There may be nothing scarier than not knowing what is going on with your health. Though the human body is remarkably self-reliant, there are many times when something may go wrong. If you have health questions, your first obvious step is to visit your doctor. However, if you must wait for an appointment, you may find that you become increasingly agitated wondering what is going on. You can get some of your health questions answered online, but you do have to be careful what you believe.
I have written a lot of articles about health questions in the past. I am very careful when I do so however, because I would never want to be responsible for passing around bad information. I do very careful research, and I make sure it is clear that the information I am providing is to be used as a reference only. Many times, people find answers to health questions online, and they do not bother to discuss their findings with their doctors. This is where many problems may begin. If you go about believing that you have solved your own problems, you may end up making things worse. If you do not visit with your doctor, a more serious condition may go undiagnosed.
Though a lot of the health questions you may have are simple, there may be times when the doctors cannot figure out what is wrong with you. The Internet is a great source for information about where health disorders, and you may find something your doctor has missed. However you should make sure that you discuss what you find with your doctor, before deciding that is exactly what is wrong with you. Your health questions are important, and if your doctor doesn’t have time to answer them for you, you should go to see someone else.
When you seek answers to your health questions online, consider the source. If you go to a web site like Web M.D., you know you are probably getting good information. That doesn’t mean that the information you’re getting will pertain to you. If you find answers to health questions that you think may have something to do with what you are going through, print out everything you find and present it to your doctor for further discussion. I’m not saying there’s not a lot of great information out there, I’m just saying that you never really know what you’re getting.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Health Articles
It seems that our medical professionals cannot agree on anything. For every medical opinion that is given, you will be able to find a doctor that will give an opposite opinion. This can be very frustrating if you are trying to find a diagnosis. This can also be very frustrating if you have to change doctors due to insurance and find that they feel you were given miss information by your previous physician.
I recently went through a situation where I was looking for answers for the severe back pain I was in. I had been to general practitioners, as well as a group of specialists. My appointments included three different cities and five different doctor’s offices. I know ever inch of five different waiting rooms. As I spent time waiting for test results and appointments I read many health articles in the magazines in the waiting rooms. I was beginning to see a pattern in the health articles. If one health magazine had a topic that was featured another magazine would have a similar topic and or rebuttal article the next month. The doctors that write the health articles seem to enjoy proving each other wrong. At times it seems that their main objective is to disagree. This makes me suspicious of health articles. I start to wonder how much of the article is fact and how much is the opinion of the doctor.
As with all research, health articles can present statistics in such a way that they can claim a theory is proven or they can claim the opposite. I was talking to my nephew about this. He is a pharmaceutical researcher. He agreed that the health articles can be very misleading, especially if they are based on research that has not been verified. He explained that there are so many articles written because a researcher needs to have a certain number of publications each year to fulfill requirements for grants, fellowships and scholarships. Often times the researcher does not have the time to do an in depth article, so they read another person’s published work and create a rebuttal article. He pointed out that this is why you do not see many of the health magazines any place but in the doctor’s office. The health articles are not very interesting, factual or well written. He did tell me that the health articles that are written in more popular magazines are usually well researched and written better because they are written by professional writers rather than researchers.
I recently went through a situation where I was looking for answers for the severe back pain I was in. I had been to general practitioners, as well as a group of specialists. My appointments included three different cities and five different doctor’s offices. I know ever inch of five different waiting rooms. As I spent time waiting for test results and appointments I read many health articles in the magazines in the waiting rooms. I was beginning to see a pattern in the health articles. If one health magazine had a topic that was featured another magazine would have a similar topic and or rebuttal article the next month. The doctors that write the health articles seem to enjoy proving each other wrong. At times it seems that their main objective is to disagree. This makes me suspicious of health articles. I start to wonder how much of the article is fact and how much is the opinion of the doctor.
