Health

 

You might think that hospitals are a profitable business given the demand and the amount people are willing to pay to stay healthy. The truth is that given the stiff competition and the fact that not everyone can pay the bills, some hospitals have a hard time surviving. Some even end up closing because they do not manage the obstacles faced.

It is crucial for you to learn why they failed so that you can find a way not to experience the same thing with your business.

Poor management

Although you need medical professionals who are of the top caliber to be a part of the team, you need to have finance experts too. Although you are in the health care industry, you are still operating a business. You cannot afford to run it without help from business experts as you will most likely fail. Look for people with managerial expertise who will provide ideas for successfully running the company.

Lack of investment 

You already know that a business in this industry is not going to be cheap. Therefore, you need to prepare for significant investments. You cannot decide to start the business and avoid further investment halfway. You need to see things through until you are confident that you have everything necessary to operate the hospital, like modern equipment and full supplies. You might lose vast amounts if you do not fully commit.

High cost

People need quality health care at an affordable price. This issue is a touchy subject for a lot of people especially those who feel that they are getting messed about by the entire health care industry. You need to be cautious with the cost of the services offered. Try to lower the medical cost if possible without sacrificing profits since you need to have enough money to keep the hospital running.

Lack of quality physicians 

Having qualified doctors is usually the main reason why most people decide to choose a health care facility. They will not entrust their health to an establishment that does not have the best doctors. Therefore, you need to ensure that you employ top physicians who have what it takes to deal with patients facing health threats. You may also ask for help from a physician recruiter who knows the industry well and would hire someone who deserves the job. You can find out more about these recruiters at https://mascmedical.com. Instead of relying on the traditional hiring process involving your Human Resources department, you can ask a third-party firm to help out.

Lack of compassion

When your primary goal of opening the business is to make money, you are not going to succeed. You are running a healthcare facility, and its primary purpose is to ensure the health of patients. When you run a hospital that does not care about the well-being of the patients, they will not get healed. They will let everyone know about the poor services received, and it will adversely affect your reputation.

Now that you understand what could pull your business down, you need to re-examine your plan and ensure that you will not face failure like other hospitals.

Foodborne disease is a global concern. The severity or mildness of illness that may occur largely depends on the presence of microorganisms. This may be devastating not only for the consumer, but also for the producer. Therefore, an effective food safety management system is critical to maintaining a safe and healthy food supply. Below are some of the major causes and effects of food poisoning and tips on how to avoid them.

What is Foodborne Disease?

A foodborne disease which is often referred to as foodborne illness or food poisoning, is any disease contracted from food contamination, food spoilage or food hazards. Food poisoning often results from improper preparation, handling or storage of food which, in turn, makes food unsafe.

According to research, 5.4 million Australians are estimated to be affected by foodborne disease each year. This is why it is important to follow proper food safety rules in and out of the kitchen in order to reduce the risks of becoming sick from food poisoning.

What are the types of hazards you need to consider for your food safety management?

Food safety hazards or contaminations are conditions or contaminants that can cause death, illness or injury. This can happen in the process of cooking, storage, packaging, handling, production, sales and transportation of food. There are four types of hazards to take into consideration for your food safety plan.

Biological hazards

This includes microorganisms like bacteria, parasites, environmental pathogens and other pathogens. Example of a biological hazard is E. coli, Clostridium botulinum and Salmonella.

Chemical hazards

This includes substances such as pesticides, natural toxins like mycotoxins, cleaning agents, unapproved food or colour additives, biocides, decomposition, water, and contaminants like acrylamide.

Physical hazards

This includes objects that are hard or sharp such as metal fragments, stones, glass, packaging and jewelry amongst others.

