Health – Page 2

Meds: Did You Know? #ABCenEspanol

One thing I’ve found out is that everyone is talking about health, but with in health there is … “what will the doctor give me because I’m going to see the doctor?” Am I getting meds? And How am going to pay for them? It is important to be able to know more about your medication needs are.

So here is a link about Accessing Better Coverage. http://accessbettercoverage.org/about-access-better-coverage

Also see in it Spanish:
http://accessbettercoverage.org/espanol

You will be able to get your questions answered like:

How does the insurance cover your medication?
¿Cómo los seguros de salud cubren sus medicamentos?

You will be able to find out so much about how to take care of yourself and your medication.

Check it out! Know you what you need to know.

Jes Sofia Valle

This is a paid blog post by the MooreCommunications Group for the AccessbetterHealth.org site.

Health Insurance Words… What Do They Mean? #ABCenEspanol (English & Spanish)

Every tried to find out what the health companies and insurance companies are talking about when they say ‘certain’ words? Well, there is a site that gives you a glossary of all the medical terminology these companies are using. WHY? because there are people that actually care about what they are putting out there…

http://accessbettercoverage.org/about-access-better-coverage

Here are some words: Glossary

“Combined deductible

A deductible – total amount a patient must pay out of pocket annually before the health plan begins to pay – that includes both medical care and prescription medicines. This amount does not include premiums. For example, if a deductible is $1,000, the health plan won’t pay anything for most health care until a patient pays $1,000 out of pocket.

Copay

A copay is a fixed amount – or flat fee – a patient is responsible for paying with his or her own money (out of pocket) for certain services or medicines. Plans specify what this amount will be for a variety of health-related services, such as a doctor or specialist visit, emergency room visit or prescription medications. Copays are determined by health insurance plans and are often printed on health insurance cards.

Cost sharing

The amount insurance plans require patients to pay out of their own pocket. For example, copays, coinsurance and deductibles.

¿Estás cansado(a) de las compañías de salud y compañías de seguranzas de salud que dicen ciertas palabras pero no te dicen que es lo que te están diciendo? Bueno, hay un sitio que tiene un glosario con todas las palabras que describen las compañías de medicina. ¿Porque? Porque hay compañías que si te quieren ayudar

Aquí mira unas palabras del glosario. http://accessbettercoverage.org/espanol

“Copago

Un copago es un monto fijo – o tarifa fija – que un paciente debe pagar con su propio dinero (fuera de su bolsillo), por ciertos servicios o medicamentos. Los planes especifican cuál será este monto para diversos servicios relacionados a la salud, tales como visitas a un médico o especialista, visita a la sala de emergencias, o medicamentos recetados. Los copagos están establecidos por los planes de seguro de salud y están usualmente escritos en las tarjetas de los seguros de salud.

Coseguro

El coseguro es un porcentaje de los costos que el paciente debe pagar con su propio dinero (fuera de su bolsillo). Los planes especifican cuál será este porcentaje por diversos servicios relacionados con la salud, tales como visitas a un especialista, visita a la sala de emergencias, o medicamentos recetados. Dado que el coseguro es un porcentaje de los costos totales, es difícil estimar y planearlo de antemano.

Costo fuera de su bolsillo

Es un gasto por cuidado médico que un paciente debe pagar con su propio dinero, y no reembolsable por parte del seguro. Los costos fuera de su bolsillo pueden incluir los deducibles, coseguros y copagos por servicios. La Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible exige que la mayoría de los planes de salud tenga un máximo anual de costos fuera de bolsillo, para la mayoría de los servicios de cuidado de salud.”

http://accessbettercoverage.org/espanol

This is a paid blog post by the MooreCommunications Group for the AccessbetterHealth.org site.

Preventing #HIV One Conversation at a Time in the Latinosphere!

Conversations about safer sex, STDs and HIV are Important. Are you having the conversations?

“Latinos are the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, representing 17% of the total U.S. population. However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) they are also one of the groups most heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS. Latinos remain disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, accounting for 20% of the 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States and 21% of new HIV infections each year.

We know that talking about HIV/AIDS is not easy, but we must talk openly about it in order to reduce the impact of HIV in the Latino community. Every conversation we have about HIV/AIDS with our families, partners and friends has the power to help reduce HIV/AIDS among Latinos.

