The Advantage of Having an Independent Insurance Agent

If you have to choose between an insurance company agent and an independent insurance agent, you might want to choose the independent agent over the one who works for the company. It may look more impressive when an agent works for a company rather than by himself. But there are certain advantages that an independent agent has over a company agent.

Probably the most important reason that you should prefer an independent insurance agent is the fact that independent agents usually have a network of many insurance companies. An insurance company agent is only responsible for its company's policies, and is therefore limited with only what his or her company has to offer the clients. Independent agents, however, represent more or less five to eight insurance companies in the area. An independent insurance agent would have deep knowledge on each of these company's insurance policies, the prices, the coverage, and the services. As would depend on his or her client, the independent would then be able to put in the best combination of price, coverage, and quality that the client wants in an insurance.

Of course, this can't be all that elevates an independent agent over an insurance company agent, although most of the other reasons are tied to the reason stated above. For example, you are assured that the independent agent would be more informed and knowledgeable about the kinds of policies and services that each insurance companies are offering to clients. This is because he or she has many companies to cover. The company agent, on the other, has to focus on his company's policies, thereby limiting his knowledge about the coverage and services of the rival companies.

Given the vast business network of the independent agent, you are also assured that he or she is more effective with social interaction and negotiations. You will be able to assess how professional he or she is with how strong and experienced her customer and community ties are. This implies that the independent agent will be able to provide a better service, no matter from which company your insurance will come from.

In cases where you as a client and policyholder are dissatisfied with your current insurance, and you want some changes to the coverage and service, it would be an advantage if your agent works independently. This way, there will be only minimal changes to deal with since the independent agent is not beholden to just one company. If you stick to only one insurance company, however, and if you are only holding on to their policies, it might get difficult to get changes made especially if the changes you want is not included in their list coverages.

The one thing to really remember when choosing between and independent agent and a company agent is that you will get more quality and value from an independent agent. He or she will hunt down the best combination for you, filled with the right set of coverages and policies that you want. You are also assured that he will keep track of any changes to the policies and will take care of it for you. You can look at it this way: an independent insurance agent puts you first before the insurance companies lined up.

Mobile Massage Therapy - Massage Reduces Stress, Relaxes and Boosts Immunity

The accumulation of everyday stress

Working long hours at the computer can result in stress, muscle tension, injury or pain which can drain you physically, mentally or emotionally. This can impact negatively on your social life as well as on your work. As the most important benefit of massage is the reduction of stress, general health can be improved and maintained by massage therapy and the negative effects of stress can be alleviated or prevented. On an ongoing basis it can reduce pain, prevent injuries and maintain health. It is an important part of staying healthy physically and mentally as it relieves stress which is responsible for 90% of illness and pain.

Due to reflex effects through the autonomic nervous system, massage affects internal organs and areas removed from the area being treated. It promotes relaxation, reduces pain, boosts mood and mental clarity. Massage can be used for relaxation or stimulation and may be applied to rehabilitation after surgery, injury or poor health. It improves blood and lymph circulation, increases natural killer cells and lymphocytes which destroy cancer cells, boosts mood by increasing serotonin and dopamine and relieves pain by increasing pain killing endorphins. Massage can relax the body, decrease blood pressure and heart rate and reduce stress and depression. It may also provide symptomatic relief for acute and chronic conditions such as headache, facial pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. It realigns and rejuvenates, restoring balance to body and being, so you can take in your stride whatever life throws your way. It promotes digestion, joint mobility, muscle relaxation, relief of spasms and cramps.

Bodywork as a medical treatment

Massage therapy is becoming increasingly sophisticated and effective as it moves into new areas such as medical massage which is the fastest growing modality of massage today. Training in massage therapy was an integral part of medical massage and nursing care up to the mid 1950s when it dropped to almost nothing due to the rapid development and almost exclusive use of technology in the twentieth century. Manual therapy was no longer seen as necessary for standard hospital care. Today, however, it is realized that massage in the hospital is necessary to provide a sense of wholeness and care which is absent in the increasing fragmentation of hospitalization due to the growing emphasis on specialization. Medical massage uses the traditional strokes of massage which are then specifically adapted to treat, for instance, cancer patients, hospital patients and pregnant women. Medical massage may be given in the hospital setting, an outpatient clinic or as a mobile therapy where the therapist travels to the patient's home to give the patient a personally tailored treatment protocol.

