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When you are on vacation, the last thing you want to think about is having insurance or that something could go wrong. Too often there are accidents that bring in the need for insurance on your trips. There are also times that you can get food poisoning or simply just get sick out of the country. Making sure you are covered even away from home is very important. Read these stories and tips below to make sure you have your next trip covered and you are protected.

1. International Insurance: Find articles here on why you need travel insurance and some of the options out there for you.
2. Do I Need it?: Discover what travel medical insurance really is and why you would need it.
3. Testimonials: Take a look at these testimonies from those who used travel insurance and are glad they did. Find out what their stories are and how they saved their trips.
4. Startling Facts: Read a few of these important facts on those who do not have travel medical insurance. See why you should seriously consider getting it before traveling out of the country.
5. Why do I Need International Insurance: Look at these scenarios of why you would need international coverage when you travel. Don’t be unprotected when you leave the country.
6. Travel Medical Insurance: Learn what some of the options are for travel insurance. Also get tips on why you need it when going out of the country.
7. Traveling out of the Country: Many people fail to realize the problems they could face if they do not have medical insurance for traveling. It can be a very costly mistake if you happen to get sick while out of the country.
8. A Few Reasons Why: Here are a few reasons why you would need travel insurance. You could run into things like having to cancel your trip, getting sick or getting injured. These are all reasons you need that extra protection when traveling.
9. Medical Evacuation Coverage: Learn what medical evacuation coverage is and whether you really need it when traveling.
10. Traveling to Mexico: When you are planning a trip to Mexico, you need to check this site out first. This will show you options on insurance and why you want to get extra coverage when traveling here.
11. Travel Medical: Discover why it may be in your best interest to purchase travel medical insurance when leaving the country. Also see what kind of coverage you can get.
12. International Major Medical: See what options you have when it comes to major medical coverage abroad.
13. Travel Insurance for the UK: Take a look at a few tips on getting travelers insurance when visiting the UK. Know what you want/need to insure and be careful to read your policy fully.
14. FAQ on Travelers Insurance: Find the answers here to some FAQ when it comes to purchasing travelers insurance.
15. Travel Protection: Look and see why Italy recommends buying travel insurance before taking your long out of the country trip.
16. Travel Insurance 101: Get the basics on what travel insurance is and what type of coverage you should consider. Read this before purchasing insurance.
17. Tips on Travel Insurance: Here are some great tips on how to pick your travel insurance and what type of coverage you need.
18. Do I Need Insurance when Backpacking?: Read this great article on why you may want to consider buying insurance when traveling to Europe to backpack.
19. Travel Insurance Options: Get information here on what travel insurance should cover and how much you may want to buy when going on a trip.
20. Squaremouth: Find out how this site can help you pick your insurance for traveling. They compare companies for you and let you know the best deals.
21. Travel Insurance Review Blog: This blogger helps you to decide what company to go with for your insurance and which ones you may want to steer clear of.
22. Testimonials: These people all were wondering why they needed travel insurance too. Look at their brief stories on how this helped them out tremendously.
23. World Nomads Travel Insurance: If you have considered using this company then you should read this review. Find out what others have said about their rates and service in the travel insurance industry.
24. Visiting America Insurance: Those from other countries should look into getting some visitor insurance before coming to America. Learn here what your options are and what you should have coverage for.
25. Patriot Travel Insurance Review: Learn what some of the benefits are to purchasing travel health insurance and how much you may actually need.
26. Why buy Insurance?: Here are a few reasons you should seriously consider buying travel insurance when going on a trip of any kind.
27. Travel Insurance Reviews: Try this site to help you find the best deals on travelers insurance.
28. One Blogger Tells You Why: One writer shares in this article why you should get travelers insurance. They have seen so many stories of how those traveling didn’t have it and lost money because of it.
29. Travel Reviews: Get help picking your insurance company. When traveling you can save yourself money by taking a few minutes to add insurance to your trip.
30. World Nomads Review: Get a discount code as well as learn what this company can offer you.
31. Holiday Extras: If you are going to be traveling during the holidays or on vacation, read here about travelers insurance and see whether you need it or not.
32. Is it Needed: While some will swear by getting insurance, others say it is a waste to get travelers insurance. You can decide on your own by reading this article.
33. Nationwide Travel Insurance: Take a look at this review on Nationwide travel insurance. See if this company is right for you.
34. Consumer Reports: One blogger shares their report on travel insurance companies and find out if Consumer Reports were right in their reviews.
35. Peace of Mind or Waste of Money: See what some reviewers say on whether you should really buy travelers insurance or if it is a waste of your money.
36. Product Reviews: For those in Australia, check out this site with customer reviews on the travel insurance options that are available.
37. A Waste or Needed: See what one reviewer says about whether travelers insurance is worth the time. Do you think it is a waste of money or a much needed addition to your trip planning?
38. Your Peace of Mind: One blogger’s view is that it is worth your peace of mind to purchase travel health insurance.
39. My Experience: One person shares her experience with travelers insurance. Read her story here.
40. Airport Delay: Learn how having insurance can help you when traveling and what to do if you have become a victim of airport delay.
41. A Tale of Two Families: Learn about two families that experienced problems on their vacation. One chose insurance while the other didn’t.
42. Travel Horror Stories: Check out these travel insurance horror stories. This may make you think twice on purchasing your insurance.
43. Insurance Horror Story: Hear one person’s story of the troubles they faced when they did not obtain the travel insurance they needed.
44. My Flight Horror: Read one persons horror story of traveling and how you can help prevent this by insuring your trip.
45. Do You Really Need it?: One writer shows you the pros and cons of getting travel insurance. This can help you make your decision in either way.
46. What You Should Know: This is a must read article for anyone who is going to be traveling. Learn what you should know when it comes to travelers insurance.
47. Protection Against Hurricanes or Severe Weather: Learn whether or not travel insurance will protect you if your trip is canceled due to sever weather.