As with all research, health articles can present statistics in such a way that they can claim a theory is proven or they can claim the opposite. I was talking to my nephew about this. He is a pharmaceutical researcher. He agreed that the health articles can be very misleading, especially if they are based on research that has not been verified. He explained that there are so many articles written because a researcher needs to have a certain number of publications each year to fulfill requirements for grants, fellowships and scholarships. Often times the researcher does not have the time to do an in depth article, so they read another person’s published work and create a rebuttal article. He pointed out that this is why you do not see many of the health magazines any place but in the doctor’s office. The health articles are not very interesting, factual or well written. He did tell me that the health articles that are written in more popular magazines are usually well researched and written better because they are written by professional writers rather than researchers.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Article on health
I used to read every article on health that came out, but lately I've given this up as a bad habit. To be honest it was driving me absolutely crazy. You see, I am a health fanatic. I used to be fat, lazy, and out of shape, and it made me absolutely miserable. Since I finally got my body back into shape, I have been doing everything that I can to keep myself as healthy as possible. Reading articles on health helps me to keep up with the latest news in exercise, diet, supplements, and other aspects of longevity.
But nowadays, when I read an article on health, it just fills me up with anxiety. After all, one article on health will say one thing, another day, another article says something else. One day, soon type of food, such as soy, is good for you, and the next day an article on health says that increases food allergens and promotes the development of female hormones in males. I swear, all I want is to find the perfect diet, the perfect exercise routine, and the perfect lifestyle to keep myself as healthy as I can for as long as I possibly can. Every article on health that I read, however, has a different idea of what that would mean. Until recently, alcohol was thought of as bad for you, as were chocolate, and coffee. Now it turns out that wine is good for you, beer is good for you provided it is dark beer, chocolate is good for you if it is dark chocolate, and even coffee has been found to have some health benefits when used in moderation. Tomorrow, they will be saying that ice cream and cheesecake are the best options for creating a low cholesterol diet!
What I have finally figured out at such great pains is that, ultimately, my own life is my own responsibility. I can read all the article on health by experts that I want, but none of them will really tell me how to live. At the very best, article on health can give me some health tips that will help me figure out how to exercise, and how to eat right, but the rest is just me listening to my body. It all comes down to this: I need to do what feels right for me. If I can do this, I can live a healthier, happier, and longer life.
But nowadays, when I read an article on health, it just fills me up with anxiety. After all, one article on health will say one thing, another day, another article says something else. One day, soon type of food, such as soy, is good for you, and the next day an article on health says that increases food allergens and promotes the development of female hormones in males. I swear, all I want is to find the perfect diet, the perfect exercise routine, and the perfect lifestyle to keep myself as healthy as I can for as long as I possibly can. Every article on health that I read, however, has a different idea of what that would mean. Until recently, alcohol was thought of as bad for you, as were chocolate, and coffee. Now it turns out that wine is good for you, beer is good for you provided it is dark beer, chocolate is good for you if it is dark chocolate, and even coffee has been found to have some health benefits when used in moderation. Tomorrow, they will be saying that ice cream and cheesecake are the best options for creating a low cholesterol diet!
What I have finally figured out at such great pains is that, ultimately, my own life is my own responsibility. I can read all the article on health by experts that I want, but none of them will really tell me how to live. At the very best, article on health can give me some health tips that will help me figure out how to exercise, and how to eat right, but the rest is just me listening to my body. It all comes down to this: I need to do what feels right for me. If I can do this, I can live a healthier, happier, and longer life.
Anxiety Cures
Anxiety Cures
Anxiety can afflict anyone at any time, and in some circumstances, is a healthy response to what is going on around them. It is normal to feel anxious before a sport competition or an exam - helping us to focus or prepare for the task at hand. It is normal for a parent to worry about their teenage son or daughter who has not come home after midnight, but not normal if they become anxious each time the teenager leaves the house. Anxiety cures - both allopathic and homeopathic- are available by either doctors or herbalists, and some are available in your local drugstore or whole foods shop.
Anxiety, like most things, only becomes a problem when it becomes excessive. This usually occurs when people cannot calm themselves down over a prolonged period of time, or react in a situation that is disproportionate to the threat. Unfortunately, in our current age, our lives are frittered with many genuine anxieties. The fear of crime, unemployment and one’s health can be some sources of anxiety that may call for potential cures. There has never been such a demand for anxiety cures in our modern world.
