The benefits of joining an auto club

You may think that joining an auto club (like AAA) will give you only roadside service assistance and some discounts when booking a hotel, but there's just a lot more to it than that. Even non-drivers should think about becoming a member of an auto club. There are just too many advantages of joining such a club to not getting into one right away.

Of course, not all stores, services and hotels will have it written about discounts right at their front desk, but it never hurts to ask. The savings you will get with an auto club member's card are sometimes just so considerable that paying a yearly fee will look ridiculous in comparison.

Emergency roadside assistance

Probably the most beneficial feature you get with your auto club membership are the free road emergency services. Even in case you don't have your own car, these services will definitely be very helpful when borrowing someone's car or even being a passenger. These free emergency services include:

• Towing the car for a certain amount of miles
• Changing a flat tire
• Jump starting in case you're accumulator is dead
• Extricating the car in case it is stuck somewhere
• Retrieving keys, if you're quite lucky to lock them inside the car
• Adding gas in case you run out of it while being far from a gas station
• Undertaking minor adjustments and repair

Discounts rule!

Members of auto clubs usually qualify for numerous discounts (or in some cases get their cash back) on a wide range of services and products. These usully include:

• Staying at hotels, inns, motels and campgrounds
• Dining at restaurants or in bars
• Renting a car
• Booking train, bus and airline tickets
• Repairing your auto or buying spare parts
• Going to movies, parks, attractions and other entertainment facilities
• Buying computers and Internet connection
• Getting insured
• Shopping at outlet and retail shops

Insurance costs and security

You most probably are aware of the discounts and special benefits the members of auto clubs get when buying auto insurance and homeowners coverage. But the discounts are not limited only to these types of insurance, and you may opt for price cuts when getting other insurance products as well, including:

• Term life insurance for a group of beneficiaries
• Medical coverage for a short period of time
• Insurance for long-term care
• Umbrella-type personal liability coverage
• Flood coverage
• Personal possessions coverage
• Small business insurance

And there's even more

These are just some of the advantages you might experience when becoming an auto club member:

• Road maps, travel books, atlases and printed publications
• Trip planning assistance
• Vacations and travel planning services
• Mortgage home loan services
• Auto loans and auto insurance
• Car maintainance and buying assistance from an expert car-buying process
• Legal protection and liability cost coverage
• Short term loans and cash services
• Travel checks with no fees
• Credit card services and assistance

You can get the full list of benefits and detailed information on all the discounts you are eligible for from your auto club web-page or representative so make sure to learn what you get with your membership when signing up.

Does every state need its own Department of Insurance?

Insurance is a slightly nonstandard business in that all the major regulatory functions are left to the individual US states. Federal government has decided to abandon its normal role as the regulator of business to protect the consumers' rights. Such regulation as does exist is down to the political climate in each state and the will of the lawmakers to take on the economic power of the insurance industry. That said, all Departments of Insurance start off equal. Their primary function is to license companies to sell insurance in their state. Unlike other businesses, an insurance company is licensed state-by-state. No company can sell a policy across state lines. That means every national insurer must establish separate subsidiaries in each state and each company must hold a license. There are also minimum capital holdings set by the Department to protect the solvency of the local companies. There must always be enough money held by each company to pay out on the claims made. Some states require actual cash to be available. Others have a formula to prove the availability of money as required. But, for the most part, this is historical. The major players established their presence in multiple states years ago and newcomers moving across state lines are rare. In fact, the general lack of competition in state markets gives no incentive for companies to seek new licenses.

Once all the players hold their licenses, the personality of the Commissioners in charge comes to the fore. Many view their role as political either to run the Department with the lowest possible level of regulation or to be an effective watchdog to protect consumer rights. You can tell which way your local Department is run by logging on to your state's website. Some sites are very pro consumer, offering detailed help and advice on how to buy insurance and get a good deal. But the key test lies in the way complaints are handled. Without exception, all Departments accept complaints from people holding policies. In theory, they should all investigate these complaints and apply a judicial process to decide whether the insurer is at fault and, if so, what the remedy should be. For example, Road Island has just imposed a fine of $5,000 on a leading insurer. Following a traffic accident, the insured wanted the repair work done at his regular auto body shop. This was refused by the insurer because the shop was not on their list of approved body shops. Local regulations drawn up by the RI Department allow the insured a free choice of repair facilities. The fine of $5,000 and publicity for it represents a small penalty in itself. But if there were many such fines, the cumulative bad publicity would damage this insurance company's reputation and its market share would fall.

The best Departments are completely open about the complaints process, publishing details of the complaints, the identity of the insurance company and whether the complaints were upheld. When you are looking for cheap car insurance, this gives you an excellent guide to all the companies' performance in selling policies and handling claims. Sadly, the majority of Departments do not identify the bad insurance companies by name. The worst do not publish any useful information about complaints. This leaves you in the dark when looking for cheap car insurance with a reliable company.

Which makes and models of vehicle are the cheapest to insure?

There's a terrible temptation when you are looking to buy your first vehicle or replace what you currently drive. So many different factors come into play. A young man's dream car may be a babe magnet, others may have to move a family around town. No matter what your needs, the hard cold reality is the cost of insuring your choice. Never commit to buying a vehicle before you have used the online search engine on this or any comparable site to get multiple quotes for each make and model you have on your shortlist. It's free to use these engines and the information you get back can save you a small fortune. How does an insurance company set the rates for each type of vehicle?

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is funded by the insurance industry and it collects information about every traffic accident in the US, breaking it down to every potentially relevant variable from the make and model, the driver, and the cost of repairing the damage both to the humans involved and the vehicles. To support this data collection function, it also has "fun" by running crash tests, looking at how best to survive through seat belts and airbags, to design issues, to the influence of road conditions. Its purpose is not only to assist the insurance industry, but also to help the consumer by improving the design of vehicles and of the roads, thereby reducing injuries, deaths and property damage. To help you make good decisions, the Institute publishes safety ratings for all major vehicles on the roads - see http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx. It also collects data on the other ways in which you might experience loss. The most common is theft, both from the vehicle and of the vehicle. Here we come to fascinating details. Did you know you are twice at risk of theft if you drive a two-door as against a four-door vehicle? Convertibles have the highest theft risks. Check out the National Insurance Crime Bureau for a top 10 list of most stolen vehicles: https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/news_archive/2007_hot_wheels

So here comes the crunch. You get to see the top layer of summarised data at both sites. This is very useful and it will help you make good choices about what to buy. The insurers get to see all the data and base their premium rates on the probability and cost of loss. They also know about you as a driver. Put you in a car with a bad safety record or a strong probability of theft, and you may find the cheapest car insurance unaffordable. But if you buy a vehicle with a top ranking for crashworthiness and take basic precautions on theft, your premiums just became affordable. What should you look for in a new vehicle? Buy a vehicle with good locks and remember not only to lock it but take the keys away with you. Then instal an alarm or immobilizing device to cut off the fuel. Tracking devices are increasingly standard and help the police find your vehicle. Put all this together with good seat belts, airbags, antilock brakes and the other features and your dream cheapest car insurance became real.

How often should you pay for your insurance?

In the good old days, the world was a simple place. You went into a store to buy goods, or to an agent or broker to buy services. The price was quoted and you paid it out of the cash in your bank account. If your account was poorly stocked with dollar notes, you had to wait until you had saved enough. In this primitive way, people lived within their means, only buying goods and services when they could afford them. Those who had regular income and some collateral, were graciously allowed to borrow money from their banks. But pity those who defaulted. Their collateral would rapidly disappear into the hands of their bankers. It was a tough world for borrowers. Then there was a revolution. Suddenly, there was cheap credit available and we could all have what we wanted right now. Just one down-payment and the rest in easy instalments. Then the revolution became a financial tsunami as the newly launched credit cards suddenly put real buying-power in our hands with generous credit limits. Add in the housing equity release plans and all the other wonderful financial gizmos dreamt up by the folk who live on Wall Street, and you have the modern age just before the worst recession in decades and the credit crunch that took everyone by surprise.

