Prescription for Well-Being

Medicare Prescription Drug Program and You

Hello Blog Readers! I have returned after almost a 5 month hiatus to bring you information on Medicare’s prescription drug program (aka Medicare Part D).  Usually, I talk of tasty fruit, scrumptious veggies, and how to avoid nail fungus, but this is an important topic that may very well affect you, me, and our families and I figured it was a great way to get back into the blogging swing of things…So I’m guessing some of you are wondering what the heck I’m talking about – well, back in 2006 our government put into effect a program called Medicare Part D which “allows seniors and the disabled enrolled in Medicare to join a private drug plan that is approved and subsidized  by the federal government” (Study: Medicare Prescription…). The reason Medicare Part D has been hailed as a success by many is due to the fact that pre-Medicare Part D only “two thirds of beneficiaries had drug coverage” (Study: Medicare Prescription…) and the cost of prescription drugs caused many people to either skip doses or stop filing for their prescriptions all together.  Currently, with the advent of Medicare Part D, roughly 27 million people are enrolled in Medicare have drug coverage – that’s 27 million people who didn’t have drug coverage previously due to circumstances beyond their control…that’s huge news!  However, though Medicare Part D is a vast improvement on a system which clearly wasn’t working, it isn’t without its imperfections.  There are still some 4.5 million people without drug coverage due to either a belief in their own good health or lack of knowledge regarding the program.  Also, monthly premiums keep rising per year since Medicare Part D took effect and some people find choosing a Medicare plan confusing and difficult. Though these “cons” are present, the point is, Medicare Part D seems to be working and benefiting Americans across the country.  Hmm, now if only there were a site where choosing Medicare plans was made easier? I’m so glad we’re both pondering this question because I certainly have an answer for you.  DestinationRx Medicare Plan Compare is a website which offers both an easy Medicare plan comparison tool and information on the differences in the Medicare plans out there. It’s certainly very helpful and totally worth visiting!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

After my last blog, I thought something a bit light-hearted was in order and certainly less horrifying. I think I’m still having nightmares about nail salons, but fear not…this blog is filled with a sweetness that will make your teeth cry out “AGH! NO!”  And thanks to April being the month containing spring holidays infused with chocolate bunnies, Cadbury Eggs*, and jellybeans, I thought to myself, “Why not! Let’s celebrate with a bit of sugar” (or rather, sugar substitutes).  The Scoop on Sugar Substitutes, brought to your reading pleasure by Joy Bauer at PARADE magazine, let’s us all in on the fall of mainstream sugar substitutes (think in colors of blue, pink, and yellow) to their counterparts, natural sugar substitutes.  Unlike their chemical brethren (saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose), natural sweeteners such as Erythritol, Stevia, or Agave haven’t been given much mainstream love, but times are changing, and natural sweeteners are becoming commonplace. 

 

The first option you have to the “Big Three” (Bauer) is Erythritol. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that naturally occurs in many of your every day foods.  It is 60% to 70% as sweet as table sugar (which means you may have to add more of it to your iced tea or to grandma’s chunky chocolate chip cookies recipe), but the big perk about this sugar substitute is the calorie factor…its calorie free. Oh and unlike its sugar-alcohol cousins sorbitol, maltitol, and xylitol, Erythritol won’t make you feel full of um, well, gas (aka bloated) and it doesn’t work as a natural laxative – thank goodness…

 

Your second natural sweetener option is Stevia derived from the stevia plant found in South America (and consumed there for centuries as well) and was only recently approved by the FDA to be used in food. Stevia extracts is “300 times sweeter than table sugar” (Bauer) so be weary of how much you put into your baked goods, beverages, and anything else you like to add sugar to. Companies such as PureVia and Truvia “cut their products with erythritol” (Bauer) which helps to decrease the sweetness of pure stevia extract, so I’d seek out their products if you’re interested in stevia as an alternative to any of the big three.  You can also find a stevia recipe and conversion chart online – I found this website as an example, but do explore if you’re interested: www.cookingwithstevia.com/

 

