Texas

Some people have a hard time understanding exactly just how useful and pleasant a visit to a Garland, Texas beauty salon can be. It is useful in all regards, whether you want to make a good impression on a future employer, or if you just want to feel nice-looking for a while. But a common misconception is that beauty salons are strictly for women and that the only men who would step foot in one are “metrosexuals.” But recently, this has not been true at all. The services of a Garland, Texas beauty salon are extensive and versatile, and they all offer things that are enjoyable for any man and woman. So it’s time to break down any misconceptions you might have about Garland, TX beauty salons and realize that they can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. Many people aren’t even aware of the many services that are offered within their walls. Here are some of the nicer things you can have done at a beauty salon.

Of course, the main motivation for visiting a beauty salon is to, well, look beautiful. Services include many things that don’t dramatically change a person’s outward appearance, but are just designed to help you relax. Facials, for instance, and various types of massages. Many beauty salons offer massage as part of the treatment, but what type can vary enormously—hand massage, neck and shoulder massage, full body massage and more. There are as many as 30 specific types of massages offered around the world, so many Garland, Texas beauty salons give you a large number to choose from. Some people have never considered getting a massage, thinking that it might be too expensive or too awkward. On the contrary, a massage is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It is almost miraculous how well you feel afterwards. The therapists know exactly how to relieve any tension in your muscles, and leave you feeling like an entirely new person.

Another thing commonly found in Garland, Texas beauty salons is
nail and hair care services. These can range from a simple shampoo and blow-dry or a really spiffy haircut to a half-hour scalp massage. The salons offer the most recent, and high tech, hair-care products that will make you look great. The hair services are specifically designed (and scientifically designed) to make your hair feel refreshed and new, as well as let you lie back and have your head rubbed for a while. This may sound silly, or even creepy, but when your scalp is in the hands of an expert therapist, you will fall into what feels like a trance. It is a wonderful feeling to have an expert work their magic on you, so if you are anywhere within the boundaries of a Garland, TX beauty salon then you should seek out this treatment. It’s not only a great way to relax and rid yourself of day-to-day stress, but your hair will also be cleaned, conditioned, and moisturized.

In Garland, Texas, beauty salons are useful for numerous purposes – hair styling and conditioning, manicures and pedicures, facials and massage. If you want to look extra special for the day, you’ve got it. If you want to escape a stressful job and just lie back for a while, you’ve got it. Or if you just have really tense muscles and want them relieved, the expert massage therapists will be able to help you. Going to a Garland, TX beauty salon is a pleasant experience, and not just for women. Guys can benefit, too. So if you want to have a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, find out where the closest salon is located, and pay them a visit.

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Medical emergencies can hit you anytime and anywhere, despite your best efforts to stay safe and stay healthy. To avoid paying heavy medical bills due to unforeseen emergencies, one must get a Texas health insurance plan to cover the costs of prescriptions, medicines, doctor visits, and emergency hospital stays. In our struggling economy, the cost of health insurance is rising day by day. Luckily, state government and insurance companies in Texas have taken a valuable step to maintain the health of masses by dipping the cost of health insurance plan in the state. Texas is a relatively inexpensive state to procure health insurance when compared with “expensive” states such as New York where policies cost much more. One can surely find a Texas health insurance plan in tune with his/her needs and budget.

These days, there are various Texas health insurance providers offering twin health insurance policies – major medical insurance and disability insurance to protect the people of Texas. Major medical health insurance offers medical coverage as diverse as coverage for a chronic illness to unexpected accident. On the other hand, disability health insurance usually refers to an income replacement and provides coverage for a specified period of time when you are unable to work due to physical disability such as bone fracture.

In Texas, individual health insurance plans are usually more costly when compared with group insurance. But that does not mean that you cannot purchase a cost-effective individual health insurance plan. If you compare a range of Texas online health insurance quote, you will certainly get a list of individual health insurance policies at lower-priced services and cheaper deductibles. Every individual health insurance policy offers accident coverage and hospital visits, and can be extended to include prescriptions and regular visits to the physician as well.

The internet has paved the way for you to shop for an affordable individual health insurance plan in tune with your needs and budget. At the same time, you can use internet resources as a source of information on how to interpret individual health insurance plans and how to set up a health savings account. So, what are you waiting for? Fill in an online application form and you can gat a Texas online health insurance quote within a matter of hours.

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Jumping out of a plane?


No, it’s not crazy. Not even a little bit. The fact is, the sport of skydiving is one of those activities that produces a genuine adrenaline rush in most who try it. More and more are doing just that, including Texans in Dallas, Houston and throughout the state.