Image credits: Eddie Awad

September 2, 2010

By Brian Bujdos

The first thing you need to know about this study is that it appears in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You probably never thought cooking at home could be a life and death situation, did you?

Well, an online survey of 13,000 adults conducted by the Los Angeles County of Public Health (LACDPH) indicates that 1 in 7 kitchens are not up to code. In other words, they would not pass a health inspection that restaurants routinely receive. About 98 percent of restaurant kitchens in Los Angeles receive a passing grade each year.

It’s easy to worry about what’s going on behind the closed doors of the corner restaurant. But it turns out most of the harm caused by food-borne illness is a product of uncleanly kitchens and mistakes made by home chefs.

The LACDPH survey involved 45 yes or no questions. Anyone who scored 90 percent or more received an A grade (34 percent of respondents), 80 percent or more received a B grade (27 percent of respondents), and 70 percent or more received a C grade (25 percent). About 14 percent failed to score a passing C grade.

The results of the survey revealed that 26 percent of home cooks have shelves and cabinets that are not clean and dust-free, 36 percent do not have a fridge thermometer that works correctly, 28 percent do not remove jewelry or keep nails trimmed when cooking, and a total of 20 percent of participants either had flies, cockroaches or rodents in their kitchen.

All of a sudden, eating out just became more appetizing.

The editors of the survey report note that the results probably skew toward MORE cleanliness than you would find in the average kitchens in America. This is because those who take the survey are likely to have an interest in keeping a clean kitchen. Many home cooks probably do not care much about a clean kitchen and would not be inclined to take the survey.

There are an estimated 87 million cases of food-borne illnesses in the U.S. every year. Of those, well over 350,000 cases involve hospitalization and another 5,700 people die from their illnesses.

Food may be sustenance, but it could belong in the same sentence as mortality after all.

Read more health news articles on AccessRx.

Tailgating is as closely tied to college football as the game itself. If you’re going to participate in the sport in any way (most likely as an observer) make sure you at least have the basics of a kick ass tailgating party down.

September 1, 2010

By Rich Bernstein

Most men don’t need another reason to lose sleep these days – the current state of the job and housing markets, and the stifling summer heat, are reasons enough. But a new report might just convince men to do all they can to get enough shut-eye – if they want to live a longer life.

