on "Control Panel" to begin navigating toward the resolution controls.

4. Click "Display Settings" or "Adjust Screen Resolution," depending on the Windows operating system, to open a new window.

5. Click and hold the left mouse button on the slider control under "Screen Resolution" and drag the control to the desired setting to change screen resolution. Then click "Apply" and "OK" to close the window and return to the main laptop screen. The screen may blink briefly while applying the new settings, which is normal.

Adjust A Citizen Watch Band

Adjust a Citizen Watch Band

Adjusting a Citizen watch band entails removing links to make the band smaller or adding links to make the band larger. Adding or removing links is a simple process that can be accomplished using a hobby tool set. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Making the Band Shorter

1. Stand the bracelet up on its side. Look for arrows on the inside of the bracelet.

2. Insert a small pointed tool from your hobby or watch set into the tiny holes on the edge of the bracelet. Insert the tool in the hole at the base of the arrow. You will see two holes on the edge of the band. Both pins need to be removed.

3. Push the pin out with force in the direction the arrow is pointing. Repeat this process on the second pin. When the pins are removed the link will be loose.

4. Remove the link from its neighbor and replace one pin to secure the bracelet.

Making the Band Longer

5. Remove the link closest to the clasp by putting a small, pointed tool into the tiny hole on the edge of the watch band.

6. Push the pin out so the link is detached from the clasp.

7. Put a new link next to the detached link and line them up so a new pin can go through their holes and attach them together. You may need to snap them together depending on the type of Citizen bracelet you have.

8. Place the pin into the hole on the edge of the band and push the pin through the band with your sharp tool to attach the two links.

9. Repeat this process if you need to attach more than one link.

The Addon Pack For "Virtual Dj"

Use the add-on pack for Virtual DJ.

Virtual DJ is music creation software for DJs and musicians in different genres of music. The Virtual DJ interface allows you to create, mix and upload audio songs in formats such as WAV, MP3 and CDG. The Virtual DJ Add-On Pack enables you to install and use sound effect plugins such as distortion, echo, reverb and chorus. When installing the Virtual DJ Add-On Pack, you must first drag and drop the add-on files to the sound effects folder in the Virtual DJ program.

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" button, which is located on the bottom left hand corner on the main screen. Select "All Programs" at the bottom of the drop-down menu, then click Virtual DJ. Wait for the software to open, then minimize the window.

2. Click on the "Start" button again, then select "My Documents." Select the "Virtual DJ" folder, then double-click to open it. Click the "Plugins" folder, then select the "Sound Effects" folder.

3. Locate the "Add-On Pack" on the computer, then drag the selected files to the "Sound Effects" folder and drop them. Maximize the software window, then click the "Effects" tab located in the middle of the interface.

4. Select the "Audio" tab, then click the "Sound Effects" button located on the left of the screen. Scroll through the list of effects to see if the "Add-On Pack" effects are listed.

5. Drag and drop the "Add-On Pack" files to the "Sound Effects" folder again if the files aren't listed.

A Swim Lap Lane To A Pool

Add a Swim Lap Lane to a Pool

Adding a swim lap lane to a pool marks an area other pool users know to avoid, which will help prevent collisions and unintentional interference with the lap swimmer. A lap lane helps competitive swimmers practice staying perfectly straight with their lines. Finally, lap lane markers absorb some of the turbulence in the water, making the swimming smoother and simpler within the lane itself. Use polypropylene rope, which is the only type of rope which is lighter than water and floats. If you use any other type of rope, your divider will sag between buoys.

Instructions

1. Measure the width of the lane you desire to install. Of course, this width also depends on the size of the pool. At least a four-foot width is necessary for adult use; six feet is the optimum width for competitive swimming.

2. Secure buoys every four to five feet along the length of the polypropylene rope. String the rope through the rings at the top of the buoys and tie each one in place to prevent sliding. The particular orientation of the buoy is not important, only that the rope is very tightly secured to the buoy's tie loop to prevent it from shifting.

3. Tie each end of the rope to the securing loops at the edge of the pool. The loops can be placed at whatever lane width you choose.

A Midi Jack To Ion Drums

ION drums allow you to record your performances.

ION Drums are electronic drum pads that simulate the sounds of real drums. Drums like the Studio Session include six different kits suited to different musical styles. Some ION drums are built for musical video games like the Rock Band series. All ION drums use a USB output cable that can connect directly to a computer USB port. You can convert the USB cable to a MIDI jack through a USB-to-MIDI converter.

Instructions

1. Unplug the ION drum's power cable from the electrical outlet. You do not want to risk electrical shock when working with the kit.

2. Plug the ION drum's USB output cable into one side of the USB extender.

3. Insert the the USB cable from the MIDI converter into the other end of the USB extender. You now have an open female MIDI jack that can connect with any male MIDI cable. The MIDI-to-USB converter will automatically convert the USB audio signals from the drums to a MIDI signal.

Achieve Dramatic Weight Loss Results

Swim laps to burn calories.

Losing weight takes effort and determination. That is especially the case when your goal is to achieve dramatic weight loss results. Losing a large amount of weight takes time. It is hard to keep motivation from flagging. Part of having success in achieving dramatic weight loss results is a significant lifestyle change. A positive attitude, healthy foods and exercise are all components in this change.

Instructions

1. Count and reduce calories. Determine the amount of calories that you need to eat. An online program (see Resources) will help you. Input your height and weight data, along with activity level, and the amount that you should eat to lose weight is calculated. Input the food that you eat daily into the database so that you can keep track.

2. Eat your favorite foods in moderation. Include 100 to 200 calories of your favorite, unhealthy foods each day or even just a few days per week. Even just a few days per week is adequate. By including these foods in your calorie count for the day, you run less risk of feeling deprived and binging on sweets.

3. Eat plenty of protein throughout the day. It keeps you full and contributes to muscle growth. Sources of protein include fish, egg whites and chicken. Eat protein with every meal.

4. Keep your kitchen filled with healthy food and free of sugary snacks. Fill the refrigerator with whole grains, lean meats, fresh fruit and vegetables. To achieve dramatic weight loss results, you must change the way you eat. Eliminating the food from your house makes it easier to avoid temptation.

5. Exercise five days a week for at least 45 minutes at a time. Aerobic exercise and weight training are both vital for dramatic weight loss results. Aerobic exercise includes jogging and swimming. Build muscle via weight lifting two times per week. Muscle changes the look of the body and also burns more calories at rest, which contributes to weight loss.

Dj Voice Effects

DJs commonly uses voice effects during a performance.

A disc jockey (DJ) employs several tricks during a performance to enhance the music's entertainment value. In addition to turntable tricks, such as mixing and scratching, DJs may embed voice effects into their work. Voice effects identify the DJ, and raise listeners' energy. There are a few common voice effects DJs use on a regular basis.

DJ Drops

A DJ drop is a unique vocal sample of someone saying their name and is used anywhere within a song and can serve a variety of purposes. A DJ drop is used to identify the DJ, and in some instances, the radio station or mix tape the song is currently on. A DJ drop can also be used in a club setting to notify club goers of the DJ playing there tonight. For example, a DJ drop can say "DJ Master is in the mix!" Drops also protect against another DJ stealing your work and claiming it as its own. Typically, DJ drops only last a few seconds, as not to distract listeners from the song.

Hype Effects

DJs can enhance their performances by including vocal hype effects. These effects may include vocal commands for the crowd to dance a certain way, or persuade the audience to cheer and make noise. For example, the vocal commands could say "Everybody get crunk," or "I need all the single ladies to make some noise!" Hype effects are different from DJ drops because drops are used primarily for identification. Hype effects are used specifically to raise the energy level of the crowd. Hype effects can also include popular quotes from familiar movies and television shows.

