Last month was Health Literacy Month, but at MyHealthSpin, my goal is to spread health literacy all year long by giving you the information you need to make the best, most informed decisions when it comes to your health and healthcare. Here are a few ways you can improve your health literacy in order to play a more active role in your health.

Listen
Being at the doctor can be overwhelming, especially if you’re facing scary news about your health. But, make sure you listen to everything the doctor has to say. Bring a pen and a pad of paper to write down everything. Or have a family member come with you to serve as a second pair of ears. That way you can remember what your doctor said after you return home.

Do your research
This doesn’t mean research your symptoms and self-diagnose. This means to do your research once you have seen a licensed healthcare professional. For example, if your doctor tells you you have high blood pressure, research what you can do to maintain it. It’s important to know everything you can about your health. 

Ask questions
Be sure you ask your doctor questions. Doctors are busy but they can still answer your questions. The more you know the more proactive you will be able to be when it comes to your health. 

Teach
Teach others the things you learn about health and healthcare. Not only does it reinforce it but it helps others to gain knowledge. 

To learn more about healthcare pick up my ebooks in Easy Healthcare: Set 3. This set includes three books to help you navigate your health care: Before You Get Sick, Your Hospital Stay, and free bonus What You Need First.

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If you have an iPhone, there is a feature that allows medical staff to treat you in an emergency without needing your passcode.

The Medical ID feature is free on all iPhones.

Security is a big issue, so I always tell people to have password protection on their phones.

Some readers have expressed concerns about password protection, because they are worried police or EMS will be unable to access their phone for important, lifesaving information.

The good news, is there is a solution!

Set up the Medical ID on your iPhone. This allows emergency personnel to access medical information, without having to use your password to get into your phone. All they have to do, is tap the emergency section on your locked screen.

So how do you set up your Medical ID?

Go into your “Health” app and tap the “Medical ID” button. Then add your emergency information by selecting “Edit.” You can add medical conditions, allergies, or any other important information for first responders. Then tap “Done.”

For pictures, a video tutorial and more help, click here.

Make sure to share this lifesaving tip with your friends and family!

To learn more health and wellness tips, pick up the WMBW Summit. It contains 6 interviews by top female health professionals plus two workout videos and 3 bonus videos on mind-body wellness with myself, MyHealthSpin Founder Lori-Ann Rickard. Plus a newly added bonus video from Dr. Jennifer Shell! Use promo code “BEWELL” to receive 50% off!

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Did you know that a group of 13 male, Republican Senators is currently working on a draft bill of the repeal/replace Obamacare behind closed doors?

The group of Senators claimed they are close to having a proposal to take to the floor.

The bill has been drafted behind closed doors, with many senators unaware of any details. Some Democrat Senators have expressed outrage at the closed-door approach to the drafting.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R – S.C. stated that the bill is being drafted from a one-party perspective because no Democrat is willing to help with the draft. He said that although this is not the ideal approach, it’s the only way they are able to draft the bill.

In 2017, approximately 12.2 million people were enrolled or automatically re-enrolled in a Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan (“Obamacare Exchange.”)

The changes to the healthcare bill will affect millions of people, yet we know very little about the potential changes.

The Senate Committee has stated that they will submit the draft bill to the Congressional Budget Office prior to releasing to the public, for nonpartisan analysis of things such as the cost, and how many people will gain or lose coverage, if enacted.

Once the bill is drafted, there are still many uncertainties.

Many experts have stated that the chances of it passing is very unlikely. No Democrats are expected to vote to repeal Obamacare. Republicans can’t lose more than two votes to pass the bill, and several Republicans have already expressed concerns.

What are your thoughts on the replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act? Would you like there to be more transparency?

Get involved by contacting your representatives to let them know your opinions!

To learn more about health and women’s health check out the Women’s Mind Body Wellness Summit. It contains 6 interviews by top female health professionals plus two workout videos and 3 bonus videos on mind-body wellness with MyHealthSpin Founder Lori-Ann Rickard.

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If you haven’t seen the clip, click here to watch.

Unfortunately, several hours after the birth of his baby, Jimmy and his wife Molly learned that Billy had a heart defect and needed surgery to save his life.

Jimmy thanked Cedars-Sinai Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for providing Billy with amazing care. Because of the attentive staff and great care, his newborn son is home and doing well.

Jimmy’s message was extremely important and shows how far we have come in healthcare, and how far we have to go.

Friends, family, and readers have asked me some questions about what Jimmy had to say. Here’s my take:

Jimmy spoke about “pre-existing conditions.”

Question: What are pre-existing conditions and how do they affect healthcare coverage?

Answer: Pre-existing conditions are health problems that occur prior to the date new health coverage starts.

Jimmy is correct that prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), pre-existing conditions, such as birth defects, could prevent someone like baby Billy from getting coverage. They also enabled insurance companies to charge individuals more. The ACA now prevents health insurance companies from refusing coverage or charging more for pre-existing conditions.

