CA’s Most Dangerous Drivers are Unlicensed---says DMV

Of some 26 million drivers in California, some 2 million do not have a valid driver’s license.

Largest portion of unlicensed drivers in fatal accidents are between 20 and 29 years old. These figures are mostly illegal immigrants but include drivers who licenses are revoked.

Another powerful reason to encourage our patients to buy at least $100,000 in UM coverage and $ 5,000 in med pay. Generally in most of California those premiums will not exceed $10.00 a month.

Liver: Does the Body Good

Designs for Health Research & Education Blog

Liver: Does the Body Good

Posted on Thu, Jul 23, 2015 @ 10:54 AM

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Liver. You understand this organ’s role in conjugating xenobiotics and excess hormones, producing lipoproteins to
transport fats, cholesterol, and fat-soluble nutrients, and storing and releasing glycogen to keep blood sugar steady between
meals. As a food, however, perhaps the mere thought of liver makes you cringe. If so, you’re not alone. Liver isn’t exactly
known for its enticing texture or palate-pleasing flavor. But don’t let this unfortunate reputation dissuade you from
incorporating this nutrient-dense powerhouse into your diet.  

When it comes to vitamins and minerals, liver is a rock star.
Just one ounce—a single ounce!—of cooked beef liver
contains over 100% of the daily value (DV) for vitamin A,
\vitamin B12, and copper, as well as 56% of the DV for
riboflavin, 24% for niacin, and almost 20% for folate and
pantothenic acid (B5). Considering all that’s packed into
such a small amount, the good news is, you can consume
just a little now and then and still get a great dose of
nutrients.

Patients may be concerned about consuming liver because
they’ve heard it “stores toxins.” Although the liver is the
primary organ of detoxification, it doesn’t store toxins in the
same way a pool filter or air filter pulls unwanted particles
into it and traps them there. The liver, of course, processes and transforms harmful compounds into forms that can be sent
along for excretion. Nevertheless, it’s still important for those who desire to consume organ meat to obtain these foods from
sources that raise animals on pasture, without the use of antibiotics, added hormones, and synthetic pesticides. If anything,
what the liver really stores is nutrients! Many of these nutrients are employed in the detoxification pathways, so it makes
sense that the liver would keep a stockpile of them on hand. While a colorful array of fruits and vegetables might come to
mind when you hear the phrase, “vitamins and minerals,” the truth is, liver leaves most plant foods in the dust.

If you find beef liver a little too gamey and off-putting, consider using chicken or duck livers, which are more mild. They’re
great for making pâté and chopped liver. These poultry livers are nutrient powerhouses, too. One ounce of chicken liver—
again, just one little ounce—contains 81% of the DV for vitamin A, 99% of the B12, almost 40% of the folate and riboflavin,
and 23% of the pantothenic acid. For minerals, one ounce of chicken liver packs 20% of the DV for iron and 35% for
selenium. Not to be outdone, an ounce of duck liver packs over 200% of the DV for vitamins A and B12, over 50% of the
folate, 47% of the iron, 83% of the copper, and 27% of the selenium. Not bad for 28 tiny grams of food! With all those
vitamins and minerals, it’s no wonder liver was traditionally considered so nourishing, and given to people experiencing
weakness and fatigue, as a “blood booster.” Again, be certain to get poultry livers from sources where the animals are
raised on pasture and are not exposed to harmful substances in their feed or environment. 

It’s not uncommon to be skittish about eating liver. Since it’s so packed with nutrients, there’s no need to consume it in mass quantities, so some good ways to add it to your diet include sneaking it into meat loaf, chili, or other strongly flavored dishes
that can mask the flavor. Of course, if you do happen to enjoy liver as the star of the show, liver and onions is a classic, as is
chopped liver spread.

Medical Payments Coverage.

Why It Is Important to Have Medical Payments Coverage or Med-pay on Your Auto Insurance.

