Archive for the 'Health' Category
You’re At Risk For Osteoporosis! Thousands Of Women Die From Osteoporosis Yearly
Osteoporosis Risks & Prevention Options By Phil Beckett
Copyright ? http://www.womens-health-fitness.com
Osteoporosis is a condition that involves the loss of bone mass, which results in chronic, progressive bone weakening.
This “thinning” of the bones can be caused by a number of disorders, but is most frequently seen as a consequence of age.
Osteoporosis is much more common in women, who usually begin to develop the disorder around the time of menopause, a time marked by a drop in the body’s estrogen level.
While most cases are associated with menopause, any other condition that causes a drop in estrogen can lead to osteoporosis.
Besides advancing age and being female, other risk factors for osteoporosis are:
- Early menopause;
- Family history;
- White or Asian race; - Not getting enough calcium in your diet; - Smoking;
- Alcohol;
- Lack of exercise;
- Low body weight;
- Small stature.
Osteoporosis causes approximately one million fractures in postmenopausal women every year.
Tens of thousands of deaths in women each a year are associated with complications of osteoporosis.
How To Recognize Osteoporosis:
The pain of osteoporosis often goes unnoticed. The following signs indicate you may have osteoporosis:
- Height loss
- Back pain
- Bone fragility
- Bone fracture
Fractures that occur as a result of very minor trauma are often the first sign of osteoporosis.
About 35 percent of vertebral fractures are not painful. They are sometimes only detected by height loss, chronic back pain, and kyphosis.
Hip and other serious fractures are usually caused by a fall.
Osteoporosis Prevention Is The Key:
First and foremost, make sure that you exercise using a properly structured fitness and nutrition program…
And do it on a regular basis! This is an excellent option for preventing osteoporosis. This must include exercise with weights. It is very important for good health and strong bones.
Make sure you are getting enough calcium. Calcium builds strong bones.
Foods such as such as milk; yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products; and dark green and leafy vegetables do contain calcium.
But, unfortunately, you just cannot get enough from these food sources.
Therefore, you must take a calcium supplement to ensure you are getting enough.
Don’t Smoke. Besides the many health risks caused by smoking, women who smoke have more chance of getting osteoporosis.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol can hurt the cells that build your bones. It also lowers the amount of calcium in your body.
You must ensure that you are getting all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to promote good health. To do this, you have to take a good quality daily multi-vitamin.
Osteoporosis begins when you are a child and is often not found until you are much older. That is why it is so important to eat well and get lots of exercise to keep your bones healthy and strong.
Essential Vitamins Needed:
In addition to calcium, your body needs magnesium, a mineral necessary to activate the chemical reactions that form new bone.
Another mineral important to normal bone formation, manganese, is needed to help make your bones more resistant to breaking.
Your body also needs folic acid to properly build the fibrous collagen framework of bone onto which to mineral salts deposit. Without a strong framework, the bone will become weak and defective and more prone to breakage.
Vitamin B6 is also needed to build the fibrous framework that supports the bone minerals.
Vitamin C is very important for collagen and connective tissue formation.
A deficiency of vitamin B12 prevents your body’s bone building cells from functioning properly.
There are many essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs on a daily basis to help prevent and treat osteoporosis but the best choice by far is coral calcium and above sea coral calcium is even better.
When selecting a coral calcium product, it needs to contain 1.5 grams of above sea coral calcium per serving, complete with a certificate of analysis on display confirming the potency.
In addition, and just as important, your coral calcium should be fortified with both a red and green phytonutrient mix using New Zealand grown ingredients.
It’s widely accepted that coral calcium, containing a plant- based red and green phytonutrient mix, reflects the best possible combination for osteoporosis.
I can confidently recommend this type of coral calcium product to you and have received only very positive feedback from the individuals who have already used it.
For more information on how to prevent and relieve osteoporosis please visit:
http://www.womens-health-fitness.com/osteoporosis.html
Phil Beckett is the President & C.E.O of Physique Concepts Inc. and is the author of 3 very popular and successful health &
fitness books and designs customized general health, weight loss, flexibility and cardiovascular exercise programs for women. He has trained and educated more than 3000 women of all ages, interests, and limitations, in health, fitness and nutrition, both on-line and off-line for more than 15 years.
