The Real Reasons

Health

Why is Stem Cell Research Controversial

In theory, there’s no limit to the types of diseases that could be treated with stem cell research. Given that researchers may be able to study all cell types via embryonic stem cells, they have the potential to make breakthroughs in any disease.

Seems like a slam dunk or home run but some folks object.

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:09

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But other critics of stem cell research support research on aborted fetuses, since those fetuses are already dead, yet oppose the destruction of embryos, because they consider the embryos to be alive — or at least have the potential to become a human being.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:10

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Some of these critics argue that recent research showing that adult stem cells may be more versatile than previously thought, say scientists may soon be able to derive stem cells from adults.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:10

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Most critics of the embryo research ban contend that week-old blastocysts are not human beings, and that destroying those embryos does not constitute killing. At one week, embryos are merely a cluster of cells and not deserving of the protections afforded to others, they say. When conceived naturally, a blastocyst has not been implanted in the uterus by that time. Most scientists argue that an embryo is not a person until it is at least two weeks old.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:11

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Lifting the ban on Embryonic Stem Cell research would also, they say, allow the government to gain better oversight of embryonic research; studies conducted with federal funds are subjected to rigorous peer review and ethical oversight, while private research need not follow such standards.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:12

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Anti-abortion groups oppose research on stem cells derived from aborted fetuses. They reject the argument that since abortion is already legal and women will have them, that stem cells should be used from aborted fetuses because they would otherwise go to waste.

Why We Have Sex

Why We Have Sex

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:04

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Darwin suggested that natural selection was not the only evolutionary pressure at work in sex. There was something else going on as well, something Darwin called sexual selection. This is a preference by one sex for certain characteristics in individuals of the other sex.

A study published in 2015 found that it is vital for males to compete for reproduction and females to choose between those competing males.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:05

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A fossil called Bangiomorpha pubescens is a multicellular organism that sexually reproduced, the oldest reported occurrence in the fossil record.

The evidence that these fossils sexually reproduced is in the finding that the spores or reproductive cells they generated came in two forms – male and female. Today we know that red algae lack sperm that actively swim. They rely on water currents to transport their reproductive cells, which is likely how they have been doing it for the last 1.2 billion years.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:05

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Two members of the same species combine their DNA to produce a new genome.

Some of their offspring will carry a beneficial mix of good genes from both parents, meaning they will respond better to environmental stresses that would leave asexual species in grave danger.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:05

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It is a "learning" process – an organism "learns" new information, especially in a changing environment, and the organism passes those lessons on (in its DNA) to the next generation to help them survive.

Why Are Insurers Dropping Out of the Affordable Care Act

Unites Healthcare announced it would stop selling individual health insurance in most ACA Exchanges.

Aetna announced it will stop selling insurance in 11 of the 15 states where it has been active and will abandon previously announced expansions in five others.

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:01

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The vast majority (about 85 percent) of exchange customers nationwide qualify for the program's tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies because their incomes are below four times the federal poverty threshold.

Those eligible for that assistance tend to be sicker than those who don't qualify because those with comparatively low incomes have poorer health on average than people with higher incomes.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:01

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Obamacare bars insurers from keeping more than 20 percent of premium income from insurance sales in the individual market to cover marketing costs, administration and profit. Before Obamacare, all companies could keep more, and many did.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:02

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Some insurers face heightened financial risks because an unusually large proportion of Obamacare exchange customers are new customers — 50 percent of Aetna's 2016 enrollees, for example. In the old days, insurers could question new customers and charge very high premiums to those having characteristics associated with high health-care use. No longer.

The Affordable Care Act allows premiums to vary by only a few factors, such as the age of the insured.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 18:02

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In order to sell insurance in an exchange the price insurers charge non-exchange customers for a given plan has to be the same as what they charge Obamacare customers.

Sounds fair to me.

Why Don't People Want to Vaccinate Their Kids?

Why aree people hesitant to have their children Vaccinated?

