The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals

RE: The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals Post By Joyann (Guest Post) (11/14/2006) The reason so many people don't see a doctor when they need to is the cost. Many people can't afford to pay $100+ for one doctor visit plus medication. Something is seriously wrong when our country can spend $60 billion in a foreign war but refuses to provide healthcare for its citizens because it costs too much!! RE: The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals Post by gurth (41) | (08/25/2006) Profile | Contact I agree that one should consult a doctor/vet. However, sometimes all medical advice fail. My daughter has been struggling with acne (medical diagnosis) for more than six years. She has seen dermatologists, dieticians, specialist physicians, without success. Now she has decided: no more doctors! So I am turning to Boererate (Afrikaans for home remedies) to try to help her. I had one little spot between my toes, which my doctor told me was athlete's foot. She prescribed Lamisil, which did not help at all. At the time, I read up on the many uses of vinegar, lost my temper and decided to put vinegar on the spot every night after my bath. Result: my foot healed completely. When I told my doctor, she commented that it would have worked, as vinegar is acid. It is really important for me to look after my feet, as I am diabetic. RE: The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals Post By (Guest Post) (08/24/2006) I agree 100%. It would be great to go to the Doctor, but when you don't have insurance a Doctor visit in our town is $80.00 and that is just for the visit. If you need medicine it could cost up 100.00 for one prescription.You can do all the things that were mentioned, but that doesn't guarantee you won't get sick. It is easy to condemn the people who CAN"T afford insurance..but first "walk a mile in our shoes and then see what you would do. RE: The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals Post by elliecat (26) | (08/24/2006) Blog! | Contact Hi RObin, and others..Such good, sensible advice. I love reading all the posts here, but sometimes am staggered by questions that obviously need more than just 'tips' from others. Ie, 'My puppy has blood in it's urine" 'My face is all out in red lumps" I understand that medical and veterinary fees can be sky high. My daughter last year had to take her dog Daisy to the vet with a pancreatic problem, it cost her a staggering $700 for the treatment! What ordinary working class family can afford that? Here in Australia, you can get reduced vet fees if you are a low income family. You can take your pet to an animal shelter where a vet will assess the problem and treat if necessary at about half the cost of a private vet fee. Perhaps similar services operate in the USA and other countries. Elliecat. RE: The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals Post by ILuvDobes (287) | (08/24/2006) Profile | Contact Hi Robin, Good post! I am amazed at the risk people will take when it comes to the health of their pets. Mine dogs and cats are too precious to me to try any "home remedies." Diagnosis and treatment must come from a Veterinarian. People adopt pets without realizing they can bring on a tremendous expense. Jennifer Northern Virginia RE: The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals Post by 2oma (60) | (08/24/2006) Contact I agree Carla, as a health professional for near 30 years, one thing that baffles me is the number of folks who don't practice simple, common sense actions that benefit themselves and their children. The first defense in illness ( and before illness) is---- washing your hands with soap and water. Just that. not bacterocidal soap either... interesting, huh. Example: Virus going around school-- I suggest that parents use bleach in their dishwater-- change or sterlize their toothbrushes ( 6/$1 at dollar store), wash their hands without fail and use hankies or kleenex. The virus may not be stopped in its tracks, but it will hit gentler. I also advise teachers to wash their desks and the childrens with a bleach solution daily. Bleach 1:10 ( a cup to 10 cups, can be stored tightly closed) kills the Aids virus which is harder to kill than most-- rubbing alcohol doesn't sterlize anything--OH and don't forget the phone-- and other things everyone uses in the home -- but don't use alcohol on a computer mouse! Killed it dead it did. BTW Check your local Red Cross-- once upon a time they had a "home health" course that contained much useful information. I had a wonderful Home Ec teacher who taught us that course-- and think that may have been my reason to go into Nursing. So now I have three degrees - I hope Mrs. Jamison is proud-- am retired-- and loving it. RE: The Best Advice Is From Health Professionals Post By carla bledsoe (Guest Post) (08/24/2006) one of the reasons people don't see doctors is that although the united states is one of the best countries in the world for emergency care it is one of the costliest in the world for everyday care and medicines. people without insurance (and there are more of us than you'd think) cannot run to the doctor with every little thing. prevention is worth pounds of cure. my husband owns a small business and we don't qualify for state help, you almost have to be destitue to qualify. we also don't make enough money to pay for health insurance. and yes i know what is available....i am an insurance agent. i agree there is a time and place to stop the "home remedies" and get to a doctor. but keep in mind that it isn't an option for about 50 to 60% of the middle class population and not at all for the lower classes. sometimes just knowing other people have some of the same problems you do and have a home remedy gives a little peace of mind to the ill person. for some that is all they have.