In massage therapy for the cancer patient, the therapist pays close attention to the side effects of the curative medical treatment to devise an appropriate protocol. Here the therapy is designed around the particular side effects the patient is experiencing such as pain, lymph-oedema, scarring, nausea, stress, tension, insomnia, fatigue, anger, depression and anxiety.

Thus cancer massage is a uniquely designed therapy which complements the curative medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Hence, it requires more extensive knowledge of medical procedures, pathology and side effects than ordinary therapy. Failure to understand this will result in harm to the patient as the therapist will not be able to adapt the therapy to design a competent treatment protocol.

In pregnancy massage the therapist must take into account mainly musculoskeletal issues caused by the weight of the growing uterus altering the centre of gravity of the woman's body. Treatment in this case will focus especially on upper and lower back pain, sacroiliac dysfunction as well as pubic symphysis and lower abdominal pain. The therapist must also be alert to and able to detect acute medical problems such as deep vein thrombosis and preeclampsia which are both potentially fatal if not medically treated.

Bodywork has a broad therapeutic application

The greatest benefit of massage is the reduction of stress and tension. Since a wide range of physical and psychological conditions stem from stress, massage can help alleviate these conditions and therefore has a broad therapeutic application. The most prominent benefit and use of massage is the alleviation of stress which then relieves muscular tension, promotes relaxation and treats lower back, neck and shoulder pain, pregnancy, bedsores, severe burns, iliotibial band syndrome and spinal cord injury as well as ameliorating systemic conditions such as cystic fibrosis, attention deficit disorder (ADD), fibromyalgia, asthma, autism, diabetes, bulimia, eczema, HIV, lymphoedema, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Sleep disorders, cancer-related fatigue, diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal cord injury, low back pain, lowered immunity, post-operative surgery, infertility, autism, eating disorders, age-related disorders and smoking cessation can all be treated by massage.

Bodywork, such as shiatsu and massage, offers a drug-free, non-invasive and person centred approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself.

Bodywork in Pregnancy

The great physical, mental and emotional changes of pregnancy affect your lifestyle, your job and your relationships with friends and family. Massage helps you integrate these changes successfully. Massage therapy during pregnancy improves overall health, decreases stress and relieves muscles aches and pains. It addresses the many discomforts associated with the skeletal, muscular and circulation changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.

Massage alleviates low back, hip and leg pain, oedema, nausea, heartburn and constipation. Regular massage decreases anxiety and lowers stress hormones during pregnancy. Labour is shorter and easier while babies are healthier. There are fewer obstetric and postnatal complications, such as premature birth and low birth weight.

Bodywork for Cancer Patients

Massage for cancer patients is a safe, non-pharmacological treatment without any side effects. It helps reduce anxiety, fatigue, depression, stress, tension, anger, insomnia and improve self-image and quality of life. Massage may reduce pain, muscle tension, nausea, constipation, lymphoedema and scarring.

Massage as a supportive care intervention for children with cancer helps reduce pain, anxiety, depression, constipation and high blood pressure. Massage also strengthens the function of the immune system and reduces nausea and depression during periods of immune suppression following chemotherapy.

Fighting Depression With Nutrition

Did you know that over 120 million people around the world are affected by depression? I find this to be a very depressing statistic. Fortunately depression can be combated with proper dietary habits. So what is depression? Depression is one of the most common mental disorders presenting a depressed mood, loss in pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-esteem, disrupted appetite or sleep, poor concentration, and low energy levels. Depression can become either a chronic or recurrent condition leading to substantial impairments in one's ability to care for his or her everyday tasks. Unfortunately, about 850,000 people die every year due to depression related circumstances.There are five major types of depression:

Major depression.

Major depression is all around us. When one has major depression they experience symptoms such as sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in particular activities that one may have once enjoyed, weight gain/loss, under/over sleeping, low self-esteem, and thoughts of death or possibly suicide.