Audio Effects

Audio effects can be added to any DJ vocal sample to make them sound more appealing. The different effects may turn vocal samples into a digital musical instrument as well. Flanger and phaser audio effects for example, can make your voice sound similar to a guitar. Reverb effects make vocals appear like they were recorded in a large, open room. Delay effects can repeat the vocal sample in a pattern similar to an echo. Adding an audio effect to a vocal sample enhances the sound during a DJ performance.

Characteristics Of Pediatric Surgical Instruments

Tools for dental work.

Pediatric surgical instruments are differentiated by their functionality and applications; these instruments have varied purposes that differ with the types of surgeries performed. Because pediatric medicine is an ever-evolving field, there is an constant evolution in the development of instruments for pediatric surgery with more advanced characteristics. There are some defining characteristics of pediatric surgery instruments that are used conventionally.

Lightweight and Sensitive

Regardless of the type of procedure, pediatric instruments for surgery are lightweight and sensitive to the touch. These characteristics are important because the tissues of a fetus, a toddler or an adolescent are less mature and easily damaged. This is a main characteristic of the commonly used forceps that are used in surgeries ranging from cardiovascular surgery to micro-surgeries that might involve delicate and hidden tissues as well as dental surgery. Forceps, for example, are used to hold tissue as well as surgical dressings in a way that the surgeon literally can get under the tissue without tearing the artery or a vein in cardiovascular pediatric surgery. In case of dental surgery, the equipment is particularly thin and lightweight to ensure that the surgeon has the versatility of exposure given that the patient has a smaller mouth and smaller roots and tooth features than adults.

Flexible

More often than not, the instruments that are used in adult surgery are the same types that are used for pediatric surgery. Although the application remains the same, the characteristics differ substantially to accommodate the physiological needs of a pediatric patient. The instruments for pediatric surgery are flexible so that the surgeon is able to use these instruments with least possible damage to the organ that is being worked on.

Notably, the flexibility of the equipment is required because the smaller the surface area of the target of the surgery, the more complicated the surgery becomes. Instruments such as the tourniquet are used in micro-surgeries as well as more intricate types of pediatric surgery .According to the "Biomedical Engineering Journal," this is a newly developed instrument used for the temporary compression of blood vessels through ligature during surgery. Unlike the adult tourniquet, this is made of a toothed rack that makes it easier to compress blood vessels in the shortest time. This is a major difference from the adult tourniquet that requires the application of more energy and takes a lot of time to compress the blood vessels during surgery.

Made of Stainless Steel

Medical instruments are prone to high corrosion rates because they are exposed to oxidizing agents in the body as well as sterilizing agents. This is why all surgical equipment is made out of stainless steel. The immature immune systems of pediatric patients increase their sensitivity to foreign agents during surgery. Therefore, pediatric surgery instruments are made from high-quality stainless steel to ensure maximum sterility and safety.

How Should I Store Meridia

Store Meridia in the bottle it came in, if possible.

Meridia, or Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate, is a weight-loss drug that curbs your appetite and works in conjunction with a low-calorie diet plan. The drug helps in controlling hunger but does have side effects, including an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure. You should not take Meridia if your blood pressure is not well controlled. And like with other diet drugs, you should consult with your doctor before taking Meridia. It is important to properly store the drug to keep its potency intact.

Instructions

1. Store Meridia in the bottle it came in or in a container that has a lid. The container needs to close tightly to keep air and moisture from affecting the medicine's potency.

2. Place the bottle or container in a room that is at 77 degrees Fahrenheit away from heat, moisture and light. Do not store the capsules in an area where children or pets can access them.

3. Store Meridia only briefly in a room that is between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit if your home or business's heating and cooling system is currently off or trying to reach 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do not store Meridia in your bathroom or any other room where the temperature and moisture level is constantly changing.

How Safe Is It To Have A Lap Band After A Kidney Transplant

Bariatric surgery can lessen transplant complications due to excess weight.

Determining how safe it is to have lap band surgery after a kidney transplant is a complicated question. There is little research concerning kidney transplant patients and bariatric surgery.

That’s why the Saint Louis University Center for Outcomes Research did a review of the evidence at hand.

The St. Louis researchers conducted a review of kidney transplant candidates to determine those that had bariatric surgery and what their outcomes were. They looked at Medicare billing claims from 1991 to 2004 to check out the effects of bariatric surgery on 188 kidney transplant patients: those that had been approved for transplant and were waiting; those that were on a waitlist for approval for a kidney transplant and those that had bariatric surgery after a kidney transplant.

Why Consider Bariatric Surgery

Obese people are less likely to be chosen as organ recipients.

In terms of morbidly obese patients, bariatric surgery works. Bariatric surgery has been recommended in a National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference for cardiomyopathy, diabetes and sleep apnea: all obesity-related conditions.

The St. Louis researchers determined that of the 188 cases of kidney transplant candidates and kidney transplant recipients; 97.3 percent also had diagnoses for obesity. Obesity is a common symptom among kidney transplant patients and this added weight increases the risk of death and complications after transplant surgery.

Not only does such excess weight complicate surgery, the St. Louis researchers report that obese people are less likely to be considered for transplants and more likely to be passed over when a kidney transplant becomes available. The scientists theorize that bariatric surgery before a kidney transplant increases the odds that the patient will get a transplant.

Kidney Transplant Concerns

Altering medication levels can improve outcomes for kidney transplant patients.

Some doctors are concerned that bariatric surgery can affect whether or not a transplanted kidney is ultimately rejected. The researchers found just one such case of organ rejection and in three other cases, doctors had to raise immunosuppressant drug intake. They also found six successful cases of bariatric surgery done on pre- and post-implant patients.

The St. Louis researchers also point out that the majority of the bariatric surgeries up until 2004 used open surgical techniques. Open surgery poses more overall risk and risk of infection in transplant patients taking immunosuppressants. Today, laparoscopic surgery such as lap band surgery is a less risky option.

Increased Risk of Death

Immunosuppressant drugs can make surgical infection more likely

After 30 days, the mortality rate after bariatric surgery for listed and transplanted patients was 3.5%. Another 3.5% of the patients died after transplant surgery. There were no deaths in the wait-list patients after 90 days. From 31 to 90 days after the surgery, mortality rates were 0 to 3.5%.

The causes of death were myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia and septicemia.

Although this number isn’t negligible, the researchers said that it was comparable to mortality rates among patients without kidney disease. They also believe advances in surgical technique and the lessons about altering levels of immunosuppressant drugs could lessen this number.

Historical Cases

Laparoscopic techniques are less invasive than open surgery.

The first description of bariatric surgery among obese kidney transplant patients was in 1996. The group now includes nine pre-transplant patients and ten post-transplant patients who have all had bariatric surgery without death or organ rejection.

Six cases of lap band surgery were done in kidney transplant patients and wait-listers from 2000 to 2006. There were some complications in the transplant patients as far as the band moving and/or eroding, but there were no deaths.

Weight Loss

Bariatric and transplant surgeries can give a new lease on life.

In patients without kidney disease, bariatric surgery often results in excess body weight loss (EBWL) rates of 25 to 85 percent. In kidney transplant patients, EBWL rates are 31 to 61 percent.

This smaller percentage still adds up to major benefits say the St. Louis researchers considering the extent to which obesity has life-shortening consequences in kidney transplant patients.

How Safe Is Gastric Bypass Surgery

How Safe Is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of your stomach. The smaller stomach is then bypassed or reconnected to the small intestine. Because it's so small, you feel full much faster, which can lead to quick weight loss. Following surgery, your stomach can hold about two tablespoons worth of food, as opposed to the quart a normal stomach holds. There are safety risks associated with gastric bypass surgery, though. In addition to the normal risk of an invasive surgery, the new stomach size can cause health complications in and of itself.

