It’s a well-known fact that smoking causes an adverse effect on your health. You must have seen the warning message on all cigarette boxes – ‘Smoking is injurious to health’. Smoking tobacco is a root cause of 30% of all cancer deaths and causes 16 times higher risk of heart attack.

There are almost 120 million smokers in India. As per World Health Organization, India accommodates around 12% of the world’s smoking population. The number of men smoking tobacco has increased from 78 million in year 1998 to 108 million in the year 2015. Tobacco consumption is accountable for the death of 6 million people each year. Direct tobacco consumption accounts for over 5 million deaths and 0.6 million deaths are due to exposure to second-hand smoke. Considering serious public health risks, the Government has banned smoking in public places from 2nd October, 2008.

Not only your health, it also causes you to pay higher premiums for a health insurance policy, due to increased health risks and shorter life expectancy. A nonsmoker however, gets premium discounts as a reward to lead a healthy lifestyle. Being a smoker, it is advisable not to hide your smoking habit from your health insurance company, as it helps you to cover the smoking-related health issues.

There is a wide curiosity among people, how smoking impacts the health insurance and its cost. Let’s educate yourself about smoking and its impact on health insurance policy.

Smoking – What It Includes

Smoking includes inhalation of of the smoke of burning tobacco in the form of cigarettes, cigars and beedi. Whether you are an occasional smoker or frequent smoker, you will be considered as a smoker under the health insurance policy.

Smokers can buy health insurance, however an insurance company may charge extra premium or reject your application for insurance, depending on the number of cigarettes you smoke on a regular basis. A smoker may also have to go through additional health check-ups that can help an insurance company to ascertain the risk factor and then charge the premium amount accordingly.

How Smoking Affects Your Health and Insurance Premium

Smoking makes the serious impact on your health, some of them are detailed below.

Circulatory System: Smoking results in increased risk in the heartache and blood pressure. Building up of fatty acids could resulting to atherosclerosis.

Immune System: Smoking results in severe and long lasting illnesses. Smokers are more prone to develop ulcers, cancer, pneumonia, high blood pressure, bronchitis, and other viral/bacterial/fungal infections.

Respiratory System: Smoking may damage lung functions and breathlessness. It may cause damage to the air sacs of the lungs, increased chance of developing chronic bronchitis.

Oral Health: Smoking can lead to tooth loss, tooth staining, gum disease which may increase the risk of tooth decay.

Cancer: Smoking for a long time also causes cancer to various body organs.

When it comes to a health insurance policy, an insurance company considers the magnitude of illnesses and deaths caused due to smoking and that’s why, smokers need to pay higher premiums to avail health insurance cover. Typically, the insurance companies charge around 15 to 20 percent higher from a smoker policyholder. Those who smoke would need to undergo additional medical checks, before the insurer issues you the policy.

Let’s understand the difference of premium between a smoker and non-smoker individual.

Ritesh (non-smoker) at 30 years of age buys an individual health plan with Rs 5 Lacs coverage, for 1 year policy term, the chargeable annual premium amount is Rs 4,656. However, Raj (smoker) is buying an individual health plan, he is charged with an annual premium amount of Rs 7,552. An increase in premium amount is only due to the fact that Ansh lies in the smoker category of premium. We can see Raj is paying Rs 2896 extra on account of smoking.

Smoker with Existing Health Problems

If you are a frequent smoker that has caused the symptoms of the declining health condition and getting puzzled whether you can get a health insurance. The answer is yes, the only thing required is to make honest and proper disclosures.

The insurance company will then assess the risk associated with your profile and then decide on terms & conditions and the premium to be charged for providing you a health cover. The premiums charged will be higher and a waiting period will be applied for covering your pre-existing diseases. Moreover, if you are seeking an immediate coverage on your deteriorating health condition, you may go for a critical illness policy.

Conclusion:

Smoking makes an adverse impact on your health and your health insurance policy as well. An insurance company will charge you a higher premium in proportion to the risk associated in providing a health cover. An important point to note that you should disclose all relevant information regarding your health and smoking habits. In case, you are found hiding or providing fake information, the insurance company may decline in settling the claims.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9613302

When people decide to lose weight, one of the most common strategies, is dieting.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with “dieting” per se. Especially when you consider that diets of all kinds exist to accomplish many different health goals. There are diets for allergies, diets for insomnia, diets for athletes. Different foods in different amounts have different effects on the human body, and even on the human mind.

So, it’s not surprising that eating certain foods in certain amounts can affect your weight.

Of course, one problem is that food, specifically the nutrients within that food, is essential to health. Depriving your body of those nutrients by dieting, in the sense of depriving yourself of food in hopes of losing weight… whether for beauty or for health… can be unhealthy.

What many people overlook is the fact that food CAN be healthy and good for you. The problem is not so much with the fact that we eat food, but, that we eat the wrong foods, and often in the wrong quantities.