A study of 741 Central Pennsylvania men with an average age of 50 were classified as either normal sleepers or chronic insomniacs, based upon their self-reported information as well as the fact they spent one night in a sleep laboratory. Six percent of the men, or about 44, were ultimately determined to have chronic insomnia.

The researchers followed up on the men and determined that just over half of the men who were chronic insomniacs had died within 14 years. The 1,000 women who participated in the study were not shown to be any more at risk of death if they had insomnia, although only 10 years had elapsed after they volunteered for the study.

Although critics have spoken out to say that the sample size was rather small for the men, the researchers who compiled the report did take into account factors such as smoking, obesity and sleep apnea. After doing so, the researchers still arrived at the conclusion the men with chronic insomnia were four more times as likely to die as normal sleepers.

The director of the Sleep Disorders Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey said the findings indicate that insomnia should now be thought of as more than just a psychological disorder. There is evidence that suggests sleep problems may contribute to clogged arteries and a disrupted immune system. One study by the same lead researcher showed that curtailing sleep in young adults for just two hours a night over one week was linked to inflammation that can cause cardiovascular problems.

As the researchers put it, insomnia does not directly cause death, but its effects can wear on men over long periods of time and make them more likely to succumb to other health issues. Men with diabetes and high blood pressure were even more likely to pass away if they had chronic insomnia.

The researchers stated that other factors may be involved in the end results (such as the men being in worse health than the women at study commencement), and that more study is needed to verify the findings.

About 30 percent of the U.S. population is believed to suffer from sleeping problems. There is no known cause for insomnia. And although the condition is more prevalent in women, it is typically more severe among men. The end result for men appears to be more severe and swift as well.

Read more health news articles on AccessRx.

September 1, 2010

This interview is one in a series of expert interviews on the AccessRx.com blog. We add new interviews on a regular basis. Please see our complete list of insightful interviews

1. You specialize in helping “Happily Un-Married Couples!” What are the benefits of living together before marriage (or, without planning to marry at all)?

Benefits of Living Together Before OR Instead of Marriage!

While marriage is touted as THE only way to truly have a successful, committed relationship, there are many distinct advantages to cohabitation that are often overlooked, a few of which are as follows:

Time-bound - One big advantage of cohabitation is that it is not until death do you part. Instead, it’s more likely bound by the one-year lease you have on your apartment or some other form of limitation set up in your calendar. It can be beneficial to talk upfront about the relationship’s “life-span!” You should consider declaring a particular date 6 or 12 months out, and then sit down at that time to evaluate how well the relationship is going. If things have been good, perhaps you pick a longer time horizon until you do your next check up. If things have not gone well, you’ll more likely find it easier to end the relationship…. the lease is up and so is our time together.

Maintain Individuality - One assumption of marriage, like the unity candle ceremony demonstrates during the wedding, is that two people become one. However, suppose you’re not ready to take this bold step. Cohabitation allows you to work on building a relationship without necessarily giving up your individuality. A “separate but equal” approach can help reduce the anxiety that you might feel if you were to “lose yourself” in the relationship. No relationship gets better based on how much you give up to be in it. Living together is a lower risk method to see if you can live with someone, full-time and not diminish your individuality in the process.

Eliminate Illusions - It’s been said the if “love is blind” then “marriage is an institution for the blind!” It’s normal that in the early stages of a dating relationship, each partner is trying to put their best foot forward. One of the real shocks that can occur after marriage is to discover that the person you married is not who you thought. Cohabitation affords you the time for the illusions to disappear and the real person to emerge.

When this happens in marriage and the image does not match the reality, it can send a shock wave through the marriage and creates a sense of being trapped in a deception. Instead, by living together, while you may be shocked by the reality of your partner’s hygiene habits, lack of anger management, passive-aggressive sniping, at least you’re not trapped.

Practice Equality - Successful relationships are about many things including creating a sense of equality. In days gone bye, it was not expected that the man and woman were equals. The man ruled and no one questioned it, despite what may have been disastrous consequences.

