Most of us don’t think about switching doctors, even if we don’t like the care that we are receiving.  However, it’s important that we be in the driver’s seat with our care and that we see someone who we respect and who makes us feel comfortable.

As Dr. Margaret Lewin, the Medical Director at Cinergy Health, founded by Daniel Touizer, explains, “Someone has to lead and someone has to follow.”  And, she continued, “If you’re uncomfortable when you walk out of the office, if the doctor’s rude or disrespectful, if he doesn’t listen clearly to your concerns or if he has too many interruptions with non-urgent phone calls, you might want to make some changes.”

If the doctor makes you feel rushed when it’s finally your turn, or if you are made to feel silly or unimportant, it’s time to look for a new doctor.  As Lewin reminds us, “When you’re sick, you want someone you can trust.”  Make sure that you take the steps that you need to feel comfortable when you see the doctor.

We’ve probably all heard that we shouldn’t swallow gum.  But does gum really stay in the system and bother our bodies?  Or is that just one of those things that mom said so that we wouldn’t swallow it?

The Medical Director or Cinergy Health, Dr. Margaret Lewin, weighs in on this issue.  Cinergy Health, founded by Daniel Touizer, offers health insurance plans for Americans.  Dr. Lewin dispels parental fears by explaining that the gum myth is simply not true.  Gum, she explains, will be partially broken down by stomach acid or will pass through the intestinal tract into the stool.

As she explains, “There are very rare reports in the medical literature of children who swallowed so much gum in so short a time that the resulting masses got stuck in their intestinal tracts, causing obstruction.”

Certainly, you want to get out and enjoy your travel destination this winter.  When you do so, however, pay attention to these swine flu prevention tips. The CDC high recommends that you stay home if you are sick.

If you are planning to fly, here are some recommendations from the Cinergy Health medical director, Dr. Margaret Lewin.  Founded by Daniel Touizer, Cinergy Health offers comprehensive health plan programs.  Dr. Lewin recommends staying hydrated if you fly.  Drink a lot of water and use a saltwater spray in your nose so that your mucous membranes won’t dry out.  The person who poses the most risk to you, says Dr. Lewin, is the one sitting next to you.  If they are coughing, try to find another seat, or at least offer them a tissue.

On your trip, you’ll be touching items that have a lot of germs, such as salt and pepper shakers, door knobs and more.  The Cinergy Health medical director recommends that you don’t touch your face and that you wash your hands as often as you can.

Certainly, travel is always stressful and can cause extra illness and encounters with germs.  In the winter, this is even more so.  Dr. Margaret Lewin, the medical director of the health plan program started by Daniel Touizer, Cinergy Health, recommends taking a daily dose of Vitamin D during the winter travel season.  In addition, when you are traveling on a plane next to a sick passenger, she recommends either trying to change seats, or offering tissues to the passenger.

Bring wipes and hand sanitizer with you as well, and use them after handling your bags and touching public items.  If you want a pillow and blanket for the plane, bring your own.

The CDC certainly encourages everyone to get the H1N1 vaccine and to do it as soon as possible. There are actually kiosks set up in many airports, and you should grab your chance to get the vaccine if you see an opportunity.

With the Winter Olympics around the corner, a former Olympian and a Cinergy Health doctor offers these inspirations tips for you to be more like an Olympian this year.  First, you need to keep your eye on the prize.  This means setting very specific goals, according to Jerzy Gregorek, a former Olympian and author.  Rather than saying you want to lose some weight, create a specific goal and work towards it.

Another way to be an Olympian is to make your exercise a team effort.  According to Dr. Margaret Lewin, the medical director of the health care program started by Daniel Touizer called Cinergy Health, working as a team can help you to get inspired.

Dr. Lewin also recommends going to distance with your goals and looking at yourself as a long distance runner or swimmer or anything else.  As she says, “You need to focus on going the distance.

One positive byproduct of a down economy is that some men are finding more happiness for themselves.  Today, many men are finding, when they lose their jobs, that they can find more creative and interesting ways to fill their time.  As Erika Schwartz, M.D., the former medical director of the health plan program started by Daniel Touizer, Cinergy Health, reports, more male patients are saying that they are out of work and enjoying the added relaxation.