The third option you have to a pink, yellow, or blue packet is Agave (or Xagave, if you want to get all technical).  Agave is derived from a plant indigenous to Mexico and is usually sold in syrup or “nectar” form.  Agave, unlike its fellow natural sweeteners, is not calorie free and has about 56 calories per tablespoon versus 50 for good old-fashioned cane sugar (Bauer).  So what’s the advantage to agave over sugar then? Well, unlike sugar, agave is less likely to cause erratic blood-sugar levels and because it’s sweeter than regular sugar, you should use less of it thereby lowering your calorie count.  And if you really want to know, I’ve tried agave myself just for grins, and found out that it tastes great! So check it out if you’d like to add a little agave to your morning cup-o-joe.

 

One word of caution...before trying anything new with your diet, always make sure to talk to your healthcare professional (aka your doctor). Though they may be natural sweeteners, you may be allergic...better to check and remain safe, than to not check at all. Okay, I've said my peace...   

 

*“Cadbury Eggs” copyrighted by Cadbury plc

Salon Woes: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

I tend to avoid going to salons (nail and hair) on a regular basis – just not that kind of person – but I know plenty of men and women who do enjoy the luxury of having their toes buffed, nails polished, and hair done by stylists. So when, while perusing MSN Health & Fitness for a blog topic today, I happened upon an article titled Danger at your Local Salon, I paused to read the details…all I have to say (in the famously written words of Joseph Conrad) is: THE HORROR! THE HORROR! I knew that you could potentially contract a fungal infection from having your nails done (something I learned from a family member who experienced this very thing), but I had no idea the extent of what you could contract at a salon or of what could potentially happen while in the care of a nail technician or stylist.  I think I grimaced, gasped, and hid my eyes from the details of Danger at your Local Salon by Ginny Graves at Health Magazine. However, aside from stirring up images from the movie “Little Shop of Horrors*”, the article does offer some rather helpful information on how to keep you safe when visiting your nail or hair salon.  For the sake of brevity, I’ve picked only one of the many ways you may be maimed, but I suggest checking out the article in full for further details…it will definitely benefit you and your health.

    And now…bring on the screams…I kid, but in all seriousness, be weary of the instruments your technician is utilizing. Why? Well (cue the menacing sounding music), not only can they be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, but they can also pass along gnarly diseases such as staff infections.  That being said, I move onto the details…The Credo blade (a razor-like tool used to shave off cuticles - predominately found on the heel), is by far the most dangerous tool your technician could use and not only that, it’s illegal.  If you see this instrument, run! Flee from your cushioned seat! Or if you’re less dramatic, ask them to kindly not use this medieval sounding device on your feet.  According to Inspector Jacobs (interviewed for the article), “people have had tendons cut because a manicurist slipped while shaving a callus on the heel” (Graves: Pg. 2). Yikes! The Credo blade, though the most dangerous tool in a technician’s tool-kit, is not your only concern.  Tools such as, nail files, nail brushes, and cuticle instruments can carry fungal infections. Others, like cuticle cutters and scissors, have the potential of transmitting diseases like hepatitis B and C, and even HIV may be transmitted through microscopic drops of blood on instruments which have not been cleaned properly.  Now, I know that all sounds terrifying and believe me, it raised the hairs on the back of my neck, but there are ways you can remain safe and still enjoy the luxury of having your hands and feet pampered. 

 

Here’s how:

1.     Ask how the salon disinfects its instruments: “The most foolproof device is an autoclave, which sterilizes metal tools overnight.  At a minimum, implements should be disinfected between clients; they should be washed in soap and water, then soaked in disinfectant in a covered container” (Graves: Pg. 2).  The container should have the following words on it: bactericidal, fungicidal, germicidal, or virucidal.  Also, “clean tools should then be stored separately from the used ones. Items that can’t be disinfected (i.e. nail buffers, nail files, or nail brushes) should be thrown away immediately after being used” (Graves: Pg. 2).