Have you ever wondered why your auto insurance company encourages you to use your health insurance coverage rather than purchasing med-pay on your auto insurance policy? You can bet the reasons have nothing to do with your health or your wallet. Here are some facts you need to know if you are considering saving a few dollars by not purchasing or eliminating the med-pay portion from your auto policy.

1. Self-Preservation: Despite the law in California, many people drive without auto insurance. In some areas, this figure has been estimated to approach 50%. Thus you cannot reasonably expect the guilty party will be able to pay your medical expenses in the even of an accident that is not your fault. Auto Med-pay will protect you in these situations.

2. Protect Your Passengers: Even though you, the owner of the motor vehicle, may have other health insurance coverage, your passengers may not. Having auto med-pay protects them as well. They can get immediate treatment for any injuries sustained from an auto accident in your car without out-of-pocket expenses.

3. No Unreasonable Restrictions on Med-pay Coverage: Unlike many healthcare plans, especially in managed care, med-pay usually does not have unreasonable restrictions on what is and what is not covered. If you need chiropractic care and more than one or two modalities/procedures, it is usually covered. If you need supplies, there is usually no unreasonable dollar cap. If you need to go to the ER or the hospital, you usually do not have to worry about authorization. If you want to see a specialist of your choice, you can usually do it.

4. Conserves Your Limited Health Insurance Benefits: It is best to save your limited health insurance resources for other times, Often after patients settle their auto claim there is still a need for continuing chiropractic care. In the event of an auto accident, if you use med-pay for your chiropractic care, you will still have your limited health insurance benefits for subsequent care.

5. Minimizes Interference with Your PI Case: The more difficulty you have in obtaining all the medical care you need, the more likely it is that you will receive less care than you need. Such a scenario typically results in a lower settlement for your PI case, since your total medical bills are one of the prime determinants of your final compensation for your injuries.

6. Med-pay is an Excellent Value: Med-pay is relatively inexpensive. For example, for about $50-100/year, you can have $5000 coverage for yourself and every passenger in the car. If you are driving with four passengers that amounts to $25,000 in available coverage. That is the best auto insurance deal around. Having auto med-pay is a smart investment.

7. How much coverage should you carry? Personally, my amount ($25,000) was based on the fact that I was picking up my grand kids & their friends after school or from the day care center. My thinking was "What if an uninsured motorist struck my car & these kids were injured?" Med-Pay gave me the peace of mind that I, or their parents, could take them to whoever we wanted & not have to worry about payment.

If you are injured seriously enough to need an ambulance, did you know it costs between $1000-2000. And... usually your health insurance doesn't cover this. As a matter of fact, your health insurance has a right to be reimbursed for all treatment rendered as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

Why You Should Use Your Med-pay In Auto Accident Cases

1. You have been involved in an auto accident. Many people believe that if they use their med-pay in an auto accident case that wasn't their fault, their auto rates can be increased. NOT TRUE. California Insurance Code 491 prohibit the auto insurance company from doing this. 

2. The auto accident probably wasn't your fault. Many people have strong convictions against using their own men-pay to cover the effects of someone else's mistake. While this argument works somewhat on an emotional level, rationally it makes little sense. Would you still choose not to use your med-pay if the responsible party had no insurance and was unable to pay out of his/her pocket? Of course not. It is your own insurance company's responsibility to seek reimbursement for your medical expenses from the responsible party. So don't worry about that. Your primary job after an auto accident is to get well as fast and as completely as possible. You paid regular premiums for the right to have med-pay, so why not use it when the need arises. As you will see be reading the following there are many advantages to using your med-pay.

3. You have your own auto insurance that covers medical insurance (med-pay). If you don't use your med-pay, have no personal health insurance, and are not willing or able to pay case, the office where you seek treatment will most likely require that you sign a lien. A lien is a legal document that guarantees you will pay, even if the third-party payor refuses to cover your treatment, which may include penalties and interest for failure to pay by a certain time. If the medical establishment does not honor liens, it may not allow you to get treatment or diagnostic procedures at its facility.