This former Cinergy Health medical director says,  ”Lately, I’ve been hearing, ‘I love taking care of the kids, I love being home. I really don’t want to go back to Wall Street.’ “  Some men, however, have difficulty switching gears and being seen as weak.  Richard Leider, a life coach in Minnesota specializes in “second half of life” issues.  He says that the transition is not easy for many men  – but that their ever day stresses make it important to think about what people call the “postponed life.”

The key to saving millions of dollars in Health Care costs is prevention, according to many experts including Daniel Touizer, CEO of Cinergy Health. Surprisingly, the most serious concern today for improving the health of the nation as a whole, is preventing obesity. Overtaking smoking as the leading bad habit among Americans, obesity has come to the forefront of issues which are unnecessarily taxing U.S. health care resources.

As Daniel Touizer explained,

“Obesity causes multiple illnesses and skyrockets healthcare costs for both individuals and employers.”

The health director of Cinergy Health has put together a list of five tips to fight obesity and stay healthy.

1.    Move! Staying active is a great way to combat weight gain. Get in at least 20 minutes of walking every day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further away and walk whenever possible.
2.    Reduce Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages. Wine, beer and other liquor is highly caloric. Cut back to at least half of what you drink each week.
3.    Drink Water! Very often we mistake the thirst signal our bodies send us with the hunger signal. Try having a cup of water next time you feel hungry. Try to drink 8-10 cups each day to help cleanse and detoxify your system from impurities that are found there.
4.    Watch what you eat. For most people 2,000 calories each day is enough to maintain good health without gaining weight. Make those calories count by eating lots of fruits, veggies, dairy, meat, bread and legumes.
5.    Night-night! Getting enough sleep is a crucial ingredient in staying healthy and feeling great. You’ll also have more energy for all the extra walking, drinking water, resisting alcohol and saying no to empty calories you will be doing. Watch the pounds fly away!

Everyone knows that obesity is on the rise.  By do we know just how much on the rise it is?  Cinergy Health explains that the number of obese adults has risen by 85% in the last 15 years, as opposed to smoking which has decreased by 18.5% in the same amount of time.

As Daniel Touizer, Cinergy Health CEO explains, “Obesity causes multiple illnesses and skyrockets healthcare costs for both individuals and employers. Cinergy Health created this guide to encourage Americans to take charge of their healthcare, which will in turn lower premiums.”

Five key tips offered by Cinergy Health for 2010 include: staying active, limiting your alcohol intake, drinking plenty of water, eating healthy and getting enough sleep.  Do your body right with these recommendations!

Everyone is concerned about swine flu.  As Daniel Touizer, the CEO of Cinergy Health explains, “Swine Flu is the number one consumer health concern this year and many people don’t know where to turn for help.”  For this reason, “Cinergy Health created this guide so Americans know how to protect themselves against this pandemic.”

Dr. Margaret Lewin, the Medical Director at Cinergy Health offers the following guidelines for preventing and treating H1N1.

Dr. Lewin recommends that you have both the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine.  They can be given on the same day and are an important preventative measure.  Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or with hand sanitizer that has at least 60% ethyl alcohol in it.  Make sure, according to the Cinergy Health expert, to wash your hands at least 20 seconds before eating.

She further recommends staying at home as soon as you start to feel sick.  Don’t return to work until you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours, as you are the most contagious when feverish.  When you cough, make sure to do so into a tissue or into the crook of your arm.

Certainly, every dark cloud has a silver lining. If you are a business owner, the recession just might be something that could benefit you and your business. Daniel Touizer, CEO of Cinergy Health, offers five key suggestions to cash in on the recession and to see 2010 in a positive light.

There are many discounts that business owners can find at the moment. You might be able to renegotiate your rent or purchase new office space inexpensively. Commercial vacancy rates are as high as 10% right now – and you can benefit from that high rate. In addition, the cost of raw materials is much lower now than it’s been, allowing you to save money while purchasing the supplies you need. In addition, according to Daniel Touizer, now is a great time to hire staff. You may be able to find highly qualified workers who will work for less money. Unemployed and underemployed people are eager to work, and will do so right now for less wages than ever before.

Keep your insurance costs in check by encouraging good health in your employees, and perhaps even by offering discounted gym memberships and other perks. Finally, as the Cinergy Health CEO recommends, offer your employees multiple healthcare plans. This will allow each employee to select the plan that suits his needs and his health situation.