Buying insurance policies has always been potentially expensive. When you see the premium rate expressed as an annual sum, it can look a little daunting. Yet, when you are old enough to put wheels on the road, there's mandatory liability cover in all but three US states. This is where dreams would fade were it not for the willingness of insurance companies to be flexible on the payments. First they dropped to 6 monthly payments. Some went for quarterly. And then the final act of liberation - the monthly instalment plan. Now you could buy your policy on the same basis as your home, the furniture and white goods in it, and the car you wanted to drive. Everything had come down to the total amount you could afford to pay every month and still have something left over to buy food. This has some major benefits. You can buy insurance with no down payment. Just use the internet search engines to find cheap auto insurance quotes offering the lowest premium rates, pay the first instalment in advance and you are legal on the road.

But there is more to it than that. Ignoring the supposed advantage of easier money management, it also frees you to change your auto insurance policy whenever you find a better deal. If you have paid six or twelve months in advance, this locks you into the policy. Yes, companies do allow you to change, but usually subject to cancellation charges - sometimes eye-poppingly high. The freedom to change insurers can be important if you change the make and model you drive. The existing insurer may be less competitive on the rates for the new vehicle, but the charges may take up the saving available by switching to a competitor. However, because insurers prefer stability, they offer discounts on 6 or 12 monthly payments to give them your cash in their hands. Paying on a monthly basis is always more expensive. As always, it's your choice.

Is the proposal in Michigan realistic?

The easiest thing to say in the world right now is that some US states are suffering more than others in the recession. The national media rightly focus on the headline figures showing the total numbers of unemployed, the foreclosure rate, and so on. This can be somewhat deceiving because it hides the fact that some states are actually turning in statistics very different from the national average. In Michigan, for example, the unemployment rate stands at 15.3%. The government estimates that, by the end of 2009, some 310,000 jobs will have disappeared with no sign of any consistent move for businesses to begin rehiring. That's why Michigan has sponsored a tax rebate for small businesses - the majority having been unprofitable for the last year - and is extending a tax credit to home buyers to help meet their mortgage obligations - Michigan is ranked 8th in the national foreclosure rank. Not surprisingly, Michigan is facing a budget deficit right now and, with the cost of the tax rebate and credits extending into 2010, the deficit can only grow worse.

So if a state has taken on major new commitments at a time when its tax revenues are falling, it is interesting to see it also championing new provisions that might help families struggling to make ends meet at the expense of the profits of the insurance industry. This is carrying the idea of redistribution somewhat further than Barack Obama intended during his presidential campaign. He was only talking about using taxes on rich individuals to reduce the wealth gap. This is more bold. Going back to the beginning, everyone with a vehicle on the road will tell you their insurance premiums have been rising during the recession. The Consumer Price Index may have been falling, but many now see the cost of insurance as one of the biggest headaches when it comes to the family budget. So, this November sees the state election panel accepting a ballot proposal for 2010 to cut car insurance rates by a flat 20% and to protect the consumer against a range of unfair practices. If the backers can collect 300,000 signatures, the proposal will appear on the ballot next year. Should a sufficient number of voter support the proposal, the law would be changed. In theory, it will stimulate competition between the insurance companies licensed to sell policies into Michigan and advance the interests of consumers by encouraging affordable policies for everyone.

Needless to say, the insurance industry is shocked and awed by this proposal, insisting such a change in the law would force them out of business. To many experts, this claim seems somewhat exaggerated. The insurance industry declared hundreds of millions of dollars in profit during 2008 and paid good dividends to their stockholders. Just one company, State Farm, declared profits of $5 billion. So the notion they would all become insolvent overnight is less than convincing. Voters in Michigan will say whether this change is the law is desirable. If the vote is affirmative, the legislature will move to cut industry profits. One indicator to watch will be the car insurance quotes. If these keep on rising leading up to the vote, the people may be encouraged to promote their own interests. But if the industry moderates its pricing policies up to the vote. . . Well, let's just say the politics will be interesting.

The color of expensive car insurance

Is it true that red car owners have more speeding tickets than people whose cars are colored differently? Does your insurance company set rates according to the color of your car's body? Have colors have anything to do with the likelihood of car accident occurrence?

Is the red car really fast?

You have definitely heard numerous stories telling about red cars being ticketed far more often and costing more to insure than cars of any other color, even if there's no statistical proof of such information. Because there's no official data on that matter it's really hard to say what color is riskier, however insurance companies and police officials state that they never link the color of the car to actual claims or tickets.

Of course, the best idea is driving within speed limits regardless of your car color. Even if you have a red car, respecting the speed limits will prevent you from getting tickets. And chances of your insurance being costly are the same as the other guy driving his green SUV in the next lane.

Color and character

It may be irrelevant to speeding tickets and insurance rates, but what does the color red tell about you as a person? It may not affect the number of tickets you receive, but what does your car color say about your personality? Many psychologists of various schools that work with colors tend to attribute the color of red to aggressive behavior, describing people who like this color as risk-lovers and very active persons. That's probably where the whole red car insurance story comes from - red means more risk, and more risk means higher premiums.

Color and money

But is this all true? Do auto insurance rates depend on what color your car is painted in? And will the rates go down if you repaint your vehicle? No, no and no!

Some people tend to believe that the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) contains information on your vehicle color and when the insurance company uses your VIN to set the rates for you, they include your color into the calculations as well. In reality, there's much more to VIN than just body color and the insurance company won't even pay attention to this factor, being interested in production year, make, model, engine size and other more important technical data for determining your auto insurance rates. And the only way you can get higher auto insurance rates for your red car is it being a Ferrari, Lamborghini or another expensive fast car that is generally quite costly to insure regardless of body color.

So if you really want to drive a red car enjoy doing it for as much as you like without worries. That is having in mind that you will be driving with respect to speed limits, less aggressively and making everything possible to avoid traffic accidents. Which applies to all car owners that want to have cheaper auto insurance regardless of what color is their car. It can be painted like zebra if you will, but if you drive safely it will still cost you less to insure the vehicle!

Why changing your current insurance company?

Lots of us that dream a perfect car don't know how difficult is to handle one that costs lots of money and looks like million dollars. A good car should have a good insurance in a package with it but unfortunately it doesn't always happen like that. What does the idea of a perfect insurance imply? The definition is probably the following - the perfect insurance is the one that gives the full coverage for a cheap price with the possibility to save even more in the process. How do people try to find the best rates? They usually go online and check quotes there. Shop around to find the names of the most trustworthy companies, talk to agents about policies and terms. The company that will combine all the features one is looking for is going to win the "insurance battle" as the competition in the world of insurance is huge.

But as the time goes by people no longer believe everything is how they want it to be. That is why many of us drop one company; start making agreements with another, finish it with the new company and go on searching. Let us take a look at the reasons there might be for terminating a contract with an insurance company.

1. Prices go crazy high

One of the major reasons people leave their insurance company behind is the price changes. It becomes difficult to manage premiums that can't seem to stop increasing in price. But some insurance companies take advantage of the fact that most companies introduce the policy of price-changing. These companies offer you and good discount and promise not to raise your premiums and you do agree to start it all over again with them. Insurance companies that are willing to give in and show a little discount are in control of the situation on the market. They get more clients then the rest but not every company does understand this.

2. The policy the company offers has flaws

Very often we hear people changing insurance companies because of the gaps in coverage. It means that from the beginning the company promised one thing and didn't care enough to make it happen or didn't even mention the fact that some services were not included in the price. And the saddest thing is that people usually do not know about these gaps until something happens to their car. That is when they find out the company is not willing to assist. Then it all depends on the case- you may file a claim or you may end up having everything turn against you leaving you with no coverage at all.

3. The change of the location

Auto insurance company can sometimes surprise you with relocation. The price changes usually come with it too, as the rates depend on the location totally. But don't think the rates in the city are higher because it works the other way around. The rates in a suburb happen to increase every now and then leaving the city rates behind.

4. Terrible attitude towards clients

At times auto insurance companies forget we help them to make money. There are cases when the company's policy matches you perfectly but you can't find anything in common with the staff of the company. Employees should remember they represent the auto insurance business and they should behave according to the norms and treat clients professionally, like good companies' representatives are suppose to treat costumers. Bad service is another reason to drop the company and move on.