Your Top Fitness Questions Answered
As a certified personal trainer part of my commitment to clients is consulting with them. This includes answering their many fitness and diet questions. Needless to say, I get asked a lot of questions. And, there are several questions that seem to be on almost everyone?s minds.
The answers to these top 8 inquiries can help most anyone get a jump start on reaching their weight loss and fitness goals. So, here are some of the top fitness questions and their answers.
1. I want to tone and tighten my legs (or stomach, or arms, etc). What exercises can I do to lose fat there and get them toned? Answer: You can’t spot reduce. It is necessary for you to reduce the fat in your trouble area before you will see big results from your strength training exercises. You must burn calories and fat through cardiovascular activities. This includes such things as walking, jogging, step aerobics, jumping rope, swimming etc. But, while cardio is critical you should also include strength training exercises to help build muscles and tone your trouble area simultaneously.
2. I really want to workout and get in-shape, but I just don?t have the time. What should I do? Answer: You are not alone. One of the top reasons people give for not working out is lack of time. The first step is to realize that it?s not that you don?t have the time, but that you are not making it a priority in your schedule. What people don’t realize is that it doesn’t take a huge time commitment to reap the many rewards of regular exercise. Many people think that if they can’t workout several hours a week, then they might as well not workout at all. But, exercising even just a couple of days a week is far better than not exercising at all. The key is finding a truly effective and efficient workout plan.
3. What is the best fitness program for losing weight? Answer: The key to a successful program is that it is comprehensive and includes the necessary pieces. There are three major components of a good weight loss program: cardio, strength training and stretching. It’s equally important to include all three components. For example, you could do cardio 3 times per week, strength training twice per week and stretch before and after every workout.
4. I have hit a plateau and can?t seem to get the scale to budge (or can?t get any stronger). Can you help me? Answer: The key to breaking through a plateau is change. One of the best techniques for overcoming a plateau is Interval training. This is a type of training that includes bursts of high intensity periods followed by lower intensity recovery times. You?ll also want to change your workout routine at least every 4-6 weeks.
5. What size weights should I train with and how many reps should I complete? Answer: There’s no one size fits all weight size that is best. The size of weight you use depends on your goals, skills, past fitness experience, etc. A good rule of thumb is to start with about 70% maximum resistance with 8-12 reps and 1-3 sets. To determine your specific 70% maximum size, you must first determine the maximum amount of weight you can lift. However, it’s typically not recommended that beginners attempt to lift their maximum amount of weight, for safety reasons. So, another simpler option is to choose a weight size that provides fatigue after the 8th - 12th rep is completed.
6. Is it bad for your body to workout some of the same muscle groups daily? Answer: Typically you should allow your muscle to rest about 48 hours before working it again. This is the safest approach and also the most efficient approach for improving strength. It will help you increase hypertrophy more effectively.
7. How often should I stretch and should I stretch before or after working out? Answer: Actually, it’s best to stretch both times. If you have the time, your body will really benefit from stretching both before you start exercising and again after your workout. At the very least, be sure to stretch after you have completed your workout. As far as frequency, even if you don’t workout every day it is very beneficial to include a stretching routine daily.
8. How can I workout at home because I don?t belong to a gym? Answer: There are many, many options for strength training and cardio workouts that don’t require a trip to the gym. If you have dumbbells, a resistance band, or an exercise stability ball, there are literally hundreds of exercises that you can do at home. With these exercises you can increase your muscular strength, muscular endurance plus of course get a more defined look in your physical appearance. For cardio workouts you can simply walk outside or at an indoor location, stair climb, jumping jacks, etc.
About the Author
Lynn Bode is a certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based fitness programs. She founded Workouts For You. Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for a free sample workout and to sign-up for their monthly fitness newsletter. Workouts For You provides affordable online exercise programs custom designed for each individual. Fitness professionals visit: http://www.trainerforce.com
info@workoutsforyou.com
Did You POOP Today?
DID YOU POOP TODAY?
By: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN
If you?re like many Americans, constipation is something you?ve experienced. Over 4 million people each year report being constipated. Cases of colon cancer are rising steadily. To understand why you may be suffering, you first need to know exactly what constipation means. When John Wayne died they found 60 pounds of compacted hard fecal matter stuck to the lining of his intestines.
My definition of being constipated means that you have difficulty passing stools and do not have daily bowel movements.
If your stools are soft and pass easily and you pass them at least 2 times per day, I would say you?re not constipated.