Warning

Respiratory problems can occur when undergoing gastric bypass surgery. There could also be blood clots, leaks of the intestine or stomach and infections.

Concern

Many doctors have found complications following gastric bypass surgery. Patients can experience hemorrhages in their bowel or develop a hernia, which causes severe pain.

Effects

Following gastric bypass surgery, your stomach is very small, which means if you continue to eat after a feeling of fullness, you will vomit the food back up. Sugary and fatty foods will cause vomiting or diarrhea, which can come on very quickly and violently.

Dumping Syndrome

The vomiting can be quite painful and comes with chest palpitations, delirium, cold chills and the sweats. This is called dumping syndrome, a side effect that gastric bypass patients anxiously dread.

Considerations

Gastric bypass patients can sometimes develop food intolerances to milk, red meat and high fiber food. Following surgery, patients must follow a strict eating diet, including liquids, only for the first few weeks, followed by a puree diet until the eighth week, then finally a regular diet consisting of small meals.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Laser Surgery

Age is a factor for LASIK

Eye surgeries are performed to correct or improve vision issues like nearsightedness or farsightedness. There are several types of eye surgeries available. Laser eye surgeries are the most common with LASIK being the most recognized.

Factors

There are several factors to consider when deciding on whether or not laser surgery is the appropriate surgery. Age is one consideration.

Considerations

The FDA has not approved LASIK surgery for persons under the age of 18. The eye is still changing and adjusting until adulthood. There are some cases in which the eyes are not fully developed until 21 years or older.

Warnings

There is little evidence to support that LASIK is safe and effective on children. Choosing to undergo LASIK surgery before the eyes are fully developed may result in temporary results.

Retreatment

A second LASIK surgery, or retreatment, may be required. There are several reasons why retreatment may become necessary. If the surgery was initially performed before the eye has fully developed the likelihood of retreatment increases.

Results

For the last ten years LASIK has been performed on millions of patients in the United States. Results do vary for individuals. The national average is 85 percent for 20/20 vision or better.

How Often Should You Weigh Yourself When Trying To Lose Weight

Weight loss is a challenge that millions of people around the world face every day. Nothing can be more satisfying than stepping on a scale and seeing those numbers decline. Likewise, nothing can be more depressing for some people as seeing those numbers climb. Lots of factors influence our daily weight, so how often should you weigh yourself when you are trying to lose weight?

When to Weigh Yourself

It's easy to be tempted to weigh yourself every time you pass that dreaded scale, but more often than not this will lead to even more frustration and depression. Our body weights fluctuate not only day to day but between certain times of day as well. The best thing you can do is to weigh yourself not more frequently than once a week. At this rate, you will be able to see if you've lost weight from the week before. It is also very important to weigh yourself at the same time of day. Most people prefer to weigh in the morning when they first get up. Whatever time works for you, be consistent with it.

Keep an Open Mind

Remember that certain things can affect scale readings and result in inaccurate weigh-in figures. Dehydration is one critical factor. Your scale results could be grossly inaccurate if you've been out drinking the night before, are dehydrated from exercise, are retaining water before menstruation or even from eating a salty or starchy meal. Likewise, if you are strength training, you can be building muscle (and weight) but still losing inches and body fat. It's important to look at the whole picture when considering weight loss and weighing yourself on a scale.

When in Doubt, Measure It Out

Scales aren't the only way to track weight loss. Many people find that they do not lose significant weight but can still trim inches and lose body fat. You can even buy a scale that will track body fat for you. It's a good idea to take your measurements when you start a weight-loss program and then track your inches at the same time you track your weight. The key areas to measure are: your bust/chest, waist (above the hips), and hips.

How Often Can Hair Be Bleached

How Often Can Hair Be Bleached?

Bleaching your hair can be done for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you want to be blond, but were born brunette. You may want to dye your hair an electric shade of blue, but need to lighten the tint so that you can achieve the full shock value. Or you may just want to put highlights in, to create a summery, sun-kissed look to brighten your locks. Does this Spark an idea?

What Is Bleach?

Hair bleaching agents are generally comprised of one of the two following ingredients, hydrogen peroxide or ammonia persulfate. These ingredients penetrate the hair follicle to the melanin at the core. The melanin is what gives your hair its natural color. When these bleaching agents reach your melanin, they remove the color, leaving it white. If you have a darker color of hair to begin with, your hair will pass through several stages of color before reaching the desired pale white. These stages include red, orange, yellow and then pale blonde. Hair bleaching can be accomplished with a bleach kit that includes a bleach powder and liquid ammonia or, if your hair is relatively light to begin with, a pale blonde hair dye kit.

How Long Should I Leave Bleach in My Hair?

The amount of time that you will want to leave the bleach mixture in your hair varies by person. You must take into account the final color that you would like your hair to be bleached to, the condition of your hair and your starting color. If your goal is not stark white, than you will need to leave the mixture in for less time than is otherwise recommended to achieve that color. If your hair is brittle, dry or extremely damaged, you will want to use utmost caution when bleaching it. Hair bleach strips the hair follicle, leaving it much more prone to breakage and dryness. If your hair has been chemically damaged it is recommended that you go to a salon instead of bleaching it yourself at home. And if your starting color is dark, you will require more time to achieve the desired color. A strand test is highly recommended 24 hours before you attempt to bleach your hair. This will accurately tell you how long the bleach needs to stay on to properly lighten your hair.

Time Frame Between Bleachings

The recommended amount of time to wait between bleach treatments for your hair varies by person. Depending on how fast your hair grows, many colorists recommend a touch-up every four to six weeks. As a general rule of thumb, you will want to re-bleach your hair once you have an inch of new hair growth, as the contrast is usually not very pretty. However, you will want to be careful to bleach only the new growth, as bleaching the previously bleached hair can cause your hair to become very damaged.

Warnings

Bleaching your hair too frequently or leaving the bleach on your hair for longer than is necessary can lead to a host of problems. The bleach naturally dries your hair out, leaving it in a weaker condition than before. Frequent bleaching can leave your hair prone to breaking off, or in extreme conditions, falling out. It is important to wait the recommended four to six weeks between bleaching so as to not overwhelm your hair and allow it time to recover.

Upkeep

Although you cannot undo the damage done to your hair after bleaching it, there are things you can do to improve its condition and minimize the negative effects. First, invest in a deep-conditioning product for dry, damaged and processed hair and use it daily. Make sure that your shampoo is also formulated to protect damaged hair. Weekly hot oil treatments can do wonders for putting some life back into your hair. And finally, trimming your hair regularly will keep it looking great.

How Nutrition Can Prevent Stomach Cancer

How Nutrition Can Prevent Stomach Cancer

Cutting Out Bad Habits

Nutrition is all about getting the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidents that you need to stay healthy. There are certain bad habits that actually prevent these vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from doing their jobs. To prevent stomach cancer, you need to quit smoking and drinking alcohol and drugs must also be avoided. Not only do these bad habits stop your body from processing nutrients, but they can actually cause cancer themselves.

Cut Out Fatty Foods

Keep an eye on the saturated and trans fats that you are putting in to your body. Make sure that these fats make up less than 30 percent of your calories for the day, if not less. Fat cells can cause stomach cancer because they break apart easier than other cells. DNA can become damaged. This can cause cancer cells to form and also help cancer cells grow. If you cut out bad fats, you can help keep the cancer from developing. If you already have stomach cancer, you can cut out bad fats to keep the cancer from growing.

Eat Meat Sparingly

If you are a vegetarian, you are on the right track. Vegetarians get cancer half as often as meat eaters. The best way to prevent stomach cancer is to only eat 4 ounces of meat per day. You would be wiser to choose white meats that are less fatty than red meats.