Question: What is the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”)?

Answer: NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the nation’s medical research agency. Jimmy is correct that, despite initial plans to cut the budget for NIH, Congress increased its funding by $2 billion.

As a mother of two and a parent of a daughter born with a serious disease, I was touched by Jimmy’s message. It’s important to stay in the know about healthcare and healthcare policies, in case you or a loved one is impacted.

Congratulations to Jimmy Kimmel and his family on their baby boy!

To learn more about health care for your family, check out the Women’s Mind Body Wellness Summit. It contains 6 interviews by top female health professionals plus two workout videos and 3 bonus videos on mind-body wellness with MyHealthSpin founder Lori-Ann Rickard.

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Join MyHealthSpin Founder, Lori-Ann Rickard, for today’s video. Simply visit our WMBW Summit Landing Page now to watch for FREE!

Remember to tell your friends and share it on social media, as our final video is live today only.

#WMBWSummit

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Join MyHealthSpin Founder, Lori-Ann Rickard, for today’s video. Simply visit our WMBW Summit Landing Page now to watch for FREE!

Be sure to tell all of your friends and share it on social media, as each video is live for one day only.

#WMBWSummit

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When it comes to coffee…
Try drinking your coffee black. Adding cream and sugar to your morning cup can add inches to your waistline. It may take a bit to get used to the taste, but it’s much better for your health. Did you know that drinking black coffee can also lower your risk of colon cancer?

Drink coffee to boost your morning workout. Have you ever seen people with Starbucks at the gym? I have, and I’ve always thought they were crazy, but there is some logic to it. We know that caffeine boosts energy which is helpful when you need to be up for an early morning workout. But caffeine also increases your epinephrine levels. Epinephrine is a neurotransmitter, more commonly known as adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and primes you for action. This can help you get the best workout possible.

High quality coffee is chock-full of essential vitamins and minerals. Coffee contains tons of B vitamins. B vitamins are important for brain health and function.  Coffee beans also contain other minerals such as potassium.

What about tea?
Tea leaves are full of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to detoxify our cells. Having a cup of tea in the morning can keep your skin glowing all day long!

Tea can also help increase bone density. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, it’s important that you start thinking about your bone health now. Horsetail tea is a great bone builder due to its high silica content.

Drink tea to boost immunity. Having a cup of tea a day will help increase your cells immunity to unknown antibodies. Kick sickness to the curb by sipping tea every morning, not just when you’re sick.

Where should you get your coffee beans and tea leaves from?
Pay attention to where your coffee and tea are from. Coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. Therefore, it’s pick a brand that is organic and fair trade, if possible. So, where are the best countries to get coffee from? Two of the more well-known places are Brazil and Columbia, but most people would be surprised to know that Ethiopia is a huge producer of coffee beans.

You also have to be careful when you pick a brand of tea. Pesticides are often sprayed on the crops for better yield. Before choosing a tea brand, do some research. And of course, always choose organic. A good brand that you can get at your local grocery store is Yogi tea. They have made a lot of changes within their company in the past several years in order to provide you with the healthiest product ever.

We all know that coffee and tea can help give us an energy boost in the morning. But it’s important not to drink caffeinated beverages too late in the day. There are many types of tea, such as chamomile tea, which don’t contain caffeine and can help you to sleep. Whether you’re starting your day with a cup of coffee, or ending it with a hot cup of tea, carving out a little time for yourself is never a bad thing.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children, as well as your aging parents: Life in the Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

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I was recently contacted by the fabulous website Grandparents.com with some questions regarding health insurance and what it doesn’t cover. I have been approached many times with questions about health insurance, as it can be very confusing to navigate.

Did you know that the average age of a grandparent in the United States is 48? Neither did I. Grandparents, along with many other people, struggle with finding healthcare coverage for themselves and their loved ones.

We shared a lot of interesting information with Grandparents.com. Here is a glimpse at only a few of the many interesting facts we discussed:

• Insurance is essential. Make sure to research and compare insurance policies before selecting a plan. Consider if the plan covers your prescriptions, physicians, and services you need or may utilize in the future. Make sure to use your medical life list when evaluating options.
• If your insurance tells you that alternative therapies, such as massage or acupuncture, are covered services, make sure to find out what is required for them to be covered, how many visits are covered, and what health care providers you can see. Unforeseen costs can be burdensome, so make sure you know before you go!
• A good rule of thumb to determine whether a service is covered by insurance is to ask yourself whether or not the service is a medical necessity? This can be tricky, but usually insurance companies say services such as travel vaccinations or massages are not a medical necessity, and therefore are not covered.
• If you are receiving high out-of-pocket costs for services that are not covered, look for a plan that better suits your needs. If that’s not feasible, talk to your doctors and ask if they will put you on a payment plan or offer discounts for paying in cash.

For more information, check out the article today on Grandparents.com and make sure to let us know what you think!