Anxiety manifests itself in many forms, ranging from muscle tension, through digestive problems, migraines, asthma, sleeplessness and heart disease. It does not normally kill, but can be a predisposing factor is many other serious illnesses. Finding anxiety cures have never been so important; however, some people are now choosing to take more natural remedies, such as essential oils and herbal teas, rather than receiving stronger prescription drugs from their doctors.
If one suffers from repeated anxiety attacks, it is advisable to seek a qualified
aromatherapist rather than undergo self-treatment. For milder forms of anxiety, essential oils can be used in massages, face compresses, steam inhalation or baths. Some oils commonly used as anxiety cures include: Camomile, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Jasmine, Juniper, Ylang-Ylang, Geranium and Clary Sage. Each person will have their own preference to the oils, and their preference is normally an indication of their state of mind.
Another way people can use natural remedies as anxiety cures are through herbal teas or infusions. Teas without caffeine are usually recommended and are a great benefit when used in tandem with essential oils. Chamomile, Lemon and Peppermint teas help to calm the mind and cure anxiety after a difficult day at work or before a potentially stressful situation.
The use of herbal remedies combined with moderate exercise can help the body cope with anxiety better. Some people use yoga, meditation or relaxation exercises that cost little or no money and reap numerous health benefits. I have found that often the best anxiety cures come at little or no cost.
Anxiety is a part of our twentieth-first century lives, and it is a common product of many complex situations we face daily. We cannot completely rid ourselves of fear, and different anxiety cures work differently for each person. Instead we can try different methods of relaxation when we feel anxiety start to take over- helping us to better manage the stress of living in these modern times.
Anxiety can afflict anyone at any time, and in some circumstances, is a healthy response to what is going on around them. It is normal to feel anxious before a sport competition or an exam - helping us to focus or prepare for the task at hand. It is normal for a parent to worry about their teenage son or daughter who has not come home after midnight, but not normal if they become anxious each time the teenager leaves the house. Anxiety cures - both allopathic and homeopathic- are available by either doctors or herbalists, and some are available in your local drugstore or whole foods shop.
Anxiety, like most things, only becomes a problem when it becomes excessive. This usually occurs when people cannot calm themselves down over a prolonged period of time, or react in a situation that is disproportionate to the threat. Unfortunately, in our current age, our lives are frittered with many genuine anxieties. The fear of crime, unemployment and one’s health can be some sources of anxiety that may call for potential cures. There has never been such a demand for anxiety cures in our modern world.
Anxiety manifests itself in many forms, ranging from muscle tension, through digestive problems, migraines, asthma, sleeplessness and heart disease. It does not normally kill, but can be a predisposing factor is many other serious illnesses. Finding anxiety cures have never been so important; however, some people are now choosing to take more natural remedies, such as essential oils and herbal teas, rather than receiving stronger prescription drugs from their doctors.
If one suffers from repeated anxiety attacks, it is advisable to seek a qualified
aromatherapist rather than undergo self-treatment. For milder forms of anxiety, essential oils can be used in massages, face compresses, steam inhalation or baths. Some oils commonly used as anxiety cures include: Camomile, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Jasmine, Juniper, Ylang-Ylang, Geranium and Clary Sage. Each person will have their own preference to the oils, and their preference is normally an indication of their state of mind.
Another way people can use natural remedies as anxiety cures are through herbal teas or infusions. Teas without caffeine are usually recommended and are a great benefit when used in tandem with essential oils. Chamomile, Lemon and Peppermint teas help to calm the mind and cure anxiety after a difficult day at work or before a potentially stressful situation.
The use of herbal remedies combined with moderate exercise can help the body cope with anxiety better. Some people use yoga, meditation or relaxation exercises that cost little or no money and reap numerous health benefits. I have found that often the best anxiety cures come at little or no cost.
Anxiety is a part of our twentieth-first century lives, and it is a common product of many complex situations we face daily. We cannot completely rid ourselves of fear, and different anxiety cures work differently for each person. Instead we can try different methods of relaxation when we feel anxiety start to take over- helping us to better manage the stress of living in these modern times.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Health And Immune Systems For Childrens
In order for the body to cure itself, the immune system must be strong and functioning properly. The immune system can be strengthened gradually through a wholesome natural diet, natural supplements and exercise or it can be damaged gradually by abuse. Minor health concerns can become major health problems if the immune system is not strong.
