Health Savings Accounts and Chiropractic Care

The healthcare industry in the United States is dominated by the culture of conventional Western medicine. And health insurance caters to those who control the industry: medical doctors and hospitals. There is a long history of prejudice against chiropractic by medical doctors, which is one reason that chiropractic care is not often covered by health insurance.

Many research studies have shown that chiropractic care is beneficial and that it is more cost effective in the treatment of low back pain and other common musculoskeletal conditions than traditional Western medicine is. Chiropractic also lowers health care costs by focusing on prevention, was well as on treatment.

It is surprising that health insurers choose not to cover treatment that is as beneficial and cost effective as chiropractic care is. Studies have continually shown that individuals who seek the care of a chiropractor on a regular basis are healthier and, generally, spend less on health care than those who do not.

Chiropractic Care and Consumers

What is not surprising is that consumers are wise enough to see the advantages of chiropractic care. Many people prefer to see a chiropractor simply because they see tangible benefits from the care they receive. Many others are disillusioned with traditional Western medicine and the healthcare system, and they look for alternatives such as chiropractic care.

It is clear, both from patient testimonies and from clinical research that consumers benefit from chiropractic care. Unfortunately, they may have difficulty affording chiropractic care because it's often excluded from healthcare insurance policies.

Health Savings Accounts can help consumers afford chiropractic care, even when it is excluded from their health insurance policy. They can pay for chiropractic care and other alternative medicine with pre-tax dollars by using a Health Savings Account.

Many chiropractors keep their costs as low as possible in order to make chiropractic care more available to consumers. They can, however, only absorb so much of the cost of providing that care. Another way chiropractors can help clients gain access to chiropractic care is to encourage the use of Health Savings Accounts.

Health Savings Accounts and Consumer Choice

The combination of a Health Savings Account and a High Deductible Health Insurance plan is supposed to encourage individuals to become thoughtful, wise consumers of health care. The individual is spending more of his or her own dollars on healthcare, so she will be more concerned about how those dollars are spent.

Health Savings Accounts give consumers more choice in how their healthcare dollars are spent. Money in the HSA must be spent on approved medical expenses, but there are really very few restrictions on what kind of healthcare you choose. More and more chiropractic patients are discovering that having an HSA is saving them money on their medical expenses.

Using a Health Savings Account to pay for chiropractic care gives you, the consumer, more choice. You can choose what type of medical treatment to get, where you will get that treatment, and how many treatments you will get. You can spend HSA dollars on preventive care as well, and actually have the government give you a tax deduction for keeping your family well.

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Is Chiropractic Safe for Babies?

While some chiropractic adjustments may seem too intense for infants, it’s actually quite safe. Chiropractors take special care and precautions with babies, and many believe proper chiropractic care can help infants grow more healthfully and even reduce the likelihood of colic and middle ear infections.

In fact, chiropractic care is sometimes used to treat colic, as well as pain, sleep problems, and musculoskeletal concerns. Chiropractic care can also be preventive. As children are very active, there can be a great deal of stress placed on certain parts of the body. Regular chiropractic appointments can help ensure a properly aligned spine as the child grows, resulting in better functioning and less risk of injury.

Many parent prefer to ''treat'' their children without medications when they get ear infections or colds. Chiropractors are also a good choice when you want to avoid drugs or surgery, as they are committed to medication-free, surgery-free treatments.

The best way to ensure you get a good pediatric chiropractor is to investigate their training, other patient and parent reviews of their services, and when possible, peer-reviews of the chiropractor. Have an interview with the chiropractor before bringing your child in for treatment, and see how comfortable you are with him or her. Don’t be afraid to move on to another practitioner if you are not completely comfortable. Dr. Sandra Childers, D.C., FICPA has been certified in Pediatric care by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Assoc. since 2000.  Everyday she is honored to help parents with their children. 

It’s best to find a chiropractor who specializes in pediatric chiropractic for your child. Your pediatrician, local hospital or the Internet can help you find specialists in chiropractic child and infant care. Don’t worry about asking your pediatrician for a referral; both chiropractors and allopathic doctors are used to working together with other health professionals to ensure your child gets the best care and treatment possible. In fact, the best health care professionals available are the ones that are willing to work together with others, and who don’t disparage other kinds of care. Take the time you need to select the best team of professionals to meet your child’s or infant’s particular needs.

References

· http://www.wisegeek.com/is-infant-chiropractic-care-safe.htm

· http://www.chiropractor-finder.com/chiropractors-for-babies-and-children.html

What’s Your BMI?

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of a series of measures to determine the level of excess fat in the body. Although other measures such as hydrodensitometry (underwater weighing), skinfold measurements (using calipers), air displacement (BodPod) and even magnetic resonance imaging can provide more accurate determinations of body fat, BMI can be useful in most cases.

How to Calculate Your BMI

Your BMI is simply determined by the ratio of your weight and height. More specifically, BMI is calculated using the following formula:

BMI = weight / (height)²

This formula uses the metric system, with weight in kilograms and height in meters. To calculate your BMI based on height in inches and weight in pounds, multiply the result by 703.

BMI = 703 x weight (lbs.) / (height [in.])²

Interpreting Your BMI

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) considers BMI scores for average individuals to be ranked as follows:

Condition BMI

Underweight Below 18.5

Normal 18.5-24.9

Overweight 25.0-29.9

Obesity 30.0 and above

It is important to note, however, that BMI scores may fail to properly estimate the level of body fat in certain individuals. Athletes and others with muscular builds, for example, may fall into the overweight category despite having near perfect physiques, while the elderly and those who have lost muscle mass may fall into the underweight category despite having excess body fat.

The other important thing to note is that BMI assessments vary by sex and age. BMI scores for boys are slightly lower than for girls (aged 7-16), and scores for women are slightly lower than for men (aged 18 and up).

Despite these caveats, for most people, the BMI is a simple and useful tool for determining disease risk due to excess fat.

Risk Factors Associated with High BMI

There are a number of risk factors linked to high BMI scores that put individuals at significant risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, gall bladder disease and some types of cancer. These include:

· High LDL cholesterol (considered “bad” cholesterol)

· Low HDL cholesterol (considered “good” cholesterol)

· High blood sugar

· High triglycerides

· Sedentary lifestyle

· Smoking

How much BMI do I need to loss to see improvements?

It may seem that a significant amount of exercise is needed to lose weight but even a small drop of 5 to 10 percent body weight can help lower the risk for obesity related diseases. As with all exercise programs, care must be taken when starting up. Check with your doctor before you begin and discuss the fitness program you intend to start.

Depending how many additional risk factors you have, your doctor may advise a weight control program rather than a weight loss program. For dangerously high BMI scores, your doctor may advise more drastic measures, which may include surgery. However, for most individuals, a sensible fitness program and healthy diet that is incorporated into daily life and maintained in the long term can significant lower BMI scores and thus lower the chances for excess fat related disease.

References

1. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk Website
(Link: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm)

2. Halls.md, The BMI gap between men and women
(Link: http://www.halls.md/bmi/gap.htm)