Wednesday, May 23, 2012

GERD

GERD is an acronym for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Commonly known as heartburn, is the back flow of gastric or duodenal contents or both into the esophagus. Reflux may cause symptoms or pathological changes. Persistent reflux can cause reflux ulcerations within the esophagus.

Normally gastric contents don't back up into the esophagus because the esophageal sphincter has enough pressure to keep the opening closed. Reflux occurs when pressure in the stomach exceeds the the sphincter pressure. When this happens, contents in the stomach regurgitate into the esophagus.

Tomatoes, chocolate, coffee, OJ, soda and milk, smoking, alcohol, certain medication, hernias, or any condition or position that increases intra-abdominal pressure or decrease esophageal sphincter pressure will cause GERD.

In order to understand and to effectively treat GERD, you must first know why you have it. Talk w/ your doctor about current medications. Perhaps dietary changes are needed. Eat meals 3 hours before lying down. Remain in an upright position after eating. Avoid activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure. Refrain from alcohol, fatty foods and cigarettes. If you take an antacid, avoid taking it with your other medications because the antacid will decrease other medication absorption.

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsagent.com

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Life Insurance: know what your buying

When you are buying life insurance, make sure you know what type it is and how the policy is structured. If you have life insurance in force, make sure it is not disguised as term insurance.

Term insurance ends at term. If you outlive the end of term insurance, all the premium you paid for the last 10 or 20 years is gone. It does not build cash value. It does not renew. You must go through the application process again. One of the deciding factors of premium is age. The older you are the higher the premium. If you pass away when your term insurance is no longer in force, you have no insurance to pay for final expenses. Your family will be financially burdened by the high cost of death related expenses.

The final expense programs Monumental Life offers are guaranteed that premium will never change and will provide funds to your survivors when they need it most as long as premiums are up to date.

Beware of programs that have a decreasing death benefit. While premiums typically remain unchanged, the amount of coverage you leave your loved ones can be drastically reduced. The final expense programs Monumental Life offers have guaranteed death benefit that will never decrease.

Beware of companies that have association fees. They will market guaranteed premium programs disguised with other fees. The life insurance premium rate is guaranteed but the association fees can increase at the company's discretion. The final expense programs offered by Monumental Life have no association fees. Therefore, the rates will never increase.

Does your current life insurance cover you for both accident and illness? If your death is caused by illness and your life insurance is accident only, your family will collect the death benefit from that policy.

Monumental Life offers programs that cover both accident and illness. There is no waiting period and coverage begins after the first month's premium is collected. Death does not wait until you are ready. Be prepared and be completely covered. The application process is easy and quick. The turn around time for coverage is up to 2 weeks with an average of 5 business days. Life insurance is the 2nd largest purchase in life but is is the most important purchase in life.

Monumental Life offers quality products that will be there when it is needed the most. 

Visit my website for additional information. I look forward to getting you covered.

Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsangent.com
drugstore.com, inc.