Children with strong immune systems are not effected as much by every day toxins. It is the immune systems responsibility to eliminate these toxins. The most important factor in strengthening the immune system is proper nutrition.
Parents should not rely on pediatricians alone to instruct them on the best nutrition for their children. They need to take the responsibility for their own children and find out for themselves.
Eating a variety of healthy raw foods is a big plus for the immune system. One study showed that cooked foods puts strain on the immune system, while raw foods did not. More white blood cells were found in the intestines with cooked foods, while no change in white blood cell count was noted in the intestines when raw foods were consumed. Another way to strengthen the immune system in children is taking supplements.
Some supplements that strengthen the immune system include:
Vitamin A/Beta-Carotene which work as antioxidants to inhibit free radical damage and strengthen the immune system.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant and helps protect against immune related diseases such a colds, flu and cancer. Vitamin C also is one of the most important nutrients for heart health. The human body does not produce vitamin C like animals. Animals do not have heart attacks because they product about 20 grams of vitamin C daily. Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in humans world wide. Vitamin C is the paste of the artery walls that keeps them from blowing out. When the body does not have enough vitamin C it makes it's own paste from lipoprotein (a) to try to repair weak artery walls which clogs up the arteries. High cholesterol levels are not the main problem, low vitamin C and other key nutrients are which keep the cholesterol from sticking to the artery wall is the problem.
Vitamin E helps produce cells to fight infection.
B Vitamins help the nervous system with stress.
Selenium and zinc are important antioxidants.
Rose Hips help strengthen the immune system.
According to many herbalists, echinacea is a natural antibotic that helps stimulate immune function.
Garlic is a natural antibotic and seems to help with infections.
Essential Fatty Acids are essential to the immune system and must be gotten through food or supplements because the body does not produce them.
Obesity in children in the United States is out of control. Parents are the only ones that can stop it . Parents must set the example of proper nutrition, supplementation and regular exercise. If children are taught the right way while they are young when they are grown they will not depart from it.
Children with strong immune systems are not effected as much by every day toxins. It is the immune systems responsibility to eliminate these toxins. The most important factor in strengthening the immune system is proper nutrition.
Parents should not rely on pediatricians alone to instruct them on the best nutrition for their children. They need to take the responsibility for their own children and find out for themselves.
Eating a variety of healthy raw foods is a big plus for the immune system. One study showed that cooked foods puts strain on the immune system, while raw foods did not. More white blood cells were found in the intestines with cooked foods, while no change in white blood cell count was noted in the intestines when raw foods were consumed. Another way to strengthen the immune system in children is taking supplements.
Some supplements that strengthen the immune system include:
Vitamin A/Beta-Carotene which work as antioxidants to inhibit free radical damage and strengthen the immune system.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant and helps protect against immune related diseases such a colds, flu and cancer. Vitamin C also is one of the most important nutrients for heart health. The human body does not produce vitamin C like animals. Animals do not have heart attacks because they product about 20 grams of vitamin C daily. Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in humans world wide. Vitamin C is the paste of the artery walls that keeps them from blowing out. When the body does not have enough vitamin C it makes it's own paste from lipoprotein (a) to try to repair weak artery walls which clogs up the arteries. High cholesterol levels are not the main problem, low vitamin C and other key nutrients are which keep the cholesterol from sticking to the artery wall is the problem.
Vitamin E helps produce cells to fight infection.
B Vitamins help the nervous system with stress.
Selenium and zinc are important antioxidants.
Rose Hips help strengthen the immune system.
According to many herbalists, echinacea is a natural antibotic that helps stimulate immune function.
Garlic is a natural antibotic and seems to help with infections.
Essential Fatty Acids are essential to the immune system and must be gotten through food or supplements because the body does not produce them.
Obesity in children in the United States is out of control. Parents are the only ones that can stop it . Parents must set the example of proper nutrition, supplementation and regular exercise. If children are taught the right way while they are young when they are grown they will not depart from it.