There is, by nature and, perhaps by definition, a basic risk associated with the sport. You are, after all, leaving the relative safety of the airplane that elevated you the 10,000 or so necessary feet to make your sky dive in the first place. One of the first items of business when a novice skydiver arrives at a skydiving school is a registration form that includes an acknowledgment of those risks.


The United States Parachute Association, which has a list of schools and drop zones on its Web site also has a list of basic safety requirements which prospective skydivers will need to meet, among them the need to be in good health and physical condition. In addition, someone considering taking up skydiving as a sport should be free of any medication which might affect judgment or performance. If someone has recently given blood or done underwater (SCUBA) diving, waiting a few days before skydiving may be necessary.


How old does someone need to be before engaging in the sport of skydiving? While some will allow minors at least 16 years of age (with notarized parental or guardian consent) to take the ground training, more often than not schools require jumpers to be at least 18.


Once the training is done, testing follows. Written, oral and practical tests are part of the regimen skydivers must undergo. Written tests give students the opportunity to explain their knowledge and understanding, while oral testing is used to develop decision-making ability. Practical testing is designed for students to demonstrate their reactions and skills.

At the same time, testing as part of the skydiving training program gives the student confidence that the necessary lessons have actually been absorbed, an important consideration for obvious reasons.


Training doesn’t have to take a long time, however. In many cases, it’s no more than 30 minutes and doing the training and a first jump might take only half a day.


When it comes to the first jump itself, a tandem free fall type is often the most common form of jump, done by having both the student and instructor attached to the same parachute system. Free falling is done for about 30 to 50 seconds, depending on the jump altitude (perhaps 10,000 to 13,000 feet). Both instructor and novice descend together under a single large parachute with dual controls.


A second method, Accelerated Free fall, is done with two instructors exiting the airplane with the student. All three free fall together for about 30 to 50 seconds (again depending on the altitude). The instructors maintain a grip on the student’s harness, for in-air instruction purposes as well as helping with stability if necessary. By about 4,000 feet above the ground, the student opens the parachute and pilots it to the landing area.


The third form of a first sky dive is the instructor-assisted deployment, or static-line method, done after practical instruction on the essentials — climb-out and exit of the aircraft, free fall, canopy flight, landing and emergency procedures.


A key difference: the parachute deploys immediately after leaving the aircraft, typically at about 3,500 feet, followed by the student piloting the parachute to the ground.


Yet another training technique used in the sport of skydiving is the vertical wind tunnel, a large fan that produces a current of air strong enough to support a person or small group of people. Some instructors use the technique to teach stability and maneuvering, in preparation for an actual free fall.


Is skydiving for you? Increasingly, those with a passion for trying something new are looking at sports such as this as an opportunity to “push the envelope” when it comes to conventional activities.


With the right training (much of it based on common sense) and attitude, skydiving can give a healthy person the “lift” they need.

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For women in Texas, notably but not exclusively in the larger cities of Dallas, Houston and Austin, health is an ongoing concern, as it is in other areas of the country. One of the biggest health issues is one that’s closest to the heart. Quite literally.


The fact is, heart disease is responsible for the death of more American women under the age of 45 than any other single disease, including breast cancer. Whether someone has health insurance or not, more than half a million women a year die from heart disease. And more than 60% of those had no previous symptoms.


When a woman does find herself suffering from heart disease, she’s less likely than a man to receive aggressive medical treatment, according to the American Heart Association. She’s also more likely than a man to die from heart disease: 38% of women (compared with 25% of men) will die within one year following a heart attack.


While two risk factors — the aging process itself and a family history of heart disease — aren’t something a woman can change, others can be changed.


Smoking is one area that can tip the scales in favor of a woman, as far as risk of heart disease is concerned. With numerous support programs available, in cities such as Houston, Dallas and Austin and throughout Texas, a woman wanting to quit smoking is well-equipped to do so, with the healthful benefits to follow.

And more and more people are deciding to quit, the overall number of adult smokers having decreased during the last 20 years.


Unfortunately, the number of teenage girls that are taking up the habit is actually increasing, which is a reason for concern. Smoking lowers levels of good cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. And cigarette smoking combined with the use of birth control pills has also been shown to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.


Another factor that contributes to heart disease is high blood pressure or hypertension. Left untreated, the condition makes the heart work harder, speeds up hardening of the arteries (known as atherosclerosis) and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. While high blood pressure can sometimes occur during pregnancy, it usually goes away after childbirth. Although high blood pressure cannot be cured, doctors say it can be controlled with diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medicines.