2.     Know what tools will be used: Credo blade = a resounding NO! (That goes for the cuticle cutters as well). If your technician pulls out a Credo blade (aka razor-edge cutter) tell her/him to not use this device on your feet (or any other place they may be used for that matter).  According to the article, “using a Credo blade is actually considered minor surgery” (Graves: Pg. 2) – yeah, minor surgery isn’t something I’d think to have done in a nail salon, and neither should you.  Also, your cuticles are important and it’s not recommended that you have them trimmed off.  They protect you from microbes that could “seep under your nails with water and cause an infection” (Graves: Pg. 2), but if you simply cannot have cuticles showing, ask your technician to gently push them back or avoid this step completely and do it prior to going to the salon with your own tools.

3.     Be mindful of your own health conditions: If you are diabetic or if your immune system is compromised from something like chemotherapy, it is recommended that you avoid manicures and pedicures.  Due to the nature of your situation, you’re more likely to be susceptible to infections caused by the bacteria or microbes often found at nail salons.  

 

Phew…that’s a whole bunch of scary, but by taking those extra steps to protect yourself (i.e. asking questions, voicing concerns, declining certain salon treatments), you’ll be able to enjoy your manicure, pedicure, or hair treatment worry free…a luxury, I think, worth the effort of being cautious and conscientious, don’t you?  

 

*“Little Shop Horrors” is trademarked by The Geffen Company

The Quirks of Our Body

Have you ever wondered why our body does the things it does? Like, for example, “goose bumps” – why do we get them? (I always wondered why they’re even called “goose bumps” but that’s an entirely different topic for an entirely different type of blog)  Or, why do we cry when we’re laughing at something we find super hilarious?  I usually chalk it up to “it’s just how we work”, but it seems there actually is scientific reasoning behind all these baffling body-quirks and thanks to my favorite stop for blog-topics, I now know the reasons (which means you now know too!).  The Odd Body, Explained by Ben Cramer lists thirteen of the strange, odd things our bodies do and explains why we react to them. I chose four out of the thirteen to talk about simply for length’s sake, but I hope you’ll check out the article in its entirety – it’s amusing and rather helpful if you ever catch yourself cursing the likes of onions for their foul, tear-inducing odor or if you simply want to know why you snap, crackle, and pop every time bend your knees. 

Jennifer’s Picks:

#1: “What causes goose bumps?” – Goose bumps…we can’t really escape the little bumps that appear when our skin meets freezing temperatures or if something frightens us and causes our hair to stand on end, but what causes our skin to react in this manner?  Something rather small, surprisingly enough – It’s a “tiny muscle at the base of each body hair” (Cramer: Pg.1) that contracts which causes our skin to form ‘goose bumps”.  It is an evolutionary trait that we never evolved away from, which leaves me to wonder – what would life be like without goose bumps? Would we know that our body is trying to retain its heat or that a predator is silently stalking us without our little warning system if goose bumps were no longer a part of our evolutionary makeup?

 

#2: “Why does chopping onions make you tear up?” – Ugh, I picked this number because I’m one of the mass majority who suffers (it’s unbearably miserable, mind you) from the attack of a chopped onion’s tear-inducing stink.  I usually end up running from the kitchen with a half chopped onion on my cutting board, but fear not, there is a solution and a reason behind this veggie’s poor behavior! The onion defends itself from invaders by releasing a gas called propanethial sulfoxide – a noxious substance which causes your brain to register that your eyes are under attack and in need of tears to flush out the attacker.  The bad news? The more you chop, the more gas is released. The end result: more tears start to flow down your face, which is why you become bleary-eyed before you can finish chopping.  The good news? Stick that pesky onion into the freezer to chill out.  The cold will cause the release of the onion’s enzymes to slow and allow you to chop with clear vision. Hurray an end to my unwanted tears (and, hopefully, your unwanted tears as well)!