Research indicates that talking openly about HIV can be a simple but powerful way to reduce the stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS, and also reduce HIV-related stigma that often prevents people from getting tested for HIV, seeking treatment options, and/or disclosing their HIV status to potential partners. Talking about HIV is also a powerful way to help educate family and friends on HIV/AIDS, the importance of testing and treatment, and safer sex behaviors and new prevention options like PrEP, a daily pill that can help prevent people from getting HIV if exposed.

In response to this research and the impact HIV has on the Latino community, in 2014 CDC launched the We Can Stop HIV One Conversation at a Time/Podemos Detener el VIH Una Conversación a la Vez campaign. This national HIV/AIDS awareness campaign issues a powerful call to action for Latinos to talk about HIV/AIDS in effort to increase awareness, decrease HIV-associated stigma and shame associated with HIV/AIDS and emphasize the importance of HIV testing and treatment.”

How can you participate? Let is know how you want to be in the conversation too! Give us your needs so we can create a voice!

This information is provided by the Campaign: Conversación a la Vez campaign. #spn

Healthy Menus App

So your trying to be healthy but you don’t know where to go eat?!

Well… we got you!

Today Healthy Menus Launched in Apple! And already in Android but an upgraded version. This is The kind of App that will help you check in, see the calories and tell you how awesome life with food can be, yes… it is that kinda app! Just saying! We’ve been using it for a few months now, and we love it. The whole eating out and being Healthy has been AMAZING!

Add your favorite Sites of Healthy food now! 😀

Here are the links to the app:

How to Keep Your Health While Being an Influencer.

Keep your health while being an influencer

Influencers are committed, consistent, creative, idea driven, motivating and obviously…influential people. They too become overwhelmed, stressed but they just know how to work it so no one knows.

So How do you use your influence to help your health?

Here are five simple steps to help you keep your health while being an influencer:

1. Do what you love doing.
Most often once you are an influence of something you are placed in a box of the influence you are a part of. I say if the box is what you love stay in it. If it isn’t well go outside the box. When you love what you do you are happy. Happy wife happy life? Not married that’s ok your married to being an influence.

most influentials usually have the first one down because they became an influencer though being who they are… But just incase…

2. Consistency:
Influencers are consistent most of the time… Guess what? Your human- #Take5 minutes to help you recharge a few times during your day. We are not telling you to stop… But we are suggesting you take time to chill, slow your mind and body to relax. Keep that consistent, then work hard so you can play harder.

3. Commitment:
Stay committed to you. As an influencer you are pushed and pulled and most of the time on the go. So stay committed to (______<your name), you. Make sure that with in your schedule you add #MeTime.

You don’t have time? … Well guess who is boss?! You are so make the time to take care of you. Think: Health, mental health and your soul’s HEALTH Too.

4. Creativity:
Influencers are most of time creative. Well it’s time to get creative with your health. I speak from experience… I would put my job before my health… But guess what? It doesn’t turn out well… So I had to learn to keep me alive before I became a dead influencer. Be creative, have your meetings in a #dailywalk. Talk to people while you are taking a stroll and then continue with your walk.

And five!

5. Motivate:
Once you are able to schedule your #Take5 minutes for you in your happy influential position because you like what you do and are able to be creative where you are at in your life…. Then others will follow and do the same. After all, you are influential right?
Stay influential. Stay alive. Hopeful and motivated. Keep it healthy, keep it going!

Kindly,

Jes Sofia Valle
Global Influential.

Ten simple tips in Bringing your Ideas to action while Recuperating.

Image by Getty Images

So there are many things you can do while you are recuperating. I can tell you for a fact that there are… Bloggers of Health was a product of recuperations.

Let me tell you our short story…

So I (Jes…yes me) couldn’t walk… more to come in the book for that one. But while I was bored out my wits end and wishing that the aliens overtook my body and magically did some new spine experiment to make me walk again… I decided to stay busy. Well, first I was looking for new spines in the black market… but I only found the white and black market where they sell super cute clothes so that was a bust… then I was looking for health blogs in English and Spanish to find others who had the same stuff I had, mind you this was back in 2010… like 100 years ago. So… here came Jes with her brilliant Ideas wanting to make a voice for a population who didn’t have one. I ended up finding people who blogged and from there a whole bunch of fun began. JesSofiaSays was born and then after working hard in it…became Bloggers of Health. Recently i’ve been standing still (recouping) and another part of my hope for my blog began… (which ill show you later in a few months). And that how Bloggers of Health became.