Cut Back on Sodium

Salt is thought to contribute to cancer of the stomach. Sodium exists in the form of table salt and in many canned foods as a preservative. Make sure you check the nutrition label on the back of the can to find out how much sodium is inside. Choose the cans with the lowest amount of sodium. If at all possible, use fresh foods to avoid adding extra salt to your diet.

Eat Vegetables

Dark green vegetables are associated with prevention of stomach cancer. That is because the antioxidents found in them kill the free radicals that cause cancer. The best dark green veggies are romaine lettuces (not the iceburg lettuces), spinach, collard greens and kale. It is recommended that you eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables combined daily to effectively prevent stomach cancer.

Eat Fruit

There are certain fruits that work the same way dark green vegetables do. Certain fruits contain antioxidents that attack free radicals, such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Another recommended fruit is grapes. Grapes keep cancer cells in the stomach from growing. Eating a variety of fruits will help aid the therapies prescribed by your doctor to kill the cancer cells completely.

Diet To Get Patients Ready For Heart Surgery

Patients preparing for heart surgery must anticipate lifestyle changes to accommodate a recovery period that meets both physical and emotional needs. This begins with preoperative adjustments to minimize postoperative discomfort and maximize a speedy and healthy recovery. Maintaining a heart-healthy diet is one of the most critical changes, as poor eating habits are probably a large part of the cardiac issues that make the surgery necessary. The following recommendations are not intended as medical advice or to replace any guidelines that your doctor has provided.

Balanced Nutrition Plan

Nutrition is essential to good health, especially prior to hospitalization for cardiac surgery. Start with a balanced diet that includes adequate proteins, vitamins, minerals and calories. This diet should include a wide variety of foods from all four of the primary food groups: whole grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy and protein. Focus on complex carbohydrates that are high in fiber and control caloric intake by consuming small portions several times a day, rather than one or two large meals. Snack on fresh fruits and vegetables between meals if you are still hungry.

Restrict Sodium Intake

Limit sodium intake to less than 200 mg per day to avoid fluid building up in your blood vessels. Do not add table salt to any prepared meals. Restrict foods that are high in sodium such as canned soups and broth, processed (boxed) foods, canned vegetables, deli meats, hot dogs, bacon and salty snacks. In addition to salt in foods, restrict consumption of monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is typically present in foods served in restaurants. Talk to your physician before using any salt substitutes.

Avoid Simple Sugars

Refined carbohydrates and simple sugars contribute to increasing the level of triglycerides (blood sugars) in your blood. Avoid desserts, sweets and refined carbohydrates including white bread, pasta and rice.

Eliminate Foods High in Cholesterol

Foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol can cause thickening of blood vessels as well as plaque and fatty acids in the walls of your arteries, causing them to narrow. Examples of these foods to eliminate are fried foods, salami and other deli meats, egg yolks, whole milk and dairy products, cocoa, and palm and coconut oil. Replace these unhealthy saturated fats with the healthier monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats such as fatty fish (tuna, salmon and trout), lean meats, low-fat dairy products and olive oil.

How Much Protein To Prevent Hair Loss

It is normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs per day, according to USA Today's Health Scout. When these hairs fall from your head, new hairs should be waiting directly beneath the scalp's surface, ready to replace them. But some conditions can cause an increase of hair loss, including aging, childbirth, thyroid disease, high fevers, major surgeries, medications and an inadequate consumption of protein. Consuming the correct amount of protein is an easy fix for this type of hair loss.

Why We Need It

Hair is actually made of the same type of protein that is found in your nails. You obtain protein through the foods you eat, and a large amount of this protein is used to keep your hair and nails strong and healthy. When you don't consume enough protein, your body tries to save the protein it does have by sending hair follicles into a resting phase. Therefore, hairs can fall out before they are scheduled to, and another hair isn't always ready to grow in its place.

How Much We Need

According to an MSN Health article, an average adult should consume about 50 grams of protein daily, which should represent about 10 percent of their total calories. An average person with a normal appetite and access to food should be able to consume that much, which makes inadequate protein intake an uncommon cause of hair loss. It's easy to consume enough protein from meals alone, without any type of protein supplement. For example, a turkey sandwich, one glass of milk and one cup of yogurt are enough protein for a day.

Consume Enough

According to USA Today's Health Scout, many crash dieters, vegetarians or abnormal eaters don't get enough protein in their diets. In order to obtain the amount of protein you need, incorporate protein-rich foods into all your meals, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, beans, tofu, whole grains and nuts. According to solveyourproblem.com, anyone eating a standard Western diet should be obtaining enough protein. For vegans or vegetarians, tofu, soybeans and protein shakes are sufficient options to add to your diet.

How Much Money Do Ophthalmologists Make

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) who specializes in eye and vision care. This doctor examines eyes, diagnoses disorders and diseases, and treats cataracts, cornea and retinal disorders, glaucoma, and more. He also prescribes corrective lenses and performs laser surgery and other eye surgery. An ophthalmologist differs from an optometrist (OD), who has a doctorate degree but is not qualified to perform eye surgery; and an optician, who fits and adjusts eyeglasses, and fits contact lenses in some states. Ophthalmologists can make very large amounts of money.

Starting Salary

According to the PayScale salary survey website, ophthalmologists usually begin at around $100,000 per year as of 2009, with their salary increasing to around $150,000 over the next few years.

General Range

The Allied Physicians website shows ophthalmologists making $138,000 to $511,000. The exception is retina specialists, who make $280,000 to $716,000.

Median Salary

The Salary Wizard survey website shows the middle 50 percent of ophthalmologists in 2009 earning $219,000 to $315,000, with the median salary $254,000.

Job Listings

A look at the Salary List website, which collects job listing data, shows ophthalmologists hired to work as partners or employees with the top salary offered at $400,000, and most salaries between $120,000 and $200,000.

Surgeons

Ophthalmologists who focus on surgery make more money than more general practitioners. This includes eye doctors those who perform laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery, and those specializing in pediatric ophthalmology, glaucoma and oculoplastics.

Costs Of Hcg Treatment

HCG is a hormone that is most commonly used to induce ovulation in a women trying to become pregnant. The treatment costs can become quite pricey though.

What is HCG?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone that supports the normal development of an egg in a woman's ovary, and stimulates the release of the egg during ovulation. If you are having difficulty conceiving a child, it could be a problem with your hCG levels.

Uses

HCG is used to cause ovulation and to treat infertility in women. Most women will take hCG if hormone levels become low during pregnancy. HCG is also used to increase sperm count in men and in young boys when their testicles have not dropped down into the scrotum normally.

Take HCG

HCG is given through an injection. This is given a few days before ovulation occurs. It takes an average of 36 hours for it to start working.

Cost

HCG tends to be a more expensive fertility drug. Ampules cost between $35 and $75 each, and each injection may require upwards of six ampules at one time. This is up to the doctor. Some insurance plans may cover the cost of hCG.

Success

HCG is a very successful in helping women to ovulate; 90 percent of women who take it begin to ovulate.

How Much Is Cataract Surgery For Dogs

A cataract refers to an opaqueness of the lens of the eye of a dog, preventing the eye from receiving light. A cataract can be small, causing minor vision problems, or can cover the entire lens of the eye, causing total blindness. The cost of cataract surgery covers surgery, anesthesia, and hospitalization and recovery.

Causes

Cataracts can be caused be a number of conditions such as: diabetes, heredity and old age. The development of cataracts can occur quickly, maturing in just a few weeks, or very slowly, taking years to fully mature.