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:53

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Some parents are concerned with vaccine safety broadly or rare vaccine side effects specifically, while questioning the efficacy of giving vaccines to healthy people in the first place.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:54

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Some parents believe that their children can avoid vaccination because a high enough percentage of the population is vaccinated to keep a given disease at bay. (Choosing not to vaccinate for that reason was described by one popular anti-vaccine doctor as “hiding in the herd.”)

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:55

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In 1998, press coverage of British physician Andrew Wakefield’s spe- cious claims linking the MMR vaccine to bowel disease and autism caused pub- lic confidence in the vaccine to plummet. In England, MMR coverage rates dropped from nearly 93 percent in 1997 to 79.9 percent in 2003–2004.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:55

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Surveys and studies point to a myriad of reasons that parents request non-medical exemptions. Some are so unfamiliar with the diseases vaccines protect against that they conclude the vaccines themselves are unnecessary.

Why We Are Silent About Depression

Those suffering do so “in silence”, which they “break” when they describe what is happening to them. If they speak about it calmly, in a composed way, we’re more likely to applaud them as “brave.”

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Why you’re craving sugar

Donut calling your name? What could be behind your cravings.

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:46

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Sounds crazy? In fact it’s not uncommon for us to mix up the signals for thirst and hunger.

When a sugar craving hits, drink a tall glass of water and wait 15 minutes. 

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:46

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When blood sugar levels drop our brain tells us to find more sugar. We crave carbohydrates (including sugar), and once we’ve eaten them our blood sugar levels rise.

If carbohydrates are prominent in every meal and snack, our body is on a sugar roller coaster

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:47

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A sweet treat is a delicious distraction, but the extra kilojoules can quickly add up.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:47

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Reaching for sugar when our energy levels dip is both a psychological and physical response. You do get a short surge as your blood sugars levels rise, but once insulin kicks in you’ll feel just as tired, if not more. 

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:47

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Reaching for sugar when our energy levels dip is both a psychological and physical response. You do get a short surge as your blood sugars levels rise, but once insulin kicks in you’ll feel just as tired, if not more. 

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:48

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Sugar has always been pleasurable in the past

Why You May Not Be Seeing Results at the Gym

Going to the gym has been a huge trend in social media lately, and with fit Instagram accounts and transformation pictures plastered all over Twitter and Facebook, it looks easy to transform your body. Here’s a breakdown of why you might not be seeing the results you want.

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:41

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Yes the saying is true, you are what you eat. This means that even if you’re going to the gym for an hour, 7 days a week, but all you eat is fatty, sugary, foods and are under or over in calories, you will not see the results you want. Try to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains into your diet.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:42

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Quality, not quantity. You could do a million squats or crunches, but if you’re not doing the correct form, you could be targeting the wrong muscles and not seeing the results you want.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:42

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My favorite quote recently is “You have to conquer your mind before you can conquer your body.” If you have a negative mindset about going to the gym or feel unmotivated, then chances are you’re not pushing yourself enough to see the changes you’re looking for.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:42

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Are you going to the gym consistently? This doesn’t mean going to the gym everyday.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:42

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Maybe you’ve starting seeing some results, but it seems like you’ve hit a wall. If you do the same workout every day or stick to the same plan for too long, your body will eventually plateau.

Like anything in life, it’s important to always evolve and change.

Why so Many People Are Suffering From Chronic Illness

Rates of chronic, non-infectious illness have exploded over the past 100 years, particularly in more affluent countries.

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:40

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According to a report from Johns Hopkins University, an estimated 133 million people (nearly half the U.S. population) suffer from at least one chronic disease, not including cancer.

Why is Medicare a Lousy Drug Negotiator

Right now, the program is O.K. at negotiating, saving as much as 30 percent off the list price of drugs, according to government reports. But Medicare still pays much, much more than government health systems in other countries.

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:35

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The Drug companies KNOW the Government has to give in eventaully.

This is a poor negotiating position.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 03/17/2018 - 17:35

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Only a Drug can cure a disease.

Only a doctor can prescribe a Drug.

The price of Drugs are arbitrarily set by the manufacturer.

A doctor prescribe a Drug that is needed because (Only a Drug can cure a disease.)

Medicare part D would have to pay for it because its a medical necessity.

But our medicare system should not pay any more than any one else in the world.