Spot It Early: 9 Common Signs of Addiction You Need to Look out For

Published on: 12 April 2019 Last Updated on: 02 March 2020

Almost ten percent of Americans have used some sort of illicit drug in the past month. Many of those people won’t develop any signs of addiction.

Typically, people start to use drugs on a recreational basis and over time move from only using in a social setting to using on their own. As time goes on and the disease of addiction progresses, they will begin to exhibit more signs and engage in riskier behavior.

Fortunately, there are ways to catch addictions while they are forming. You can approach a loved one before their habit becomes a real problem, but only if you know what to look for. Learn more here.

1. An Increase of Stress and Feelings of Paranoia:

Most people turn to drugs and alcohol at stressful times in their life. If you know someone who has a history of turning to substances when they are upset and you find out they are going through a stressful period, you may want to reach out to lend them support.

If you reach out and you notice your friend responds with feelings of paranoia, they may be already headed towards developing an addiction. Talk to them about their recent drug and alcohol use.

2. Changes in Behavior:

Depending on how often you are able to see your loved one, you will be able to notice changes in their behavior developing.

They may start to miss work more, have problems in school, and not care about showing up at social engagements. They may also start to isolate themselves more so that they are able to make more time for using.

Their conversations will become dominated by talk of drug and alcohol use. And, they will most likely fall on hard financial times and constantly need more money.

3. Cold or Flu-Like Symptoms:

Cold or flu-like symptoms can develop due to long term use of many drugs including meth and opioids. For those who inject the drugs, they will often develop a cough and a runny nose as well as puffy eyes.

If you notice that your loved one has some of these symptoms but they don’t want to go to the doctor, it could be because they have something to hide.

4. Manipulative Behavior:

Drug and alcohol addictions are expensive. Depending on how much access a drug user has to cash, they may frequently be in need of more money to feed their habit.

When combined with the threat of withdrawal symptoms, many addicts will choose to steal or manipulate their loved ones in order to get the money they need. They will come up with lies and tell stories in order to borrow more cash. They may also steal valuables from their loved ones that they can sell later for cash.

5. Unexplained Disappearances:

Unexplained disappearances are a common indicator of addiction. In order to become an addict, you have to dedicate a lot of time to it. The more time an addict spends high, the less comfortable they tend to feel around friends and family members that don’t use.

Over time, they may start disappearing for a few hours. After a while, it could become more frequent with disappearances that last for days or even weeks.

6. Dishonesty:

If you are using drugs and alcohol frequently, there are very few people in the world who will allow you to openly continue to your behavior. Many addicts feel they have to lie in order to support their habit.

If you notice that you keep catching your loved one in lies but aren’t sure what’s at the root of it all, you should consider whether they might be using drugs or alcohol.

7. The frequency of Use:

As mentioned earlier, many people who abuse substances start off by having more control over their use. Over time, they begin to develop a tolerance that causes their body to feel like it needs more just to get high.

The more you ingest, the higher your chance of getting addicted. Many addicts feel like they can quit any time they want. This should be a red flag about someone’s use since if the problem is being talked about, they probably should have already stopped.

8. Discovery of Drug Paraphernalia:

If someone is using drugs, you may not always find their stash. But, you can usually find some evidence of their use, such as drug paraphernalia.

Make sure if you confront a loved one about what you have found, that you have all your facts straight before you make the accusation. Most addicts will deny any evidence they are confronted with.

9. Development of a Tolerance:

If you have been using drugs and alcohol yourself and you’re concerned that you may be pushing it too far, you should consider whether or not you have developed a tolerance to the substances.

Tolerance is your body’s way of telling you that it has made a permanent adjustment to craving that substance. It’s a dangerous indicator of addiction.

Other Signs of Addiction:

If you have any of the signs of addiction on this list, then it may be time for you to consider a recovery facility. But there is one more major sign left to mention – continuing despite negative consequences.

If using substances has been leading to problems in your relationships or finances, then you need to take the problem seriously and get help today. Learn more about rehab here.

More Helpful Advice:

Now that you know the signs of addiction, you can keep an eye on your loved ones to make sure they stay safe and healthy.

For more health and fitness advice, check out our other posts today.