Top Ten Anti Aging Health Systems
If you are over 50 you can probably recall what "old" people in general were 30 or 40 years ago. They were usually pretty slow afoot. Few played sports or worked out. The terms anti-aging, or anti-aging system did not exist. Old was 50 in the 1960's and 1970's..
By today's standards, at 50 we are not considered old any more. Some of us have an anti-aging system in place that allows us to remain young as we enter our 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Some are young at 80 and we see more youngsters even into their 90’s. People are much more active now then they were three or four decades ago.
Most boomers no longer consider themselves old, which is quite plausible with life expectancy going up year after year. The terms anti-aging health systems and baby boomers are part of our culture today.
But we need our strength to assure us of a quality of life into our sixties, seventies and beyond. Like anti-aging system for health.
I have listed some suggestions to mull over in order to grow old at a snail's pace. These tips can be your anti-aging health system. And feel good doing it.
Make any of these anti-aging health system tips your own. If you apply the action for about 30 days on a continual bases it becomes habitual. Utilizing any of these actions on a perpetual basis will have a positive gain in your life.
1. The most meaningful anti-aging system health tip, is to stop smoking. We have all heard the many reasons not to smoke and to stay away from others' smoke.
2. Keep the weight down. Leanness is high on the list because fat cells have several bad effects - weight, hardening of the arteries and a propensity to concern type 2 diabetes.
3. Take supplements. Particularly alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine. These will aid your energy output. One of my favorite anti-aging system tips.
4. Skip a meal each day or fast a day each week. Digesting less food appears to lessen tissue wear and tear from excess blood sugar, inflammation and free radicals. Consume lots of water to replace the meal. Drink enough water anyway
5. Get a pet. Pet owners tend to visit the physician less, survive longer even after a heart attack, and suffer less from depression and high blood pressure.
6. Get medical support for chronic pain. If you are in pain, get it seen to. Chronic pain dampens the immune system, can cause depression and tends to elevate levels of the noxious stress hormone cortisol.
7. Get walking. Through age, blood vessel walls tend to harden and exercise keeps blood vessels pliable. Light exercise also reduces the likelihood of diabetes, cancer, depression, dementia and even aging of the skin.
8. Lessen arguments. Arguments and fighting increase the risk of congested arteries. Rather than allow arguments to simmer, agree that it is OK to have differing points of view.
9. Live around plants. Having a garden or greenhouse to grow plants in is a wonderful way to decrease stress or recuperate from illness. Just being able to catch plants in a room or through windows has been proven to be beneficial to bed-ridden patients.
10. Do some weight-training. Strength training is almost as meaningful as cardio exercise to the aging body. This is because from 40 on the body can lose a quarter-pound of muscle each year which is replaced with fat. Lifting weights 3 times a week for a half-hour can easily replace that lost through natural aging.
So there you have it. Some tips on anti-aging health. A system that is safe and easy to use. Using all of these tips will do wonders for you.
Please pass this on to those people in your life you care about.
By today's standards, at 50 we are not considered old any more. Some of us have an anti-aging system in place that allows us to remain young as we enter our 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Some are young at 80 and we see more youngsters even into their 90’s. People are much more active now then they were three or four decades ago.
Most boomers no longer consider themselves old, which is quite plausible with life expectancy going up year after year. The terms anti-aging health systems and baby boomers are part of our culture today.
But we need our strength to assure us of a quality of life into our sixties, seventies and beyond. Like anti-aging system for health.
I have listed some suggestions to mull over in order to grow old at a snail's pace. These tips can be your anti-aging health system. And feel good doing it.
Make any of these anti-aging health system tips your own. If you apply the action for about 30 days on a continual bases it becomes habitual. Utilizing any of these actions on a perpetual basis will have a positive gain in your life.
1. The most meaningful anti-aging system health tip, is to stop smoking. We have all heard the many reasons not to smoke and to stay away from others' smoke.
2. Keep the weight down. Leanness is high on the list because fat cells have several bad effects - weight, hardening of the arteries and a propensity to concern type 2 diabetes.
3. Take supplements. Particularly alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine. These will aid your energy output. One of my favorite anti-aging system tips.