In order to be diagnosed with constipation, you must have at least two of the following symptoms for at least 12 months:
?Hard or pellet-like stools at least 25% of the time
?Straining with bowel movements at least 25% of the time
?A feeling that you don?t completely empty your bowels at least 25% of the time
?Fewer than 5 bowel movements per week
What causes constipation?
The most common cause of constipation is a lack of adequate amounts of water, exercise, stress and fiber in the diet. The longer the stool sits in the large intestine waiting to be passed, the harder and less easy to pass it becomes.
There are many other reasons that you may find yourself constipated. Common causes of constipation include:
?A change in schedule, such as traveling or anything that changes your daily routine
?Repressing the urge to have a bowel movement
?An increase in your stress levels
?A lack of exercise and poor dietary habits
?Loss of activity as a result of injury or aging
?Pregnancy
?Medication use
Constipation may also be a result of another health problem, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes or other illnesses.
Older people (over the age of 65) still experience constipation more often than other adults. This is often due to an increase in medications and loss of mobility. Recently, over the last 10 years, children as well as adults are becoming constipated. Most doctors attribute this to a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and poor nutrition. Studies now show that 50% of the children in America are obese and uneducated about proper diet and healthy living.
A more uncommon type of constipation results from an actual obstruction in the large intestine. This can be caused by an obstruction such as a tumor or gallstone that is wedged in the intestine. High stress levels can also cause the muscles in the bowel to constrict or contract at different times. Normally the muscles in the upper part of the intestinal tract contract, as the lower muscles in the bowel relax. When the lower muscles in the bowel contract or go into a spasm instead of relaxing, problems start to occur.
The bowel may also be obstructed if the large intestine has twisted on itself. Sometimes after any type of abdominal surgery scar tissue will grow internally and pinch off or restrict a section of your bowel. Another possible cause of bowel obstruction is from connective tissue diseases such as lupus or scleroderma.
If you?re experiencing symptoms from constipation for more than two weeks, it?s a good idea to seek the advice of your doctor. Together you can pinpoint the causes of your constipation and choose the best treatment options.
Make sure you pay attention to your bowel habits and keep your colon and intestinal tract clean. Do not consume products containing aspartame, mineral oil, milk of magnesia or high fat content.
Increasing your water intake, exercise, a high fiber diet and using a safe and natural oxygen based intestinal cleanser such as ?Oxy-Powder? can keep your bowels regular.
A clean colon can prevent and reduce: Bad breath, body odor, constipation, depression, diverticulitis, colon cancer, fatigue, gas, stomach pain, bloating, weight gain, headaches, hemorroids, indigestion, appendicitis, insomnia and varicose veins.
A prolific author, Dr. Edward Group has written seven books and dozens of articles on subjects such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, ultimate health, constipation, pain relief and more… In addition he is editor of the worldwide Internet monthly newsletter Alternative Health and Healing.
Dr. Edward Group?s knowledge of alternative/natural protocols is thorough and his expression is opinionated and passionate
People Pleasing: Having Trouble Saying No?
Do you have trouble saying NO? Do you do things for other people but almost never ask anybody to do things for you? You may be a people pleaser.
People pleasers think of other people?s needs before their own. They worry about what other people want, think, or need, and spend a lot of time doing things for others. They rarely do things for themselves, and feel guilty when they do. It?s hard being a people pleaser.
People pleasers hold back from saying what they really think or from asking for what they want if they think someone will be upset with them for it. Yet they often spend time with people who don?t consider their needs at all. In fact, people pleasers often feel driven to make insensitive or unhappy people feel better - even at the detriment to themselves.
Constantly trying to please other people is draining and many people pleasers feel anxious, worried, unhappy, and tired a lot of the time. They may not understand why no one does anything for them, when they do so much for others - but they often won?t ask for what they need.
A people pleaser may believe that if they ask someone for help and that person agrees, that person would be giving out of obligation, not because they really wanted to. The thinking goes - if they really wanted to help, they would have offered without my asking. This line of thinking happens because people pleasers themselves feel obliged to help, and do not always do things because they want to. Sadly, people pleasers have been taught that their worth depends on doing things for other people.