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Common Medical Billing Errors And How Software Fixes Them

An authentic stream of revenue is needed for your medical practice to be efficient and profitable. However, you may need optimized billing efforts to avoid some challenges. Some medical billing problems you may encounter include client complaints and delayed payments. Bear in mind that these problems are capable of hurting your medical practice. Your primary task should be getting rid of those medical billing errors by fixing them. Billing errors are now common, but there are ways to fix them. Various software has been developed to help with practice management and reduce the chances of running into a medical billing problem. This software provides a medical billing solution that makes practice easy and smooth. This article will focus on the common medical billing errors you might face in your medical practice and tell you how software fixes those errors. Medical billing: Explained Medical billing is important in the healthcare industry. It involves the processing and submitting of healthcare claims to insurance companies so that medical services offered to patients by providers can be reimbursed. Medical billing is a complicated process with many steps, like claims submission, denial management, coding payment posting, and charge capture. Medical billing ensures that healthcare providers get their payment timely and accurately for services provided, which is vital for financial stability. An understanding of billing regulations and medical coding is needed for medical billing to be effective. Effecting billing also requires the potential to find your way around complex insurance systems. Excellent problem-solving and communication skills are must-haves for medical billers. This will help them resolve issues that might arise in the billing process. Electronic medical records (EMRs), electronic health records (EHRs), and electronic billing systems have risen. These systems have reduced errors and streamlined the billing processes. In essence, medical billing is challenging and complex; the task requires expertise and specialized knowledge. Medical billing is a vital role that must be addressed in the healthcare industry. Healthcare providers must receive reimbursement for services rendered n a timely and accurate manner. Despite the priority given to this medical billing process, various issues are bound to occur. These issues can make cash flow slow, claims can be denied, and financial difficulties may arise. Medical billing errors Let us explore the most common medical billing errors. 1. Data entry errors This billing error is prevalent. It occurs when incorrect information is entered into the billing system. Some errors may include procedure codes, insurance information, and patient demographics. Data entry errors increase administrative costs, delayed payments, and claim denials. To prevent this error, healthcare providers should conduct regular audits to ensure accuracy and implement a double-entry system. 2. Coding errors When a medical service is assigned a wrong procedure code or the code is not specific, a coding error occurs. Coding errors lead to fraud allegations, delayed payments, and claim denials. With proper training of staff in medical coding, this error can be prevented. Healthcare providers should also ensure that they update their coding manuals regularly. 3. Upcoding and down coding Upcoding occurs when a healthcare provider bills for an expensive service than what was provided. Downloading occurs when a healthcare provider bills for a service that is less expensive than the provided one. Upcoding and down coding are fraudulent activities that can result in and attract legal actions and fines. Billing practices must be based on detailed and accurate documentation to prevent this error. 4. Duplicate billing Billing for the same service multiple times is duplicate billing, which occurs accidentally. Duplicate billing happens when a claim is resubmitted due to a technical error or intentionally as a fraudulent practice. Note that duplicate billing leads to legal actions, delayed payments, and claim denials. Implement a system to track and reconcile all claims to prevent duplicate billings. 5. Coordination of benefits errors This occurs when two or more insurance companies are responsible for a medical service payment, and a disagreement arises about who is responsible for the payment. Coordination of benefits errors can lead to increased administrative costs, delayed payments, and claim denials. Healthcare providers must ensure that their patient’s insurance information is updated and accurate. 6. Out-of-network errors Errors like this occur when the healthcare provider bills for services an out-of-network insurance provider provides. This comes up when a patient receives medical services from a provider outside their outlined insurance network. Out-of-network errors lead to increased administrative costs, delayed payments, and claim denials. Educate patients about insurance coverage and be sure that they obtain prior authorization for out-of-network services. How to fix them with software? Here are some ways software can be used to fix medical billing errors and improve the financial health of a healthcare practice. 1. Automated claims management Automated claims management software is one of the best strategies to stop medical billing mistakes. Before submission to insurance companies, this software may automatically examine claims for mistakes and inconsistencies. Automated claims management software decreases the likelihood of claim denials and delayed payments, which may check for coding mistakes, duplicate billing, and other frequent problems. Eliminating the need for manual claims review and resubmission can save healthcare providers time and money. 