Free Republic

The first is that 70% of all health-care costs are the direct result of behavior

I've seen this statement, in one form or other, often repeated. But I've never seen any actual studies or data that support the use of such high percentages. Of course it is true that certain behaviors will lead to or worsen some diseases. Most smokers, if they live long enough, will get COPD. Alcohol & drug abusers are also more likely to have certain chronic or deadly health problems. But to say that most chronic disorders are entirely preventable is highly debatable.

In my almost 30 years as an RN, I have seen every disease come in almost every variety of humankind you can imagine. Fat, thin, sedentary, athletic, "health food nut", "junk food junkie", etc. etc. They all get these so-called preventable illnesses. However, there is one thing that does tie the majority of these people together---Most of them are ELDERLY. So I guess we should just not get old. That would be a sure way of preventing chronic illnesses and decreasing health care costs!

I love how people rightfully blast Obama for this horrendous economy which has seen MILLIONS of jobs lost, and then turn around to blame the unemployed for being unemployed.

I also love the simplistic solutions people offer. Move! (Who’s going to buy my house? If I could sell it, I probably wouldn’t get what we owe, since we’ve only been in it for 3 years. And we put over a third down. That’s how much our property values have dropped.)

The thing is-—it’s the government that’s caused this mess we’re in, so yeah-—I have no problem with my husband getting his unemployment check. (My husband, who, until six months ago had been continuously employed since the age of 10-—38 years. Boy, he’s a real malingerer.)

I live 5 minutes from the plant and this is the first good news we’ve had around these parts in a real long time. Isn't that the truth? I live and work near Lake Orion as well. I wouldn't be overstating it to say that at a minimum, 50-60% of my home care patients are either GM retirees or current GM employees. People who don't live in this part of the country just don't understand how devastating the problems with the U.S. auto industry have been to people in our area, when it has been the singular industry supporting an entire region. That doesn't mean I'm defending what the government has done; I'm just relating the effects on individual people here in Michigan.

The 14-year-old was with Mrs. Palin at the game.

I’ve been an RN for 25 years; a visiting nurse for 15 of those years. There is nothing in my nurse practice act nor in my employee regulations that prohibits me from praying with or for a patient. In fact, a big part of nursing education (at least back in the LAST century, lol) was about paying attention to not only a patient’s physical health, but their spiritual and emotional health as well. (Do an internet search on nursing and spiritual health, and you’ll find addressing this aspect of a patient’s health is an integral part of both nursing theory and practice.)

While openly praying with a patient rarely happened when I worked in the hospital setting, it has occurred many, many times in my work as a visiting nurse. You get to know patients (especially long-term ones) in a much deeper way when you go to their homes (sometimes daily) and meet their families, friends, pets, etc. Many of these people are extremely isolated, with no connection to a church or pastor/priest. Sometimes the visiting nurse is the only person they see on a regular basis.

Of course, the nurse must take into consideration both the patient’s faith and her own when it comes to shared prayer. Obviously, if I had a patient hostile to Christian beliefs or of another religious faith, I wouldn’t suggest openly praying for them. But in many, many cases, it is both appropriate and beneficial.

I’ve been an RN for 25 years; a visiting nurse for 15 of those years. There is nothing in my nurse practice act nor in my employee regulations that prohibits me from praying with or for a patient. In fact, a big part of nursing education (at least back in the LAST century, lol) was about paying attention to not only a patient’s physical health, but their spiritual and emotional health as well. (Do an internet search on nursing and spiritual health, and you’ll find addressing this aspect of a patient’s health is an integral part of both nursing theory and practice.)

While openly praying with a patient rarely happened when I worked in the hospital setting, it has occurred many, many times in my work as a visiting nurse. You get to know patients (especially long-term ones) in a much deeper way when you go to their homes (sometimes daily) and meet their families, friends, pets, etc. Many of these people are extremely isolated, with no connection to a church or pastor/priest. Sometimes the visiting nurse is the only person they see on a regular basis.