Cholesterol levels are another risk factor when it comes to heart disease, and women in general have higher cholesterol levels than men due to the positive effect of estrogen on HDL, one of the most important predictors of cardiovascular health, according to a study in the American Journal of Cardiology. In short, the higher the level of HDL cholesterol, the less likely a woman is to have a heart attack or stroke. Once a woman goes through menopause, however, HDL levels tend to drop, increasing the risk of heart disease. HDL and LDL cholesterol levels can be improved by diet, exercise and, in some cases, cholesterol-lowering medicines.


Want more out of life? One way is to become less of a person, at least so far as your weight is concerned. Obesity is certainly a strong predictor for heart disease, but where the weight settles is also an important factor. The Texas Heart Institute, based at Houston’s St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, says women who have a lot of fat around the waist are at greater risk than those who have fat around the hips. A plan of diet and exercise approved by a doctor is the best way to safely lose weight.


Yet another area of health concern in women at risk for heart disease is diabetes. A correlation between obesity, physical inactivity and high cholesterol levels may be part of the reason, but studies show that women with diabetes have a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease than men with diabetes do. Proper management of diabetes is, therefore, even more important to women, throughout Texas and elsewhere.


Birth control pills may also pose an increased cardiovascular risk for women, especially those with other risk factors such as smoking. Researchers believe birth control pills raise blood pressure and blood sugar levels in some women and also increase the risk of blood clots, risks which increase as women get older. The advice of some: communicate with your doctor about any other cardiovascular risk factors that might exist, before taking birth control pills.


Drinking alcohol on an excessive basis is another risk factor when it comes to heart disease in women, notably in terms of its contribution to obesity and the raising of triglyceride and blood pressure levels, all factors which can cause heart failure and lead to stroke. While some studies have shown that the risk of heart disease in those who drink moderate amounts of alcohol can be lower than among those who do not drink alcohol, it doesn’t mean those who do not drink should start or that those who do drink alcohol should increase the amount they drink. For women, a moderate amount of alcohol is considered to be one drink per day.


Hopefully, none of this is adding to your levels of stress, which is, itself, considered to be a contributing risk factor for both men and women. While researchers are as yet unclear about the relationship to heart disease, stress can lead to other risk factors such as smoking and overeating.


For women in particular, heart disease can be a significant health concern. Thankfully, there are things that anyone can do to reduce that risk. Yet even then, knowing that various options exist can be something of value.

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According to the latest medical research, there is a correlation between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. Most Texans understand the popular link between healthy eating to prevent heart disease and keeping a normal body weight. Now individuals in Dallas, Houston, Austin and the rest of Texas need to think about food decisions to benefit the health of their mouths.


Sure, all that sugary food contributes to cavities, but there are other connections that link our diets and our mouths.


The status of our mouth can tell a lot about what we put into it. A poor diet can cause health issues for individuals in Texas including chronic bad breath, but it can also cause oral health problems like periodontal disease. This is the inflammation and destruction of the tissues and structures that hold our teeth in place. You can get everything from mouth sores, tooth pain and tooth loss, and that can lead to a downward spiral of other health concerns. Health issues with an individual’s mouth can happen at any age, not just with the elderly.


Once periodontal disease starts, it can worsen to other conditions related to diet, including uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and poor immune status. Other oral risk factors include poor oral hygiene, smoking and stress. On top of it all, inadequate calories and nutrients don’t allow for repair and maintenance of oral tissues, even with the best immune system.


Aside from the increased risk of periodontal disease, with uncontrolled diabetes, there is also the increased concern for cavities and bacterial or fungal growth in the mouth. That is because of the higher sugar level in the saliva that washes the teeth. Furthermore, diabetes can increase the risk of mouth infections because wound healing is compromised.


In addition, studies exist that have linked an increased risk of periodontal disease to obesity and insulin resistance. This is because they appear to be connected with increased inflammation in the body.


Other factors that can also contribute to mouth problems include “dry mouth.” This condition can increase the risk of cavities and other mouth problems. The increased frequency of acidic foods/beverages or acid in the mouth from vomiting — linked to eating disorders like bulimia — or esophageal reflux (GERD) can wear tooth enamel, causing tooth erosion.


Even some mouth and throat cancers may be diet related. Most importantly, a diet high in fruits and vegetables may be beneficial in reducing the risk of some oral-related cancers, and may be critical to the overall health of the gum tissues.