Just as an aside, remember that, in addition to our diet, there are other factors which influence our weight and health, including, but not limited to, exercise, sleep, medications, age, gender, and genetics, just as a short list. Simply limiting food intake may not help at all. Or, it may cause unhealthy weight loss ok-reviews.com, since we may be limiting our intake of the nutrients we need for health… and perhaps for the energy to exercise, or for good sleep, or for the optimum expression of other factors affecting health and weight.

Another reason to avoid dieting for weight loss is that it can be counterproductive in many ways:

1. It may cause your metabolism to seek a new level… a lower level at which fewer calories are needed for normal operations, with the excess being stored as fat.

2. It may result in that new, lower metabolism, contributing to even more weight gain, if you go off the diet.

3. Most diets are not satisfying, and are often perceived as “punishment” of some kind, causing them to be abandoned simply because they do not include pleasure.

4. Most diets are eventually not truly effective for weight loss, with the dieter giving up and feeling worse than before they started, perhaps in worse health, and with a lower metabolism that causes them to rapidly gain back any weight they might have lost.

5. All of these points and others, may result in yo-yo dieting, a cycle of weight loss and weight gain in which the gains usually exceed the losses.

So, is there a good way to “diet” for weight loss without “going on a diet” in the traditional sense of sacrificing satisfying food?

Well, yes, there is.

Every bite of food you put in your mouth is a choice. Many foods, which may taste fine, are empty and lack nutritional benefit. Instead of “giving up” foods you like, why not find other foods you DO like, foods that taste good and are high in nutritional value, and eat them instead?

Yes, it will take a certain amount of willpower and some attention to detail, but, it will be much more pleasant and rewarding in both the short and the long run. Not only will you find your body fat going down, but your energy will increase, and you may sleep better, in addition to just feeling good… and good about yourself.

There are many diets which center around eating delicious, nutritious, healthy and satisfying foods, instead of giving up the stuff you shouldn’t be eating in the first place.

So, why waste your time and effort dieting, and hating it, when you can get better results without actually going on a diet?

While we may not think to regularly check and examine our feet, their health and appearance can provide a glimpse into our body’s overall health. Potentially serious health conditions can be caught and treated early with a simple foot self-examination.

While you may contact your podiatrist if you experience chronic, intense foot pain, here are some physical signs to look for that may or may not warrant a call to your podiatrist or doctor:

1. Dry, Flaking Skin

Dry, flaky, or even cracked skin on the heel and ball of the foot are often disregarded and attributed to the weather. Sometimes that is all it is; dry skin. The flaky, dry skin can also be a symptom of a problem with your thyroid, the gland that regulates your metabolism, heart rate, tissue growth, blood pressure and functioning of your nervous system.

But if you notice that the skin on your feet is dry, and you also have symptoms like weight gain, numbness in your hands, or vision problems, set up an appointment with your doctor.

2. Hair Loss on Toes

Yes, there is hair on the tops of your toes. While women’s toe hair is finer and can be harder to see, the loss of some or all the toe hair can be a sign of poor blood flow to the feet. In many cases, the cause of this insufficient blood flow is peripheral arterial disease (PAD). If left untreated, PAD may lead to stroke, heart attack or foot amputation.

3. Black Spots on Feet or Toenails or Lines Under Your Toenails

It is natural for your toenail to become discolored when it experiences trauma, such as when a heavy object falls on it. However, black, lined toenails that don’t lose their discoloration can be a sign of a simple fungal infection or a serious melanoma prognosis.

Tiny black spots that look like moles on the surface of your feet can also be a sign of melanoma and requires prompt examination and treatment by a medical professional.

4. Red, White and Blue Toes

Toes that change color, mainly those that turn white, black, blue and purple may be disconcerting. However, this discoloration of the toes is the hallmark characteristic of Raynaud’s disease. This condition is not life-threatening, nor does it trigger additional health concerns. The discoloration of Raynaud’s disease is caused by the sudden, temporary narrowing of the arteries. This sudden narrowing of the arteries is often due to cold temperatures and stress.

5. Clubbed Toes

If you notice that your toenails are rounded and curve downward, they are clubbed. While clubbed toenails can be a hereditary deformity, it can also be a sign of more serious health conditions including heart disease, digestive disorders, liver dis orders and infections.

6. Swollen Feet

Typically, you may notice your feet gets swollen when it is injured, or when you’ve been standing or sitting too long. Swollen feet can also indicate poor circulation, a kidney disorder, a blood clot, an underactive thyroid or a problem with the lymphatic system.

7. Sores That Won’t Heal

Normally, if your body is healthy, it will heal itself from injury quickly. Foot injuries often heal themselves after a little time. Foot sores or injuries that don’t seem to heal can be a sign of diabetes. It can also be the result of poor circulation.

8. Claw Toes

Do your toes regularly curl downward and no matter what you do, you can’t get them to unbend? Claw toes is a foot deformity that has a variety of causes including small, tight shoes, nerve damage, alcoholism, diabetes and neurological issues.