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children, as well as your aging parents: Life in the Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process and how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

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First, let’s talk about sunscreen. We all know how important it is to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays. But did you know that having up to five sunburns before the age of 18 dramatically increases your risk for skin cancer later in life? Therefore, it is extremely important to practice safe sun. Not only does sunscreen protect us from the sun, but it also protects our skin from premature aging. One thing to keep in mind is that the ingredients in SPF breakdown over time, so always toss your sunscreen at the end of the summer and buy it new at the beginning of each season. Don’t forget to protect your head, lips and your eyes. These areas are often neglected. And be sure to reapply every couple of hours and after swimming. Choosing the right sunscreen can be difficult and there are surprisingly a lot of things you need to know. Watch for our upcoming blog post on Monday for an in-depth discussion about sunscreen.

Now that you and the kids are lathered up, let’s head outdoors! Summer time brings so many fun outdoor activities. Bike riding, swimming, rollerblading, you name it! But with these activities come risks for injury. It is important that your children always wear a helmet while riding their bike or doing tricks on their scooter. Set a good example and wear your helmet on your next family bike ride. You want to protect your head, too, and this way they don’t feel singled out. Also, get your kids swimming lessons. The sad reality of summer is a lot of children drown because they are left alone near water. Make swim lessons a priority, especially if you have a pool in your yard or vacation on a lake or at a beach. And never leave your child unsupervised by any body of water; it only takes a second for an accident to happen. If you’re going out on a boat make sure your children wear their life jacket the entire time. You can never be too safe.

Being outdoors in the heat can make you work up a sweat. Dehydration is a real concern during scorching summer days. Drink lots of water and eat foods that have high water contents such as cucumbers. Also, be sure to re-balance your electrolytes. Try adding a dash of salt to a slice of watermelon, or slip a bottle of coconut water into your beach bag. Also, stay out of the direct sun during the hottest parts of the day. If you have to be outside in the middle of the afternoon, plan on being around the water. Go to the local pool or set up a sprinkler in the yard, the kids will have a ball. Remember, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated!

All of this outdoor activity can wreak havoc on your allergies. Common summertime allergies are pollen, mold and bee stings. First and foremost, you should keep an EpiPen on you at all times, especially if you or a member of your family has severe allergies. Also, keep antihistamines on hand; they will help to calm an allergic reaction. If your symptoms persist, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Summertime brings fun but it also can bring forward dangerous situations. Keep these points in mind to keep yourself and your family safe all summer long.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children as well as your aging parents: Life in Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

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As a tribute to Mother’s Day yesterday, I want to wish all the mom’s across the world a beautiful and healthy year filled with love, happiness and success. Being a mother is such a wonderful learning experience and a gift. Being a mom, however, has its challenges and occasionally we may forget about our own health and wellness when caring for our children. Especially for new moms learning to adjust, it can be difficult to create balance and structure to ensure you are healthy and being the best mom you can be.

Through out the years and through much trial and error, I have developed some essential tools I use to maintain a healthy lifestyle while being a mom. These tips I would like to share with you in hopes of assisting you in becoming a healthier and more vibrant mother.

When my girls were young, most of my free time outside of work was spent raising them, worrying about their health and safety, and spending quality time with them. Often times, our kids are the center of our world. Even so, it is still important to find time for yourself. Schedule yourself a period of time each day where you can enjoy the things you love to do whether that’s reading a book, taking a walk, making yourself a hot bath, or going to a quiet place to relax.

As my kids got older, I began to exercise more frequently and it became a very positive outlet for me. There may not always be enough time in the day but try and schedule two or three days a week to exercise, even if it is just for 30 minutes. Do something that you enjoy, that will increase your heart rate and makes you sweat. Incorporating exercise in your weekly routine, will help you maintain your health and overall well-being. If you are also looking for ways to spend more quality time with your family, create a fun exercise routine weekly with them, this will give them something to look forward to and will get them out the door.

It’s easy to loose track of eating healthy when you’re focused on your kids. It’s sometimes easier to grab something less healthy to eat when you’re on the run. However, eating the right foods will increase your overall energy, mood, sleep and can reduce your stress and anxiety. Making a few healthy meals during the week for you and your family can make all the difference. It can be as simple as cutting out excess sugar, focusing on fresh ingredients and getting in more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and even more organic foods.

After incorporating exercise, alone time, and healthy eating into your weekly routine, you will find that you have more energy and are rejuvenated. This will also be a great thing for your kids to witness, if they see their mother happy, active and maintaining their health, they will be more likely to adopt those same patterns in their lives as well.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my latest offering in dealing with unexpected healthcare: When Life Happens: What to do about unexpected health concerns. This is a bit different than my other books. When Life Happens is a workbook filled with information, tips, and tricks for getting through accidents, difficult diagnoses, rehabilitation, and what to do with the kids through it all. But it also has activities to guide you through your situation. You can find it here for only $10!

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