Allergens

Allergens are danger associated to the unplanned presence of one or more of the EU listed food allergens due to cross contamination. This include:

1. Celery and its products
2. Mustard and its products
3. Peanuts and its products
4. Fish and products of this excluding: fish gelatin used as carrier for vitamin or carotenoid preparations. Also, fish gelatin or Isinglass used as fining agent in beer and wine
5. Crustaceans and products made from it
6. Eggs and its products
7. Molluscs and products made from it
8. Lupin and produce made thereof
9. Sesame seeds and products therefrom
10. Sulphur dioxide and Sulphites
11. Nuts including almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, among others and its products
12. Milk and products made from it including lactose
13. Soybeans and food made from it
14. Cereals containing gluten including wheat, rye, barley, oats and meals containing this

Causes of foodborne diseases/poisoning

There are numerous causes of foodborne disease. Below are some of the major causes of foodborne disease:

Salmonella

Children, the elderly and people with a weak immune system are most vulnerable to salmonella. Salmonella enterica is a bacterium that causes a type of gastroenteritis called salmonellosis. Foods most likely to be contaminated by salmonella include, beef, eggs, poultry and dairy products. Fruits and vegetables can also carry the bacteria

Listeria

People who are most vulnerable or at high-risk to listeria are young children, pregnant women, the elderly and also people with weakened immune systems. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can lead to a severe foodborne disease such as meningitis (a brain infection) or septicemia (blood poisoning).

In a pregnant woman, listeria can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or stillborn babies.

Foods most likely to be contaminated by Listeria include precooked deli meats, unpasteurized milk, raw and cooked seafood, and soft-serve ice cream.

Campylobacter

Campylobacteriosis is a common cause of diarrhea. People who are most vulnerable are men, infants and young adults. The main cause of this bacteria is the handling and then consumption of bacteria, which are usually found on raw or undercooked poultry.

Staphylococcus

The major source of staphylococcus are humans and animals. People handling food can easily transfer the bacteria, causing food poisoning. Staphylococcus aureus, golden staph or S. aureus are bacteria that live on the skin, in the mouth and in the nose. This usually begins with a minor cut, which then becomes a small sore when infected. The sore then worsens to become a flesh-eating infection.

Foods at high-risk of staphylococcus include eggs, meats, poultry and dairy produce

Clostridium

People who are most likely to contract this infection are patients in hospitals. Particularly those with weakened immune systems who have had surgery, kidney disease, chemotherapy, or colon disease. Clostridium or C. diff is an infection that can attack the host’s intestines. This is often harmless in small quantities.

Trichinosis

Trichinosis is a round worm infection which, when ingested, can live in the intestines and hatch into adult warms. The worms usually originate from carnivorous animals (meat-eating animals) and are transferred to humans through the ingestion of trichinosis eggs found on raw or undercooked meats.

High-risk foods include undercooked or raw meats and undercooked or raw poultry.

E. coli

Escherichia coli or simply coli infection occurs when contaminated food or water is ingested. This bacteria lives in the digestive systems of humans and animals. Whereas not all E. coli types are dangerous, some can lead to chronic diseases or even death. High-risk foods include unwashed fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry and dairy products.

Food safety when cooking

Irrespective of your reasons for handling food, whether as part of your job, eating out or cooking at home, it is important to always apply appropriate food safety principles. Managing customers’ needs and also complying with safety regulations is no easy task. However, this can be made less complicated when you implement effective food safety management (EFSM). Take control of your food safety plan with SAFEFOODPRO APP.

1. Wash your hand in a warm soapy water before cooking
2. Make sure you sanitize your work surfaces, tables or countertops
3. Avoid putting cooked foods on surfaces that previously held uncooked or raw meats, eggs or poultry.
4. Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly to get rid of bacteria.
5. Keep hot food hot, and cold food cold.
6. Cook foods at the appropriate temperature
7. Steaks should be cooked at 160^O F
8. Egg dishes at 165 deg F
9. Hotdogs and luncheon meats at 165⁰ F
10. Chicken at 165⁰F
11. Seafood at 145⁰ F
12. Perishable food should be immediately refrigerated.
13. Use one cutting board to cut meat and a separate board to cut vegetables

HACCP and Food Safety

The acronym HACCP which means Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Plan, is your key to food safety. This plan has seven principles that are well-defined by the ISO 2005 global food safety management standard (FSMS). This plan keeps food safe from potential food safety hazards. HACCP also reduces the risks of food poisoning by eliminating food contamination.