Of course, the nurse must take into consideration both the patient’s faith and her own when it comes to shared prayer. Obviously, if I had a patient hostile to Christian beliefs or of another religious faith, I wouldn’t suggest openly praying for them. But in many, many cases, it is both appropriate and beneficial.

I’ve been an RN for 25 years; a visiting nurse for 15 of those years. There is nothing in my nurse practice act nor in my employee regulations that prohibits me from praying with or for a patient. In fact, a big part of nursing education (at least back in the LAST century, lol) was about paying attention to not only a patient’s physical health, but their spiritual and emotional health as well. (Do an internet search on nursing and spiritual health, and you’ll find addressing this aspect of a patient’s health is an integral part of both nursing theory and practice.)

While openly praying with a patient rarely happened when I worked in the hospital setting, it has occurred many, many times in my work as a visiting nurse. You get to know patients (especially long-term ones) in a much deeper way when you go to their homes (sometimes daily) and meet their families, friends, pets, etc. Many of these people are extremely isolated, with no connection to a church or pastor/priest. Sometimes the visiting nurse is the only person they see on a regular basis.

Of course, the nurse must take into consideration both the patient’s faith and her own when it comes to shared prayer. Obviously, if I had a patient hostile to Christian beliefs or of another religious faith, I wouldn’t suggest openly praying for them. But in many, many cases, it is both appropriate and beneficial.

How about the word “myself”? It is used incorrectly all the time and it drives me nuts!

Why do they always go on about her lack of foreign travel? She’s not exactly a wealthy woman. She’s got five kids. Maybe she couldn’t freaking afford it, you idiots!

My father-in-law grew up in Hancock! Frankly, I think the recipe I got from him is the best. :) Who knows? Maybe it was a special Hancock secret recipe that we both share!

Just make sure they pronounce it correctly! While in the U.P. this summer, I heard someone order a paste-ey. Common mistake, I know, but pretty funny.

Leftism, however, has politicized every aspect of human existence

It was leftists who coined the phrase "the personal is political". Everything, to them, is the government's business. Everything.

I love how so many people think Detroit IS Michigan. NOT. We spent the last week of August near Grayling. Spent most of my time sitting by the Manistee River watching the water roll by. We made a side trip up to Mackinac Island. The weather was gorgeous. Don’t miss a trip to our beautiful state because you think it’s all like Detroit.

I live in the far NE corner of Oakland County. Our little village gas station was out of gas when I went this morning. Luckily I had enough gas to get to the next closest station, and it was $4.19. Hopefully, it’ll come down again in the next few days.

I thought it was Mussolini that made the trains run on time.

I was just thinking the same thing.

Sorry if I missed the sarcasm. It’s late, and my brain is only partially functioning.. :) I just remember visiting that area of Alaska and how impressed I was.

as if plants actually grew there!

Much of Alaska's agricultural center is located in the Matanuska Valley. Because there can be up to 19 or 20 hours of sunlight there in the summer, much of the produce is HUGE!

Simple or not, BMI just isn’t very accurate. And what’s the point of using such a measurement?

Since muscle is more dense than fat, many physically fit people are mistakenly classified as “overweight”, while they are actually less likely to die young than a “normal” weight individual whose excess weight is mostly fat.

Another reason employer provided insurance is a bad idea.

BMI measurements (based solely on weight/height) are poor indicators of health. BMI doesn't take into consideration fat/muscle, etc.

A recent study suggested that about half of overweight people and nearly a third of obese people have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while about a quarter of people considered to be normal weight suffer from the ills associated with obesity.

The assumption is that thinner people must be healthy and must engage in healthier habits. After all, they're thin! It is impossible to tell from someone's BMI alone whether people are healthy or not, what they eat, how much they exercise, etc.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe they were exonerated of any criminal behavior by the Texas court?

There have already been several indictments, with more expected to come.

Texas grand jury indicts polygamist sect members

More FLDS indictments likely