Treatment

The only current treatment known for treating cataracts is the surgical removal of the lens. During this procedure, the dog's defective lens is removed and an artificial lens is then placed in the eye, restoring the dog's vision. During this procedure, a small incision is made in the capsular bag that contains the lens and a probe in inserted into the bag, which ultrasonically emulsifies the lens, allowing it to be removed. The new intraocular artificial lens is inserted and the incision is closed.

Risks

The risks of surgery include: infection, damage to the structures surrounding the lens, and complete blindness. The procedure is performed under high magnification under the steady hand of a board certified ocular surgeon to elicit the best results.

Result

Dogs will have near normal vision after a successful procedure, though perfection, or even improvement is usually not an option because the intraocular replacement lenses are limited. Dogs can also experience degradation in vision due to advancing age and scarring from the procedure.

Cost

Cataract surgery is expensive because the surgery is extremely delicate and requires a great deal of skill and technical equipment to accomplish. The procedure in dogs is much the same as the procedure in people, but most dogs do not have medical insurance that will cover any of the cost. The average cost of cataract surgery in dogs ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 per eye, depending on the facility and skill level of the surgeon.

Recovery

Recovery time varies with each patient, but most owners can expect their dogs to spend a minimum of two to three nights in the hospital for observation after surgery and will be required to have several follow up visits at predetermined time frames to ensure that there are no complications from the surgery.

How Much Is A Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes sagging stomach skin and firms up the abdominal muscles; it may also decrease the appearance of stretch marks and improve abdominal strength. Tummy tucks are also used to repair separations in the stomach's muscle sheath (diastasis recti). The procedure can range from a mini-tuck to a full tuck. Some people have several plastic surgery procedures done at the same time; others comparison shop among geographic locations. The cost of a tummy tuck can vary widely depending on the type of procedure(s) a patient chooses to have.

Location

The cost of a tummy tuck can range from $2,500 to $12,500 plus fees for operating room use and anesthesia. Procedures done in a surgical office rather than a hospital save operating room fees. There can be cost variations by state or by country, although travel expenses may negate these savings.

Anesthesia

Having the procedure done under local anesthesia can reduce its cost by $3,000 or more. Tummy tucks can take three to five hours or more, though, so this option should be considered only for the simplest and least invasive operations.

Mini-tummy Tuck

People with only a small degree of sagging muscle and/or skin may be candidates for a mini-tummy tuck. An endoscopic tummy tuck is another mini-procedure that is less expensive. Mini-procedures may be only $2,000 to $3,500 when done in a surgical office under local anesthesia.

Full Tummy Tuck

Traditional tummy tucks require a long horizontal incision and are usually performed under general anesthesia. Recovery time can be several weeks; all these factors make a full tummy tuck cost $15,000 or more when all fees are included.

Additional Costs

Liposuction, extensive skin removal and/or combining a tummy tuck with other procedures all add to the cost of a tummy tuck. However, bundling the procedures is usually less expensive than having them done separately.

Considerations

Remember to include expenses for recovery time into a tummy tuck budget. Be aware that most plastic surgery done solely for cosmetic purposes is not covered by insurance; even tummy tucks done for health reasons may not be covered if they are done outside of the country. Some insurance companies may also consider possible side effects to a tummy tuck when figuring insurance premiums.

How Much Does Tissue Grafting Of The Gums Cost

Tissue grafting of the gums involves transplanting healthy gum tissue to areas of the gums that are diseased or receding due to a variety of causes. This process can save your teeth and gums, but it will not spare your wallet in the process. Make sure that you are well aware of all potential costs of the procedure before you move forward to make sure that the overall process is as painless as possible for your budget and your mouth.

Function

Tissue grafting of gums is intended to repair and fortify your teeth and gums against disease and infection. By placing healthy tissue in areas previously either exposed or covered by diseased tissue, your dentist is basically increasing the magnitude of your defenses against dental issues like cavities and tooth decay. This can be done for a single tooth or multiple teeth at once.

Significance

Because the mouth is such a sensitive area, this process can be very painful. You will need some type of pain medication following your surgery, even if you do not usually use such items. Also, while you may be able to return to work in just a day or two. However, if your job will not permit you to take mild prescription pain relievers, you will need to plan to take more days off just in case you cannot function normally without the pain relievers.

Types

When you have tissue grafting of the gums, you may have one or more teeth treated. You can also have your gums "contoured" while your tissue grafting is going on. This is a cosmetic procedure that involves improving your smile by altering the shape of your gums but it can be coupled easily with tissue grafting and may even be necessary depending on the location of the grafts. If you do not have the contouring done, then the process can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000 per tooth. If you include contouring in your surgery, then your cost per tooth will range from $1,200 to $3,000.

Effects

If you have serious gum issues and do not repair them, you risk losing some or all of your teeth as well as chronic cavity and decay problems. Over time, your tissue grafting will probably save you money, making it a worthwhile investment. However, if you cannot afford the aftercare involved in the surgery, you may end up hurting yourself as much as helping.

Prevention/Solution

If your dentist has suggested tissue grafting as a solution but does not believe that it is urgent, then consider some other alternatives to strengthening your gums. Going in for an additional cleaning each year or upgrading your in-home tooth cleaning devices could be enough to stall or even prevent the necessity of tissue grafting for your gums. In the long run, the more preventative care you can take of your teeth, the more money--and physical pain--you will save yourself.

Misconceptions

While many doctors present tissue grafting as cosmetic option, this is a painful and serious surgery. Unless your gums cause you major embarrassment or your dentist believes that this surgery will seriously improve your oral health, think very carefully before deciding to have tissue grafting on your gums. The recovery time may not be worth the cosmetic improvement if you are only looking for minor changes in your smile.

How Much Does Rotator Cuff Surgery Cost

The rotator cuff consists of a group of muscles and tendons that support the shoulder during movement. With repetitive movement, overuse or a traumatic injury caused from playing sports, tears in the tendons and muscles may occur. Many times, with home treatment, the shoulder will heal. If the injury is severe enough, surgery will need to be performed.

Average Surgery Cost

According to an online article by Blue Cross Blue Shield, "Surgical Treatment for a Rotator Cuff Tear," the cost for rotator cuff surgery can vary from $300 to $15,000 for hospital expenses and between $225 to $4,750 for the physician fees. This depends on the type of surgery that is needed.

Arthroscopic Surgery

When the rotator cuff injury is minor and there are only partial tears to the tendons that support the shoulder, this kind of surgery may be recommended. Arthroscopic surgery is the least-invasive type of surgery. Many times this surgery can be performed as an out-patient, with no overnight stay. This will cut down on the cost of the procedure. The average cost for arthroscopic shoulder surgery is approximately $7,000.

Open Shoulder Surgery

A more severe injury will require a more-invasive surgery. Open shoulder surgery is more involved. There will be several incisions made, cuts will be made in the muscles, scar tissue will be removed and the tendons will be reattached to the bone. A hospital stay of two to five days can be possible. The average cost for open shoulder surgery is approximately $17,450.

Other Expenses

After surgery there will be several weeks of recovery before starting physical therapy. During this time there will be costs for medications. There will be a cost for weeks or months of physical therapy. Loss of wages may also factor in to the total cost of rotator cuff surgery.

Cost Variations

The cost for having either type of shoulder surgery will depend on several factors. Some physicians are more specialized and may charge more for their expertise and services. Hospital fees will vary depending on the region of the country where you live. As with physicians, physical therapist rates will vary.

Considerations

Surgery is not always the answer to rotator cuff injuries. Consult with a sports doctor or an orthopedic doctor to determine if surgery is the only solution to your injury. Given enough time, this injury could heal without surgery. If you do have to have surgery, get a quote prior to the surgery.