Conclusion

You are legally required to monitor the temperature of your food whether hot or cold. It is also a protective mechanism against food poisoning for your customers. Having a food temperature monitoring system is an effective method of ensuring that you adhere to all the food safety regulations in your food business. This ensures safety while cooking in the kitchen.

 

We all know that alcoholic drinks can lead to a host of health problems over time. Heavy drinking can cause serious damage to the body and mind. Cancer, heart disease, liver complications, nervous system degradation, and brain damage are just a few of the undesirable conditions associated with frequent and long term alcohol consumption.

That’s why many are turning to non alcoholic drinks. Many beverage companies are now offering a range of alternatives to popular beverages that contain no alcohol. Being non-alcoholic, however, does not exactly mean 0% alcohol content. There are products marketed as such that include a slight amount of alcohol, but usually at levels less than half of 1%.

Moderate alcohol consumption

There’s no reason for consumers to protest the marketing of products labeled as non-alcoholic that still have alcohol in them. The moderate consumption of products containing the intoxicating substance is not necessarily bad. According to a study published in the journal Stroke, light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower stroke incidences among women.

On the other hand, a study by Spanish researchers found that moderate wine consumption has the potential of mitigating the chances of developing depression. Another study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology found that light to moderate alcohol drinking may protect against all-cause mortality and deaths brought about by cardiovascular disease. Additionally, a study published in the journal BMC Medicine reported that those who drank 2 to 3 glasses of wine weekly had considerably lower chances of developing clinical depression.

Older people tend to benefit from moderate drinking

There’s new information however, that will likely excite older people who are fond of alcoholic drinks. A recent study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs assailed the flaws in previous studies concerning the impact of alcohol on health and mortality. The authors assert that previous studies tend to have skewed results because they include the number of people who died due to drinking before they reach the age of 50.

For the researchers, people who are known to be regular alcohol drinkers at age 50 can be considered survivors of their alcohol consumption. After analyzing data from the Alcohol-Related Disease Impact Application (which is maintained by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention), the researchers noted that among people aged 65 or older, there were 80% of deaths prevented by alcohol consumption. This number dwarfs the 4.5% of deaths prevented by alcohol consumption among people in the 20-49 age bracket.

The phrase “deaths prevented by alcohol,” by the way, refers to life spans considered to have been extended by the positive benefits of alcohol drinking, particularly healthy drinking habits (moderation).

The conclusion of the researchers is that the adverse effect of alcohol consumption is worse among younger people, while the positive effects of “healthy alcohol consumption” is minimal. It’s the opposite for older people, though. People in their 50’s and older tend to benefit more from light to moderate alcohol drinking and are less likely to die from alcohol consumption. For those who couldn’t keep their alcohol intake in moderation, the consumption of non-alcoholic alternatives may also be beneficial.

One of the biggest challenges whilst at the beach is how to make sure your young one is safe in the sun and has good a really good level of sun protection on. Kids can get impatient as when they hit the beach or the pool, all they want to do is go and play. They see the sand and the waves and suddenly is super urgent to go off and explore.

With sun protection, it is important to have all the tools at your disposal so ensure that they don’t get sun burnt or even too much sun exposure as this can severely impact them later in life. What you want to have with you is some high SPF sun screen to slather on exposed areas, some sun protection clothing for them to wear, hat and some shade for relief from the sun’s rays.

Boys rash vests can be a bit of a struggle to get them into them as we all know that they really don’t stand still for too long. This is why we have designed our boys rashies Australia with a top zipper for easy getting on and then easy getting off. With some of the more traditional types, the neckline is high but it is a real squeeze to pull them over the head. That why with a top zip, simply undo the zip, pull it over their heads, zip it back up and viola, sun protected!