Should sleeping pills be advertised so openly?

Every day you pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV, you cannot avoid seeing ads for a range of drugs including sleeping pills. It seems like the pharmaceutical industry still has money to burn even though we are going through a recession. What's going on? Well, it's all to do with building up and then maintaining the brand. Marketing has become increasingly scientific. Focus groups are brought together and polled on what features for a product are the most important, how much we would pay for it, what we think about this slogan for selling it, and so on. The intention is to design an advertising campaign that will tell us what we most want to know about a product, explain why it's great value for money, and so on, all in the most memorable of prose and, on TV, backed up by the latest music from a top singer or group. That way, when we do fall ill, we can walk in to see our physician and ask for the drug we want by name. Except, we are all likely to forget a product's name. So the marketers endlessly repeat it wherever we go to reinforce brand awareness. Like Pavlov's dog who was taught to react when a bell rang, we are taught to respond with the leading brand name whenever a product type is mentioned.

Is it like this everywhere? Well, no. In the majority of other countries around the world, manufacturers are not allowed to market drugs directly to consumers. All the promotional effort is focussed on the medical profession. The reason is simple. When there is a choice between several drugs as a treatment for a particular condition, only a doctor is able to say which is the best for a particular patient. There are always costs and benefits in every drug and people have different medical histories and needs. There is no one-size fits all treatment for every person. In the US, the FDA has a special division tasked to keep advertising reasonably fair and honest. That's why, when you have a forty second ad on TV, thirty seconds is a voice listing the adverse side effects. The FDA thinks you should know the problems with each drug so you can make an informed decision on which is the best. Except listing all these side effects is bad for business. People are put off. That's what makes the latest round of ads so interesting.

The manufacturers of ambien have been running a new series of ads talking about the problems of insomnia without mentioning any drug by name. It is a smart move, because there is no need to list side effects. Everything can remain very positive. At the end of the ads, you are referred to www.silenceyourrooster.com where you read all about the drug and are offered a free trial. The question we have to ask is simple. As a nation, we are increasingly dependent on ambien to get us to sleep and keep us sleeping through the night. But is it good? Should we rely on a drug to help us sleep or look for a better way of getting a good night's rest? The FDA is right. It's your choice.

Is the HSA relevant to

The Health Savings Account (HSA) has a colorful reputation. Depending on who you ask, it's either the best thing ever to come on to the healthcare market, representing a sweet investment opportunity for the healthy and wealthy, or it's an unaffordable luxury plan of no relevance to the ordinary, low- and middle-income American. Well, let's start with a simple definition. As the name suggests, an HSA is a savings account where you make provision for the need to pay all the obvious medical and long-term care expenses including some not included in the average health plan, e.g. dental care and drugs bought over-the-counter. Because this is for an approved medical purpose, the savings are "tax free", i.e. come out of your pre-tax income. You can deposit up to $2,900 per year as an individual. It doubles to $5,800 for a family. The income rolls over, i.e. it accumulates with the investment returns also being exempt from tax. To encourage you to make active use of the account, it's portable, i.e. you can move it from one job to another. It also remains valid whether you are unemployed or taking a voluntary rest between jobs. If you need to make a withdrawal, this is tax free so long as used for healthcare purposes. After you reach the age of 65, you can access these funds for any purpose, i.e. this can be a tax-free retirement savings fund.

If we stopped here, this would look a good opportunity for most people with a little surplus income. But an HSA must be paired with a high-deductible health plan. The minimum deductible must be $1,100 for an individual, doubling to $2,200 for a family. If a claim arises, you therefore pay this deductible and all the associated copayments and out-of-pocket expenses up to $5,600 (which doubles to $11,200 for a family) before the plan pays out. Thus, you may find treatment for an injury or illness eats into your savings or unused credit. Although the premium on a high-deductible plan will be lower than for the conventional plan, the savings will always be less than the potential out-of-pocket payments you have to make. Worse, if your health fails and you need more regular treatment, you will never realize the long-term benefits of an HSA. The money will never accumulate to give you real tax benefits. HSAs work best if you never make a claim. You will also be hit by higher administrative and transaction fees. If this gives you an incentive to refuse healthcare to maximize your tax benefits, this is a bad plan. Healthcare decisions should be driven by your medical needs, not financial advantage.

So, if you have good health and your financial resources will absorb the out-of-pocket payments should your health suffer, you should include an HSA in your request for health insurance quotes. The high-deductible premiums are among the cheapest you will find. But if you prefer the idea of a health plan where the insurance company picks up most of the bills, the HSA is not for you. You should focus your request for health insurance quotes on the conventional policies.

Chemicals and impotence

One of the better short stories dealing with alien invasions is The Screwfly Solution, written under a pseudonym by Alice Sheldon. It assumes aliens would find it too much trouble to use military force to wipe us off the face of the Earth. They would prefer to let us die out. Curiously, this builds on and anticipates many of our own uses of chemicals that induce impotence or infertility. Without any help from aliens, humans are doing their best to reduce their own numbers. One of the most common of the modern chemicals is Bisphenol A (BPA) which is used to harden plastic products and make epoxy resin. You will find it in hundreds of different types of container used to store or carry food. It's also used to coat the inside of drinks cans and to harden the plastics used in the manufacture of sports equipment, cars and some medical devices. In other words, it's hard to avoid eating food stored in it and touching things made with it.

There's now a small mountain of evidence out of China that workers exposed to high levels of BPA suffer loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and impotence. This adds to all the other evidence of health problems now being considered by the FDA including behavioural changes, early onset of puberty in girls, obesity and cancer. Next year, it's due to announce whether the use of BPA is to be limited in the US. The FDA already accepts that babies and children are potentially most at risk - a fact disputed by the manufacturers. Indeed, in many countries, baby bottles made with BPA have been banned. This latest evidence out of China is clear evidence of reproductive problems in adults. But, before panicking, we need to see the Chinese evidence in context. All these workers were exposed to significantly higher levels of BPA than would be encountered in the real world. No matter how many cans of soda and beer you drank, you would not consume the same amount of BPA. Nevertheless, BPA does leach into food and drink from its packaging. In November, Consumer Reports published the result of tests showing BPA in the majority of the brand-name canned foods on sale in US stores. This included juice, soups, vegetables and fish. According to industry experts, the evidence to date is no more than suggestive of a link between BPA and impotence. We will have to wait for the FDA to complete its review for the government's view.

Until then, men should seriously consider avoiding the use of anything made with BPA, and stop eating and drinking out of cans. You should consider switching to bottled beer. This is the precautionary principle. You avoid the potential danger until you have clear evidence it is safe. Once you have reduced your intake of BPA, this should reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. If you do have problems, use cialis - now the leading brand in many countries. This comes in two different versions. One giving you thirty-six hours of sexual response, taken as needed. The other taken once-daily gives response round the clock. There is no better drug on the market for giving completely natural and hard erections whenever you are sexually stimulated. Buy cialis and find out why it has become the top brand.

It's spooky what people say about painkillers

This article is being written in the run-up to Halloween when everyone with a playful disposition applies make-up, sticks on SFX bullet wounds and acts the part of one of the living dead or some creature escaping from a horror movie. Once a year, it's good therapy to pretend to be seriously injured. Except the rest of the year, there are millions of people who have to get up in the morning and struggle to school or work. For them, the reality is anything but fun. They are the foot soldiers in the war against pain and, for the majority, this means relying on medication to get through the day. Interestingly, the latest piece of research out of Boston University shows a significantly higher number of people using an opiate painkiller than found in earlier studies. This increase may be due to better research methods, the fact that people are more prepared to be honest about their drug use, or that more people have come to rely on drugs to control their pain.