 

#5: “What makes your eyelid twitch?” – Has this ever happened to you? It’s annoying and I always feel like I have some kind of invisible, mischief making, creature tugging on my eyelid, but alas it’s not a figment of my imagination, it really is a condition called eyelid myokymia. As Cramer points out, there isn’t a lot known about eye twitches in general, but it’s speculated that this bothersome twitch is probably caused by a “misfiring of a nerve” (Cramer: Pg. 1).  But what the medical/science community does know, are the causes for your eye twitches.  They’ve linked fatigue, stress, caffeine intake, eyestrain, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol intake, and allergies to the eye twitch.  So, how can you avoid having to deal with one eyelid wiggling about in protest?  Start by getting more rest, distress after a day where you’d truly like to pull your hair out, and drink less coffee…that last part is a tough one for me, hopefully it’s not for you!

 

#13: “Why does your side hurt sometimes when you laugh really hard?” – This one made me smile slightly at remembered side-splitting antics and I always wondered why (when I was having such a good time) my body would react to my moment of jovial bliss by sending a stitch to my side?  Here’s the reason why: an exertion of the diaphragm. Yep, that’s it…when you laugh so hard you go into silent mode and have to bend over to relieve your side of a tightening sensation, you’ve just exerted your diaphragm, much like you would after a long run.  Basically, according to Robert Gotlin, D.O. (a sports physician), “when you laugh really hard, you’re sucking in a lot of air, which fills the lungs and pushes down on the diaphragm while the abdominal muscles are also constricting and pushing up on the diaphragm” (Cramer: Pg. 3) thusly causing what we affectionately call a “stitch”.  So how do we keep the stitch from forming?  Cramer suggests that we attempt to break up our fit of laughter with slow, deep breaths…But, I say, laugh till your side aches! It’s completely worth the stitch!           

Creativity, It’s Worthwhile

I’ve always been a big supporter of the arts community and have long accepted the knowledge that cultivating an imaginative spirit is vastly underrated by our society.  Luckily, I’m not the only one who recognizes the importance of creativity and how nurturing this creativity benefits us all.  In an article titled “The Side Road to Happiness” provided by Psychology Today and MSN Health & Fitness.com, psychologists are beginning to link creativity with achieving happiness, emphasizing the importance of setting aside some time in our busy lives to flex the imaginative recesses of our minds.  So, how does being creative help keep us happy and healthy? It’s a simple answer and I’m surprised at its simplicity…The more we engage in creative activities (painting, writing, knitting, doodling, anything which causes us to think outside of the box), the more a sense of fulfillment is gained and what is the end-result from this type of fulfillment? Happiness, of course.  We gain ‘happiness/fulfillment’ by accomplishing what we’ve assigned to ourselves. We take something we’ve envisioned within our minds, place it onto paper, into a sketch pad, or onto a canvas and we gain immense joy from witnessing our creations being unearthed.  However, as the article points out, in order for our creativity to benefit us, we have to let it happen, we have to work at it, we have to let it flow out of us instead of quashing the idea before it had a chance to come to fruition.  We also have to be willing to set aside time to pursue our passion, and once we've given ourself to this pursuit fully, our bodies will naturally follow suit.  According to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who labeled the mental state of being fully engaged in creativity “flow”, those individuals who became so absorbed in a creative activity felt as though they were outside of time.  The creative energy spent on a project allowed them a better sense of well-being, they tended to be happier. Other researchers also have noted that people who are creative during their daily lives or are passionate in their pursuits of creativity tended to be physically healthier as well.  It makes sense, right? You enjoy the task you’ve assigned yourself, you enjoy the challenge of your task and once you’ve completed it, you have a sense of accomplishment, and that tends to make us extremely happy.  

Now that this notion has been planted into your noggins, I challenge you to go out, find something you’re interested in, and actively pursue it. Remember, it’s all about how it makes you feel…

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Drx Shop Compare Site is Here!

We are Live!

It’s been a few weeks now with the new DestinationRx Shopping site.  We are using over 10 years of experience in the health care industry to bring unique price comparison in health care related products, enabling you to gather price information with accurate data on OTC, Pet drug, Vision Care and Vitamins and Supplements.

One thing we are excited about is our pet health category and the many merchant listings currently available. We are carrying a vast selection of pet health items including flea, allergy and eye & ear products.