A recent survey indicates that about 42 percent of children and adolescents age 6 to 16 years have some level of tooth decay. In adults, it is about 90 percent.


With some age groups in Texas, the number of cavities has declined over the past few years. Yet tooth decay is still a major issue in infants and preschool children. One reason is prolonged or inappropriate bottle-feeding. Plus, sweetened beverages or a high intake of fruit juice and processed foods seem to be major contributors to tooth problems with babies and young children.


In adolescents and young adults, intake of sweetened and/or acidic beverages, like soda or sports drinks, is also a big problem. Processed or sweetened snack foods not only directly contribute to tooth problems, but also often replace a diet of healthy foods needed for oral health. Many age groups don’t consume enough recommended intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other less processed nutrient-rich foods that can benefit oral and whole body health.


Some recent studies show a relationship between vitamin D intake and the risk of periodontal disease. Surprisingly, many Texans show some level of vitamin D deficiency.


Dentists and physicians recommend that individuals include omega 3 fatty acids and active cultures, like those in yogurt, in their diet to help to reduce the risk of inflammation and boost the immune system.


Minding your mouth and its health will certainly affect you as you age, and eventually your wallet as well.

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Health care costs on the rise, but there are a number of ways to lower your medical expenses.


An ounce of prevention.


One of the most effective ways to lower medical expenses, especially over the long haul, is to maintain a healthy lifestyle by:

– Taking advantage of wellness programs

– Maintaining a healthy weight

– Exercising regularly

– Kicking unhealthy habits (e.g., smoking)

– Getting regular checkups.


Look for the freebies.


If your health insurance provides little to no coverage in certain areas, or if you lack health insurance coverage, look into free health screenings. Local clinics and hospitals often offer a variety of screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and mammograms. If it’s free, don’t hesitate to take advantage of it!


Prescriptions on the cheap.


If you take prescription drugs regularly, they can cost you plenty. But it’s not hard to find ways to save money. For example, order your prescriptions through the mail, through a traditional or online pharmacy. If you belong to a prescription drug plan through your health insurance, you can probably get a three-month supply through the mail for the same price as a one-month supply at the local pharmacy. And if possible, ask your pharmacist or doctor to prescribe a less-expensive generic drug.


Keep an eye on your bills.


Medical bills can be confusing, but taking some time to review the charges may save you money. Make sure your bill accurately reflects the procedures you underwent and applies the proper insurance coverage you may have. It’s not too uncommon to have wrong computer codes where you’re billed for health care you never received. Contact the company’s billing office immediately if you find a mistake.


Togetherness can save money.


A number of married couples keep separate health insurance coverage even though it may cost them more to do so. Take a look at both your and your spouse’s coverage and see if it makes sense for either of you to join the other’s plan. Be aware that most plans allow the addition of a spouse within a certain time period after getting married for example, 30 days. If that’s the case, you may have to wait for the plan’s annual open enrollment period.


Keep track of it.


With tax time right around the corner, you may be able to deduct certain medical expenses if you itemize. In order to itemize, your total medical expenses need to exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. The allowable medical expenses include everything from health-care services to medical aids, which include eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc. Keep records of these expenses if you think you’ll be able to deduct them for the tax year.


It doesn’t hurt to haggle.


Many people don’t realize that they can sometimes negotiate to lower their medical bills. It may not always work, but it doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor, hospital, or pharmacy if they’re willing bargain with you. Before you start negotiations, do some research on what other health-care providers in your area are charging. In addition, your health-care provider may lower their price if you pay in cash up front.


Save a little for a rainy day.


If your employer offers a flexible spending plan that allows you to put pretax dollars in an account, jump on it. With a flexible spending plan, you’ll be reimbursed for out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as prescription drugs, dental care, and co-payments. And because flexible spending contributions are taken out of your pay before taxes are calculated, you use pretax dollars to pay your medical bills.


Know who’s covering you.


These days, insurance companies often provide benefits designed to help you stay safe and healthy. One example – you may be able to receive discounts on vitamins, alternative medicines, health club memberships, or bike helmets. Also examine the range of coverage your health plan offers. It may cover dental care for young children, chiropractic care, and acupuncture. Read all materials provided by your insurer thoroughly to find out what products and services are available before you pay them out of pocket.


It’s your money, shop around.