The research was run through a telephone survey. The team randomly picked 20,000 adults and called them up to ask about their drug use. Using statistics to scale up the numbers across the country, the researchers conclude that, at any one time, about 4 million adult Americans are regularly taking an opioid drug for pain relief. This suggests that a large number of adults feels pain of sufficient intensity to justify taking a prescription-only drug. This is worrying on two counts. First that so many people experience such serious pain. Secondly, that they should be resorting to powerful drugs to control it. This is not to say that people should not take powerful drugs. Obviously, anyone in serious pain must have the right to take the best drug to control it. But there is an inference that people are actually abusing these powerful drugs. In many states, it's a criminal offense to be in possession of these drugs without a prescription. When you buy tramadol online, there's no need to produce a prescription. The pharmacist will ask a number of questions designed to test whether you can safely take the drug. If you give the right answers, you get the drug without the need to supply a prescription. Thus, the only people likely to admit taking a powerful painkiller are either those who have a prescription or those who do not know the criminal law.

Put simply, people have changed their attitude to pain. Twenty and more years ago, there was more respect for powerful drugs. People hesitated before taking them. Today, many casually take these drugs for a headache or a level of pain that previously would have been tolerated. Cheap tramadol is available to buy online without a prescription. This removes many of the safeguards that kept these drugs for the more serious conditions. Now, anyone can store them in their bathroom cabinets against the possibility of pain. In a sense, the problem is that tramadol has become so well-recognized as an effective painkiller, people routinely turn to it. This suggests the need to educate the public into a more responsible attitude to the opioids. Just because you can buy tramadol online so cheaply, does not mean you should.

Tadalafil and pulmonary hypertension

The recent studies on Tadalafil, a medication that was initially developed for treating erectile dysfunction, have shown that the drug can be quite useful for patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.

The primary cause for pulmonary hypertension is the increased blood pressure within the arteries, which deliver blood to the lungs. Patients with such a condition often experience symptoms of dizziness, sleepiness, and being short of breath due to the decreased supply of oxygenated blood throughout the body, which is caused by the increased tension and lower rates of oxygen intake by blood vessels that are under high pressure.

Dr. Robyn J. Barst, who was the head of the clinical study on the effects if Tadalafil, stated that the drug has shown a very effective improvement on the blood-circulation aspects of the diseases and was highly tolerated by test subjects as well.

The study comprised 405 patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension of various degrees of severity, divided into groups who were given Tadalafil, placebo and Tracleer - a common and effective medication used in cases of pulmonary hypertension.

The results of the studies have informed that after the first 16 weeks of the experiment, patients who were taking Tadalafil have experienced delay in their condition worsening that made them seek medical attention, and has prolong the periods of time that they could safely undertake physical activity, without addressing special medications.

Moreover, the drug has improved the overall output of the heart and decreased the blood vessel tension as compared to the initial data at the start of the experiment.

The results of the study have encouraged the scientists to address the Food and Drugs Administration for reviewing Tadalafil and recommending its use in cases of pulmonary hypertension, besides the usual employment in cases of erectile dysfunction. This could be great news for those patients who were looking for effective alternatives to common pulmonary hypertension medications, being unable to cope with their side-effects.

Before Tadalafil, which is better known by its brand name Cialis, doctors have undertaken tests with other common erectile dysfunction treatment, Sildenafil, which is most known as Viagra. The results of the study were also positive and led to the approval of the drug for use in cases of pulmonary hypertension by the FDA. The only downside was that the drug should be taken three times a day, and being at least not quite convenient it has proven to be quite a costly alternative to common medications.

Form that point of view Cialis, being a more effective drug for treating erectile dysfunction with a much longer half-life than other similar medications such as Levitra and Viagra, has also proven to be more beneficial for addressing pulmonary hypertension as it required to be taken quite less often than its counterparts. So we can expect a boom in online Cialis sites in the near future, which are aimed at not only treating erectile dysfunction but also selling the drug to those people, who were diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.

Pay-as-you-drive explained

A group representing the insurance regulators has been meeting over the last few days. There have been a number of issues on their agenda, but the most interesting has been whether to adopt a policy for every state to require its local insurance companies to offer pay-as-you-drive policies. These policies have a simple purpose. If motorists drive less, there's a reduction in the level of greenhouse gas emissions. This is a good thing because it will cut down on the overall damage to the environment. No matter what you believe about climate change, this will improve the health of the many who suffer from skin allergies and asthma caused by the pollution. The insurance companies therefore reduce the premiums for those who drive less. Not only is this environmentally responsible, it's also good business sense. Lowering premiums attracts more business, but if these drivers reduce the number of miles they drive a year, their risk profile is lower. They should be involved in fewer accidents. This becomes a way of reducing premiums but maintaining profitability.

The regulators advocating this mandatory approach were using a number of other programs as their model. In the appliance industry, there are rating standards called Energy Star. As an example of using this program to promote environmentally sound practice, Maryland is offering an appliance rebate scheme if local people buy energy-efficient refrigerators, water heaters and washing machines. In the building industry, there's a national building code called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). A certificate issued by the US Green Building Council confirms the design meets the nationally accepted benchmarks for sustainability. Because of the savings in running costs, rents are usually lower and business benefits. Applying the same principles to vehicle insurance assumes drivers will act rationally when offered lower prices and drive less. The Brookings Institution estimates the introduction of this pricing model across the country would reduce the use of private vehicles for travel by about 8%. This would save every household about $300 a year and reduce emotions by about 2%. But the regulators decided not to force the adoption of this format of policy.

The reason for leaving this on a voluntary basis is the desire to encourage innovation, not to force it These policies are available in an increasing number of US states and represent an excellent way for you to buy cheap car insurance. But there's no standardisation. You will have to look carefully at the detail of each policy on offer to decide whether it's for you. Remember that, in some cases, the price of this cheap car insurance is the use of technology to spy on the number of miles you actually drive. Not all drivers are honest. They sign up for discount faithfully promising low mileage and then drive high miles. The pay-as-you-drive model assumes there will be checks on everyone's honesty. For the good drivers, this is a good thing. They will be rewarded with continuing low premiums. The dishonest drivers will find their policies cancelled. If you have Big Brother problems with this technology, you can always pay the full premium. A halfway house is to allow insurance agents to read your odometer on a regular basis.

Chemicals and impotence

One of the better short stories dealing with alien invasions is The Screwfly Solution, written under a pseudonym by Alice Sheldon. It assumes aliens would find it too much trouble to use military force to wipe us off the face of the Earth. They would prefer to let us die out. Curiously, this builds on and anticipates many of our own uses of chemicals that induce impotence or infertility. Without any help from aliens, humans are doing their best to reduce their own numbers. One of the most common of the modern chemicals is Bisphenol A (BPA) which is used to harden plastic products and make epoxy resin. You will find it in hundreds of different types of container used to store or carry food. It's also used to coat the inside of drinks cans and to harden the plastics used in the manufacture of sports equipment, cars and some medical devices. In other words, it's hard to avoid eating food stored in it and touching things made with it.

There's now a small mountain of evidence out of China that workers exposed to high levels of BPA suffer loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and impotence. This adds to all the other evidence of health problems now being considered by the FDA including behavioural changes, early onset of puberty in girls, obesity and cancer. Next year, it's due to announce whether the use of BPA is to be limited in the US. The FDA already accepts that babies and children are potentially most at risk - a fact disputed by the manufacturers. Indeed, in many countries, baby bottles made with BPA have been banned. This latest evidence out of China is clear evidence of reproductive problems in adults. But, before panicking, we need to see the Chinese evidence in context. All these workers were exposed to significantly higher levels of BPA than would be encountered in the real world. No matter how many cans of soda and beer you drank, you would not consume the same amount of BPA. Nevertheless, BPA does leach into food and drink from its packaging. In November, Consumer Reports published the result of tests showing BPA in the majority of the brand-name canned foods on sale in US stores. This included juice, soups, vegetables and fish. According to industry experts, the evidence to date is no more than suggestive of a link between BPA and impotence. We will have to wait for the FDA to complete its review for the government's view.

Until then, men should seriously consider avoiding the use of anything made with BPA, and stop eating and drinking out of cans. You should consider switching to bottled beer. This is the precautionary principle. You avoid the potential danger until you have clear evidence it is safe. Once you have reduced your intake of BPA, this should reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. If you do have problems, use cialis - now the leading brand in many countries. This comes in two different versions. One giving you thirty-six hours of sexual response, taken as needed. The other taken once-daily gives response round the clock. There is no better drug on the market for giving completely natural and hard erections whenever you are sexually stimulated. Buy cialis and find out why it has become the top brand.