It?s painful being a people pleaser. People pleasers are not only very sensitive to other people?s feelings, and often take things personally, but they also rarely focus on themselves. When they do take a moment for themselves, they feel selfish, indulgent, and guilty which is why they are often on the go, rushing to get things done. Because people pleasers accomplish so much and are easy to get along with, they are often the first to be asked to do things - they are vulnerable to be being taken advantage of.
People pleasers were raised in homes where their needs and feelings were not valued, respected, or considered important. They were often expected as children to respond to or to take care of other people?s needs. Or they may have been silenced, neglected, or otherwise abused, thus learning that their feelings and needs were not important. In many cultures, girls are raised to be people pleasers - to think of others? needs first, and to neglect their own. Many women have at least some degree of people pleasing in them. Men who identified with their mothers often do as well.
People pleasers? focus is mostly on others and away from themselves. They often feel empty, or don?t know how they feel, what they think, or what they want for themselves. But it?s possible to change this pattern and to feel better about yourself.
There are many ways to reduce your tendency to please others. Here are some suggestions:
Practice saying NO. This is a very important word! Say it as often as you can, just to hear the word come out of your mouth. Say it out loud when you are alone. Practice phrases with NO in them, such as, “No, I can?t do that” or “No, I don?t want to go there”.Try it for simple things first, then build your way up to harder situations.
Stop saying YES. Try to pause or take a breath before responding to someone?s request. You may want to answer requests with “I need to think about it first, I?ll get back to you” or “Let me check my schedule and call you back”. Use any phrase that you feel comfortable with that gives you time before you automatically respond with YES.
Take small breaks, even if you feel guilty. You won?t always feel guilty, but most likely in the beginning you will.
Walk slowly; it?s part of slowing down your pace.
Discover what gives you pleasure, for example, reading magazines, watching videos, going to a park, and listening to music, and then give yourself permission to do those things.
Ask someone to help you with something. I know this is a hard one but you can do it!
Check in with how you feel and what you are thinking. It?s important to be aware of these things; they?re part of who you are. And then try saying what you feel and think more often.
Many people pleasers believe that nobody will like them if they stop doing things for other people. If someone stops liking you because you don?t do what they ask, then you?re being used by them and probably don?t want them as a friend anyway. People will like you for who you are and not simply for what you do. You deserve to take time to yourself, to say NO, and to take care of yourself without feeling guilty. It?s within your reach to change - one small step at a time!
Kali Munro, ? 2001
http://www.KaliMunro.com
Kali Munro, M.Ed., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Toronto, Canada. She has twenty years experience specializing in a variety of issues including sexual abuse, relationships, sexuality, eating disorders, and body image. She provides individual and couple therapy in Toronto, as well as online. She offers free healing resources at her web site about relationships, abuse, sexuality, and much more. Check out her inspiring and healing site www.KaliMunro.com
Recharging Your Batteries
TIME: Late February
DILEMMA: The Blahs
This is just the time of year to take a look at that reoccurring problem ? how do you keep the passion alive? Because it?s February, you may be thinking of ?romance? when I say ?passion.? But I mean it in a larger sense. I?m talking about the energy that drives our lives.
This is the time of year when life may look like getting up, shaving, doing the laundry, feeding the dogs, and having the same fights with the same people over the same things. It can be uninviting and uninspiring, a case of ?been there, done that, and not too thrilled about the prospect of going there and doing it again.?
Whatever zap of energy we got from the New Year and New Year?s Resolutions has likely worn off. If we?ve dropped our resolutions, there?s a letdown. If we?ve achieved them, there can also be a letdown. I think of the woman who told me once, ?I lost the 30 lbs. and still my life isn?t perfect.?
It isn?t about life being perfect, it?s about life BEING. Let?s take a look at that. What the woman meant was that losing 30 lbs. made her look and feel better, and did a lot for her health, but the baby still cried, the secretary still missed the deadline, the traffic still piled up, she still didn?t like her mother-in-law, the dishwasher still needed to be emptied, and she still was unable to streamline her projects at work she way she?d like to.
So how do we recharge our batteries when they?re running low? Here are some tips.
WORK OUT
Putting out energy brings in energy, and the important thing is that this isn?t just physical. Work out MENTALLY by starting a new course, online or on-site. Continual learning throughout life is one of the hallmarks of resilient people. Get in on this early and stay with it.
Work out EMOTIONALLY by taking the focus off yourself, and helping someone else. If you?ve got the blahs and start focusing on that, you can dig yourself into a hole. If you turn outward, toward others, you?ll soon become interested in the world about you and that?s it?s own antidote.