4. Skip a meal each day or fast a day each week. Digesting less food appears to lessen tissue wear and tear from excess blood sugar, inflammation and free radicals. Consume lots of water to replace the meal. Drink enough water anyway
5. Get a pet. Pet owners tend to visit the physician less, survive longer even after a heart attack, and suffer less from depression and high blood pressure.
6. Get medical support for chronic pain. If you are in pain, get it seen to. Chronic pain dampens the immune system, can cause depression and tends to elevate levels of the noxious stress hormone cortisol.
7. Get walking. Through age, blood vessel walls tend to harden and exercise keeps blood vessels pliable. Light exercise also reduces the likelihood of diabetes, cancer, depression, dementia and even aging of the skin.
8. Lessen arguments. Arguments and fighting increase the risk of congested arteries. Rather than allow arguments to simmer, agree that it is OK to have differing points of view.
9. Live around plants. Having a garden or greenhouse to grow plants in is a wonderful way to decrease stress or recuperate from illness. Just being able to catch plants in a room or through windows has been proven to be beneficial to bed-ridden patients.
10. Do some weight-training. Strength training is almost as meaningful as cardio exercise to the aging body. This is because from 40 on the body can lose a quarter-pound of muscle each year which is replaced with fat. Lifting weights 3 times a week for a half-hour can easily replace that lost through natural aging.
So there you have it. Some tips on anti-aging health. A system that is safe and easy to use. Using all of these tips will do wonders for you.
Please pass this on to those people in your life you care about.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Health System For Stress Relief
Does your day begin with stress? Do you have a mad dash to get the kids to school and yourself to work? Does your stress level only increase from this point? What is this stress doing to you?
The first stress of the day gets the muscles tense, the heart racing, and the blood pressure up. Your breathing pattern increases while your stomach tightens. Irritation and frustration appear. With the stress cycle going strong, these symptoms just build up until after a day of stress, you are feeling the effects. Aches and pains show up as your energy drops. It becomes hard to concentrate, even on simple tasks. You feel bad and just want to collapse into bed.
If such a pattern of stress goes on day after day, week after week, and month after month, you are headed for trouble. As you continue to live with and adapt to chronic stress, your body tries to get your attention to tell you that something is wrong.
While we often ignore early stress symptoms, our body does not. The body's message of distress is delivered through a variety of physical complaints such as: headaches, neck aches, and backaches as well as other muscle and joint pain. You could also feel chest tightness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or dizzy spells. Problems with the belly such as nausea and spasms may also appear. You always feel on edge.
When these symptoms first come, you may try to ignore them but eventually decide that you must be sick. So, you visit your doctor who listens to all your problems, runs tests, and helps you spend a lot of money. About two weeks later, you are called into the office and told something guaranteed to make you mad. What will your doctor say? "Good news. There is nothing wrong." And, there you sit - with your headache, backache, or belly pain, "Wondering, what's this all about?"
Well, the "Good News" is good news. The doctor was trying to find evidence of disease, and it can't be found. This means that you haven't hurt yourself - yet. But, if you keep living the same high-stress lifestyle another six-months and return to the doctor, you may get the "Bad News."
Your blood pressure, which used to go up and down, is now up and won't come down on its own. You need medication to control it. All that pain in your belly is now an ulcer. Live with stress long enough, and it can hurt you. If you already have an illness, stress can aggravate it and make it harder to control. Too much stress can be a dangerous problem.
Don't let stress control you. Learn to control it. Learn to recognize the symptoms of stress so you can slow down, take breaks, and relax.
Universal Health Care System
Current population in France is about 62 million. If overseas territories are included, the entire population is about 64 million. Average income per capita is US$36,550. Top income tax rate is a little over 48 percent.
Under the law of universal coverage called la Couverture maladie universelle, The French government provides mostly free health insurance through its Social Security Program (Sécurité sociale). About 96% of French people are covered under the system. Private insurance provides supplemental coverage; more than 85 percent of the people have supplemental insurance, often through their employers.
The French healthcare system has been in place for over 60 years, and has continued to evolve. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified it the "best health system in the world" in its June 2000 Worldwide health systems comparison report.
