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“I was having a panic attack, really,” says 65-year-old Lovelace Medicare Plan member Kathleen Brown of learning she would either need to find a new provider or health plan after ABQ Health Partners ended its contract with Lovelace Health Plan.

“I had just come on as a Senior Medicare Plan member October 1, 2012,” says Brown.

You may think the holiday season is one of the most difficult times of the year to get into shape. From the eggnog and baked ham to pies and spirits, the end of the year is a time marked with festive parties and more opportunities to indulge. Despite media reports declaring that the average American gains between 5 to 10 pounds, new research shows seasonal weight gain is quite modest. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, in reality we may only gain a pound. So if you’ve been putting off going to the gym because you think you’re efforts will be in vain, think again.

Saint James Palace announced Monday that Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting their first child. With worldwide attention on the royal couple, news of the pregnancy quickly spread. In addition to the announcement, the Palace released a statement that said the duchess was admitted to a London hospital with severe morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum.

While most of the country is experiencing a seasonably warm start to December, the flu season doesn’t take a break with warmer temperatures. In fact, the flu season officially started in October, with every state reporting cases to date. The CDC compiles this information in a weekly flu report on its website. With two new strains expected to hit this season, in addition to getting your flu shot, here are suggestions for other ways you can avoid the flu this season.

There is a never a convenient time to get sick. From work to kids and busy schedules, who has time to be sick? When it comes to interfering with your regular workout routine, do you let illness stop you from hitting the gym? For many, it is hard enough getting in the time for exercise even when we’re feeling great. You’ve carved out the time, but now you’re not feeling up to par. When is it OK and when is it not OK to exercise when you’re sick? Here are some general guidelines to help you make that decision; however, it is always important to listen to your own body.

It seems everyone is abuzz today with hopes of hitting it big. With a record $550 million (or more) Powerball payout, lottery fever is reaching a peak in 42 states across the country. While we all know our chances of winning are slim, lottery officials expect hourly ticket sales today to top $6 million an hour. In fact, jackpots of this size tend to bring in new players, who do not regularly buy lottery tickets. Today is a day most people, it appears, are willing to gamble. We may think we don’t gamble on a regular basis, but when it comes to your health, can you say the same?

Pharmacists have known of the potential dangerous interaction grapefruit and grapefruit juice have with certain prescription drugs for at least 20 years. However, a new Canadian study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal finds the number of commonly used prescription drugs with this possible dangerous interaction with grapefruit is on the rise. The potential side effects are escalating as well, according to researchers, and can include death. 

Cyber Monday is quickly becoming the new Black Friday. With an estimated 50% of Americans expected to shop online today for deals spending a projected $1.5 billion, Cyber Monday is a great opportunity for many to take advantage of the variety of products and the convenience of shopping online, all while scoring big deals. Cyber Monday is also an opportunity to take advantage of healthy deals for you and your family.

While Thanksgiving is all about food, family, fun and some football, lurking among the managed chaos in the kitchen is something called “The Danger Zone”. To help keep your family safe and healthy this holiday, the temperature of food should always stay either above or below “The Danger Zone”, 40 to 140 degrees. When thawing a turkey, it is especially important to do so correctly, or any bacteria that were on the frozen turkey prior to freezing could begin to grow again if the temperature reaches above 40 degrees.

Once considered a Southern tradition, the deep-fried turkey has grown in popularity all over the country in recent years with celebrity chef endorsements, availability of gas and electric fryers and as a time-efficient cooking method on Thanksgiving Day. Some families’ long-standing traditions of oven roasted turkeys are finding themselves slowly replaced by the crispy skin and moist meat of the deep-fried turkey. However, the reward is not without risk.