Kids also don’t like to keep their sun protection tops on if they are uncomfortable to wear. If it’s a warm day and the top is making them get too hot or even is too heavy to wear, you will find that they will not be happy in them. What you want to for the child to even forget that they are wearing a rashie and for it to be almost like a second skin. You ideally want it to be comfortable and also when they are swimming, that it will move with them. Something quick drying works a treat also.

Our fabrics have been specially chosen for this reason, to make them comfortable to wear and especially comfortable to swim in. The premium 4-way stretch is great for keeping the shape in the top and it is not too heave when it is wet. Being a light weight fabric helps too as it is so light, and your child should forget that they are even wearing it.

Look for boys rashies that have got a high UPF rating as this will help filter out the UV rays from the sun. UPF 50+ is great for both the UVA and the UVB rays and will protect their skin from up to 98% of all those rays. As mentioned before, quick drying is great as if they want to take it off to dry, you will find that the fabric will dry quickly. Simply lie flat in the shade and in minutes, it is ready to go again.

To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.

 

Contrary to what many people are saying – that playing computer games can be addicting and destructive to your mind – this particular hobby also has its own set of advantages that can help us with our day to day activities such as solving a problem and making decisions. Some people are expecting that many people will disagree with this thought, especially parents and the elderly. So here are some of the known advantages of playing video games that you can take note of.

Playing video games gives you better coordination

When you play video games, it is not enough that you put your focus in front of the computer screen. It would help if you stimulated your mind to be more observant and alert in observing your opponent and other factors that may affect your gaming. If you want to challenge yourself to be better with games, you should give Omescape VR Games a try one of these days.

You become better at solving different types of problems

If you think that your problem-solving skills need some help, then you should try playing video games for at least one to two hours a day to train your mind to make instant decisions while under pressure. In playing games, you need to think of different techniques to beat your opponent. Being good in gaming is something that is self-taught and is achievable through constant practice and keen observation of more experienced players.

Video games create a sharper memory

Having trouble remembering simple things or memorising lessons at school? Then you need to exercise your brain cells and stimulate your mind to enhance both your eyes, hands and your ears all at the same time. If you decide to join a group game, people are expecting that you should know all the rules by heart.

Being a gamer helps your focus

To become a good video game player, you must spend time mastering your craft. It would be best if you spend hours playing a specific game, and you must give 100% focus on what you are doing.

It is an excellent way to release stress and promote relaxation

Whether you are tired of your regular job or stressed too much by schoolwork, playing computer games can help you relax after a long day. Try playing for at least an hour each day after work, and you will notice the significant change in your mood and attitude. You will be calmer and laid back when it comes to dealing with other problems that come your way.

Promotes creative thinking

If your brain is having a hard time providing suggestions on different matters then maybe it is time for you to work on enhancing your natural creative juices. Playing video games stimulates your brain to think about different ways of winning which can result in better ideas and increased output.

Remember that playing video games is not bad for your health as long as you do things in moderation. It would help if you also had the right amount of self-control and discipline to avoid getting hooked on playing non-stop video games.

 

It seems irritating that as you become older, your hands start to wrinkle. You might feel like you are doing everything to protect them, but you still see visible lines. Since wrinkles are a part of becoming old, they are quite difficult to escape. Identify first why such problems exist, and what you can do to solve them.

Age spots

You might think that age spots are due to your age, but they are not. You will have age spots because of constant exposure to the sun. It is common for people who are 50 years old and above. Unless you wear gloves throughout the day, especially when you are outdoors, it is possible for you to have age spots. It helps if you also put on SPF 30 hand cream before you head out, and wash your hands every two hours. You may also use more stringent creams, but make sure you do not have allergies.