Dysthymia.

People who are mildly depressed during most days of the week typically have dysthymia. This condition is closely related to major depression but more mild and not as severe.

Seasonal affective disorder.

Some individuals experience a less severe type of depression during certain seasons of the year. Most occurrences of this type of depression occur during the wintertime possibly do to the lack of sunlight, causing a vitamin D deficiency and other related issues.

Postpartum depression.

Many women experience this form of depression within the first few months of giving birth. The symptoms are eerily similar to those of major depression and often interfere with the mothers desire to take care of herself and the new child.

Bipolar disorder.

This type of depression is commonly used in films depicting someone who is happy one second and angry the next second. Such a view of bipolar is taken to it's furthest extreme. Having this condition may have subtle symptoms such as feeling depressed every other day.

So what causes depression? It is generally caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. These imbalances are caused by a number of underlying factors.

Fortunately, by providing one's body with proper nutrition, the symptoms of depression can be minimized. Any individual who wants to combat depression should include foods rich in tryptophan, zinc, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients can also be obtained through dietary supplements from the local supplement store, pharmacy, or online. Here are the following nutrients needed to fight depression:

Vitamin D.

Vitamin D can be obtained from fish oil, cows milk, soy milk, orange juice, and mushrooms. These foods may also have anti-inflammatory properties increasing the flexibility of the cell membranes, and helping the brain's neurotransmitters work properly.

Tryptophan rich foods.

Sources of tryptophan include turkey, chicken, lamb, beef, dairy, spelt, nuts, soy, tuna, beans, and salmon. Tryptophan is an amino acid that can help produce good feelings and promote better sleep.

Omega-3 rich foods.

Sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish, flaxseed, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and canola oil. Studies have shown that when people's diets are lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, they tend to have higher occurrences of mood disorders and schizophrenia.

Folate rich foods.

Sources of folate include beans, orange juice, hazelnuts, spinach, avocados, and wheat germ. Low levels of folate have also been associated with poor brain performance and depression.

Foods rich in zinc.

Sources of zinc include oysters, chicken, cheddar cheese, yogurt, beans, basil, beef, pumpkin seeds, and fortified grains. Research has shown depressive behavioral patterns associated with low zinc intake.

While the above are important to include in one's diet to prevent depression one must also avoid consuming trans fats, saturated fats, high glycemic foods, and alcohol. Also, one should avoid low-carb and high-protein diets, and skipping meals.

By following these nutritional suggestions you will be multiple steps closer to being depression free. Remember, nutrition is not the only method for fighting depression. You must use any and all methods at available to fight this sometimes chronic condition. Always tell your doctor before making significant changes to your diet.

How Do You Deal With Constant Disappointment?

While most would prefer life to just be about the positives, life does come with many disappointments. Regardless of age, interests, career and family, disappointment is something that everyone must deal with at one point or another. Some are able to take it relatively well, while others never seem to be able to take it well at all. As much as everyone would like things to go as they plan, life has this way of throwing something unexpected at an individual, just when they thought they had everything lined up perfectly for they path they had chosen. When this happens, this individual will often be left with two choices; the first being to dust themselves off and try another route, or to deny that something is not going to work and try to go the same path with the hope that it will still work out.

It all really depends on what it is that has caused someone their disappointment. If it is something that was not overly important to the individual, then the upset can be relatively small and will pass in a very short time. If, however, it was something that the person had been looking forward to for a long time, it can be something that stays in their mind for a long time. Both of these instances are fairly common and are eventually forgotten. For those who suffer constant disappointment, however, the more they suffer, the more difficult it can become to try and let it go. Constant disappointment is often experienced by those with a parent or loved one who is suffering from a drug abuse, who will promise they can change but never do. It will also often be experienced by those with others, a parent, sibling or significant other, who just never seem able to keep the promises they make. These two general situations are probably the most common, though there are other ways people can constantly find themselves feeling disappointment in their self or their life, especially if they have high expectations or standards for themselves and their future.