4. Your doctor of chiropractic has requested your own auto insurance information for billing purposes. When using your med-pay, your treating doctor doesn't have to wait until the resolution of your case to get paid. When one depends solely upon the third-party payor (the auto insurance company of the person who caused the accident), medical bills can take many months to be paid. While many doctors endure this wait as a courtesy to their patients, this delay is unnecessary if you have med-pay.

5. You are hesitant about using this med-pay portion of your auto policy. When you use your med-pay coverage, you have the protection of the "bad faith" laws in California. This protection helps assure that you will be treated fairly by the auto insurance company. A bad faith violation could cost your auto insurance plenty, so you have considerable leverage on your side. Third-party payors are exempt from bad faith laws in California, so this same protection does not exist, making you vulnerable to abuse.

OUR OFFICE STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU USE YOUR MED-PAY POLICY TO COVER TREATMENT FOR YOUR AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES.

FINALLY, in the best-case scenario, you should have non-reimbursable med-pay.

1. How much non-reimbursable med-pay should you buy? In California the minimum limit for liability is $15,000; which is what the law requires each of us to have for the protection of a stranger we may negligently injure. Surely we would not want less protection for ourselves, a family member or a passenger.

2. How do you buy non-reimbursable med-pay? You have to ask for med-pay by name, ask for it to be non-reimbursable from a personal injury recovery, and ask for limits of more that $15,000. If your agent or insurance company does not provide this type of coverage, do not hesitate to go elsewhere. Be prepared for agents who are less that fully informative, forthright, and cooperative. Many will not offer med-pay coverage unless you ask for it and, when you do, may try to convince you that you do not need it, because you already have health insurance through work.

Dr. Lyon's NOTE: Most insurances do not want to sell you this coverage. Even when I applied online to a major insurance carrier & selected the Med Pay coverage I wanted, when the program finalized my selection it deleted Med Pay & I had to manually re-insert it.

There's also something called Excess Med Pay. This is when your private health insurance is the primary payer and only after they will no longer pay or they deny payment, then your Med Pay starts paying or pays the excess.
1) For example, if I was not a provider on your HMO or PPO insurance plan, I would have to bill your Primary health insurance for a denial that I would need to send to your auto insurance company to be allowed to be reimbursed out of Med-Pay.
2) If I was a provider, I would be paid directly from your health insurance, and any excess expenses would be covered by your med-pay by separately billing your auto insurance.

Blood Pressure.

What's a good blood pressure for me?, and... do I really need medication?

While I was a student at Palmer Chiropractic College, a retired cardiologist (heart doctor) talked to us one day about blood pressure and EKGs. It stuck with me, so I'll pass it on.

He said that for anyone over 60 years old, a good blood pressure is 100 plus your age for systolic (high side), divided by 2 for the diastolic (low side). For example, if you're 70 years old, a good blood pressure for you would be 170 over 85 (170 divided by 2). Most doctors today want to medicate you towards 115/75 which is unrealistic for most older people. As we age, our arteries naturally become stiffer or harder and less pliable or less soft, so our blood pressure naturally rises a little. Bad habits like smoking, too much alcohol, or too many drugs (legal or illegal) can also contribute to the stiffening or hardening or the arteries (atherosclerosis). Fresh and colorful vegetables and fruits can help keep arteries soft and pliable.

Here's an article from WebMD proving that Chiropractic adjustments help to lower blood pressure:

Chiropractic Cu ts Blood Pressure                                                                                                   Page 1 WebMD

Bettet onformat.on.Better health.

Article    ink: http://www.webmd.comfhypertension-high-blood-pressure/newsf20070316fchiropractic-cuts-blood-pressure

Hypertension/High Blood Pressure Health Center

This article is from the WebMD News Archive

Chiropractic  Cuts Blood Pressure

Study Finds Special 'Atlas Adjustment' Lowers Blood Pressure

By Daniel J. DeNoon

WebMO Health News

 

Reviewed by louise Chang,MD

March 16, 2007 - A special chiropractic adjustment can significantly lower high blood pressure, a placebo-controlled study suggests.