When you buy cialis, is this like buying an aphrodisiac?

It's almost impossible to separate sex from psychology. When all is working well, self-esteem and confidence are at high levels. When things are not working so well, this undermines confidence and many feel depressed. If the problems persist, the depression can become severe. There are a range of fancy words that are paraded out at this point: impotence, erectile dysfunction, libido, and so on. The precise details of the physical difficulties also vary. A man may find it difficult or impossible to get an erection, or a hard erection may disappear suddenly during sexual activity, or there may be premature ejaculation, and so on. It's convenient to group all the different forms of failure under one label. But this depersonalizes the problem. Instead of seeing it as "your" problem, doctors start talking about general trends and how the majority can be treated. When you want someone to pay attention to your situation, you find people talking about you as if you are not in the room or talking in generalities. So let's avoid all this slightly embarrassed discussion and get down to basics.

In some cultures, men who have sexual difficulties rely on traditional remedies. These substances are called aphrodisiacs - the word coming from Aphrodite who, in ancient Greece, was the Goddess of Love - and they are believed to improve sexual desire and performance. Examples range from herbs, the powdered horns of large animals to preparations made from beetles and insects. In the majority of cases, these have no physical effect on the body but, because they are recommended by respected authority figures in the local society, the affected men usually find them effective. This goes to prove the general rule that, if the mind is willing, the body responds. The medical profession calls this the "placebo effect".

There are three prescription only medications on the market to treat erectile dysfunction. Chemically, they all rely on the same basic active ingredients and work in the same way. Recently, the American College of Physicians asked the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to find out whether there was any evidence to show that one was more effective than the other two. There have only been four clinical trials making a direct comparison between the three and 122 trials studying the drugs individually. The conclusion was that the three drugs are broadly similar in their levels of effectiveness and safety. But the majority of men preferred one of the drugs because, in one form, it produces thirty-six hours of sexual potency. In the once-daily form, men taking the drug have levels of response broadly the same as "normal" men who have not been affected by erectile dysfunction. Thus, in terms of convenience and effect, an increasing majority of men prefer to buy cialis. However, this system of recommendation and sale by word-of-mouth, is exactly the same as the process for selling oysters as an aphrodisiac. Merely suggesting that oysters give you great sex sells them. It's the same with drugs. If men are recommended one drug and they have a good experience with it, they may never try the others. Trusting the product to give a known result creates buying habits. In this instance, unlike oysters, cialis has a very precise physical effect which gives sexual responsiveness. Comparing it to an aphrodisiac for marketing purposes is fair. Otherwise, you can trust cialis to work, no matter what others may tell you.

Strange but true

Over the years, we all grow used to headlines that capture the imagination like, "Sticky Buns kill 31 in China" or "Two British ships collide, one dies". Somehow the English language is capable of creating dramatic images in just a few words, converting a simple story of food poisoning into an epic movie where killer buns rampage through a crowded mall until brought down by Chinese kung fu warriors. But, every now and then, the story is both extraordinary and literally true. "College girl avoids loss of all her limbs". Medicine is still a fairly inexact science. We all know the names of the big diseases and that there are treatments for many of them. But whether patients get the right diagnosis in time for the treatment to work. Well, that is a different story. Take meningitis as an example. The bacteria responsible live happily in the throats for weeks and months and nothing happens. Then, without warning, something as yet unknown, can trigger them into activity.

The first signs are what seem to be a cold or flu, sometimes with a headache, then developing with fever, vomiting and a rash. But there is no guarantee that these symptoms will appear or in this order. It is often the case that treatment is too late if the rash appears. This is a sign of meningococcemia, a bacterial infection of the blood stream. In some cases, there can be a loss of blood circulation to the hands and feet. At the beginning, they feel cold and, if treatment is delayed, gangrene can set in and there is no choice but to amputate. It is a little like a horror movie. First, surgeons remove the fingers of the affected hand. If that does not stop the spread of the rot, the hand follows, then the arm below the elbow, continuing until there is no arm left. That just leaves the other arm and two legs to go. Amputations occur in between 10 and 20% of cases.

This brings us to Jamie Schanbaum who is a student at the University of Texas in Austin. Early in February, 2009, she felt ill and quickly realised it was something serious. But, instead of going to hospital, she went to bed hoping to sleep it off. This was a crucial loss of time. When she awoke, the bacteria had spread throughout her body. But she has benefited from a new approach to treatment. Patients are placed in an oxygen chamber and given high doses of viagra. Although this drug is most usually associated with the treatment of erectile dysfunction, it works by dilating arteries in certain key areas through out the body. So it has a general effect in improving blood circulation. Changing the air pressure also improves flow. With these two working together, circulation to the affected areas of the arms and legs can be improved and amputations avoided. Years ago, Jamie would have lost all her limbs. Today, comparatively little needs to be removed. Although this is an extreme example of the effectiveness of viagra, it should remind us that it also represents a dramatic way of restoring circulation to the penis and creating hard erections. Different needs are equally well served by this amazing drug.

Blood issues are likely to cause ED

It is not big news that erectile dysfunction is not only psychological issue, rising from nervous problems such as depression, anxiety or stress. In fact, most cases of male impotence have different blood problems as the primary cause. Healthy state of blood vessels in your body, and in your penis particularly, is crucial for good and effective functioning of the penis. So when getting to ED treatment, having a drug that has to do with overall blood circulation and the blood flow in the penis is really important. In some cases erectile dysfunction is a side-effect of the drugs you are currently taking for other health conditions such as depression. That's why it is very important to choose the right kinds of medication and to know their side-effects.

Health conditions that are likely to cause ED

One of the most widely seen causes of erectile dysfunction is the damage to blood vessels and nervous tissue delivered by diabetes. Other medical conditions that are likely to cause erectile dysfunction include blood pressure issues, liver or kidney diseases, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, testosterone level issues and damage to blood vessels and nervous tissue during surgeries in the penile area and the spinal chord. Impotence can also be caused by chronic substance abuse such as alcoholism or street drug addiction. Some drugs you are taking currently can also cause erectile dysfunction. These medications include common treatments for depression, chest pain, insomnia, overweight and ulcer. A quick fix of such conditions is likely to improve the degree of impotence but if the condition lasted for a longer period of time it will take a lot more to overcome its effects than simply taking a pill of a drug like Cialis and hope it will solve all of your problems.

Lifestyle strongly affects sexual potency

Do you smoke often? Are you a regular at the local bar? Is your work stressful and you don't get enough sleep on a regular basis? Eliminating all of these factors can significantly improve your sexual health. Men with heavy smoking and drinking habits are more prone to developing ED than non-smokers and non-drinkers. A recent two year study with participation of overweight men who had ED has shown impressive results of lifestyle change on sexual performance. During the course of the study, the participants had to follow a low-calorie diet, exercise on a regular basis, and kick off their nasty habits. As a result, about one third of the test subjects have shown dramatic improvement of the quality of their erections without using such drugs as Cialis at all. So make sure to change your lifestyle towards a healthier one first and maybe it will help you without having to use any additional medications. It all depends on how long you have been experiencing the negative effects of nicotine, alcohol, recreational drugs and unhealthy diet. The rule of thumb here is the longer you follow such a lifestyle, the harder it will be to get back to the normal and healthy one and get significant improvements. Still, it's all possible so make sure to take that change towards a better and healthier way of living your life.

Don't fear erectile dysfunction

Impotence is a curse. At least men that suffer from it believe so that is why they try to avoid any conversations or questions about potency and the maintenance of the sexual intercourse. It gets to the point when they can no longer be frank and open about their issues. They hide away their problems and mainly that creates insecurities and communicative obstacles even between those people that were supposed to be close. How can it be explained? It is very difficult for men to admit they have sexual difficulties while finding themselves in some sexual act with the person they sexually desire. They stray refusing to talk about it. But in reality everything is much simpler than one can imagine. There are plenty of medications that ca fix the problem in one second - well, not one but let's say 30 minute would be enough totally to blank off from the way the situation was.