If your employer doesn’t provide health insurance, you may have to obtain your own coverage. In order to get good coverage at an affordable price, you’ll need to shop around. Premiums vary widely, so you can save some cash if you get quotes from several companies. Examine each plan’s coverage and features, and take into account all exclusions, limitations, and the freedom to choose health-care providers. It’s also important to find out how much your out-of-pocket expenses will be as far as co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles are considered. Be careful. With some plans, small amounts of money can add up quickly with frequent visits to your doctor.

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When it comes to skin care, many people are still hesitant to consult with a dermatologist and tell them about their skin problems. Acne is the most common skin care concerns in Texas and the rest of the world, probably. And the main reason why not a lot of individuals talk to the experts about it is because the fact that acne is never really a life-threatening problem. It’s a good thing that Texas skin care clinics are trying to alter that mindset. Texas skin care experts want to make everybody realize that they can own a perfectly beautiful skin easily.


The dermatologists practicing at Texas skin care clinics are offering services that can treat acne and all types of skin problems. They can treat the simplest of concerns up to the most complicated skin problems. They can also give patients facials, massages, and spas in their clinics. However, it is the more complex procedures such as laser surgery, hair removal, and microdermabrasion, which make Texas skin care clinics popular.


If you want to take care of your skin, just visit an accredited the skin care clinic in Texas and the doctors there will conduct a preliminary check up. He would then recommend the necessary course of treatment. Some clinics require prior scheduling. But there are also some Texas skin care centers that accommodate walk-in patients.


As you enter a skin care clinic in Texas, you will be talking to an aesthetician. He or she will proceed to analyze your skin and know your concerns. It will be a short diagnosis and it is conducted so they would know which treatment is best for you. He or she will also be giving you treatment options, including the length of treatment for each. The role of these Texas skin care experts is very important when it comes to the decision process.


In Texas, most skin care procedures are offered in packages. This means that you can avail of several services for maximum benefits. It would save you some time and money as well, because these packages include substantial discounts. The services can be done all at the same time or one after each other, depending upon which procedures are availed of. Know more about the skin care treatment packages in Texas if you’re interested in making your skin look lovely and beautiful.


There are many skin care clinics in Texas operating in and around the state. You can go to any one of them, provided that you check before hand if the practicing dermatologists there are duly licensed, affiliated, and certified experts. Try to double check the doctor’s credentials first. It is your job to make sure that the doctors working there are who they say they are and that they are allowed to do the procedures they offer. The clinic must be fully equipped as well. During consultations, you should also try to assess the knowledge, abilities, and skills of your doctor while learning more about the skin care procedure to be done to you.

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Bariatric Surgery Makes Losing Weight Possible Extreme obesity makes the lives of many people difficult by causing them to be restricted in their movements and their ability to function in everyday tasks that others take for granted. Obesity can be addressed through bariatric surgery, which makes losing weigh possible for many who have struggled to lose weight but simply had not been successful. This surgery is for those that know that it is a serious surgery and that are serious about following through with the long term weight loss. This surgery is not a cosmetic surgery; it is an invasive surgery that alters the digestive system to limit the amount of food that can be eaten. Weight loss is possible through bariatric surgery for the extremely obese. This is an effective surgery that counteracts years of obesity and health related problems and sets people free from obesity. Health insurances usually cover this surgery because it is considered a necessary surgery as it reduces mortality as well as many diseases and health related issues that go along with extreme obesity. However, there are other ways to pay for the surgery when health insurance declines the coverage.

Some of these options are borrowing from a 401K or using a bank loan. Your surgeon will be able to help you locate a variety of possible ways to cover the expense. The surgery is expensive but the life that it renews is priceless. Dangerous obesity is a trait that often runs in family lines and that affects nearly everyone in a family line. This can be turned around by having bariatric surgery completed. Health issues such as diabetes can be erased or greatly controlled through weight loss. The ability to move about freely can be restored and the hope of the future can be regained. There are employment opportunities that are available after the restrictions caused by extreme obesity are removed. Living a life of extreme obesity is very restrictive. These restrictions are being removed with bariatric surgery that makes losing weight possible. Weight loss and the ability to move about freely are possible through this surgery. You can receive renewed strength and vitality through weight loss. Put the past behind you and find a healthy future. Weight loss is possible for the extremely obese through bariatric surgery.

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Your personal health information – do you know who has it or where to find it in Dallas, Houston or in the other Texas cities where you have lived? Do you have it? In most cases, a complete record of all of your personal health information can’t be found at any single location or in any consistent format. Each one of your healthcare providers (family practitioner, allergist, OB-GYN, etc.) compiles a separate medical record on you. And often times, these multiple medical records can lead to an incomplete story about your health.