Advertising Sales Tips

Various sales techniques are effective at different types of advertising outlets, including the Internet, magazines and radio. The key is knowing which sale techniques work best in certain situations. For example, you may need to use aggressive closing techniques when offering advertising specials over the phone. You may be dealing with a high volume of advertisers and need to close quickly. Knowing various sales techniques can increase your chances of making the sale.

Research the Customer

Research your customer before approaching him about a specific ad. You stand a much better chance of making a sale if you understand the business owner's situation. For example, you may read that a new automobile dealership is trying to build brand awareness in the area. Part of your discussion could include asking the dealership owner how far customers typically drive to make a purchase. As a Yellow Pages publisher, you could suggest that the dealership owner advertise in several of your neighborhood directories for greater reach. Assume the role of consultant with the owner instead of trying to make a quick sale.

Qualify Your Leads

Qualifying leads is an important step in increasing sales effectiveness, Entrepreneur Magazine states. Always qualify your leads when making cold calls. Whether you primarily make inside or outside sales calls, spend some time on the phone with each prospect. Make sure each prospect's address and business name is correct. Separate the true advertising buyers from curiosity seekers. Find out if the advertiser can afford to place an ad in your magazine. Say something like, "If I can get you a quarter-page ad on the first page this month, could you afford the $1,000 special for that ad?" The reason you want to qualify leads is so you don't waste your time with someone who doesn't intend to advertise.

Use Flexible Pricing

Use a flexible pricing structure when selling advertising, especially if you own the business. Have a high, mid-range and low price in mind when approaching each advertiser. Start with the higher price when attempting your first close. That way you can determine whether the customer's major objection is price. At that point, you can attempt to close your prospect at a slightly lower price. Another option is to offer a free classified with a display ad purchase at the regular rate. The free classified listing also represents a discount. Never allow the customer to decline an ad for price alone. Nevertheless, if you offer the discount, make it appear that discounts are a rarity. Tell the business owner that you'll allow him to test the effectiveness of your advertising at the one-time reduced rate.

How Much Does Liposuction And A Tummy Tuck Cost

A tummy tuck tightens the lower abdomen, resulting in a flatter waistline. Liposuction of the abdomen or hips is sometimes (but not always) performed in addition to a tummy tuck. Both procedures cost thousands of dollars. The actual cost varies, depending on the cosmetic surgeon and the expected difficulty of the tummy tuck, or in how many areas you wish to have liposuction.

Features

During a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), a cosmetic surgeon tightens the belly by surgically tightening the fascia---a layer of tissue that covers the abdominal muscles.

During liposuction, a thin tube is inserted into small incisions under the skin and fat is vacuumed out. Tummy tucks and liposuction are often performed at separate times to reduce the risk of complications.

Cost

The cost of liposuction varies greatly from surgeon to surgeon and region to region, but you should expect to pay at least $3,000 for abdominal liposuction.

The cost of a tummy tuck alone is usually between $6,000 and $10,000. A partial tummy tuck costs a little less. How much you will have to pay for any tummy tuck depends on the surgeon and the clinic, and may also depend on how extensive and difficult the operation is expected to be.

Effects

Liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the treated region. This means you will never again carry as much fat in that area. The procedure causes bruising and soreness, but the area usually heals without incident, and positive effects are usually noticeable after swelling subsides. Liposuction may leave a few small scars where incisions were made for the instruments.

Tummy tucks do not normally cause severe scarring. You will have a scar near your bikini line and an additional scar around your belly button. How visible these scars are depends greatly on your skin's natural ability to heal. Initial regional pain followed by numbness is a common post-surgical effect of tummy tuck, but both should disappear as you heal.

Warning

Surgery of any kind comes with risks. If you have a tummy tuck or liposuction, you will usually be under some kind of sedation, and this sometimes means general anesthesia. Risks of general anesthesia include respiratory failure, an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, and other potentially life-threatening complications.

Considerations

Liposuction alone may be sufficient for you, and is a safer and cheaper procedure than a tummy tuck. However, a tummy tuck may be encouraged if your abdominal muscles have been stretched through pregnancy. In these cases, liposuction alone may not create a flat stomach.

Some surgery clinics offer financing. Consider this option if you don't want to pay the entire cost up front.

How Much Does Lasik Cost

LASIK eye surgery is a relatively affordable procedure to help correct vision.

LASIK eye surgery is a relatively painless and affordable surgery that can help you see considerably better if you have a corrective vision problem. While it isn't cheap to get the surgery done, some consider it a worthwhile cost, if weighing the cost of replacing contacts and eyeglasses over the span of a lifetime.

LASIK Surgery

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, and it is a quick surgery that changes the corneal shape permanently using a fine laser. The laser cuts a flap in the cornea, opens the eye, and exposes the stroma. The laser then vaporizes the stroma, and the corneal flap is replaced. Not all people will benefit from LASIK eye surgery, but your surgeon will be able to determine if it will help you.

LASIK Cost

As with any medical procedure, costs may vary depending on the doctor performing the surgery, the location it is performed in, and the technology used. Although economic trends will change prices slightly, according to a report by All About Vision, the average cost for LASIK in 2010 is between $1,580 and $2,170 per eye.

Bargain Scams

Many places will advertise shockingly low prices for LASIK eye surgery, but they often do not include costs such as aftercare, and follow-up appointments. Also, LASIK surgeons charge appropriately based on their training and expertise, so consider where the cheap offer may be coming from before you go that route, as your vision could become worse if the LASIK surgery is done by someone with inadequate training.

California Vehicle Codes On Car Safety Seats For Children

Car seats keep a child safe in the event of a collision. California laws are intended to remind parents to bucks their kids.

California Child Passenger Safety (CPS) amended child seat regulations effective January 1, 2005. The law mandates that anyone not in compliance with these laws faces a fine of $100 or referral to a violator program for the first offense. A second offense generates a $250 fine and the driver in violation may see an increase in car insurance rates.

Infants

Infants, defined as younger than 1-year old and under 20 pounds, must ride in a rear-facing car seat.

Toddlers

A toddler, defined as over one year of age and over 20 pounds up to age 4 and approximately 40 pounds, may ride in a forward-facing car seat, but must remain in the back seat because of the dangers created by adult-sized airbags in the front seat.

Pre-School

Pre-school-aged children, defined as between 40 and 60 pounds up to age 6, must still sit in the back seat, but may use a booster seat instead of a car seat.

Children

Children over the age of 6, or who weigh at least 60 pounds, may use a normal seat belt, instead of the child restraint system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) recommends that a child remain in a booster seat until the age of 8, unless they are at least 4-feet, 9-inches tall.

Exceptions

A child may ride in the front seat in certain instances. These include; if there is no rear seat, the car seat cannot be properly installed in the back or all rear seats are already occupied by children under the age of 12.

Installation And Safety

A child safety seat must be properly installed and federally approved for use. A parent can have the car seat installation evaluated by contacting a local law enforcement agency. That agency will either inspect your installation and assist you in making it safer, or it will refer you to a local Child Passenger Technician to assist you. As your child gets older, you should confirm with these agencies that the seat fits properly.

How Much Does Lap Band Surgery Cost

How Much Does Lap Band Surgery Cost?

According to the National Center for Health, more than 60 percent of all Americans are overweight, and what's more, that number continues to rise. With such a huge occurrence of obesity, it's no surprise that many men and women consider surgical options for weight loss. One of the most popular options is lap-band surgery.

History

First used in early 1985 during a Swedish bariatric surgery, lap-band surgery uses an adjustable gastric band to reduce the size of an obese patient's stomach. An alternative to gastric bypass surgery, this less-drastic method has fewer risks than other bariatric surgeries. Additionally, patients who undergo lap-band surgery tend to recover more quickly and experience less pain than gastric bypass patients. In addition, the procedure offers a lower mortality rate and is fully reversible.

