Health & Healthcare

A CNET article shows how toys can become useful and inexpensive medical devices. We have all heard about US Military purchases of what appears to be hugely overpriced items but we seldom question the cost of medical equipment.

If you are a usano approaching 65 you will have an opportunity to find out about Medicare—that great free medical care plan you have worked for. You may be surprised.

First, like Social Security, it is not like you haven't pre-paid for it. 2.9% of your salary (half employer contributed) during your working life was supposed to be paying for your future health care. Unfortunately, the ponzi scam really just used that money instead of investing in your future. So, yeah, we are finally seeing that having to really pay for something we thought we already paid for is expensive.

I confess the story was amusing the way it was presented on the radio this morning but, since then, Ana sent me the link to this article in END. One of the advertised advantages of being here is that while there are ticks, there is no Lyme Disease.

In http://www.nicaliving.com/node/18972 bc_hombre stated he was going to lose his Canadian health care and asked about options in Nicaragua. There are a lot of decent suggestions in that thread but while working in the garden (call it a stress break) I thought of another possibility.

I had already suggested looking into options in Costa Rica where I know there is a lot of good care which is also very inexpensive at least relative to US prices. And I also know there are open health care plans available. But, what about Cuba.

probably the only downside to living outside canada over six months a year is losing my health care. i would have to say overall i have a much healthier lifestyle in nicaragua. i walk the beaches every day, choose my bike over my vehicle when i can, eat organic as much as posible, have eliminated land meat, and practice tai chi, poi, and yoga. walk in clinics are affordable and the care is quite good here for minor issues. but how do others in the same situation address health care?

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/menshealth/photos/10-dirtiest-foods-you...

Interesting blog comments on the adoption of Nicaragua's Traditional and Ancient Medicine Law that was approved in late March.

http://recycledminds.blogspot.com/2011/05/nicaragua-moves-to-preserve-an...

In the last year I have evolved a policy of sleeping under a moquito net every night. Why?

Well, obviously mosquitos. Getting a mosquito-delivered disease ( in western Nic that is mostly dengue) is a big numbers game--the more bites the more chance of getting sick.

Then there are other things. One time when minsa came by to spray the house a while later a dead scorpion and a dead spider were found on top of the bed. they had fallen out of the ceiling.

What I call June bugs show up in May in Tisey and are very annoying

While not Nicaragua-specific, todays article from Dr. Mercola offers a lot of good information about healthy eating and tropical fruit. This includes a real surprise for me with regard to coconut oil.

I'm looking for a Dentist in Esteli area that is familiar with removing mercury fillings

looking for any level of tai chi classes or people looking for a good excuse to get together to learn, practice, laugh in the popoyo, tola, jinotepe, rivas area. also wanting to find a partner to spar/practice a push touch(non full contact) muay tai or kickboxing discipline with a 55 year old. thanks, K

Does anyone know of or can recommend any medical doctors in Rivas? English speaking preferred.

My question is about ambulance/ hospitals/emergency services in Nicaragua. Have any of you had occasion to use nighttime emergency service or had extended stays in a Nicaraguan hospital? I am asking because I remember the case of Huehuete Bob who died a couple years back of a heart attack. Do they have doctors on call at night or just medical attendants? Are there private hospitals with better care or are all public?

Honduras has declared a national emergency for denque fever, largely to keep the hospitals open.

The early rains here in Esteli have gotten us off to a bad start, with more zancudos than in the previous 3 years we have owned this property. Onsite, we are cleaning the soil down to bare dirt, spraying insecticide on shrubs and exterior walls, and running the electric bug zapper from late afternoon onward. So far I haven't heard of any denque here, but the Malpaisillo area near Leon has been hit hard.

I think with these rains we are in for a bad year.

OK, it's now confirmed. I have the flu. I never get the flu. Can we blame Phil for this?