Erectile dysfunction pills can really turn your sexual life around. They can give you hope and will definitely make you feel good. But one has to remember that it is a pill and every pill has side-effects if taken out o proportion. Erectile dysfunction pills are similar in a way. They can "heal you or kill you" as they say, so you have to be conscious of what you are doing before you start your treatment. Here is a list of side-effects that might be waiting for you around the corner if you take an overdose:

First of all there is back pain. You might be also experiencing dizziness and have a headache. If you feel like having indigestion please inform your doctor about it. Maybe you muscle pain will be your side-effect case or it can also happen that your eye might hurt but don't worry. One call to your doctor will solve it. If you feel pain instead of pleasure during sexual acts you should know that something is wrong. Tell your doctor about it immediately.

As we already said there are plenty of drugs. But Cialis is known to give one of the best results. While in action Cialis is unbelievable because it helps men feel strong and sexually active. The drug is meant to help produce an erection and the latter can only be produced when the nervous system sends signals to the brain for releasing chemical messengers within the tissue of the penis. When the blood vessels of the reproductive organ swell it allows blood to penetrate inside the penis and that creates erection for men.

It doesn't take long for this medication to start to work. You can take a pill right before your sexual intercourse and within 30 minutes you will feel like you are a superman full of energy and strengths.

And you don't have to go to the pharmacy to get the pill. You can order it online anytime plus it is always possible to receive a discount. Most websites that deal with medications will gladly offer you a good price just to keep you by their side for longer. Delivery doesn't keep itself waiting for too - you can receive your pills within 24 hours. So don't hesitate to order Cialis now to have a pleasant night as soon as tomorrow!

Yet more scare stories

One of the ways newspapers aim to sell more copies is to blanket the front page with a scoop. Every journalist dreams of getting one - if it's sensational enough, there's a chance of the Pulitzer and national recognition. Unfortunately, there are only one or two really sensational stories out there at any one time. Most of the news is the boring same-old, same-old. That's where the editors come riding into the rescue of their corporate owners. If there are no real scoops and factual stories are not going to sell, you have to tweak the facts to make them exciting. So, suddenly, the everyday becomes scary. Why scary, you ask. Because news about danger captures people's attention. It's something built into our genes. When people lived in caves, we needed to know if there was a sabre-tooth tiger outside waiting for a meal. Today, we need to know if killer tomatoes (those are the ones coated with E.Coli from the sewage processing plant next to the farm) are being sold in our local store. That's where the FDA and scientists come into the picture. They tell us when danger lurks. So, for food, The Centers for Disease Control estimates that tens of million people are made ill by the food they eat, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized and thousands die every year in the US. Hence the stories about the killer tomatoes, leafy greens and sprouts. All of which brings us to Bisphenol A (BPA) and erectile dysfunction.

It would be wonderful if all these new stories about BPA were an exaggeration and there was nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, that may not be the case. Let's start at the beginning. BPA is everywhere. It's used to make plastic, it lines food and drink cans, and when made into epoxy resin, it sticks things together. The scientific evidence is clear. When used in packaging, it leaches into the food and drink. Most every time we eat or drink out of a can, the odds favor us consuming some BPA. This is bad for infants and, in many countries around the world, the use of BPA in baby bottles has been banned. In the US, major chains like Wal-Mart and Toy "R" Us have already removed all infant products containing BPA from their shelves. The FDA has been reviewing all the evidence and is due to report on the level of danger in the next few months. Which brings us to new research published in Human Reproduction, funded by the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and carried out by an American company in China. It confirms that men exposed to high levels of BPA are up to seven times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than men who have no exposure.

The potential threat is serious because damage would not be reversible. Once toxic levels are reached in men, they would become impotent and no use of levitra would be able to restore erections. For once, there is real reason to watch out for the headlines when the FDA publish their report. If BPA is found too dangerous to use, it will require a revolution in the food packaging and plastics industry to find a safe alternative. If you have erectile dysfunction now, buy levitra. It is the most powerful and effective of all the drugs used to treat this problem.

New research finds limits to the effectiveness of opioids

Once formed, habits are difficult to break. It always just seems easier to go on as you have before. This can become a serious problem when science gets in the way of the habits. If you look at the world of adverts in print and the media, you will see opioids recommended as the sure-fire drugs to use as painkillers, no matter what the pain. It carries on in the venerable tradition of the slogan, "Beecham's Pills cure all ills". The idea of a panacea - one pill to rule them all, as The Dark Lord of Mordor might have said - has been around since the beginning of time. This is fair game for the marketers to use when talking to the public, but the same thinking has entered the training manuals for the medical profession. Sit in lectures for student doctors and you will hear the same story that opioids are the first line of defense when it comes to moderate to severe pain. Once you have the source of the prescriptions in on the group think, the habit is almost impossible to break.

The monitoring and review process put in place after a drug is released into the market is designed to catch any unexpected side effects. If evidence of problems emerges, the FDA can require the manufacturer to change the warnings on the label or, in the worst cases, withdraw the drug from the market. But this monitoring process is not designed to catch the drugs that are ineffective. If no-one has an adverse reaction when taking it, no report is filed with the FDA. It's safe so who cares whether it works. All this brings us to the Cochrane Collaboration. This is a non-profit group where researchers sift through and analyze existing published medical research to see whether there are any consistent patterns - what might not be apparent in one clinical trial involving two hundred participants might be identified when you compile the results from fifteen different trials, each involving two hundred participants. Two recently published Cochrane Reports have concluded that opioids should not be routinely prescribed to patients even with severe pain from hip and knee osteoarthritis.

In both Reports, the independent conclusions were that the adverse side effects outweighed the benefits and that tramadol, as the leading opioid, was no more effective than the strongest NSAIDs. The first Report consolidated the results from ten trials involving a total of just over 2,250 participants and concluded that there was little pain relief and minimal improvement in mobility. With higher dosages, one in twelve participants experienced adverse side effects. The second Report consolidated the results from eleven trials involving 1,020 participants and found little difference between the effectiveness of tramadol and the placebo. This leads to a somewhat controversial conclusion. That doctors should not routinely prescribe opioids for the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis. There should be a careful discussion of treatment options including weight loss, physical therapy and exercise, and a detailed explanation of all the adverse side effects to be expected. This new research does not change the general acceptance of tramadol as an effective painkiller. All it does is confirm that there is no such thing as one pill to cure all ills.

The noble analgesic

Pain is the most undesirable feeling people usually experience. And even though no one really wishes to experience it, they just can not escape this feeling. The only thing that brings people to the physicians is pain. Mostly, people visit the doctor for getting relief from pain because of different reasons. Pain might differ from moderate to severe, according to the origin and severity degree of the origin.

Some pain might be a natural part of life. It may need taking care to handle and get relief. Some times your pain might be so bad and strong, that it becomes truly hard to handle and manage. In such cases, the only solution to problem is taking a very strong painkiller. Pain extirpating and management is an inherent thing for possessing and at fully enjoying the healthy life without needless sufferings. Pain effects are only negative for living. They retard mental stamina, body strength, general health and our overall peace.

To get immediate ease from the pain we are usually using some treatments, such as painkillers, exercises and meditation.

While some painkillers might bring alternative harmful side effects, people are still going for this option frequently as it brings prompt solution. They go for pain reducing medicaments such as Tramadol. This treatment is an efficacious painkiller, with a method of action pretty much identical to those of the drugs (narcotics). It is the generic formulation of a painkiller known as Ultram. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name of this medication is rac-(1R, 2R)-2-(dimethylaminomethyl) -1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-cyclohexanol. It is used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain of different sources.

This medicine is the typical synthetic opioid used for treating different kinds of pain. It possesses possible arrangements on the serotonergic, noradrenergic and GABAergic body systems. The medicine is the German Grunenthal GmbH pharmaceutical company's valiable present to the humankind for pain eradication. This analgesic is also marketed under such trade name as Tramal. It is offered in both intramuscular and intravenous forms, that might be injected respectively to muscles and veins. You can also find it in oral preparations.