Now, however, “power with” vs. “power over” is one key to making an intimate relationship work. During the dating phase of a relationship, it’s easy to maintain a “balance of power!” He picks a restaurant, she picks a movie and next time the roles shift. Once you move in together, you have the chance to see just how equal you are with your partner. The question of who controls the TV remote, who cleans the kitchen or who does laundry is quickly answered. The outcome is an important piece of information for you to know about your partner. If you are lucky, your partner values equality and if he or she does not, at least you learned it before walking down the aisle.

While it has been said by many naysayers of cohabitation that you cannot “practice” commitment, I say bunk. Cohabitation has some real advantages over getting married, at least in the short term. The above are just a few.

2. Are there more couples that take this route now than in the past 10 or 20 years? If so, why do you think that is?

Cohabitation is skyrocketing in America for many reasons that I will explain. But, first, here are some interesting tidbits from the Journal of Population Studies about cohabiting couples:

• D.C. has the greatest percentage of unmarried heterosexual partners living together: 13.5% of coupled households.
• Vermont is second with 12%, followed by Maine with 11.9%.
• Utah and Alabama have the smallest percentages: 4.4%.

Those who live together average about two years, generally leading to either marriage or a breakup. Cohabitation research found that within five years of a live-in relationship, about half of couples married, about 40% split up and the rest continued to live together. As one researcher states, “People want what marriage signifies: that sense of ‘us with a future,’ “But because of the high rates of divorce for the past few decades and many other circumstances, including decreased rates of marriage, there is really a crisis in confidence about the institution of marriage.”

Reasons cited for cohabiting

• Living with someone before marriage as a way to avoid divorce,
• High housing costs and tight budgets often lead young people to live together,
• Seeing little difference between the commitment to live together and the commitment to marriage,
• Wanting to test compatibility or establish financial security before marrying,
• A desire to live as married when same-sex marriages are not legal,
• Cohabitation because it is easier to establish and dissolve.

Current Trends in Cohabitation

• In the past, cohabitating was seen as financially unstable. Yet, many of today’s cohabitating couples sometimes combine their earning-powers and purchase a house together. In the past, a cohabitating couple’s relationship may have also been said to be unsound for raising a family. Today’s cohabitating couples also have children together.
• In the past, these couples were seen as having just a fleeting relationship. Yet, many of today’s couples see themselves as deeply involved but they also view it as less than a full commitment.
• Explanations for the Rise in Cohabitation
• Many cohabitating couples had parents who divorced after many years of marriage, thus, by cohabitating they feel they will avoid the mistakes of their parents.
• Many cohabitating couples see themselves as far more independent than previous generations and they no longer depend on a committed partner for financial, physical or emotional needs, or general daily chores such as cooking and cleaning.
• Many cohabitating young people feel they have greater choice, more time to choose a soul mate and less of a need to make a full commitment.
• Many cohabitating couples expect to invest less and receive less from the relationship by selecting a “wait and see” attitude.

3. How can live-in couples keep things interesting behind closed doors?

Keeping Your Relationship Connected in a Disconnected World! - Does love have to fade over time or is it possible to keep the romance alive while balancing all of your other life priorities. Cohabiting couples have the same constant battle as married couples when the hectic pace of simply living can pull us in many directions including disconnecting us from our partner. Work, children, church, finances and hobbies are just a few of the life’s other top priorities that may compete with your relationship. Is it possible to juggle it all successfully, should you even try and, if so, where do you start? Let me begin to answer these questions by stating the obvious, if you want everything else in life to work, make your relationship your priority.

One way to show it’s your top priority is to talk about it and, yes, men can do this as well as women. Despite the false, stale stereotypes, men can talk about commitment, we may just use different terms. For example, the best way I know for a guy to grasp what commitment means, is for you to imagine that the next car you buy is the last car you’ll ever own for the rest of your life. This is the meaning of “commitment,” at least in terms a guy understands. Men matter, too, since both partners have a role in the care and feeding of a modern, committed relationship.

Now, consider these two strategies to keep things interesting with your partner. One strategy is the big picture approach, the other is about little things to do daily. Start by building a long-range plan for your relationship. Ask your partner for time to meet when you both can be fresh and focused. Describe your vision for the future of the relationship 1, 2 even 5 years down the road and ask your partner to do the same. Be sure to really listen to what your partner tells you.