Keeping your own personal health record (PHR) provides doctors with valuable information that can help improve the quality of care you receive. A PHR can minimize or eliminate duplicate tests. It can also help you receive faster, safer treatment and care in an emergency. In short, with a PHR, you can play a more active role in your healthcare.


Starting a Personal Health Record


Your health information is scattered across many different providers and facilities. A Personal Health Record is a collection of this information about your health or the health of someone you are caring for, such as a parent or child that you would actively maintain and update. The information comes from your healthcare providers, and most importantly, from you.


Why Start a PHR?


Your own PHR should provide a different perspective, showing all your health-related information. It can include any information that you think might affect your health, including information that your doctor may not have, such as your exercise routines, dietary habits, or glucose levels if you are diabetic.


In addition, the PHR is a critical tool that enables you to partner with your providers. It can reduce or eliminate duplicate procedures or processes, which can save healthcare dollars, as well as your time and the provider’s time.


What Should be in Your PHR?


When collecting information from your health records, make sure you include:


Personal identification, including names, birth dates, and social security numbers

Emergency contacts

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of your physician, dentist, and other specialists

Health insurance information

Living wills and advance directives

Organ donor authorization

A list and dates of significant illnesses and surgeries

Current medications and dosages

Immunizations and their dates

Allergies

Important events, dates, and hereditary conditions in your family history

A recent physical examination

Opinions of specialists


Important tests results

Eye and dental records

Correspondence between you and your provider(s)

Correspondence between you and your health insurance company

Permission forms for release of information, operations, and other medical procedures

Any information you want to include about your health – such as your exercise regimen, any herbal medications you take and any counseling you may receive.


Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a PHR


Young, healthy people move, often frequently. Therefore you are likely to have health records scattered over all over Texas and beyond. Remember the flu last year in Dallas? And the routine exam three years ago in Houston? Keeping your own personal health record (PHR) provides new and existing doctors with valuable information that can help improve the quality of care you receive.


To start your personal health record, you will need to request a copy of your health records from all your healthcare providers, including your general practitioner, and your eye doctor, dentist, and any other specialists you have seen. Don’t feel that you need to gather all your health information at the same time. One way to handle your record retrieval is to ask for your recent records each time you visit a healthcare provider.


Incorporate the following steps, at your own pace, when creating your own personal health record:


1. Contact your doctors’ offices, the health information management (HIM) or the medical records staff at each facility where you have received treatment. Ask if your records are in an electronic format that you can access, or if you need to request copies. Also, ask your physician or the HIM professional to help you determine which parts of your record you need. Furthermore, find out if your provider has his or her own plan for helping patients to create their PHRs.


2. Ask for an “authorization for the release of information” form. Complete the form and return it to the facility as directed. Most facilities charge for copies. The fee should only include the cost of copying (including supplies and labor), as well as postage if you request the copy to be mailed. It can take up to 60 days to receive your medical records, so ask when you can expect to receive the information you’ve requested.


3. Now that you’ve gathered your information, there are a few different ways you can maintain your PHR. One way is to simply gather your information in a file folder. Not all information may be available to you in an electronic format, so an old-fashioned file folder or three-ring binder may be the easiest and most inclusive format. You can divide the binder into sections by family members. Then, within each family member’s section, divide information by year or illness.


4. There are many great digital PHR tools and services to help you get organized. You can burn data onto a CD. Also, portable devices, like keychain USB drives that plug into most computers, will make your PHR information extremely portable. There are also Internet-based services where you can store and retrieve your health information, including services which may be sponsored by your insurance company. Some services even help collect your data from your doctors and other healthcare providers.


Some of these digital PHR tools may be available free of charge and others are products or services you will need to purchase or pay a subscription fee to use.


5. Bring your PHR to all healthcare provider visits so that you have the information with you. And remember to keep adding and updating it with entries from providers, yourself, or your family member.


6. Because you won’t always have your PHR with you, create and carry a card that has vital information on it -such as medications or allergies – with you at all times.


7. Remember, this private information is yours and your family’s, so protect it and maintain its confidentiality. Let trusted family members know it exists, and where it’s being kept, but beyond that, keep it safe and protected.


Knowledge is power and your Personal Health Record can certainly empower you. The information gathered gives you information you can use when preparing for medical appointments. And it gives you more intimate knowledge of your healthcare, including giving you an active role in your preventive care and care management.


It’s easier to start gathering your medical records while you’re a young, healthy Texan compared to when you’re older and have a more complex medical history. Start with your parents and work your way up to your current healthcare providers.

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