The Role of Healthcare in the Presidential Election (and What It Means to You)

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The upcoming election is filled with questions and concerns about the pandemic. Many people criticize the Trump administration’s response and look to Biden to provide a better alternative. However, COVID-19 is not the only issue concerning Americans. The role of healthcare in the presidential election has made voters concerned about topics like insurance coverage, prescription costs, reproductive health services, pre-existing conditions, and political influence. Let’s examine each of these topics in detail, and how each healthcare topic plays a role in the upcoming presidential election.

Insurance Coverage

A continued Trump administration will likely put an end to Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act. According to one study, this would result in 21 million people losing their insurance coverage over the next year. In contrast, Biden would expand eligibility and establish a public option for federal health insurance. Trump has promised to replace the AHA with a better healthcare plan but has yet to deliver. 

Prescription Costs

Another hot button issue for many Americans is the extremely high cost of prescription medication in the United States. President Trump has signed an executive order to reduce drug costs, but it is unclear how effective this has been. He has often cited the cost of insulin as proof that his actions are working. Fact-checkers dispute this and say the cost is relatively the same. Both candidates openly support lowering drug costs, but voters want to see results. 

Reproductive Health Services

Access to birth control and abortion rights are always contentious issues stemming from religious and personal convictions. This election cycle is no different, and reproductive health remains an important issue for healthcare in the presidential election. A Trump administration could see pro-life decision-making and lessened access to birth control. Democrats have traditionally been the more pro-choice party and supported employer-provided contraceptive coverage. 

Pre-existing Conditions

On the debate stage, pre-existing conditions have played a role in garnering votes for Biden because of the Affordable Healthcare Act, which provides coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. Trump claims he will not deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, but again, he has delivered no plan. 

Political Influence

Lastly, Americans are tired of healthcare based on politics rather than science. Some don’t trust that a COVID-19 vaccine will be safe because it was pushed through by the President. Others are unclear about the benefits of wearing masks because of contradicting information from political leaders and medical professionals. It’s a mess, and President Trump has communicated poorly. Of course, it is unclear how Biden would handle his political influence in the healthcare world, but he has said he would, “Listen to the scientists.”

If the topics above don’t concern you, you can rest assured that healthcare in the presidential election is still a powerful issue for all Americans. The next elected U.S. President will affect your healthcare in some manner. It may be in the services that are covered by your insurance, or it may be in the money you pay for your policy.  There are many subjects to consider when voting this year, and healthcare is certainly a worthy one.   

For more informative healthcare topics, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog. To take a healthcare course, visit Avidity Medical Design Academy.

How To Rehydrate Fast If You Become Dehydrated

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Like many people, you probably let thirst dictate your fluid consumption. It’s simply too easy to neglect proper hydration when facing the seemingly endless responsibilities and demands of the day. What you may be surprised to discover, however, is that thirst is actually one of the first and most telling signs of dehydration. If you wait to tackle the problem until your lips are dry and your urine is discolored, you may find yourself struggling with lower levels of energy, emotional fatigue, and even dizziness – among many other uncomfortable symptoms. Fortunately, there are a few simple strategies that will help you set things aright fast. This way, you can greet the challenges of the day with good health, high confidence, and optimized cognitive and physical functioning. Read on to learn about hydration in a way that will totally change how you consider and treat this all-important aspect of your daily self-care. Read these four important tips that you can use to become rehydrated fast if you become dehydrated.

1. Don’t Drink Too Much Of The Wrong Fluids.

Drinking too much of the wrong fluids can leave you feeling anxious and unsure. Your body is constantly trying to alert you of problems. This way, you can implement natural mitigation strategies to bring your own health back into balance. When you ignore any early, initial warnings, the alerts that your body sends will become more severe. For example, with many problems, minor aches and pains tend to be replaced with inflammation and swelling, and slight dizziness or fatigue can evolve into fainting spells, vertigo, or other serious issues.

In the case of dehydration, thirst gradually evolves into dry mouth, cracked lips, and fatigue. If you don’t pay attention to your body at this point, your symptoms can escalate to include intense anxiety. If you’ve been suffering from severe anxiousness that lacks an apparent cause, check your hydration levels. Often, when dehydration is the cause of anxiety, we aren’t simply failing to drink fluids. Instead, we’re attempting to get by on the wrong fluids. Take note of how much coffee, sugary sodas, and energy drinks you’re consuming. The caffeine and excess sugars that many of these beverages contain can cause anxiety. Severe dehydration on its own can lead to heart palpitations and extreme nervousness. Calm your rapid heartbeat and frayed nerves with beverages that will actually restore hydration, rather than oppose it.

2. Eat Fresh, Water-Dense Foods to Rehydrate Fast.

Eating fresh water-dense foods is a great way to preserve your electrolyte balance and rehydrate fast. People who love the taste of water rarely get dehydrated. These individuals seem to always request water at restaurants in lieu of colas or iced teas, or they constantly carry their own water bottles with them. Conversely, those who routinely suffer from dehydration tend to prefer alternative beverages. In fact, many even have a self-professed aversion to water. The good news is that drinking more isn’t always the best solution. That’s because more than needing water, your body is crying out for electrolyte balance. This is the balance of minerals that determines blood pressure, blood viscosity, clotting abilities, and many other key factors of your health and well-being. If you drink too much pure water – you can develop a sodium-related condition called hyponatremia. Over-hydration is a common result of guzzling too much pure water too fast, and absence of the minerals that your body requires.

Fresh, nutrient-dense and water-dense foods provide the perfect balance of both hydration and electrolytes. Eat more berries, melons, apples, oranges, stone fruits, grapes, and watermelon. Fill your plate with lettuce, carrots, celery, leafy greens, and tomatoes. These foods will perfectly supplement the water that you are drinking by bringing a diverse array of minerals into your system. Eating for proper hydration is one of the fastest and most effective strategies for bringing your body back into a state of good health and optimum balance. If dehydration has caused constipation, hemorrhoids, or any other problems affecting the digestive system, the added fiber in your diet will quickly resolve these problems as well.

3. Consider Drinking Coconut Water to Rehydrate Quickly.

Coconut water is the world’s most effective natural energy drink. One little-known fact about coconut water is that it naturally offers the perfect balance of electrolytes for the human body. In fact, the mineral composition of coconut water is so similar to that of human blood plasma that it has been successfully used during wartime as a plasma substitute. If you want to rehydrate your body fast, sip on several ounces of coconut water. Make sure that the brand you choose does not have added sugar or any other added ingredients. Unlike sports drinks and energy drinks, pure coconut water lacks caffeine, excess sugars, and any additional additives that diminish its nutritional value. If you’re attempting to rehydrate after a night of drinking and partying, drinking coconut water is the best course.

4. Sip Your Water Bottle Rather Than Gulping It Down.

If dehydration is a persistent problem for you, you may be tempted to engage in an intense, water-drinking challenge. For instance, there are countless people documenting and touting the benefits of drinking a full gallon of water per day. However, just as dehydration can be problematic to your health, over-hydration can prove troublesome as well. When it comes to giving your body the water it needs, balance is everything. Thus, one of the easiest and most effective strategies for rehydrating is to keep a water bottle with you at all times. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to try gulping a ton of water down. Instead, sip at your water bottle throughout the day, and keep your diet filled with fresh, water-dense foods. 

For more important articles on healthcare, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog. To take a healthcare course, visit Avidity Medical Design Academy.