By: Matthew Kukla, Ph.D.

Dear friends and family,

I just finished my PhD in Health Systems Financing, Economics and Policy and recently returned from working at the World Health Organization in Geneva.  While my background focuses on the U.S. health care system, most of my work involves reforming health systems in other developed and developing countries.  I essentially deal with (a) how institutional frameworks, governance, and political systems impact health care and (b) how health care dollars are collected, pooled, and redistributed / paid among the big three (insurance, individuals and medical providers).  Because this is the primary goal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and given the tremendous amount of misinformation circulating about these issues, I have written a summary of (a) what our existing health care system looks like, notably the root causes of rising costs and the uninsured, (b) the true content of the Affordable Care Act, (c) what the ACA should have done differently, and (d) some additional insights into our health care system that you might find prevalent and interesting.

While I have much to learn over the course of my career, I want to ensure your confidence that this write-up is accurate and non-biased.  My data comes from my own work and a range of sources including the World Bank, World Health Organization, top academic literature, and the best non-partisan policy think tanks (RAND, Commonwealth Fund, Health Affairs, Kaiser).  I have also been critical of many liberal and conservative “talking points” as well as the ACA, while providing the most updated evidence where possible.

The Problem

Interestingly, the U.S. health care system is not actually a system, but something that has been put together piecemeal over decades of policymaking.  Our political system is built for incremental policymaking at best; thus health care reforms have built on one another only to fill in any existing gaps.  Yet we have never stepped back, looked at the big picture and restructured the entire system to be coordinated, efficient or effective.  It’s like continuing to put band-aids on a gushing wound, when what’s needed is surgery.  Or it’s like having 40 workers operate an assembly line that’s meant for 15 people — instead of removing them and simplifying, we add more people to manage those 40.  The system becomes increasingly layered, inefficient, ineffective, complex and stagnant.  The following is a brief overview of what our existing health care system looks like as a result of this reform process.  While there is no silver bullet or single change that will fix our health care system (despite what people tell you), overwhelming evidence from dozens of developed countries and the US suggests that the following factors account for the vast growth in our healthcare costs (18 percent of GDP vs. 8-13 percent in most other developed countries) and lack of health care coverage (19 percent of the population / 49 million vs. 1-2 percent in other countries).

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Today, I wanted to share an interesting article on the effects of poor dental health on one’s psychology. The guest post was contributed by Robert Anders, for Rockefeller Center Orthodontics – Experts in Invisalign braces. For more information about consultations, visit Invisalign Consultation New York.

The Psychological Issues of Poor Dental Care

By: Robert Anders

Having bad teeth can bring with it a lot of psychological issues, such as insecurities and lack of self esteem. Can repairing your teeth improve your mental health as well? The answer seems to be a resounding “yes.”

Your Mouth and Your Body

For years, medical professionals have warned that poor dental health can affect your overall physical health. They have established links between poorly-maintained teeth and heart problems, as bacteria from your mouth can slip into your bloodstream. They have also uncovered links between gum disease and pregnancy complications, like premature birth. Immune system disorders are another common concern for people with oral health problems.

Researchers have even started to explore how poor dental health can affect the brain. The Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York discovered that there may be a link between bad teeth and cognition ailments. In their study, elderly people who suffered from gum disease performed worse on memory tests than those without gum trouble. That same group also struggled more than the rest with subtraction tests.

Your Mouth and Your Mind

Beyond physical problems, having bad teeth can cause psychological issues. After all, your mouth is usually a point of focus when socializing, whether you are talking, flashing a smile, or twisting a scowl. Given the mouth’s importance, it makes sense why feeling self-conscious about your teeth can be especially damaging. Here are some ways bad teeth can trigger psychological issues.

• Anxiety, especially when socializing:

If you’re self conscious about one of your most important communication tools, it can ravage your ability to socialize comfortably. People who think they have bad teeth may want to avoid doing anything to expose them, which can start an unhealthy cycle of self-monitoring and criticism. It impedes a person’s ability to speak clearly, and it eliminates one of the most effective nonverbal ways to strike up rapport: cracking a genuine smile.

• Low self-esteem:

Confidence stems from feeling good about yourself. If you are always worried about your teeth, it is difficult to feel confident, and that can seriously strip away at your self esteem. Having bad teeth can also trigger self esteem issues that extend beyond how others think; in some cases, people begin to feel guilty about the state of their teeth, engaging in a lot of self criticism about their ineffective oral hygiene habits, which can exacerbate issues about self image.

• Depression:

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By: Paul Lee from Ask Smile Artistry

When it comes to your dental health, cavities that are left untreated can lead to plenty of other more serious unrelated issues. In order to avoid problems like cavities, there are plenty of things that you should take into account. Here are some myths and facts in regard to your dental health that you should understand.

Sugar is the Main Cause of Cavities

This point is partly myth and fact. Cavities are caused by the acid that is produced by the bacteria located inside of your mouth. However, these bacteria consume carbohydrates, including sugar. When anything with carbohydrates is eaten, the bacteria inside your mouth become active and produce more acid that can eat into your tooth. In any case, every time you consume carbohydrates you should ensure a good cleaning and mouthwash.

Acidic Foods Cause Tooth Decay

This is a fact. Foods that are high in acid such as fizzy drinks, citric juices, and lemons, may not cause cavities, but they can cause damage to the enamel of your teeth. Acid causes the enamel of your teeth to erode, which will make the tooth weaker eventually causing decay. If they are left further untreated, then the tooth could require extraction or a root canal to be sorted.