On a design note; we know our users like intuitive and user friendly shopping tools; your focus should be on finding the best product at your desired cost without navigation issues and wasted time. We believe within 3 or so clicks you should be able to find what you are looking for.  Our shop compare site has been created to provide an efficient, unique and enjoyable experience shopping online.

For merchants there are no fees for product enlisting, which has led us to create a large network of pharmacies for prescription drugs with multiple levels of delivery methods (online, mail order, and local pick up).

The Drx shop compare site provides some familiar tools and services that other comparison sites have, but enhanced and optimized for an advanced shopping experience; take a look for yourself. Finding your desired product takes only a few clicks.

Search, Click, Save!

Beware of that Dastardly Knave, Mall Food

Since the holidays have come and passed, yet the sales at the malls remain, I thought a blog regarding the wonderful world of mall food sounded rather appropriate.  MSN Health & Fitness posted an article from Men's Health listing 20 of the worst mall foods in America.  To spare you the agonizing task of reading a listing of the worst foods possible to consume (not to mention the gasps of shock and the immediate need to hang your head in shame for eating the indicated tasty death-traps), I’ve chosen 6 of the Worst of the Worst mall foods in America (yeah, they’re that bad…) to discuss. 

1)     The first food on my “ex this off your list to eat” is the Cranberry Flax Muffin which can be purchased at your friendly, local Starbucks.  This healthy sounding, yet completely BAD for you breakfast choice has a whopping 410 calories, 17 grams of fat (1 gram saturated fat), 57 grams of carbohydrates, and 32 grams of sugar.  Are you quivering in fear yet? I would be after reading that list of “nutritional information”.  The equivalent to this seemingly harmless muffin is three scoops of Breyers “All Natural Butter Pecan” ice cream (if I were you and had to choose between a flax muffin and three scoops of ice cream, I’d pick the ice cream).  Not only does the muffin contain enough sugar to send your glucose levels into overdrive, but the calorie content makes up almost half of your daily intake of calories (eek, and that’s only breakfast –without the crazy coffee concoction you’ve just ordered).  The article suggests the Banana Loaf as an alternative.  It has 150 calories less than the muffin and about 13 grams less of sugar.

2)     Smoothies…ah, who can say “no” to those seemingly healthy and delicious fruit-filled beverages? I certainly can’t, but don’t let the title of “smoothie” fool you.  The Peanut Butter Moo’d (24 oz.) at Jamba Juice could practically kill you with one sip.  This smoothie contains 800 calories (good gracious!), 21 grams of fat (6 grams of saturated fat), 131 grams of carbohydrates (I think I feel faint just from reading that one), and 115 grams of sugar.  Are you brave enough to know what the equivalent is to this smoothie? If so, continue reading this section, if not…seek out number three…The equivalent to this preposterous smoothie is twelve (12!) scoops of Breyers “All Natural Mint Chocolate Chip” ice cream.  Okay, so let’s forget the calorie count for a few minutes and focus on how this smoothie will not only increase your blood sugar which can lead to a host of issues down the road (like diabetes), but the sugar PLUS the carb-load may also harm your liver.  Run! Flee from the imposter smoothie known as a “peanut butter moo’d”! It’s not healthy, not in the slightest bit!  Still like smoothies after reading that and want an alternative though? Try out Jamba Juice’s Strawberry Nirvana smoothie, the nutritional information isn’t ideal, but it’s certainly A LOT better compared to its menu sharing heavy-weight – the peanut butter moo’d.

3)     So you’re in Quiznos and you’re thinking to yourself, “Hmm…I’m going to have the salad today for lunch to avoid the carbs in the bread.” Refrain! Erase this thought from your mind!  Salads are crafty creatures luring you in with their leafy greens and innocent ‘healthy’ appeal. Here’s why:  The Roasted Chicken (what’s wrong with roasted chicken, right? Just wait…) with Honey Mustard Flatbread Salad at Quiznos has – brace yourself – 1,110 calories…and now I wait to go on so you can recover from falling off your chair…Okay, moving forward, 74 grams of fat (14.5 saturated fat and 0.5 grams of trans fat), 2,030 milligrams of sodium, and finally 70 grams of carbohydrates.  Need I continue on with how this kind of full meal salad, every day, once a day, will eventually put you into your grave? No, I think not…I think the calorie count alone has done the job for me…However, there is hope. If you really want a salad, your best bet would be to order a small side salad and a cup of soup.  The recommendation from the article? A side chopped salad with reduced fat buttermilk ranch – it is 938 calories less than the evil-doer above. That alone has convinced me, has it convinced you?