So since I’ve coached many how to do this, I figured i’ll give you ten tips:

Just do it! Write down your plan. This help because if you are like me, you may forget it after you say oh hey I have an idea!
Tell someone about it, preferably someone you trust and not someone who would take your idea and run with it, without you… I’ve seen this oh soon much. It’s actually happened to me before too.
Go to SCORE and find someone to help you develop a plan and get all you need to get done to make sure your idea becomes an action.
Keep at it until someone listens to you.
Find funders and associate yourself with startup weekends to help you develop your ideas. These are like 54 hours of crazy intense weekends to help you develop your strategy and most times venture capitalist or awesome peoples like so and me are there helping you develop.
Stay hydrated and take care of yourself. Most people forget that an idea can take the life out of you if you are not taking care of yourself… so you must do that.
Continue to walk (if your doctor allows you and I meant this metaphorically)! When you are in pain after surgery and thinking OMGOSH i’m soon bored and i’m feeling soooooo like I can’t do anything… Well, after taking your pain meds and a nappy nap… make sure you continue to draw, write, or tell your story to people who are listening. Though I will caution you… don’t write online when you are on deluded, vicodines (meds) and about to fall asleep because of your meds… people tend to notice when you are high on line. Yeah spine surges where no joke.
GO online and see who in your circles are entrepreneurs, the ones that are making it happen and ask for help.
Oh yeah… did I mention you HAVE to take care of yourself first? Well,… yes. A must do!!
Read and do your research in depth and ask yourself if you have a hobby or an idea that is needed in the world. Being real with yourself is important.

Apparently Bloggers of Health was defiantly needed when I started because we’ve been award winning for ages not. And I’m sooooo thankful for that.

I hope you recuperate soundly and in the time provided for you do recuperate. I also hope you don’t get so bored while doing it so.

Smile if you want,

Jes

P.S Follow your doctor’s instructions… they went to school for this! X-D

You never know…

Validation and Instinct

No matter who you are…or what you do, Validation at some point is an amazing feeling. Saying NO can bring you to Amazing too.

Anecdotal experience here!

I went to an awesome @AvionVentures event at IndieDesk in Downtown Los Angeles. I was there to see how I can take Bloggers of Health to the next level. We are here people! 😀 That’s our current reality right now and we are transparent and like to share so I said, here we go!

There were four amazing PowerHouses speakers there, MC’ed by His own powerhouseness Barney Santos from Gentefy:

Catherine J.K. Sandoval, the first Latina to serve on the California Public Utilities Commission.

Helen Iris Torres, Executive Director, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality

Liliana Monge, Co-Founder, Sabio

Deldelp Medina, Co-Founder & CEO, Avion Ventures

In the workshop I was working on my master plan (Bwahaha < I kid…); more so moving things around I already have to work with for them to make more sense. @Deldep was amazing! The workshop that Avion Ventures provided helped me! It put some screws back in my head.

Then…”and then!” Julia from Wild Horse Labs spoke, taught us what to know about our company/idea (depending on what level we are in) so we can talk to investors and obtain future workers and know how to grow and let go of our business and make that money to help serve our need.

At the end of the event, I spoke to Julia and we were having a great convo about a little bit of everything when our convo hit a validation point for me. She said, “No, you don’t have to work with everyone. No you don’t have to say yes to everyone. And yes have to be able to say No…in a kindly way of course!” Those words gave me chills. When she said those words, I felt so validated! You see I’m one to say no to people who I just don’t feel right working with. And yes to those whom I feel good working with. It doesn’t always have to do with who they are… Some are my friends and I don’t work with them due to ethics or I just know to trust me instinct. It doesn’t mean the other person is the devil… they are just not in my current path for my journey and who knows, they maybe in the future. I like using my instincts. I felt validated! … Even a grown up woman like myself enjoys to be validated for her thinking! This stems from something a few (a lot of people) have told me, “Make sure I play with everyone because Bloggers of Health is a new company.” And I have said thanks for the input, but I don’t play with everyone.