Work out PHYSICALLY by adding to or ?upping? your current workout schedule. Many people add pleasant walks this time of year, just to get outside more, to move about more, and to get more sunshine. If you don?t want to go outside, get the movement going inside.
You can manufacture more activity by doing everything you can to be INefficient about your household chores. For instance, take things from the bedroom into the laundry room one item at a time. When working in the garage take one tool and use it and put it back. Go get another. Use it and put it back. Then go back for the first one.
USE MUSIC
Good rousing music can be very helpful. When you?re carrying the laundry in, item by item, place a march by Sousa. When you?re driving in the car to do your errands, play the special tape or CD you put together of high-energy music.
TOUCH THE SOURCE
The source is your purpose. There?s a purpose why each of us is here on earth for the time that we are. What you may not be aware of is that it can fade and become clearer, and it can also change over time. This is a good time to intentionally review your life purpose. It gives meaning to your life and this provides passion and energy. You should do this periodically any way, just to make sure you?re on course. Knowing your purpose means knowing your values, and makes your decisions and priorities fall effortlessly into line.
Here is a website that can guide you to build your personal mission statement:
http://www.franklincovey.com/missionbuilder/index.html?c=Home_Center_TopRight_MissionBuilder .
On this website are activities to guide you in putting together your life purpose: http://www.quintcareers.com/mission_statement_development.html .
WORK WITH A GUIDE
A certified emotional intelligence coach is a life workout guide. They are trained at helping you analyze your needs (emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually), removing obstacles, generating alternatives, choosing viable solutions, designing a strategy for implementing them, and seeing them through to conclusion.
Any time your passion is flagging, go back and review your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. There will be times in life when you have to motivate yourself, and that?s how you do it. Ask yourself how you?re feeling emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally, and then ask yourself what you need to improve your energy in each area. The answer is within you, and so, therefore, is the solution.
?Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . Coaching, distance learning courses, and ebooks around emotional intelligence for your continued personal and professional development. For free ezine, mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc. I train and certify EQ coaches. Get in this field, dubbed ?white hot? by the press, now, before it?s crowded, and offer your clients something of exceptional value. Start tomorrow, no residence requirement. Email for info.
Top 5 Exercise Plateau Breakers
?Plateau?. That dreaded word that you do not want to hear, let alone experience. Especially if you have been diligently exercising in an attempt to get fit or lose weight. We have all experienced a plateau at some time ? all of a sudden you stop losing weight or you just can?t seem to run any faster. When you hit a plateau, don?t panic. It doesn?t necessarily mean you need to work harder or spend more days at the gym. Here are five ideas that may help you break through in record time.
Take an Active Rest
If you have hit a plateau, it may be time for an ?active rest?. Take a week off from structured exercise, and instead take leisurely walks, play ball with the kids, or take a yoga class. Active rest rejuvenates the mind and the body and allows for overworked muscles to rest and rebuild. You will return to exercise stronger and ready for new challenges.
Time to Eat
As you increase your fitness level, your body?s metabolism may increase and so will your calorie needs. If you hit a plateau, evaluate how much you are eating. You may need to eat more than you have in the past for your body to continue to increase its fitness level. If you find you are often hungry, this is a clear sign you need to eat more to sustain your exercise program.
Mix it Up
If you do not vary your workout routine your body will eventually run on ?cruise control?, and you will experience a plateau. Try new cardiovascular activities, or use free weights if you always use machines for strength training. Changes in your routine will surprise the body and force it to adapt, bringing you to new levels of fitness.
Different Day, Different Intensity
Varying your activities, or cross-training is important to avoid or break through a plateau. While cross-training the type of activity is often recommended, it is also important to cross-train the intensity of your workouts. Specify different days of the week as low, moderate or high-intensity days. Try interval training ? work at a low intensity for a couple of minutes and increase to a high intensity for a couple of minutes, and repeat. If you use a heart rate monitor, be sure your average heart rate for your exercise sessions vary from day to day.
Sleep It Off
Be sure you are getting enough sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep for your body will allow time for your muscles to recover from exercise. This will ensure that you can come to your next exercise session with enough energy and at full strength to take on a challenging workout.