Crumpled skin

You might feel like your hands start to crumple when you get older. They remind you of a gift bag stuffing. You can try using retinoid cream which helps in the thickening of collagen. You may also purchase creams recommended by dermatologists as they do not contain ingredients that could cause allergic reactions.

Prominent veins

The veins are becoming more visible as you get older. It might be frustrating, but there is no way for you to let go of those veins apart from vein removal surgery. You might use some concealers to hide them, but they are only temporary fixes.

Scaly skin

It is common for seniors to have dry skin. It could get worse when you start having flaky skin. It feels like that because of your dead skin. Start by gently removing the dead skin before using a skin moisturiser. You also need to be consistent in using the moisturising cream to ensure that your skin cells do not quickly die.

Consider hand rejuvenation

You cannot turn back time and magically make your hands look young, or maybe you can. With hand rejuvenation procedures, it is now possible for you to transform your hands’ appearance. You will not feel frustrated anymore after this minimally invasive procedure if you see that your hands have started to de-age by several years. You can check out Hand Rejuvenation London experts offer if you want to give this procedure a shot. It has worked for many people, and it could work for you too.

Be cautious of your actions

Although there are medical procedures to help you improve the appearance of your hands, you cannot rewind time to make your hands appear young permanently. The best that you could do is be cautious about your actions. Avoid hanging out in the sun for too long. Do not forget to bring your hand cream with you wherever you go. Wash your hands thoroughly especially if they start to feel dry.

Whether you book an appointment with a dentist in Clinton, Maryland or Manhattan, New York, there are some common thoughts that go through every dentist’s mind. Every six months or so, he or she gets a good look into your mouth – each and every nook and cranny. So what are the thought going through his or her head?

I’m sure you have heard at least once before that you need to floss or eat less sweets, but is there anything else? After many years in dental school, your dentist has some valuable knowledge. Here are some helpful tops from your dentist that you might not hear at every routine cleaning or checkup.

Not all mouthwash brands are created equal

Most dentists will not tell you that mouthwash isn’t always necessary, although it does leave you with minty fresh breath. They also fail to mention that not all mouthwash brands are created equal. Some are just not even worth your time and money. Alcohol-based mouthwashes should be avoided; they have even been linked to oral cancer in some cases. If you feel the need for mouthwash after brushing, look for an “alcohol-free” label.

Read the ingredients list on your toothpaste before buying

Similarly to mouthwash, the same goes for toothpaste. The debate on whether or not fluoride is good, bad, or neutral is ongoing and inconclusive. But there are certainly other ingredients that should be avoided with no questions asked. Before you purchase your toothpaste, check out the list of ingredients. Try to avoid triclosan (found in Colgate Total); it helps to prevent gingivitis, but its endocrine-disrupting properties are linked to breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

For the love of God, stop smoking

We all know that too many cigarettes can lead to yellow teeth, right? Well that’s not all, it also has the potential to cause gum disease, tooth loss, and even certain cases of mouth cancer. If you’re trying to quit, just think about your pearly whites and how they might look ten years from now.

Your bleeding gums could be more serious than you think

Bleeding gums are often a sign of gingivitis, which is the first stage in potentially developing gum disease. But gum disease and diabetes can go hand in hand, so and your bleeding gums could be an early sign of diabetes. Keep an eye out for those bleeding gums, especially after flossing.

Be weary of whitening strips

It’s easy to go hard on the white strips, especially when you have a big date coming up. Although using whitening strips in moderation is just fine, there is a fine line between just enough and too much. Once you start overusing whitening products, they tend to damage the enamel. This can be irritating to the gums and lead to extreme sensitivity.

Visiting twice a year isn’t always necessary

This is one thing your dentist will NEVER tell you, mostly because they want to keep your business steady. But routine checkups are often not necessary every 6 months. There is obviously no harm in twice-yearly visits, but you could visit just once in 12 months with no issues. Of course if you are experiencing problems or have a history of oral issues, twice a year is necessary.

For more health tips from Live SV, click here.