Its not that I don’t like to play with everyone in the sand box, I’m still kind, genuine, honest, silly and will be very nice to everyone including the ant (they are strong little suckers). More so, it’s that “feeling” I get- with whom I am to play with in the sandbox, and whom I don’t want to or shouldn’t play with in the sand box, and I trust my feeling; my instinct. They have gotten me through a lot in life.

When she said, “no you don’t have to work with everyone,” I literally almost cried. Because I felt understood, i was validated. I understood two things from that: 1. No, people don’t have to work to me, but they will want to someday. And 2. No I don’t have to work with people I don’t think will help or work with me the way I want to be helped or worked with. She provided an example: “It’s like dating! (Ha!) You pick and date the best people, not the not good enough for you! And what’s for someone else isn’t always for you.” Eureka! More validation! Heck she even spoke to me about my current dating life. Lol. Backtracking, not everyone is meant for you. Your product is not for everyone. But when you do find someone you love to work with… Well it can be a hit! Ball out of the park, it was all you needed and who you where waiting for… Ha! Just like dating.

This doesn’t mean you burn bridges or cannot foster a relationship… it just means you know what you want for your business…and a partner.

Coming from someone who’s at a different level of Business than I am and hearing those words validated my thought process.

I want you to know that being you, trusting your instincts, your gut feeling, yourself will take you to places you would never think of or they will take you to where you are thinking of right now! (hoping it a positive and great place!)

That no matter what “level” of life you currently live, validation is good. Positive thinking is good. Knowing how to trust your self, your instincts are important. Knowing how to say NO is important! As humans our bodies where built/created to trust our self: our mind, body our heart and soul. I truly think it’s to help us in our journey in life and to stay alive!

So next time you feel that gut instinct of yours telling you something, listen to it. Hear it, and take action or not take action. Don’t over think it too much and don’t let your “amygdala get hijacked” either.

Trust you, be you, listen to you. Allow you and your team to guide you to your next flight. Allow others to help you if you think they are meant to be in your life. And tell yourself that if they didn’t want to work or help you know, however they might want help or work with you later.

Most of us lead our goals in life to survive, and thrive. Me I like to do it with Passion, compassion and a Healthy style. Know how to be teachable and you will learn, live and be amazing!

Thanks Avion Ventures, Sabio.LA, HOPE, CalTech, and Wild Horse Labs for your awesomeness. I appreciated your time and invite. #LATINATechLA for all.

Smile (if you want).

Kindly,

Jes Sofia Valle

#LifeTips

Shoutouts! @AvionVentures @SabioLA @CalTech @Crowdismo, @Gentefy, @JessieMartinez, @MavenExperiance, and all others there making the Latina Women take their Place at the table.

Kindly,

Jessica Valle, Founder  Bloggers of Health, LLC

Don’t Gamble With Your Heart: Be Heart Healthy

View image | gettyimages.com

By: Yesenia Noriega Garcia

February fast approached us this year and we cannot help but to think of it as the “love” month. You start noticing the stores turning into a sea of pinks, reds, and hearts everywhere you go. It’s almost as if it’s unavoidable, the stores start shifting in colors, people tend to become more per say nice and start showing appreciation to one another. Who wouldn’t want that right!? Well yes, we can all use some type of love and appreciation in our lives. It is the perfect month to learn about the risks for heart disease and how to stay “heart healthy” not only for yourself but for your loved ones as well.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) -including high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease is the number one killer among both women and men. According to the American Heart Association statistical update the United States CVD costs are over $300 billion each year. (Includes medications, healthcare services, and loss productivity) Many of these CVD deaths could have been preventable if only people practiced healthier habits and healthier lifestyle choices.

Often times having a Cardiovascular disease prevents individuals to engage in family activities, affects performance at work, and disengages them one way or another. Ask yourself, “Do my loved ones matter?” If yes, then so should your heart! It’s never too late to start on a new healthier you. Where there is a will there is a way. Let us guide you into the path of a healthy heart and a better you. Let’s start one step at a time, learning the risk factors and preventable measures to live a quality life.