If you are still frustrated, find inspiration in the story of Chris Witty, winner of the Gold Medal in 1000 meter speed skating in the 1998 Winter Olympics. A month before she was to compete in the Olympics, she was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Of course she had to cut back on training, and at the time that she should have been preparing to peak for competition. Not only did she win the Gold Medal, which nobody expected, she broke the world record! Imagine what a little rest might do for your workouts!
If you find you still can?t break through that plateau, then make the decision to ride it out. Sometimes a plateau is necessary to allow the body to catch up with a new body weight or fitness level. Rest assured your body knows what is best and will break through the plateau at the right time!
Gillian Hood-Gabrielson, MS, ACSM is the president of Flexible Fitness, a nationwide coaching practice offering health and fitness solutions for your busy lifestyle including Fitness Coaching by Phone and Intuitive Eating. She can be reached at 866-618-8814 or by email at gillian@flexiblefitness.net. To receive our free report, ?I Hate Exercise Too!? and our newsletter, please visit www.flexiblefitnessforyou.com.
Buying Drugs From Canada: Can It Last?
Americans are embracing the modem and abandoning the motor vehicle in search of cheaper drug prices and Canadian pharmacies are the destination. The neighbor to the north has become the savior of the health-plan meek, and the cash mild, by filling their prescriptions for savings of up to 80%. Yet, while the willing Canadians share their good fortune of lower-priced drugs, unfriendly forces plot their demise. Doctors associations, pharma giants, and government agencies are doing their best to thwart this “humanitarian effort”.
Canadian pharmacies, and especially their online counterparts, are flourishing in today’s shop-at-home environment. The process of ordering prescription drugs is relatively simple. You find a web drug store you like, choose the prescription drugs you need, tally the cost in a shopping cart, fill out a questionnaire, then mail in, or fax, your prescription and signed consent form and presto - instant savings. For some, especially America’s seniors, it also means not having to choose which drug you will have to forego this month, or the next.
So why is this seemingly win-win situation under so much pressure? For starters, because it’s illegal. The FDA says the same drugs that have been approved in the U.S. but originate in Canada are considered unapproved new drugs and are therefore illegal for import. However, since it has previously allowed U.S. citizens to import needed drugs that are unavailable in the U.S., it has made exceptions for personal use drug imports.
For the FDA, the fact remains that the drugs are illegal. This is the position they are advocating with many U.S. governors, like Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich who has been contemplating Canadian drug reimportation in the face of U.S. law. Minnesota’s governor Tim Pawlenty created a referral web site for residents to purchase drugs from two Canadian pharmacies it researched and has okayed. Growing numbers of states are seriously looking at reducing budgets or helping residents reduce the burden of high priced prescription meds through Canadian pharmacies.
Demand for Canadian prescription drugs is high, so what about supply. David McKay, head of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, will meet with U.S. governors at their upcoming summit on drug importation to ask for their help with the large pharmaceutical companies. The pharma giants have begun restricting supply to Canadian pharmacies in an effort to quell the flow south. For the pharma giants, as the drugs flow south, so do their profits.
Canadian pharmacies have made a commitment to take care of Canadians first but there is a loud cry for their services across the border. Some critics accuse that it’s all about money, and that Canadian online pharmacies are making a mint selling drugs to American citizens.
It was that same argument that the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) used when deciding to go after the doctors who are “chain-signing” prescriptions. When a prescription from an U.S. doctor comes to a pharmacy in Canada, the Canadian doctor reviews the patient’s medical questionnaire along with the prescription received, and then writes out a new prescription for the drugs to be dispensed, according to Canadian law. The CMA says doctors should not sign prescriptions if the patient has not been seen in a personal exam.
This type of professional peer pressure is the doctors lobby at stopping, or significantly slowing the process they feel hurts the profession. So far 1 Manitoba doctor has been fined $10,000 for signing more than 9,000 prescriptions and 3 others accused of professional misconduct by the College of Physicians and surgeons.
With the recent Medicare changes so slow in coming, and so slow in creating any change, the need for aid from Canadian pharmacies will continue a good while longer. It is truly unfortunate that a service providing a “humanitarian effort”, has more than its share of negative forces working against it. It begs the all-important question, “Can it last?” Only time will tell.
Kirk A. Johnson is the writer/publisher for the Online Pharmacy Digest http://www.onlinepharmacydigest.com . The premiere guide for consumers to the online pharmacy industry offers informative articles, current news, and web site reviews.
