Hay Fever, Allergies and Asthma

 This time of year can be very rough for those that have hay fever, allergies and asthma. Over 22 million Americans are plagued during the spring and fall seasons by such annoying symptoms as sneezing, congestion, runny nose, itchy throat and red, watery eyes. 

One out of every six Americans suffers from an allergic condition and sales of over the counter products is a multi million dollar industry. Allergy is an inherited trait, a genetic susceptibility towards the production of certain allergy anti-bodies where hay fever is basically an allergic reaction to pollens from trees, weed and grasses. Unlike garden flower pollen, which is carried by insects, the dry lightweight pollens which cause hay fever are generally spread by wind currents which make them difficult to avoid. In fact, samples of ragweed pollen have been found 400 miles at sea! While most people suffer mild discomfort with hay fever, it is estimated that more than 40 percent of the 5.8 million children who have respiratory allergies miss some school, stay in bed or feel upset by the condition.

Additionally, complications from hay fever can be serious. The same allergens that cause hay fever can reach the lungs causing asthma and other complications. Sinusitis (inflammation of the sinus cavities) and nasal polyps (small outgrowths of the mucous membrane of the nose) may develop. Secondary infections of the ear, larynx and bronchial tubes may occur. Also, prolonged year-round nasal stuffiness and mouth breathing may lead to facial bone growth changes in children.

Unlike hay fever, asthma is a more complex disease involving a reversible constriction of the muscles lining the human airways. It is more often associated with allergy immune cells and can get progressively worse, reaching life-threatening stages if not properly controlled. It can be treated more effectively when it is diagnosed early. Medications that have been proven to be effective for the treatment of asthma include Advair Diskus, Albuterol, Asmanex, Foradil, Flovent, Prednisone, Pulmicort, Singulair, Symbicort, Ventolin, Xolair and Xopenex. 

 

 

Diabetes and Your Life

Anyone who is suffering from or knows someone who has diabetes knows very well how physically, mentally, emotionally and financially debilitating this disease can be. Though it affects people differently and how it affects an individual cannot be predicted, those affected with this condition can still live a healthy, normal life.

Staying healthy is important for all, but those with diabetes have to pay extra attention to their health. The symptoms and sometimes the medications used to treat this disease can have an impact on a person’s energy level, eating habits and feelings, thus compromising a person’s overall well-being. The key to treating diabetes is to control your blood sugar level. The following will help to do that:

• Eat healthy foods
• Lose weight if you are overweight
• Regular exercise
• Monitor your sugar level often
• No alcohol or tobacco
• Follow your doctor’s orders and take your medicine as prescribed  
  
By following the above guidelines, people with diabetes stand a better chance of improving the quality of their lives. However, for more than half of Americans residing in the US, the steep price of medication for diabetes can hinder their desire to better their lives. Each year millions of Americans across the United States who do not have the benefit of health insurance or prescription drug coverage plans are faced with costs that they are often unable to afford, causing them to risk their health, lives, and sometimes even their bank accounts. Here are a few tips on how you can save on medicine:

Be honest in telling your doctor if he can prescribe an equally-potent, yet cheaper, brand of medicine. Better yet, ask him if it’s okay that you buy generic or if he has samples he can give you.

Compare the prices of your prescription medicine. Visit or call pharmacies within your area and find out which offers the cheaper price. Many pharmaceutical companies offer coupons and rebates on medicine, so be sure to visit the companies websites or contact them by phone to find out more information.

Go online and register for programs out there designed specifically to help people who can’t afford their prescription drugs.

One In Ten Advanced Colon Cancer Patients Worry About Prescription Drug Costs

The large majority of advanced colon cancer patients, 90%, have no concerns about the cost of prescription drugs for managing chemotherapy side effects. These side effects include infection, pain and nausea. Very few of these patients did anything  to reduce their drug cost after becoming a participant of the clinical trial, according to a study released by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The study’s findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. on Friday, May 29.

“We were reassured to learn that few patients enrolled in the clinical trial engaged in coping strategies to minimize the impact of prescription drug costs, but we also recognize that these findings may not generalize to patients treated outside the clinical trial context,” reported Deborah Schrag, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farberthe, the study’s lead author.

DR Schrag did express concern, however  that given the current state of the economy, with a growing number of people losing their jobs, “we could witness growing anxiety among cancer patients about their ability to pay for medications that may help them adhere to their therapy.”

“The cost of cancer care today does force patients to make some hard financial decisions,” said Schrag. “As oncologists, we need to be mindful that this issue may be a concern for some patients and that communication about this topic both may help alleviate anxiety and identify strategies to minimize the cost burden.”

Popular Health Insurance Plans Leave Patients Lacking Rx Coverage

Anyone who takes medicine knows that the cost of prescription medication is rising in this country. Roughly 23% of all global health care spending in the United States is for prescription medicine. For a lot of patients, prescriptions help them live a more productive, happier life, but only if they can afford to take them.

One of the fastest growing segments of the health insurance business in the United States is the Limited Benefit Medical Plan, or Mini-Meds. These are plans that have a scaled down benefit and premium. They usually have serious limitations compared to a major medical and are frequently marketed to businesses that have a large segment of low income workers.

One of the limitations of these plan is the prescription benefit. Frequently the “benefit” is a discount drug card. Occasionally there will be an insured benefit. If there is, it will have a monthly and/or annual maximum. For plan members that require expensive brand name medicine, these limited benefit Rx plans can leave the low income employee with a tremendous out of pocket expense and a negative perception of the value of the plan.

One option that the employer should consider for a low cost benefit that might be helpful for the employees and their families is to look for Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). If you meet the income guidelines you will qualify for prescription drug help. Rx help is available to individuals who meet criteria set by each individual drug company. PAPs provide low-cost or free medication for those who qualify. 

Patient Assistance Programs are an overlooked resource in helping the lower income, underinsured workforce. By making prescription medication available to those that can’t afford it, health care costs resulting from non treatment of chronic conditions are better controlled and help reduce the impact of inflation on health care. In the workplace there is lower absenteeism and presenteeism and greater value perception of the benefits package.

The Cost of Enbrel and Medicare Part D- Patient Comments

I received so many emails from patients that are taking Enbrel and are having tremendous difficulty paying for it that I thought I would share a couple of them with you. I was suprised by the fact that it was split about 50/50 between patients on Medicare Part D and those that were not.

Here is one of those email from a lady that does have Medicare Part D. She wrote ”Hi there, I’m one of those patients who is just now getting ready to start Enbrel. How in the world can anyone afford it? I am not even in the donut hole yet and it is going to cost me at the very least $350.00 a month when I’m not in the donut hole. At the price of Enbrel I will probably hit the donut hole in 2 months and then I will have to pay the full cost which is about $1,500 a month. I’m trying to get help from several foundations, but no luck so far. HELP!!!!!”

Another reader wrote ” I talked with my doctor and he said that there probably wouldn’t ever be a generic for the biologic drugs like Enbrel. Because of the way they are made they will never lose their patent. Right now my Humira is about $1400 a month, when I was on Enbrel it was about $1300 and when I was on Remicade it was $5400 a month!”

If you don’t have insurance coverage for your expensive medicine, I encourage you to contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance or contact us at Rx Help We can also be reached at 866-960-9497