Function

To be eligible for lap-band surgery, candidates must be severely obese, indicated by a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. In addition, patients must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and have been obese for 5 years or more. Before a physician will agree to perform lap-band surgery, patients must also show that they have tried losing weight with diet and exercise but have been unsuccessful.

Benefits

Many serious health problems are caused by obesity. From high blood pressure to diabetes, overweight individuals are more likely to suffer from several types of life-threatening conditions. Lap-band surgery works not just to promote weight loss but also to help improve these health issues. On average, lap-band patients lose approximately 1 to 2 lb. per week, and over the course of the first year, usually see about a 50 percent reduction in excess body weight.

Misconceptions

Because lap-band surgery is less invasive than gastric bypass surgery, many people incorrectly believe it is a less-effective procedure. Although gastric bypass patients do usually lose weight faster than lap-band patients, after 5 years, both procedures have the same average weight loss results. It is also important to remember that lap-band surgery is not a one-stop solution to obesity. Following surgery, a patient's diet will be limited and monitored by his doctor.

Considerations

The average price for lap-band surgery ranges from $15,000 to $20,000. Be aware that, although this amount usually includes all fees and exams, that is not always the case. Because obesity is a recognized disease, many insurance plans will help patients with the cost of lap-band surgery.

Does Medicare Cover Dental Surgery

Medicare rarely covers dental surgery..

Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance coverage for the elderly and disabled. A study conducted by the University at Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine found that more than half of the senior citizens surveyed reported cost as a barrier to receiving dental care. Medicare coverage for dental surgery would help to ease that burden.

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care. With very few exceptions, it does not cover dental surgery.

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical care, like visits to a doctor's office and outpatient tests. With very few exceptions, it does not cover dental surgery. It covers no routine dental care, like cleanings or fillings.

Exceptions

Medicare Part A or B will cover dental surgery in a few rare instances. For instance, Medicare covers surgery to extract teeth to prepare the jaw for radiation treatments. Medicare also covers dental surgery if it is a necessary part of other treatment, such as surgery to repair a fractured jaw.

Medicare Part C

Medicare Part C includes a number of Medicare Advantage Plans that Medicare recipients may choose to sign up. Some of these plans cover dental surgery and other dental care.

For More Information

If you need dental surgery and want to know if it is covered by Medicare, call the Medicare help line at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) for more information. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, call the number on your insurance card.

How Much Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Cost

How Much Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Cost?

To successfully lose weight, most people benefit from eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. However, for many other people, neither diet nor exercise can solve their problems with body weight. Gastric bypass surgery was developed to treat morbid obesity in people who are unable to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.

History

A type of bariatric surgery first developed in the 1960s, the gastric bypass procedure relies upon partial stomach removal to help obese individuals lose weight permanently. By decreasing the size of the patient's stomach, the amount of food a person can eat is limited and she is therefore more apt to lose weight. In addition to weight loss, the procedure helps reduce medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

Considerations

Despite its benefits, gastric bypass surgery is not the right option for all obese patients. In order to qualify for the operation, the patient must be between the ages of 18 and 65, have been obese for at least five years, have no history of alcohol abuse and no untreated depression or other mental disorders. In addition, because of the risks associated with the procedure, gastric bypass surgery should only be considered by individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 39.

Benefits

Individuals who undergo gastric bypass surgery typically lose 50 to 60 percent of their body weight within the first two years. If a proper diet and exercise regime is followed, most people are able to keep the weight off. The procedure is also proven to help prevent, treat and even resolve conditions such as adult-onset diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and reflux disease. And, following gastric bypass procedures, most patients report improved mobility and increased happiness.

Misconceptions

With an average cost of $15,000 to $25,000, gastric bypass surgery is certainly not cheap. Many people incorrectly believe that insurance companies will not cover the gastric bypass procedure. However, many policies do cover treatment for morbid obesity. For gastric bypass surgery to be approved, most insurance companies will require the individual to provide detailed records of diet and medical history. In addition, the insurance provider may also request the patient to submit to certain medical and/or psychological tests. For patients denied insurance, the operation costs can usually be financed and paid in monthly installments.

Warning

As with any type of surgery, the gastric bypass procedure has both risks and benefits. Although the operation can result in weight loss and reduced medical risks, health problems such as stomach leakage, infection, gallstones and nutritional deficiency can also occur. In addition, 1.5 percent of all individuals who undergo the surgery die following the operation.

How Much Does A Speech Language Pathologist Earn

A speech language pathologist works with patients to correct language, speech, swallowing, voice or other disorders. Speech language pathologists must attain a master's degree and pass their state's separate licensing requirements before practicing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates faster than average job growth in the field through 2018, partly due to an aging population in the United States. Speech language pathologists earn a salary commensurate with their experience, employer and location.

National Pay Breakdown

As of May of 2010, 112,530 speech language pathologists were actively employed in the United States, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average income of speech language pathologists in the United States was $69,880, with the bottom 10 percent having earned $42,970 or less and the top 10 percent having earned $103,630 or more annually. The 25th percentile of speech language pathologists earned $53,230 while the 75th percentile made $84,250 annually.

Top Paying Industries

Medical and diagnostic laboratories paid the highest average salary to speech language pathologists, totaling $121,880. Those who worked for what the BLS classified as the other ambulatory health care services industry earned an average of $99,870 annually. Speech language pathologists who were employed in the home health care services industry earned on average $89,800 each year, while those who worked for community care facilities for the elderly earned an average salary of $81,360. The Federal Executive Branch paid speech language pathologists an average annual wage of $81,340.

Top States

Speech language pathologists who worked in Alaska earned the highest average pay in the nation earning $85,440. Maryland ranked second in the nation, averaging $82,310 each year. In New Jersey, the average salary was $82,170, while those who worked in California averaged $81,910 annually. Speech language pathologists averaged $80,120 per year in Colorado.

Top Metropolitan Areas

The Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area in Florida came in first in the nation, with speech language pathologists averaging $98,290 annually. Laredo, Texas, was second with an annual average of $93,240, while Salinas, Calif., followed at $90,940 per year. Speech language pathologists in Springfield, Ohio made an average $89,680 annually, while those who worked in the Visalia-Porterville metropolitan area in California earned an average $88,170 annually.

How Much Does A Kidney Transplant Cost

Your kidneys are vital organs, which means that if you do not have functioning kidneys or a way to replace their role in your body, you will eventually die. As a result, when people have irreparable kidney problems, they often consider a kidney transplant to continue to live "normal" lives. Kidney transplants can be extremely expensive, and you need to get all the facts about them before determining if a kidney transplant is a viable option for you.

Function

A kidney transplant involves taking one kidney from a donor and moving it to the body of the recipient. The donor can be living or dead, but since most people can survive just fine on one kidney, donors are frequently living, which makes the viability of a kidney transplant much greater and the cost significantly less in some cases, since it may not be necessary to preserve the kidney until it makes it to the location of the recipient.

Significance

Since a kidney transplant involves taking an organ out of one person and placing it in another, one of the major and often overlooked costs of a kidney transplant is the cost of making sure that your body does not reject the kidney. Likely, you will have to take a drug to prevent your body from attacking your new kidney for the rest of your life. This is a recurring cost that many people do not factor in.

Considerations

Kidney transplants are often covered by insurance. However, your insurance company may decide that you do not actually need a kidney transplant if you are a candidate for dialysis or some other treatments. If you elect to get the transplant anyway and pay out-of-pocket, your premiums will probably still go up, and any treatment that can be designated as being necessitated by the transplant will also not be covered in the future. This means that you could pay over $100,000 just for the transplant, then hundreds of thousands more if your insurance company can pin any future infection on the anti-rejection drugs you will need to take for your kidneys. As you can see, it is vitally important to review your insurance company's history with transplants long before it becomes a necessity for you.

