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Weekly News Round Up: Are Brand-Name Medications Better?; Your Personality’s Affect On Your Health; New App for People with Mobility Impairments

Here are some of the top health care and disability headlines for Feb. 16-22.

The Truth About Generic Vs. Brand-Name Medications

Ever wonder if brand-name medications are better? They’d almost have to be to justify the increased costs, right? Not so. The FDA holds generic medications up to strict guidelines, and they must meet the same blood concentration levels as brand-name medications. The brand-name medications cost more because the consumer is paying for the research and marketing that went into the drug (and the manufacturer’s failed drugs). Generics don’t have these added costs because they get to piggyback off the brand-name company’s research after a specific amount of time has passed. Read More

How Personality Affects Gene Expression and Immune System Function

Our health is affected by a variety of factors– genetics, environment, lifestyle– but new research is suggesting that our personality may impact our health. Traits like extroversion, neuroticism and conscientiousness can play a factor in how our bodies fight diseases. Researchers asked 121 healthy participants to fill out a personality evaluation and answer questions about their health. They then analyzed blood samples to study the activity of 19 different genes involved in inflammatory immune responses, and found that extraversion is associated with greater expression of pro-inflammatory genes while conscientiousness was associated with a reduced expression of pro-inflammatory genes. In other words, if you’re extroverted, your body probably fights off infections more effectively. Read More

People with Disabilities Can Easily Find Accessible Spots With This App 

Once you live with a mobility impairment, either temporarily or permanently, you begin to realize how inaccessible the world is. Even things as simple as dining out with a couple friends can become a headache. Jason Da Silva, a filmmaker in New York City living with multiple sclerosis, realized how complicated getting around can be, and created a great tool to help those with mobility disabilities navigate their own city. AXS Map is a crowdsourced mobile app that allows people with disabilities to find and rate the accessibility of local businesses. Da Silva hopes his app will bridge the gap between people living with mobility issues and the greater communities that they live in. Read More

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Why Would You Need to Contact the SSA?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) delivers all kinds of services to the American people. Whether you’re in need of retirement, disability, or survivors’ benefits, the SSA is the place you should go to get them. But what specifically can contacting the SSA do for you?

Below is a list of just some of the reasons you might be interested in talking to the SSA:

  • If you’ve applied for benefits, you might want an update on your claim.
  • If you’re a beneficiary, you can request a benefit verification letter or ask for a SSA-1099 tax summary of your benefits.
  • If you receive Medicare benefits, you can ask for a replacement Medicare card or an SSA-1020 for your taxes.
  • Anyone can contact the SSA for the address of a local Social Security office, to apply for a Social Security card, or to ask any questions about the SSA or the benefits they offer.

So how do you actually contact the SSA? There are three preferred methods that the organization encourages: calling, emailing, and visiting a local office.

1. Call them—This is generally the method of contact the SSA encourages most. The organization does not publish the phone numbers of its local offices, but you can reach their Maryland office by calling 1-800-325-0778 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also reach their automated phone service 24×7 at 1-800-772-1213.

2. Email them—You can email the SSA’s support staff at any time from this page on the website. Be advised that you should never include your Social Security number in any emails you send the SSA. This is to protect your privacy.

3. Walk into a local office—Although the main SSA office is located in Baltimore, Maryland, the organization has local offices in every state across the U.S. If you prefer face-to-face interactions over talking on the phone, visit the SSA’s office locator page. All you need is your zip code to find the nearest SSA office.

For more answers to common questions about the SSA, visit their FAQ page at faq.ssa.gov.

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Weekly News Roundup: Social Security Benefits Now Available to Married Gay Couples, New Tableware Made Specifically for People with Dementia, Music Has Positive Influence on Exercise

Here are some of the top healthcare and disability headlines for August 18–24

Gay Couples Are Eligible for Social Security Benefits, U.S. Decides

The Justice Department recently announced that same-sex married couples living in states that did not recognize their unions and who previously filed claims for Social Security benefits will now be able to collect payments. In the past, the Social Security Administration typically looked to the states to determine marital status. The ruling is expected to be enacted going forward, and will be applied to previously filed claims that were pending or in the litigation process. Read More

Inspired By Her Grandmother, This Designer is Making Custom Tableware to Improve the Lives of Dementia Patients

It comes as a surprise to some people that dementia comes with more than just cognitive impairments. Many have accompanying physical challenges as well, which can make simple tasks like eating difficult. After industrial designer Sha Yao’s grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Yao was determined to make life a little easier for those living with dementia and created a tableware set called Eatwell that accommodates dementia patients’ physical limitations while eating.

Here’s How Music Influences Your Workout, According to Science

Do you listen to music while exercising? Well good news! Turning up the beats actually benefits your workout by acting as a natural pain reliever and helping you move faster without even realizing it. Listening to music while exercising releases dopamine and opioids, which helps boost your mood, dulls pain, and makes you feel less tired. Plus the brain’s neurons can synchronize with the tempo of music, which helps when it comes to repetitive motions such as running. Read More

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Finding Her Own Way: Ghana Woman with Cerebral Palsy Makes Groundbreaking New Software

Farida Bedwei of Ghana is proof that disability doesn’t mean disadvantage. At the young age of one, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination. But today she’s become not only a beacon of hope in her country, but also a successful software engineer and influential businesswoman in her own right.

Bedwei decided early on in life that she was not going to let her disability define her. Instead she decided to pursue her education, and despite her many physical challenges, she had a sharp mind that craved education. Bedwei was homeschooled until the age of 12 then pursued further education at a government school where she could socialize with other children. Her family noticed her passion for computers, so her successors advised Bedwei to skip her senior year of high school and enroll in a one-year computer course at the St. Michael information technology center. At 15 years old she was one of the youngest students in her class.

From there Bedwei fought for her dream job at a software company called Soft. She went to the head of the technical division and said, “I want a job here. I don’t have experience, but I am inspired to learn . . . If you give me a chance, I promise you won’t regret it.” They liked Bedwei and offered her a spot on their team.

Three years into that job Bedwei was on the move to gain more experience. She ended up at Rancard Solutions as a senior software architect and worked there for nine years. She even managed to get another diploma in e-technology. But what Bedwei really wanted a degree. She decided to go to the University of Hertfordshire in England for one year to study computer science since she believed that’s where the technology market was heading.

And she was right. Today Bedwei is the co-founder and chief technical officer of the software company Logiciel and was named South Africa’s most influential woman in business in 2013. Her biggest accomplishment so far is the development of a cloud software platform for micro-finance. Basically this program helps companies administer loans to their customers by sending a code to their mobile phones. The program has helped give loans to people who need them and also protect them from fraud in the process. Now more than 130 micro-finance companies nationwide are using Bedwei’s program.

Speaking of her experiences, Bedwei says, “I am a role model for a lot of children with disabilities and it’s very important for me to showcase to the world that . . . yes . . .you can have a disabled child and it’s not the end of the world. There is so much that child can end up doing given the right resources.” A beautiful reminder to those who think they are limited, Bedwei is proof that anything is possible.

 

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