4)     Soup…it’s predominately liquid, right? So how horrible can it be for your body? Oh it’s bad…very bad.  The Large Macaroni and Cheese Stew (which, in my opinion, sounds terrible just by its name alone) in a bread bowl from Au Bon Pain contains 1,120 calories, 42 grams of fat (19 grams saturated fat, 1 gram trans fat), 3,070 milligrams of sodium, and 157 grams of carbohydrates. Still think soup is risk-free?  Like its salad brethren above, soup appears harmless, but will knock you out thanks to its calorie/sodium count and thanks to the bowl it comes in.  The bread bowl adds 600 calories to the already calorie-filled soup and the sodium content will have you drinking water well into your 80’s.  Also, this one bowl of soup is comparative to 22 small orders of McDonald’s French fries.  Agh, why must you do this to me soup?! Oh how I loved thee! However, if you’re still interested in eating soup from Au Bon Pain, here is the alternative: Medium Old Fashioned Tomato Soup.  Yeah it’s old fashioned, slightly boring, and if you don’t like tomatoes then you’re SOL, but it won’t put you in the grave quite as quickly as the macaroni stew mixture designed for taste rather than health.

5)     Since McDonald’s was mentioned above it lends itself to a nice segue way into the next food to cross off your list…A McDonald’s Chocolate Triple Thick Shake at 32 ounces has – are you sitting down? No? You should be – 1,160 calories, 27 grams of fat (16 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of trans fat), 203 grams of carbohydrates, and 168 grams of sugar.  That is a meal in itself and takes the average calorie count for a woman (1200 calories per day) to its maximum in one moment of blissful indulgence and leaves you with only 40 allowable calories left to consume in order to maintain the recommended 1200 daily intake.  For men at 1800 calories per day, this milkshake has chewed up (pardon the pun) most of your daily calories and only leaves you with 640 to work with for the rest of the day.  This is only assuming you had not consumed 1-4 at all that day too. The worst part about this totally wretched, yet tasty vat of calories and fat is that it beats out the Big Mac, two of them in fact…yeah, just dwell on that for a few minutes…its equivalent is two big macs – oh that is just horrible.  The alternative? Try the Vanilla Triple Thick Shake. It is 740 calories less than the chocolate one and contains 17 grams less fat.  I’m still shuddering from that revelation of two big macs, are you?

6)     If you have made it to my final and definitely the winner of the “worst of the worst” mall foods in America, then you’re a brave soul. It’s either that or very interested in knowing what could possibly be worse than the five I listed above.  Oh, believe me…if you thought the muffin was bad, the smoothie appalling, the salad beyond reproach, the soup utterly wretched, the milkshake too terrible to utter its name, then you haven’t met Quiznos large Tuna Melt Club (with cheese and dressing).  Yeah, if you’re faint of heart, do not continue reading…This scrumptious heart-attack in waiting contains 1,820 calories, 147 grams of fat (27 grams saturated fat, 1.5 grams of trans fat), 2,020 milligrams of sodium, and 85 grams of carbohydrates.  Now, I know the carb amount is less than oh say the milkshake, but take a good long look at the calories and sodium numbers.  My skin is shriveling up and I’m retaining water just reading the sodium count.  Not only does this sandwich contain well over the maximum calorie intake for both men and women, it contains as much fat as 49 strips of bacon (and no, not the turkey kind – good old fashioned pork bacon) which is just unthinkable for a sandwich.  Eat this daily and you might as well check yourself into a hospital with a request that the Defibrillator be on stand-by.  Still like the tuna melt, but hate the nutritional facts? Try a small tuna melt without cheese and dressing (the mayo is okay, just say “light” mayo, because what is a tuna fish sandwich without mayo other than boring?).  It is 1,320 calories less than its larger relative and has only 630 milligrams of sodium versus the 2,020 milligrams of sodium found in the larger version.  Yeah, I told you it was the worst, by far…stay away from this calorie packed sandwich.