Look for common goals and put them in writing to refer to when you want to keep things interesting and avoid the feeling of disconnection. Like checking your map or GPS while driving, it’s a simple way to ensure you’re still on the right road to your destination. Think of your plan as a “work in progress” for creating the future of your relationship. Set specific targets about work, education, money, leisure, religion, sex, whatever you want to accomplish together.

Think about it, if you’re both working full-time, the odds are you’re spending a combined total of at least 80 hours a week at work. I think you’ll agree that it’s not too much to ask that you dedicate a few hours to keep your relationship interesting while at home. One way to feel a powerful connection, is to build a relationship plan, then put it in motion and feel the satisfaction of reaching major milestones together. Keeping your relationship interesting is a personal decision that you can do daily through your words and actions.

Now, for the little things to keep it interesting, start by developing the daily habit to use alternatives ways to connect. Email your partner, leave a note, text them, send flowers, leave a voice message about how much you miss your partner. Let him or her know you don’t like the distance and do something daily to close the gap.

Remember, losing interest can happen to couples who spend every minute together. Keeping things interesting with your partner is not so much about time together, it’s about what you do to feel connected when you are apart.

4. What are some primary reasons live-in relationships don’t last? How can these issues be prevented?

The Primary Reason Why Cohabitation Fails and What to Do About It! - After reading several seemingly contradictory stories about the pros and cons of cohabitation from respected national news sources, I could not help but be reminded of this infamous quote about research… “Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.”– Aaron Levenstein

Regardless of one’s position on living together, perhaps, before or instead of marriage, the fact is the America has become a cohabitation nation. Years of condemnation and negative research studies have had no effect on slowly the rate of cohabitation since most couples reject the guilt-laden, fear-mongering attempts to discourage their living arrangement. Like it or not, for many, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are the new family role model and cohabitation has become a viable institution for over 12 million Americans.

The primary reason why cohabitation fails is that people do not understand commitment. The goal needs to be teaching the meaning of commitment and walking down the aisle does not mean commitment. The point here is that while many promote marriage as the “gold standard” for what ails American families, keep in mind that anyone of legal age can marry. On the other hand, I think we need to be putting more of an emphasis on building committed relationships which is something that requires lots of hard work and emotional maturity.

I think we must “re-invent” and raise our expectations of cohabitation, and our attitudes toward those who decide to live together. There is a commonly held myth that marriage means you will “live happily ever-after.” However, there is no similar assumption of cohabitation other than “it won’t last” which helps create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It’s time to take a serious and non-judgmental look at cohabitating couples of all ages and help them strengthen and sustain their relationship whether they ever plan to marry. Let’s consider finding a new approach to this reality.

5. What are some ways couples can communicate their cohabitation decision to unsupportive family or friends? How can couples find peace in their decision if they are not able to garner the “approval” of others?

Branding and Marketing Your Cohabitating Relationship! - The biggest benefit of branding and marketing your relationship is that it ensures that whenever you or your partner describe the relationship to others, you are both drawing from the same vision, values, and attitudes about the relationship. This strengthens the psychological bond, fortifies the emotional commitment, and adds to the level of intimacy each of you feels toward the other.

One of the biggest problems for cohabitating couples occurs when they are not unified in their relationship “brand,” so that they seem to be describing two very different relationships. A unified “brand” for your relationship is the best way to respond to family and friends who may be sitting in judgment or even condemning your “living in sin!”

Take, for example, the stereotypical situation with the parents. Do you ever go to dinner with your or your partner’s parents, and one of them takes your partner’s side on every issue and you feel constant pressure to get married? Or worse, they pick on your partner for cohabitating and never give him or her any support? Why is that? It is possibly because the parents don’t see you as a cohesive couple with a united front and are secretly or openly trying to drive you apart. In fact, these episodes with the parents may cause you to fight all the way home, becoming exactly as the relatives see you: divided against each other. Purposely marketing a unified brand of who you are as a couple will let the people you spend time with know the brand of your relationship and how you want to be viewed.

