Just recently the Michigan Senate and House passed a bill banning smoking in public locations such as bars, restaurants, and government buildings. If signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the ban would go into effect starting in May of 2010. Furthermore, it would make Michigan the 38th state to regulate smoking in public places.

People are obviously excited about the “cleaner” air when dining out, but hopefully this measure will also aid in decreasing the overall cost of health care. It has been estimated that smoking related ailments cost our health care system $100 billion dollars annually. In addition, cigarette smokers also pay higher monthly premiums for their health insurance.

Read the full post on Michigan & Smoking Ban.

The average cost of a hospital birth is $10,000 -$12,000. Are you prepared to cover that expense if you find out that you do not have maternity care coverage under you current health insurance plan? Add to the hospital costs the charges for frequent doctor visits, prenatal vitamins and lab test, you can be facing a huge financial crisis.

Read the full post on Maternity Care Insurance.

When done consistently, walking will not only help you lose weight, but will relax you as well. Other advantages are that it can be done almost anywhere and at almost any time, and it’s free.

Acquiring a health insurance plan is one of the best things a person can do to protect both their health, and their bank account. People must understand that major medical bills are currently the leading cause for bankruptcy in America. In addition, going without health insurance coverage also serves as a catalyst for individuals putting off treatment for a condition in its early stages of development. What they must realize is that the condition often worsens, and as a result becomes even more costly to treat.

Read the full post on The Importance of Having Health Insurance.

For those who swim frequently, be sure to rinse your mouth with fresh water after you emerge from the pool. If the pool has a low pH level, it can cause tooth enamel to erode and teeth to become jagged (pitted).

Things have slowed down slightly in regards to the ongoing senate health care debate as differences are still shared over amendments. In particular, there is still controversy surrounding the amendment from Sen. John McCain addressing Medicare spending reductions, as well increased preventive care for women.

The biggest debate currently is over the Medicare amendment. The Medicare amendment would greatly influence the success of the current $848 billion health care bill. Essentially, it would remove/block $500 billion in Medicare reductions that would aid in funding the health care reform. The argument is that such cuts would be detrimental to current beneficiaries.

Read the full post on The Ongoing Health Care Debate.

Waxed. Unwaxed. Fine. Regular. Plain or fancy, all dental floss does the job: It removes bacteria and plaque from between your teeth and above and below the gum line, areas your toothbrush can’t reach.

In March, the federally funded 65% subsidy for COBRA insurance began for workers who lost their employment between September 2008 and December of 2009. However, this subsidy only lasts for a period of 9 months, and as a result many Michiganians are now being faced with the dilemma of whether or not they will be able to afford their new unsubsidized insurance premiums.

According to recently released reports, the average premium for families on COBRA will skyrocket from roughly $360 to over $1,000 a month. With many workers still struggling to find employment, such a drastic jump is simply unrealistic to afford; specifically, the new insurance premium will essentially consume their entire unemployment check.

Read the full post on COBRA Subsidy Coming To an End in Michigan.

One of the most common causes of Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ), a painful condition that occurs when the jaw is out of alignment, is bruxism. Bruxism is caused by grinding of the teeth while sleeping and appears to be closely aligned with stress.

With all of the attention the media is giving to the swine flu, I think that it is important to fully understand what the major differences are between H1N1 and the seasonal flu. Recognizing these differences could stop a bad situation from getting worse.

From what I have read, one of the differences between H1N1 and the seasonal flu is the occurrence of a sore throat. A sore throat is not usually common with the swine flu. Furthermore, the swine flu will typically have a rapid progression of symptoms. This onset usually occurs within 3 to 6 hours, and is characterized by a severe headache. So essentially one minute you can be feeling absolutely fine, and then the next be experiencing extreme discomfort.

Read the full post on Seasonal Flu vs. Swine Flu: What are the differences?.