Disappointment is a part of life, and something that most have to accept as something that will happen. Life is hardly predictable, despite any efforts to make it so. However, constant disappointment is not normal and something that no one can handle large amounts of. It can lead to stress, depression, lack of trust and a breakdown of relationships if not dealt with. Disappointment is usually a result of something that has happened, something that the individual may have thought should not have happened. Speaking with an online therapist or an online counselor about what is causing such constant disappointment can help a person change their life. The online therapy can help a person determine what they can do in order to change or deal with whatever is causing it. If it is another person or problem, then the online counseling may be able to help a person deal with that other person or problem. Disappointment is a resulting emotion, so the cause will have to be addressed in order to move forward.

Using Kangaroo Mother Care: Tips for Parents To Keep Post Natal Depression Away

Tips for parents about the use of Kangaroo Mother Care in warding off PND are helpful in helping to ease a Mother and her newborn through their beginning life together. When a woman is pregnant, her body releases a variety of hormones. These hormones help to improve nutritional digestion, redirect energy toward cell development, and of course trigger labor and delivery. With the birth of her baby there is a change in hormonal balance and life's priorities, which can result in PND, or post natal depression.

Since the body has already been naturally carrying a baby in a kangaroo-like state it is normal for a Mothers body to adjust and provide KMC outside of the womb, having that similar closeness. It's extremely healthy for a newborn baby to transition into the world in this way. After all, the baby has been inside the Mother's womb being carried in a very similar fashion to the kangaroo caring.

A tip for parents about the use of Kangaroo Mother Care to reduce the onset of Postnatal Depression is to be aware that helps to increase the release of happy hormones that promote feelings of love. It's great for a Mom to use Kangaroo Mother Care in nurturing her baby and at the same time look after the way she is feeling as well.

There are different tips for parents using KMC when it comes to sleeping. Advocates of KMC encourage sleeping with a baby in this position. The Kangaroo Mother Care position requires the mother to sleep in a prone position that actually makes it very difficult to potentially do any harm to her newborn. Some experts even recommend that Mothers sleep sitting up. Every parent has to determine for themselves what is best for them and their baby.

As for tips for parents about the use of KMC as therapeutic in warding of PND, it is a very beneficial method of preventing postnatal depression. Kangaroo Mother Care has untold benefits and it is important for every parent to work out what works best for them and their baby in preventing the onset of postnatal depression.

How to Conceive a Boy Instead of a Girl

It's pretty common for me to receive emails from folks who already have a child of one gender and now that they are trying to get pregnant again, they want to have the opposite gender this time around. This usually involves one of two scenarios. They either already have a boy and want a girl or they already have a girl and now want a boy.  The other day, I received an email from someone who indicated that she actually already had three daughters and she knew that she really only wanted four children.  So, she wanted to make sure that this next conception produced a boy. She wrote: "how can I make sure that I get a boy instead of a girl this time around?"  I'll answer this question in the following article.

Your Options For Trying For A Son:  I explained to her that there were basically two options.  If she could afford it or didn't mind conceiving in a sterile environment, she could be sure of an almost 100% success rate with PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) in a fertility office.  This process is typically very expensive and it's not likely to be covered by insurance for most couples.  She talked it over with her husband and they decided that it wasn't wise to take funds away from the college accounts of the other children over something like gender selection.

So, that left natural gender selection methods that you work on at home.  These methods have certainly come a long way and when done correctly with the proper tools and patience, they are said to have an over 90% success rate. I'll tell you what I told her about them below.

Step One Of Getting A Boy Baby Rather Than A Girl:  I had to suspect that if she already had a 100% girl conception rate, that there was a definite reason for this.  Often, this reason will be that a person leans toward being acidic.  I had her go out and get some PH testing strips to test this theory out and sure enough, her PH was very high.  Women who keep having girls often have this happen because their vaginal environment is very highly acidic.  These surroundings are not at all friendly to the Y sperm chromosomes that produce sons.

So the first step for her was determining her PH.  The second step was changing it.  I put her on an alkaline diet and I had her douching with very specific formulas based on her reading.  I asked her to continue to monitor with the strips to see how fast we were making progress.