Effects

Getting a kidney transplant can literally be a new lease on life for you. If your transplant is successful, you will eventually only have to take anti-rejection medicines once a day, much as you take your vitamins. As a result, over time you will actually gain hours each day by getting a kidney transplant that might previously have been lost to dialysis or other treatments.

Features

Because the in-hospital treatment and aftercare costs are so patient-specific, most medical centers are reluctant to post a "price" for kidney transplants. However, when you remove the "custom" pricing for things like your hospital stay and any medications outside of those used in the surgery, you are left with the cost of the operating room in the hospital, supplies, staff, nurse, surgeon and medications. This cost tends to average somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000, depending on the hospital. However, there is no way to tell how applicable this is to you until you are personally assessed by a doctor.

Warning

Kidney transplants are one of the most highly successful transplant procedures today. However, part of being a successful recipient is adequately preparing for the procedure. Have all the elements for a successful surgery in place before undertaking the operation. This includes childcare if you have children, care for yourself and an emergency plan should you require additional care or treatment that you do not currently expect. Otherwise, you may end up stressing your system too early, and your transplant could fail.

Diets To Reduce Fatty Liver

Fatty livers can come about from being overweight and poor eating habits. They can also lead to long-term problems. If left unchecked and untreated, the liver can continue to deteriorate and eventually end up as one big blob of fat. As the country is getting bigger and rounder, about 20 percent of Americans suffer from a fatty liver, according to Dr. Sandra McRae, who specializes in weight loss and liver dysfunction. You can help correct the problem with a lifestyle change of eating habits to help reduce a fatty liver.

Cleanse

You may want to kick off your new eating habits by cleansing the liver to help purge out toxins and clear the way for healthier eating. You may also want to consult your physician before you proceed, as the recommended way to cleanse the liver includes a very low fat diet and some light fasting. For the first day or two, consume plenty of water, fresh vegetable and fruit juices and raw vegetable salads if you need to eat. Don't ruin it all with a fatty salad dressing, but go for a squirt of lemon for flavoring. Slowly increase what you eat, but follow the guidelines on what to consume, avoid and moderate.

Consume

A generous daily dose of water is a must, with a minimum of 2 liters each day recommended. Get plenty of fiber, which can be found in wheat bran, rice bran and unprocessed muesli. Add plenty of raw fruits and vegetables to help with the fiber intake. Raw vegetables juices, especially those made with carrots as the main ingredient, are an ideal way to increase vegetable intake. Juices are recommended at the beginning and end of each day. See Resources for a few recipes.

Avoid

Fatty foods are out, as are any deep fried and highly processed foods. You want your diet to be as natural as possible. Also refrain from using margarines, oleos, fatty food spreads and artificial sweeteners. Red meat, alcohol, soda, lunchmeats, caffeine and salty foods should be at least reduced, if not eliminated altogether.

Moderate

You can still consume chicken and turkey, but try to stick with those that are free range. Those that aren't have a measure of antibiotics, steroids and other additives that will make your liver work harder to process. Also limit the amount of dairy in your diet, especially milk, cream, butter and any processed cheese or cheese products. Better dairy choices include organic yogurts and cheese and soy, rice and oat milks. Carbohydrates that come from desserts, cakes, pasta, pastries and breads should also be limited.

How Many Grams Of Fat Should You Eat A Day To Lose Weight

Reducing calories and increasing levels of exercise are good ways of initiating weight loss. Decreasing your daily intake of fat will also help you reach your goal weight. In order to do this, you need to determine how many grams of fat you can eat per day, as well as how many calories you should be taking in. If you want to lose weight safely, you should talk to your doctor about your weight loss goals and how fat grams affect those goals.

Why Fat Contributes to Weight Gain

Despite fat's bad reputation, our bodies still need it as a nutrient in order to function properly. Fat provides energy to burn as we exert ourselves physically. If we limit ourselves to a certain amount of fat in our daily diet, we can maintain our weight. But if we allow our intake to go out of control, fat will be stored by the body and cause weight gain. One gram of fat contains nine calories, which means you need to be aware of the number of fat grams in the foods you eat in order to lose weight.

Fat and Calories

The more calories in a food, the more energy that food provides. If you eat more calories than you expend, you gain weight. Consider this: 1 lb. of fat equals 3,500 calories---that means you must reduce your weekly intake of calories by 3,500 through diet and/or exercise to lose 1 lb. a week.

Determining Fat Gram Requirements

A healthy adult should ideally strive to keep daily total calories from fat between 20 and 30 percent. To determine calories from fat, check food labels. Many will tell you the percentage, or you can calculate the percentage using this formula: Multiply fat grams by 9, divide by the total number of calories in the product, then multiply by 100. This will give you the final percentage of calories from fat.

Fat Gram Requirements

If you are a woman, you have a different requirement for fat grams than a man. A woman of normal weight should take in no more than 65g of fat per day, while a man probably needs no more than 88g of fat a day to maintain weight. That's based upon a 2,000 calorie diet. Women and men who are overweight should consult a physician or registered dietitian for help in determining their daily requirement of fat grams for weight loss.

Making Good Fat-gram Choices

It's easy to reduce fat grams if you stop and think about your food choices first. Choosing a fast-food hamburger rather than a cheeseburger, for example, saves 100 calories and cuts intake of saturated fats and trans fats nearly in half.

Three medium slices of bacon contain 9.5 fat grams, while 3 oz. of boneless ham contain 3.7 fat grams.

One cup of whole milk contains 8g of fat, while 2 percent milk has 5g. Or enjoy further reductions by choosing 1 percent milk, which contains only 2.5g of fat.

How Many Calories Should I Consume Daily

The amount of calories you need per day varies, depending upon your goal and a slew of other factors. For example, if you want to lose weight, you need fewer calories. Most nutritionists will tell you to count your calories--every calorie--to come up with the correct number for you. It is a good idea to be aware of how many calories you are consuming every day.

Daily Calorie Requirement

According to licensed dietitian and nutritionist Martha Mckittrick, "Your caloric needs will vary depending upon several factors," including age, genetics, activity level, body composition and metabolism. The older you are, the fewer calories you need. Mckittrick points out that "The metabolic rate you inherited from your family in part will determine your caloric needs." The more you move, the more you need to eat. And if you move a lot, your body composition is likely to consist of more muscle than fat. Muscle will raise your metabolism, which means you need more calories to maintain your weight. You can easily calculate your metabolic rate by going to the calorie calculator link in Resources below.

Men need more calories than women. The weight-loss site AnneCollins.com points out that, "An adult man has 10 to 20 percent more lean tissue (muscle) than a woman of similar size and age, and thus a lower body fat percentage. This alone means that a man's average calorie needs are about 5 to 10 percent higher than a woman's." The site continues, "The exception is pregnancy and breastfeeding, when a woman's calorie needs increase typically by an average extra 300 calories per day when pregnant and 500 calories per day when breastfeeding."

Food Diary

The part most people find hardest when counting calories is the exactness of it. If you do not count every calorie you consume, you are wasting your time. This is why you need to keep a food diary. It is the only way you are able to find out how many calories you are consuming. The website familydoctor.org states, "Generally, food diaries are meant to be used for a whole week, but studies have shown that keeping track of what you eat for even one day can help you make changes in your diet." When people start keeping a food diary they are often surprised to learn that they are eating much more than they had previously imagined.

Weight Loss

If you are trying to lose weight, you will have to cut down on your daily caloric intake. In order to lose one pound of fat per week, reduce your daily calorie intake by 500 since one pound of fat is 3,500 calories.