It is found as Tramadol hydrochloride (hydrochloride salt) which is commerced under Ultram brand name in the United States of America. Another form is Ultracet obtainable right next to acetaminophen. The dosage for consumption differs with pain degree occurred in the patient's body. It has more or less ten percents of morphine's effect, when injected by IV/IM channel. Oral dosage varies from 50 to 400 mg daily, sometimes even up to 600 mg daily in certain cases of severe pain.

As it is N- and O-demethylated to five separate metabolites, Tramadol endures hepatic metabolism by the way of cytochrome P450 isozyme CYP2D6. The most adverse of its side effects include drowsiness, vomiting, sweating, respiratory depression, and nausea. While many physicians refer this medicine to pain relief, in many cases according to the Ultram's prescription, Tramadol "may encourage physical and psychological dependence of morphine-type".

Blood issues are likely to cause ED

It is not big news that erectile dysfunction is not only psychological issue, rising from nervous problems such as depression, anxiety or stress. In fact, most cases of male impotence have different blood problems as the primary cause. Healthy state of blood vessels in your body, and in your penis particularly, is crucial for good and effective functioning of the penis. So when getting to ED treatment, having a drug that has to do with overall blood circulation and the blood flow in the penis is really important. In some cases erectile dysfunction is a side-effect of the drugs you are currently taking for other health conditions such as depression. That's why it is very important to choose the right kinds of medication and to know their side-effects.

Health conditions that are likely to cause ED

One of the most widely seen causes of erectile dysfunction is the damage to blood vessels and nervous tissue delivered by diabetes. Other medical conditions that are likely to cause erectile dysfunction include blood pressure issues, liver or kidney diseases, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, testosterone level issues and damage to blood vessels and nervous tissue during surgeries in the penile area and the spinal chord. Impotence can also be caused by chronic substance abuse such as alcoholism or street drug addiction. Some drugs you are taking currently can also cause erectile dysfunction. These medications include common treatments for depression, chest pain, insomnia, overweight and ulcer. A quick fix of such conditions is likely to improve the degree of impotence but if the condition lasted for a longer period of time it will take a lot more to overcome its effects than simply taking a pill of a drug like Cialis and hope it will solve all of your problems.

Lifestyle strongly affects sexual potency

Do you smoke often? Are you a regular at the local bar? Is your work stressful and you don't get enough sleep on a regular basis? Eliminating all of these factors can significantly improve your sexual health. Men with heavy smoking and drinking habits are more prone to developing ED than non-smokers and non-drinkers. A recent two year study with participation of overweight men who had ED has shown impressive results of lifestyle change on sexual performance. During the course of the study, the participants had to follow a low-calorie diet, exercise on a regular basis, and kick off their nasty habits. As a result, about one third of the test subjects have shown dramatic improvement of the quality of their erections without using such drugs as Cialis at all. So make sure to change your lifestyle towards a healthier one first and maybe it will help you without having to use any additional medications. It all depends on how long you have been experiencing the negative effects of nicotine, alcohol, recreational drugs and unhealthy diet. The rule of thumb here is the longer you follow such a lifestyle, the harder it will be to get back to the normal and healthy one and get significant improvements. Still, it's all possible so make sure to take that change towards a better and healthier way of living your life.

Is meditation an effective treatment for pain?

In a culture caught up in the can-do mentality, the idea of treating pain through the mind is viewed with some suspicion. People have been taught to believe drugs and formal invention by a trained specialist are the routes to an effective cure. This is the American way. If the body is broken, you fix the body. There's no need for any New Age, touchy-feely talk. Indeed, people who persistently complain of pain but have no obvious injuries or disease, can find themselves attacked as malingerers trying to game the benefit system.

Family, friends and neighbors can rapidly run out of sympathy if you seem to be a freeloader. Against this background, the healthcare service does offer a limited range of counseling and support options. These services are not pushed more agressively because the high number of staff required to run these services drives up the operating costs. The hospital does not make as much profit as from other services.

There is a substantial volume of evidence from research studies around the world to prove a clear link between a patient's attitude and a patient's awareness of pain. Those who are relaxed and have a positive outlook on life have lower sensitivity to pain. Those who are anxious, stressed and shading into depression are more likely to experience more intense pain. For patients to get benefits from psychological counseling, they have to invest time and money. This is not an easy cure that might come from the simple act of swallowing a pill. It requires people to make an effort. Put all this together and you see the problem. Because many private health plans do not include the cost of counseling and family budgets are under strain with the current recession, most believe they cannot afford this approach.

The focus is on the cost now, not the cost of drugs spread over years. In the long term, people will save money but it requires investment now. If this means a little extra debt, it's well worth it. The most recent research published in The Journal of Pain shows that even one hour of meditation training produces a reduction in the level of pain felt. The full range of treatment options are meditation training, distraction and relaxation. The evidence clearly shows that people feel less pain while actually meditating. Even after meditation, the effect of pain relief continues, i.e. people perceive the pain differently. Similarly, people who train their minds to relax or focus their attention on different factors in the environment also experience pain relief. The level of pain remains unchanged. The focus in all three options is to treat the emotional response to it.

None of this denies the valuable role to be played by drugs such as tramadol. As one of the first-choice drugs used by people in pain, there are millions who will testify that it works to relieve moderate to severe pain. It does make sense to buy tramadol and get some of that relief. However, no matter how convenient it is to pop pills, in the long term, meditation is cheaper and better. It's your choice.

Should drug testing be compulsory?

There's an interesting campaign building in Tamil Nadu. For those of you whose geography is not strong, Tamil Nadu is one of the states in India and it has a large population. It's also very socially conservative. This means that "family values" are very strong. Marriage is definitely only for heterosexual couples with divorce strongly disapproved. So far, India matches the Western model but here the similarities end because the usual form of marriage is arranged between the families without the need for the happy couple to meet before the ceremony. Marriage is seen as building links between families of comparable status and wealth. For most, marriage for love is an alien concept.

The problem with this system is that it can trap women in marriages that are, at best, loveless and, at worst, violent and dangerous. There are a number of reasons for this. Because the marriages are often made to consolidate property ownership, the welfare of the couple is irrelevant. Once the marriage has been celebrated and the title to the land transferred, the couple are left to their own devices. The reason why divorce is discouraged is because the courts might disturb the ownership of property. Indeed, wives who threaten divorce can be relentlessly bullied to keep quiet. A further problem is that homosexuality is still concealed. Thus, sons are married off without regard to their sexual preferences. This can leave wives in unconsummated marriages. The same result is achieved by the men who are impotent but dare not go to a doctor to admit the problem and get treatment. The worst possibility is that the men have been routinely engaging in unprotected sex with prostitutes before marriage and have picked up a sexually transmitted disease (STD). When the marriage is consummated, this can leave the wives with serious health problems.

A politically active group of Bollywood women is campaigning for all men to produce evidence of potency and freedom from STDs before being allowed to marry. Although the idea of a certificate of erectile function is never going to be practical - just how would the evidence be collected? - there's great merit in screening tests to ensure that both parties are free from sexually transmitted disease. Because many couples still prefer unprotected sex, the incidence of STDs has been rising quite sharply over the last ten years. Testing would therefore be a good thing not only in India but around the world.

In the West, since there's no real need for gay men to marry for the sake of appearances, all men who have problems of erectile dysfunction simply rely on levitra. This drug produces the best erections in most men no matter what the physical or psychological problems. This is somewhat ironic since the leading manufacturers of the generic form of levitra are based in India but local distribution is limited by a culture that refuses to discuss sexual matters openly. Unlike the West, it's also quite difficult to buy levitra online. This unfairly leaves many Indian men struggling to cope with their impotence.

Are men and women the same when it comes to pain

In these more modern times of sexual equality, it may not be politically correct to talk about differences between men and women. Unfortunately, the medical profession cannot ignore the increasing volume of scientific evidence that there are important differences, particularly when it comes to pain management. In this, it is important to distinguish between biological sex and gender. There are visual tests for the presence or absence of reproductive organs, and lab tests for chromosomes that help to say whether this is a man or woman. Gender, on the other hand, is a list of the social roles society defines for people. This can be complicated when people choose to act or behave in ways considered more appropriate for the opposite sex. As an example of the problem, you only have to look at the complaints that Caster Semenya is not a woman. How can this muscular person from South Africa suddenly beat the word record for the 800m by one second and be a woman?