There you have it, 6 out of the 20 worst mall foods to consume.  We all like the foods that tempt us, that’s why they’re so yummy, but just be conscious of what you’re putting into your body – it will thank you later on in life – and remember, everything in moderation, small portions are key. 

**Still hungry for more information? Want to know the nutritional facts of your favorite dishes at your favorite restaurants? Check out Diet Facts.com. The website offers a listing of 497 restaurants and the nutritional information for their menus.

Your Brain and the Emotion: Hate

Hate…such a strong emotion and the emotion used most when we try to understand atrocious human behavior – wars, hate crimes, vengeance, etc. – or when trying to find the right word to convey how you feel when words like angry, frustrated, or annoyed doesn’t really fit the moment. We tend use the word “hate” in our daily colloquial speech to the point where it seems so common place, until it reaches beyond our moral code, and then it becomes something entirely different. What do I mean by this? Have you ever caught yourself uttering, “Ugh, I hate traffic!” or “Argh, I really hate that guy!”? I know I tend to use that word entirely too loosely when other emotions apply, but did you ever wonder why some people act upon their hate or where the emotion of hate originates?  I’m one to argue that “hate” is a learned behavior, but according to a new study published recently on PLoS One, it also lies within our brains. Hate has been linked to sections of the human brain known as the cortex, the sub-cortex, the putamen, and the insula – forming what British researchers call, the ‘hate circuit’. The ‘hate circuit’, according to the study, is associated with the aggression portion of our brains, but is separate from the areas indicating fear, threat, or danger and leads many of us to act upon our initial reactions connected with the emotion of hate.  It also taps into the frontal cortex, a section of our brain that is believed to help us anticipate the actions of others.  This anticipation gives you the advantage when facing or confronting the person you hate, according to researchers. Ironically, the sections identified (frontal cortex, sub-cortex + putamen and insula) as the central location where hate is conceived within our brains is also the same area that prompts romantic love.  Hate, like love, is irrational and can lead people to either act heroically or to become completely twisted – weird how that works...Another interesting factoid mentioned in the study, is that the amount of activity in these locations of the brain increased with the intensity to which the person declared their hate of another individual.  So how does the study work? Those who took part in the study (17 men and women) were shown pictures of those they stated as someone they hated and a “neutral” individual.  The researchers then measured the brain wave activity taking place while the series of images where shown and noticed that the most activity took place when the subject viewed the hated person’s photo.  Pretty crazy, if you ask me…the brain never ceases to amaze me.  However, the study still doesn’t answer my question of where hate originates, mostly it shows the how and why we are affected by hate, but not where the emotion begins.  Even though the study doesn’t answer the question of where hate originates, it is still incredibly interesting and leaves one to ponder about the power held within our minds.

Prevacid and Low Cost Alternatives

On occasion I’ll peruse through some of our top searched drugs on Drx.com to look at drug comparison trends and recently came across Prevacid.

Prescribed to treat effects from stomach ulcers, erosive esophagitis and other conditions, Prevacid is a Proton Pump Inhibitor, which limits production of stomach acid.

I went ahead and did a little research to compile a table with some drug comparison stats on Low Cost Alternatives for you

Enjoy.

Prevacid and Low Cost Altermatives

THE APPROVAL OF YOUR PHYSICIAN IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PRESCRIPTION STRENGTH DRUG OPTIONS AND DOSAGES. THIS INFORMATION USES APPROXIMATE DOSAGES FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES. YOUR DOCTOR WILL SELECT THE APPROPRIATE DOSE BASED ON YOUR CONDITION.

Content provided by Rxaminer: a DRX site, where you can find more information on Low Cost Alternatives.