All Fillings will have to be Replaced

This is a dental myth. If a filling breaks down or the tooth gets a cavity, the filling may need to be replaced. However, as long as the tooth remains healthy, there is no reason that a filling cannot last for a lifetime. Fillings have been formed from such strong material that this is no longer an issue.

You will Know if you have a Cavity

This is a myth, and a bad one at that. When mild tooth decay starts, there are often no noticeable symptoms. Some people may experience mild pain but may put it down to sensitivity. When a cavity is painful, it is because the decay of the tooth has become so far advanced that it has caused damage to the nerve. When tooth decay is allowed to advance this far, it can lead to further dental health problems, and expensive procedures may become necessary such as an extraction or root canal. This is one of the biggest reasons why it is so important to see your dentist for regular checkups every six months.

These are just a few of the myths and facts that many people have heard about their oral health. There are many myths about dental health, and it is important to learn the facts from your dentist. Keeping your teeth healthy is crucial as poor oral health can lead to a host of other more serious health issues as well.

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The following post is a contribution by Jefferey Morgan, who has been into muscle building for the past several years and working knowledge on how to get ripped fast and staying healthy through meditation. He is also a dedicated writer for Get This Ripped.

My Story: Benefits of Meditation. Live a Healthier Life

By: Jefferey Morgan

Meditation is something that I believe has saved my life. I come from a troubled past, and I never felt at peace with myself. I could not sleep at night, and I did not have the incentive to exercise or to do positive things in my life. I was diagnosed with depression several years ago, and this problem almost destroyed my life.

I used to travel on the subway daily to go to work and school. I always enjoyed watching people walking by or traveling to and fro. I sometimes felt myself envisioning I was one of them, especially if I viewed one or more people smiling and displaying content and motivational attitudes. I longed for the confidence they contained and the apparent peace that came along with it.

I had a friend who I had neglected to talk to in quite a while, due to my reclusive nature. I knew she was one of those motivational and positive types. I decided that instead of longing for the inner peace I was craving, I was going to take action. I was going to find out what course of action was needed to achieve it.

I called my positive friend, and we had a lovely conversation. The conversation led to meeting out for dinner. During our dinner conversation, I could not resist the urge to ask my friend about the key to her confidence and motivational behavior. She quickly replied that she practices meditation and she applies it to her overall lifestyle. She said that she contributes meditation to her faith and motivational ways.

Imagine my surprise of learning that her secret was meditation. I could not understand how performing such a thing could positively affect one’s life. My friend happily filled me in on the minute details of why meditation became such an indispensable part of her life.

“Meditation is not about enriching one’s life, it is about enriching ones soul”, said my friend. This moving testimony intrigued me, and I had to learn more. My friend stated that various benefits can be experienced when performing meditation. Some of the benefits she mentioned were an improvement of concentration, and great exercise for one’s mind. Exercising one’s mind she said is the basis for not only a physically fit body but an emotionally healthy body.

I left our dinner date yearning to learn more of this procedure that can boost my mind and body. I had to learn more so that I also could use it in my own life. I found this an important task because of my desire to live a motivational and confident life. I was tired of feeling down in the dumps and allowing many life opportunities to pass me by because of my reclusiveness.

The following post was contributed by Nina Bernice exclusively for publichealthbugle.com. All contents for informational and educational purposes only. The information is not to be substituted for professional advice. Please give credit to Nina Bernice and the Public Health Bugle for any re-posts.

Health Reform Law, What Does The Public Think About It?

By: Nina Bernice

With presidential and a majority Democratic congressional support, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act came into law on 23rd March, 2010. The health reform law’s objective is providing health insurance cover to more than thirty million people. It endeavors to attain this by Medicaid expansion and federal subsidies provisions to assist lower and middle-income earners purchase private medical care insurance. The PPACA is estimated to cost the federal government a total of $940 billion over ten years.

People who fall between 100-400% of the Federal Poverty Level and want their own health insurance on an exchange qualify for subsidies. Eligible insurance buyers will receive premium credits and there is a sliding scale cap for how much they should contribute to their premiums.

The bill also requires everyone to purchase health insurance by 2014 or incur a $ 695 annual penalty. However, low income people have some exemptions from this requirement. The PPACA requires states to expand Medicaid to adults without children, starting in 2014. The Federal Government will cover 100 percent of the costs for newly eligible people through to 2016. Illegal immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid.

The most contentious issue of the PPACA is the “individual mandate” section. This provision requires that all American(except the low income) purchase health insurance by 2014 or incur a annual penalty. Opponents argue that individual cannot be forced to buy a product that they may not need or use. The Justice Department has respond to this argument by noting that every American will need medical care at one point in their lives. As such no one can choose to be excluded from the health care market. Many Americans expect that the court will find this requirement unconstitutional as it is an inappropriate exercise of federal authority, according to a Kaiser Health Tracking Report.

A prime issue for court consideration on 26th March is determining the merits of the health reform law opponents’ arguments on prohibiting claims until 2014 when the individual mandate in 2014 is expected to take effect. According to the Anti-Injunction Act (AIC), claimants cannot make a claim on tax until the tax has been paid by the claimant. Judges in two federal courts have already determined that the Anti-Injunction Act is applicable in this case. This argument by the federal judges might temporarily exempt the Supreme Court from making a decision about the AIA during this election year.