The last decade has seen a rapid rise in the volume of research into gender differences in the response to pain. There is clear evidence that women are more likely to consult a doctor about pain and to take drugs to relieve that pain. As a result, the national statistics show more women than men suffering from the more common medical conditions causing pain such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc. In tests involving healthy volunteers, women are more likely to report higher levels of pain than men. This applies regardless of the other factors of age, race, ethnicity and religion. Interestingly, brain scans have shown that pain affects different parts of the brain. In women, the limbic area which also affects emotions is stimulated more than in men.

The speculation is that the differences in brain activity flow from early human development. Men were the stronger group with responsibility to fight to defend the community. This means being prepared to accept pain. Women were expected to respond to danger by nurturing and protecting the young, running away if necessary. Today, men remain less willing to admit to feeling pain and are reluctant to seek medical help. It does not matter whether this is a biological or gender difference, the statistical evidence for this unwillingness to seek help is absolutely clear. But, equally clear is that tramadol relieves the pain of both a macho man and an emotional woman. Even though there may be gender differences, the biological effect of tramadol is the same on a human body. It relieves moderate to severe pain. So, perhaps it is time for all men suffering in silence to overcome the cultural conditioning that threatens their self-esteem if they admit to pain. Once you have clearance from your local healthcare provider that there are no problems in you taking this drug, go online and buy tramadol from the privacy of your own home. This relieves the pain and preserves your image.

The art of finding good policies

It is not anything new - you need to stay protected 24/7 if there is a chance of doing it. People sometimes think that protection is expensive. They have an idea in their head that you have to spend too much money so they do not worry about tomorrow. Especially when you are on the road you need a good protection. Your car can be your loyal friend that takes you to work and takes you back home but it ca turn into your worst enemy if you don't think about protection on time.

Shopping around is not difficult especially since so many car insurance companies started to appear. They all have great offers and can be totally tempting. Internet is the best place to look for car insurance. Not only can you read the reviews from people tat have already gone through the car insurance but you can hook yourself up with some additional information and latest updates. You will be so surprised to find out you can actually do trust internet with such important decisions.

It is very easy to get quotes you need online. You are always one click away from a good advice or a nice offer. Internet is like a discount market. With services like insurance you can benefit lots. If you have a perfect driving record you deserve a good discount and internet insurers are ready to give you that. They are open for any kind of competition with other insurance companies that are selling their services online therefore you will always get a good price. The company will do whatever to win you over. It is a fact.

If you are a member of a professional driver's association or you are a part of an automobile team - you will also get a discount. Anywhere you look - you can see the number that will satisfy you.

And do not forget that there are companies that insure cars, houses, boats and so on. If it is not the first thing you insure with the company they will literally "give you anything you want for being loyal".

The car you drive can affect your payments as well. A cheap car will have low premiums; a brand new one will give you high premiums. Insurance companies can also advice you when you are about to purchase a car. They have a table with the statistics of the automobiles that are most likely to be stolen. T will help you in the future if you take their advice on time.

If you want to make sure your decision is a correct one - don't rush into anything. Take as much time as you need but make sure it is a well-thought nicely considered decision. You can also get professional advice. Don't be afraid or shamed to show you don't know something. It is natural. Plus you will be a winner in the end when you have made the choice that was worth asking about.

Auto insurance quotes will do you good. You can Google them anytime you like and compare the offers from different insurance companies. Auto insurance quotes will help you to feel protected on the road. Your car needs a much protection as you do. Make sure you are both very safe! We trust you with your decision.

Think about insuring your life

When you insure your life, you not only get a flexible financing tool that secures your future, but also protect your family and loved ones in situation when you just can't help. So when it comes to insuring your life, having a substantial research and analysis on the matter is viable for having just the right policy to meet your needs. To give you some hints on the most important aspects of this insurance type here are some things to consider:

1. Shop around to save a buck

As with any product and insurance in particular, it is reasonable to spend some time and shop around. Get as many quotes as you can from different companies to see what they have to offer for the same price or amount of coverage. You will be surprised to learn that sometimes the difference is huge.

2. Get the right amount of coverage

Having too much coverage can be quite costly and you may end up paying for coverage you don't need at all. The same goes for having too little coverage, as who needs a policy when you're underinsured in the end? Analyze your insurance needs and get the exact amount to meet them, without going to extremes.

3. Better health means lower rates

It's a well known fact that the better your health the lower premiums you'll have to pay. So if you want to get a reasonable price for your insurance policy, make sure to not have any bad habits (smoking, drinking) and have a general healthy lifestyle. Sometimes the difference in rates can be really impressive for you to consider.

4. The earlier you buy the better

You may think that buying life insurance earlier will make you pay additional premiums you don't feel like paying yet. But this is a misconception that will make your insurance more costly in the long run. The younger you are, the lower your rates will be and if you choose the right type of policy, you will still pay the same rates when you get older.

5. Make reviews of your coverage every now and then

Anytime you have significant changes in your life (marital status, children, job change, etc.) you might want to review your coverage and adjust it to your current insurance needs. You don't want to get underinsured or have too much coverage to pay for, right?

6. Choose the type of life insurance you need

There are different types of policies with their separate scopes and characteristics. For example, term insurance policies provide coverage only for a specified period of time but are characterized for the best coverage while having a smaller price tag. Cash value life insurance, on the other hand provides coverage during the underwriter's whole life and delivers additional saving and investment possibilities. So choose carefully according to your exact needs.

7. Don't leave life insurance to your employer

Some employers provide not only health insurance group plans but life insurance solutions too. However, in most cases the coverage you get from these group plans is not enough to meet your personal insurance needs and will leave you unprotected in situations you need to be.

Never lie about having acne

Medicalization is a wonderful word. It means the process of taking a natural condition and convincing people that it's a disease to be treated and cured by the medical profession. Once a condition is medicalized, the pharmaceutical industry can sell drugs, doctors and hospitals can charge fees. The cash registers just keep on ringing up the profits. Once this happens, there's a kind of bandwagon effect. The condition suddenly becomes a lot more serious. It's now a disorder or disease. For health insurance companies, it's a pre-existing condition.

Now there's a funny thing about health insurance companies. They are never shy about coming forward with new reasons for not paying out on their policies. One of their classic excuses is the "disclosure" rule. The law sounds quite reasonable. If you are sitting in your office and never get to meet the person applying for a health plan, you have to rely on the honesty of what the person says when you decide whether to write the policy. It's a sad fact that some people are less than honest when they apply for policies. They forget the heart problem and declare themselves fit and healthy. Insurance companies therefore need the right to rescind the policy - to cancel it if the applicant failed to disclose information needed to assess the risk.

So now we come to the case of Otto Raddatz who, courtesy of his sister, became a famous victim after his death. She testified to a Senate committee about what happened and the story, in suitably dramatic form, was later picked up by President Obama in support of his campaign for healthcare reform. The facts are easy to state. Here was a man lining up to get surgery for cancer. The hospital appointment was booked when, surprise, the insurance company decided to rescind the policy. Why? Because Otto had failed to disclose the fact he had acne as a teen! This was a serious pre-existing condition and likely an indicator he would get cancer later in his life. His failure to disclose it justified rescission. Well, fortunately, his sister was an attorney and she got the state attorney general on the job. Six weeks later, the insurer reinstated the policy and Otto got his operation. This gave him six more years of life.

It's sometimes odd to see how the world works. The medical profession goes to great trouble to convince everyone that acne is a disease. The pharmaceutical industry sells us accutane which is an almost always effective treatment, clearing the skin and restoring beauty during the first period of treatment. And then insurance companies accept this medicalization and require people applying for policies to disclose acne as a pre-existing condition. This is a logical and predictable progression. If doctors say acne is a disease, it must be a pre-existing condition and everyone should disclose it when they apply for health insurance! Do not be deceived! The Illinois attorney general does not fight for everyone. Otto was lucky that his sister was an attorney with the right political connections. So never lie about having acne! The risk of rescission is real. And while you have acne, rely on accutane, the sure-fire way of solving the problem.