9. Yellow Toenails

Thick, yellow toenails are common and are indicators of a fungal infection. Persistent fungal infection can be symptoms of psoriasis, lung problems, lymphedema, and rheumatoid arthritis.

10. Spoon-Shaped Toenails

Sometimes an injury to the nail or frequent exposure to petroleum-based solvents can create a concave, spoon-like shape. However, iron deficiency also can cause this unusual shape.

11. White Toenails

White toenails may be the result of an injury, a nail infection or psoriasis. In these cases, part or all a nail separates from the nail bed, giving it a white color. If your toenails are intact, however, it can be an indication of a more serious health concern, including kidney disease, liver disease and congestive heart failure.

12. Pitted Toenails

Punctured, pitted toenails are common amongst people with psoriasis. The rough, pitted appearance is the result of the improper growth of the nail at the nail plate.

The appearance of your feet is just as important as how your feet feel when it comes to your overall health. Quick, daily foot self-exams are easy ways to stem off potentially serious health issues.

If you notice anything unusual about the appearance of your feet, contact your podiatrist or doctor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9890617

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It’s always important to take care of oneself using all the principles of good health. Regular check-ups, proper nutrition and healthful living all enable one to keep on top of their health in a careful yet reasonable way. Often one becomes overly concerned with health issues and caught up in a cycle of health worries. One health issue is reconciled when another immediately pops up to take its place. These worries become all encompassing and exhausting after a while.

Eventually, the individual realizes that this cycle of health anxieties has intruded upon the quality of their life. A dark cloud, always hovering over daily living, this intrusive form of anxiety has to be addressed. One begins by determining why this is occurring, what purpose does it serve and how to interrupt this behavior.

Reason for Health Anxiety

Health worries actually serve a purpose and this purpose is not difficult to detect if one looks deep enough into this pattern of behavior. Often this pattern involves the brain distracting from specific emotions which the individual finds difficult to address.

Many emotions are so overwhelming, such as anger, grief or fear, that the brain looks for ways to distract. Health worries fit the bill because when one worries intensely about their health, there is little room to address an upsetting emotion.

Health worries blanket every other thought and this WORKS. This is the perfect distraction from unsettling emotions. When one worry is reconciled, another takes it place to veil the unaddressed emotion. Each health worry has a strong purpose, as it masks the true upsetting emotion, which is much more difficult to face in the long run.

Solution

– Recognition and acknowledgment of the Health Anxiety habit, one worry quickly following another in a noticeable loop that never ends. Awareness of this cycle is always the first step to reconciliation of the issue.

– Determining if this health worry is a true physical problem by visiting one’s primary physician and ruling out a definite physical cause for the difficulty. Always rule out a physical cause before assuming it is merely health anxiety.

– Noticing that these health worries settle down when you become intensely interested in another topic or swept into a new relationship, job or cause.

– Identify your patterns. Do you experience twinges of symptoms that often jump from one area of the body to another? Do you find yourself overestimating physical intrusions and instantly jump to the conclusion that they signify danger or warrant the attention of an alert?

– Find interests that involve your entire being. Lose yourself in things that allow you little time for inward thinking. True illness does not surface through boredom as do these behaviors. True health problems do not generally follow the same time table as health anxieties do. Health worries are stronger during times of boredom and when one lacks interests. An intelligent mind requires challenges and goals.

– Activity is an important therapeutic tool against health worries. Exercise and movement invigorate and stimulate the mind and body in a positive way. Endorphins are released and Serotonin levels are boosted naturally when activity is a part of a daily routine. Moderate walking, jogging, tennis, swimming and dancing are all helpful activities that bring forth positive results.

– Nutrition is also essential to good health which in itself helps eliminate the strong habit of negative thinking, often concerning health worries. When eating properly, Serotonin levels are naturally boosted and blood sugar levels remain stable. This helps settle down an over-reactive mind, leading to a lessening in health anxieties.

– Talk back to the brain by firmly telling it to stop when health worries enter the mind. Shift into a more positive mode of thinking because you always have a choice in what you think about.

The mind will respond by quieting down as negative thoughts subside. The brain, caught red handed in this behavior is instantly embarrassed causing it to suspend this cycle of negative thought. This is comparative to a child being caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Embarrassment at being caught, stops this intrusive behavior.

– Be aware of “what if” thinking. If the majority of sentences you think begin with “what if” then this is proof of a strong health anxiety habit. Change “what if” thinking to “so what” and watch the cycle break.

Most of all, understand that worry solves nothing. Health worries, in particular will only serve to exhaust and deplete both mind and body. Consciously make a concerted effort to change the way you think and you will succeed in changing your life. You will go from self victimization to freedom from the intrusive habit of fearful worry.

You always have a choice. Life can be wonderful and fulfilling when you learn to alter your perspective and chose a more positive point of view. You always have a choice. Never define yourself by your habit of worried thinking. Do not be victimized by health anxiety and fear. With a few simple corrections, especially in thinking, you will find your life changes from being difficult and upsetting to becoming easier and much more fulfilling on a daily basis.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9873556