"This procedure has the effect  of not one,but two blood-pressure medications given in combination, " study leader George Bakris, MD. tells WebMD."And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems," adds Bakris. director of the University of Chicago hypertension center.

Eight weeks after undergoing the procedure, 25 patients with early-stage high blood pressure had significantly lower blood pressure than  25 similar patients who underwent a sham chiropractic adjustment. Because patients can't feel the technique, they were unable to tell which group they were in.

X-rays showed that the procedure realigned the Atlas vertebra - the doughnut-like bone at the very top of the spine in the treated patients, but not in the sham-treated patients.

Compared to the sham-treated patients, those who got the real procedure saw an average 14 mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure count), and an average 8 mm Hg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom blood pressure number).

None of the patients took blood pressure medicine during the eight-week study.

"When the statistician brought me the data, I actually didn't believe it. It was way too good to be true," Bakris says. "The statistician said, 'I don't even believe it.' But we checked for everything, and there it was."

Bakris and colleagues report their findings in the advance online issue of the Joumal of Human Hypertension.

Atlas Adjustment and Hypertension

The procedure calls for adjustment of the C-1 vertebra. It's called the Atlas vertebra because it holds up the head, just as the man Atlas holds up the world in Greek mythology.

Marshall Dickholtz Sr.,DC, of the Chiropractic Health Center, in Chicago,is the 84-year-old chiropractor who  performed all the procedures in the study. He calls the Atlas vertebra "the fuse box to the body.''

"At the base of the brain are two centers that control all the muscles of the body. If you pinch the base of the brain--if the Atlas gets locked in a position as little as a half a millimeter out of line- it doesn't cause any pain but it upsets these centers," Dickholtz tells WebMD.

The subtle adjustment is practiced by the very small subgroup of chiropractors certified in National Upper Cervical Chiropractic (NUCCA) techniques. The procedure employs precise measurements to determine a patient's Atlas vertebra alignment. If realignment is deemed necessary, the chiropractor uses his or her hands to gently manipulate the vertebra.

"We are not doctors, we are spinal engineers," Dickholtz says. "We use mathematics, geometry, and physics to learn how to slide everything back into place."

Atlas Adjustment and Hypertension, continued...

What does this have to do with high blood pressure?

Bakris notes that some researchers have suggested that injury to the Atlas vertebra can affect  blood flow in the arteries at the base of the skull. Dickholtz thinks  the misaligned Atlas triggers release of signals that make the arteries contract. Whether the procedure actually fixes such injuries is unknown, Bakris says.

Bakris began the study after a fellow doctor told him that something strange was happening in his family  practice.The doctor had been sending some of his patients to a chiropractor. Some of these patients had high blood pressure.

Yet after seeing the chiropractor, the patients' blood pressure had normalized and a few of them were able to stop taking their blood pressure medications.

So Bakris, then at Rush University, designed the pilot study with 50 patients.He's now organizing a much bigger clinical trial. "Is it going to be for everybody with high blood pressure? "No," Bakris says." We dearly need to identify those who can benefit.

It is pretty clear that some kind of head or neck trauma early in life is related to this. This is really a work in progress. It is certainly in the early stages of research.

Dickholtz has been teaching,practicing,and studying the NUCCA technique for 50 years.He says high blood pressure is far from the only thing an Atlas misalignment causes.

"On the other hand, if people have high blood pressure, there is a tremendous possibility they need an Atlas adjustment," he says.

Dr. Lyon's note: I don't believe that the chiropractor has to be a practitioner of NUCCA technique. Gonstead and Diversified techniques work just as well for a seasoned, precise upper cervical manipulator. I have personally had great success helping patients to lower their blood pressure by performing precise upper cervical (Atlas) manipulations, verified by before and after blood pressure readings.

hypertension  newsletter

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20070316/chiropractic-cut...         3/3/2009