Pick out those qualities or values from your brand that you most want to put forth. No matter what your partner says to other people about you, always make sure that they know you support each other. No matter what your partner forgets to do or how frustrated you or others can get, let others know you are with your partner all the way. While venting your irritation about your partner to a close friend, it’s a good idea to add something like, “Oh well, it’s a good thing we share the same vision and values; it helps me get past the occasional little disagreements quickly.” Live the brand!

As a counterbalance to the chronically high failure rate of intimate relationships, consider becoming much more purposeful in the care and nurturing of the most important relationship in your life. Discovering or developing your authentic relationship brand and marketing it consistently can be a powerful tool to help keep you both well connected... and make the relationship world-class regardless of whether you are getting married or plan to live together forever.

This is a chance for you to feel more in charge of your relationship’s destiny. To take relationship brand marketing one step further, consider creating your own Facebook page since it is so easy to do. It’s the place where you post pictures or notices of your partnership or planned events and market your brand to the world. Write quarterly e-newsletters to all of your family and friends that reinforce the brand images of who you are as a couple. Building a world-class relationship means you need to do things differently to make your rela¬tionship successful. Developing and marketing a relation¬ship brand is certainly outside-the-box thinking! Besides, it will really surprise all those critics who are just waiting for your relationship to fall apart.

Visit John's Website:  WeCohabitate.com

Read more of our expert interviews:
Betty Dodson, Renowned Sexologist, Author, Feminist, Educator
Dean Osborne, Human Nature of Cheating
Dr. MP Wylie, Relationship Advisor

August 31, 2010

By Brian Bujdos

There have been ongoing news reports, and now a new book, regarding the overtreatment of prostate cancer. It seems many urologists and other surgeons are recommending for men to have their prostate removed on the first detection of prostate cancer. And on top of that, the “C” word is enough to scare the bejesus out of just about anyone, so who could blame men for wanting to take aggressive steps.

As most older men know, either through personal experience or by reading up on the increasingly controversial subject of prostate cancer, problems with urination and increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (determined through a blood test) are typically the first indication that something could be awry with the prostate.

High PSA levels trigger an alarm that typically results in a doctor recommending that a patient be tested for prostate cancer, which means a biopsy. A recent study released in the Journal of Urology set out to warn men that biopsies are also not without major side effects in many cases.

A total of 198 German men were followed after committing to a prostate biopsy. Three types of biopsies were studied from standard (10 samples) to standard with nerve-block for pain, to saturation (20 samples).

Unsurprisingly, the men undergoing the saturation biopsy experience greater risk for long-term urination challenges. Before the study, 10 percent of men reported severe urination problems, and that number jumped to 29 percent 12 weeks after the biopsy. For the standard biopsy, the number escalated from 32 to 39 percent of men reporting moderate urinary problems.

In terms of erectile dysfunction, a major symptom of prostate cancer treatment itself, men reported that their problems had for the most part subsided after 12 weeks. One week after the biopsy, however, ED issues were rather severe. Men who reported severe ED jumped from 25 to 51 percent among both the standard and saturation biopsy groups, and from 11 to 39 percent in the nerve-block group.

Doctors say that damage to the “neurovascular bundle” is what causes problems with urination, ED and incontinence among men who undergo treatment to their prostate, a small gland that is tough to access in men.

The authors of the study conclude that screening may result in treatment in men that would never have experienced problems from their prostate cancer. Then again, 40 percent of the participants in the nearly 200-man study were diagnosed with cancer after screening.

It seems to be a two-way road on which it is easy to err on the side of caution – but not without a high percentage of men receiving unnecessary treatment, and major repercussions.

The new book “Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers,” was released this week by two authors. One man has lived with prostate cancer for 20 years and another is an oncologist who has treated the disease exclusively since 1995.

They state that only 1 in 7 men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are at risk for a serious form of the disease. More than 40,000 of the 50,000 radical prostatectomies performed every year are not necessary, they conclude. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that radical prostatectomies extended the lives of just 1 patient in 48.

About 200,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year in the U.S.

Read more health news articles on AccessRx.