Here are a number of risk factors for CVD you can control: diet, tobacco use, obesity, physical activity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol. Plan for prevention for better heart health, you’ll be surprised how these tips can become lifelong habits!

First thing, work with your health care team. Getting yearly checkups is highly advised, your medical doctor can test for risk factors for CVD that often go unnoticed. Choosing a healthy diet is a wonderful alternative that will help you avoid complications in the future. It helps if you limit the amount of sodium intake but you must also eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Maintaining a healthy weight can help you decrease your risk for CVD. Being overweight and or obese can increase your risk; get in check with your body mass index (BMI) to ensure you are at a healthy state. Exercising regularly helps maintain a low cholesterol level and healthy weight, so why not practice it? Physical activity is extremely important for your overall health, whether it is a 10 minute walk or a 1 mile run, it all helps.

Other preventable ways are to not smoke and to limit the amount of alcohol use. Smoking cigarettes greatly increases your risk for CVD, if you smoke consider quitting if you don’t then great for you. The downside of alcohol is that it increases your blood pressure which is also a risk factor for heart disease. Women should be limited to one drink per day and men two drinks per day if you decide to consume alcohol.

As you begin to incorporate small changes into your lifestyle it is important to not get overwhelmed. Bring a partner along, invite your coworkers for a walk during lunch hour and exchange healthy recipes. Although it may seem hard to adjust to and you may not follow all the tips precisely, do not get discouraged! Get a good night sleep, rest up and do what you did not finish tomorrow. Find things to do that you enjoy, that are fun and decrease your stress level. Remember that it is okay to reward yourself once in a while, keep the motivation flowing. After all, you are beginning a new healthier version of yourself, embrace it.

References:

Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, Benjamin EJ, Berry JD, Blaha MJ, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2014 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013 [Epub ahead of print].
CDC.Vital Signs: avoidable deaths from heart disease, stroke, and hypertensive disease—United States, 2001–2010. MMWR. 2013;62(35);721–7.

It Inject or not to Inject? The #MV Issue.

We recently asked Dr. Arturo Gonzales, Child pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics-

What is the most important thing to talk about right now when it comes to children?

He said:

“Measles: Vaccinate your children. It will save them and others against this very contagious and potentially fatal disease. Talk to your Pediatrician or primary care provider.

Vaccines are safe. Tell your friends.” ¹

A lot of people are losing their children because they refused to get their children vaccinated (aka Injected). “Tell your friends” to get their children vaccinated. Save a life.

Reference:

Arturo Gonzalez, MD FAAP

http://www.azaap.org/

All Stressed.

View image | gettyimages.com

As a human we carry a lot of stress. Everyone has different types of stressors. Some people don’t have a home. Others don’t have the ability physically to do something, others bear everyone’s issues, and others advocate or fight for your others, your dinner party isn’t going right and many others have different types.. All in all, everyone has stress. Some people need help reducing their stress, and that too is ok. No one is excluded. Just because you are or are not educated doesn’t make your stress any less or more than the next person. It just means that you are going through something and that in this moment in your life your body is reacting towards something that you are either going through or went through. The question is how will you work through it?

There are many types of ways people work though stress. Here are a few.

You can always talk to your doctor. You can talk to your psychotherapist. You can do both and integrate coping skills. (That’s what therapist call things that can help you reduce the intensity of behaviors, feelings and what not).

Here are some basic coping skills that can help you through until you have your doctors & therapist appointment. They will help you have an individual plan to help you through your stress both physically and mentally, they usually play hand in hand.

1. Wake up a few minutes early to give you “you time.”

2. Eat breakfast. Eat your recommend meals (talk to a registered dietitian).

3. Take a brisk walk with a friend.

4. Yoga? That’s my fav!

5. Breath 25 times (in through nose, exhale through mouth).

6. Read a book

7. Watch a happy movie.

8. Spend time with friends.

9. If your family doesn’t give you anxiety, spend time with them! 😉

10. Drink your recommend amount of WATER.

11. Stop drinking too much coffee. Some is ok, talk to your doctor about that.

And follow up with your doctors.

Making sure you get help and learning to ask for help only means you take care of you.

If you don’t have a doctor, Get Covered. You have until February 2, 2015.