The Next Most Important Factor To Consider When You Want To Conceive A Boy Instead Of A Girl:  The next thing that I had her address was when she actually ovulated.  Because she had been trying to conceive mid way through her cycle (on day 14) without even confirming if she was close to ovulation at this time.   People who conceive well before ovulation has happened are more likely to get girls because the X sperm chromosomes live longer and are more likely to still be viable by the time the egg is ready to be fertilized.

I had her get a saliva ovulation predictor to see when her actual ovulation day was.  And guess what? It wasn't until day 16 (at least for the month that we tested because this will vary slightly from month to month.)  And, those two days could have been making a big difference.  That 48 hours could've ensured that most of the Y sperm that she wanted to make sure were present when her egg was ready had already died off by the time this actually happened.

Wrapping It Up: The Role In Sexual Positions In Getting A Boy Baby:  Finally, I told her to continue to monitor both her ovulation and her PH.  What she's going for is to hit her ovulation day and then begin trying to conceive at the same time that her PH is alkaline.  Once this happens, I told her to consider using deeper penetration and ensuring that she has an orgasm because this releases alkalizing fluids which help to further lower the PH.  The deeper penetration is simply placing the sperm closer to the cervix to give the Y's the most advantages that you can.

At this point, we're still waiting to see if she became pregnant with her last attempt.  But, if she completed all of these objectives correctly, then she should have created an environment that is more favorable to producing a son this time around.

IVF Funding

For many couples, the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) far exceeds their financial means. The prices vary in different parts of the world, and are dependent on a whole slew of variable factors, but given that the success rate of pregnancy from IVF is only 30% in the best case, an average couple has to expect to spend not less than $12,000-15000 to get pregnant through IVF. Therefore the question begs itself, how to find IVF funding?

Affordable IVF

There are indeed ways of funding IVF and for finding low-cost IVF programs which allow even those couples who lack the affluence for such an expense to achieve conception. Here are few tips for finding or funding affordable IVF.

IVF Refunds

Programs that have money-back guarantees or refunds will allow you to get the money back from unsuccessful attempts and reuse those dollars in your next IVF initiative. These programs take a set charge for a given amount of trials, and refunds your money for unsuccessful trials. It works like insurance, sort of, protecting the unsuccessful couple from paying through the nose for nothing. In this system of IVF refunds at least you know what you are paying in advance.

IVF Financing

There are many organizations that provide low-cost IVF financing loans to couples for IVF treatment. While obtaining a loan may not seem an IVF funding scheme, these loans can make it possible to get the treatment needed for minimal interest expense. When combined with a discounted program, a low-interest loan can save you a substantial amount of money in the long run.

Medical Tourism

Various IVF programs are conducted throughout the world on an ongoing basis and the cost of IVF in different parts of the world will vary based on local economy and other factors. Many couples consider participating in a low-cost IVF treatment program in another country in order to minimize expenses.

Infertility Forums

Online infertility forums where members share experiences and information can be a great source of leads for IVF funding. Learning from the experience of others is a good way to widen your strategic approach to obtaining affordable IVF. Understanding what other couples have been able to achieve in IVF funding through various means will inspire you and provide you with practical avenues to pursue for your own funding sources.

Military Discounts

Being a retired or active member of the armed services or the spouse of a veteran or active military member can be a means of receiving discounted IVF as well. Many clinics will offer discounts as high as 25% to military families. Military hospitals may be a source of IVF programs at discounted rates or may be able to provide you with referrals to clinics that offer standard military discounts.

Grant Programs

Believe it or not, there are grant programs available for couples who cannot afford IVF on their own. While the process of completing applications and submitting requests for funding will take time and patience, it is well worth the effort for many financially strapped couples.

Summary of the Problem

Summarizing, in the course of conventional medical treatment for infertility, when either the reason for the infertility is "non-specific," or alternatively when the specific cause of infertility leaves a chance that the woman can get pregnant anyway, at some point the doctor may introduce the option of in vitro fertilization.

For many couples, the cost of IVF far exceeds their financial means. Therefore the question begs itself, how to find in vitro fertilization financing?