Coverage
The Sécurité Sociale universal health insurance covers for all or part of the healthcare needs: hospitalization, doctor visit, preventive care, prescription drugs & medical equipment, emergency care & medical evacuation, dental & vision. However, the plan covers about 70% of actual medical fees. Prescriptions are only reimbursed from 35% to 65%. Treatment costs for long-term illnesses are fully reimbursed. There is compensation in the case of pregnancy.
In addition, supplemental health Insurance plans, generally referred to as a "Top-Up" policy or assurance complémentaire, sold by private insurance companies, are in place to complement the Social Security's coverage. There are a wide variety of providers offering an extensive range of plans and premium schedules to meet individual circumstances.
Funding
Most of the funds come from social security taxes on salary and income. Employers pay 12.8% on employees' total gross salary, while employee adds in 0.75%. Another tax called General Social Contribution (CSG) introduced in 1991 helps to reduce shortfalls. It is 7.5%, calculated from 95% of the gross salary. The CSG is inclusive all income, as well as the income of capital and property. Taxes on alcohol and tobacco also contribute to the overall funding.
Actual budget varies according to revenue earned through taxes each year. But rising costs has caused the system running constant deficits since 1985, which has ballooned to over $14 billion and continues to grow. In 2004, French people spend $3,500 Per-capita on health care. That's around 10.7% of their GDP.
The French system is often categorized as a mixed system in which public and private provision and funding co-exist. Private health insurance is more important in France than in any other European countries.
Delivery
There are two large organizations that work under the Ministry of Health: General Health Management and Hospital & Healthcare Management, under which there are three types of health care facilities and agencies, which are public hospitals, private clinics and not-for-profit healthcare centers.
There are 1,032 hospitals under the public hospital statute. Regional, university, local and general hospitals are included in this category. There are 2,139 private for profit and not-for-profit healthcare facilities actively treating more than 50% of surgeries and more than 60% of cancer cases. In all hospitals, doctors, biologists, and dentists are all paid as "hospital practitioners." This combination of public and private medical services produces a health care system that is open to all and provides the latest in medical technology. Waiting lists for surgeries found in other socialized healthcare systems do not exist in France.
Medical treatments from a routine visit to a GP to major surgical procedures have a tarif (cost). Medical practitioners, hospitals & clinics that adhere to this tarif are defined as conventioné; those that do not are defined as non-conventioné and can charge more. Vast majority of practitioners (around 97%) are conventioné, and even a private clinic can be conventioné. Treatments, whether private or public, is not free at the point of delivery. Patients first pay the full bill (tarif) and are then reimbursed later (about 10 days). Generally speaking, Sécurité sociale refunds 70 per cent of the cost of a visit to a médecin traitant (a GP or family doctor) and most specialistes.
Performance
This is the one socialized medicine system which does not have the same problems as the rest have. Good cooperation between the public and private sectors and sufficient availability of providers allow citizens to avoid waiting lists for diagnosis, surgeries and treatment. Over 65% of the people express satisfaction with their system.
People can choose among healthcare providers, regardless of their income level. They can consult a variety of doctors and specialists or choose a public, private, university or general hospital.
Current life expectancy in France is 80.7, with French women having the second highest life expectancy in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the French system the "best health system in the world" in June 2000.
Deficiency
Even the best health care system in the world has its own set of problems. Because of the high level of reimbursement and coverage, French health care is among the most expensive in the world. Its budget is the world's third largest, accounting for 11% of GNP. Rising costs and aging population make it a struggle for France to finance this system. If spending continues at the current rate, the health service may be 70 billion Euros in debt by the end of 2020.
Waste is another problem within the system. Sources suggest that patients "shop" for doctors, visiting multiple specialists until they receive the diagnosis they want. One fifth of the country's health spending goes to pharmaceuticals due to overuse of prescription drugs.
Doctors Without Borders organization estimates that over 300,000 people in France are now without health-care coverage under a universal health care system.
Reform
French reformers' first priority is to move health insurance financing away from payroll and wage levies because they hamper employers' willingness to hire. Instead, France is turning toward broad taxes on earned and unearned income alike to pay for health care.
The debates on how to balance the budget and avoid deficits have been ongoing without acceptable solutions.
Efforts by the administration to control costs by cutting overly rich benefits and by managing waste have met stiff resistance.
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