2. Electronic health records EHRs can improve medical billing efficiency by automating certain aspects of the process. For example, EHRs can automatically generate billing codes based on the services provided, reducing the risk of errors related to manual coding. The advancements in EHR software development have been pivotal in enabling these automations and ensuring the accuracy of medical billing and coding. EHRs can also facilitate submitting claims to insurance providers, reducing the time and resources needed to complete this task. Patient outcomes can be improved by healthcare providers by providing them with a complete picture of their patient's medical histories. By having access to comprehensive medical records, healthcare providers can make more informed decisions about patient care and avoid mistakes related to incorrect or incomplete information. 3. Real-time eligibility verification Real-time eligibility verification software can help healthcare providers improve their revenue cycle management by reducing the time and resources needed to verify insurance information. By automating checking patient eligibility and coverage parameters, healthcare providers can free up staff resources and focus on delivering high-quality patient care. The software can also improve the accuracy of insurance information by reducing the risk of errors related to manual data entry. By automatically verifying insurance information in real-time, healthcare providers can ensure they have the most up-to-date and accurate information before providing medical services. 4. Automated payment posting Automated payment posting software can help healthcare providers improve their revenue cycle management by reducing the time and resources needed to process payments. By automating the posting of payments from insurance companies, healthcare providers can free up staff resources and focus on delivering high-quality care to their patients. Automated payment posting software can also improve payment processing accuracy by reducing the risk of errors related to manual data entry. By automatically matching payments to the corresponding claims, healthcare providers can ensure that payments are processed accurately and promptly. 5. Data analytics Data analytics tools can help healthcare providers track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to their revenue cycle, such as days in accounts receivable, collection rates, and net revenue. By monitoring these metrics, healthcare providers can identify areas of their revenue cycle that need improvement and implement strategies to optimize their financial performance. These tools help healthcare providers identify opportunities to streamline their operations and reduce costs. For example, by analyzing supply usage and waste data, healthcare providers can identify areas where they can reduce waste and save money. 6. Automated denial management This software can help healthcare providers identify patterns in claim denials, allowing them to improve their billing processes to prevent future denials. By streamlining the appeals process and reducing the number of denied claims, healthcare providers can improve their revenue cycle management and ultimately increase their bottom line. Automated denial management software can provide real-time insights into claim status and help healthcare providers prioritize which claims to focus on. This can be especially helpful for practices that handle large claims or have limited staff resources. It is a valuable tool for healthcare providers looking to improve their revenue cycle management and reduce the time and resources spent on manual appeal procedures. 7. Patient payment portals Patient payment portals can also improve patient satisfaction by offering a convenient and secure way to pay medical bills. Patients can access their payment history, view outstanding balances, and set up payment plans through the portal. This level of transparency and control can help reduce patient anxiety and promote trust between patients and healthcare providers. It also saves healthcare providers time and resources by automating payment processing and reducing the need for staff to handle payment transactions manually. This can allow healthcare providers to focus on delivering high-quality care and improving patient outcomes rather than on administrative tasks. Conclusion Medical billing errors are a significant problem that can lead to financial loss and legal action for healthcare providers and patients. Healthcare providers can improve their revenue cycle management by implementing effective strategies to prevent these errors and ensure high-quality patient care. Software programs help streamline billing practices to provide better care to patients. Try using software to fix your medical billing errors to experience swift medical billing processes. Read Also: How Can A Dallas Functional Medicine Doctor Help You? How Can Healthcare Staffing Benefit You? American Healthcare and its Woes

What you need to know about Dental Implant Surgery?

The technological advancements in recent years haven’t been enough to stop the suffering of millions of people. The lack of dental education, awareness and the huge cost involved, are the main factors that contribute to tooth loss Ever since their approval for medical use back in 1982, dental implants have become an integral part of the industry as they improve the standard of life for many. In this article, we are going to go through everything you need to know about the implants. How are they manufactured? The dental implants consist of metal frames, added into the jawbone through surgery. They serve the purpose of a solid foundation for dentists, allowing them to add the replacement teeth. Whether they’d be permanent or removable is completely up to you. How do they work? By giving the required support for the dentures and the bridges to remain fixed without shifting while speaking. The implants are fused with your jawbone underneath the gum, which makes the crowns, dentures, and implants feel more natural inside your mouth. However, note that every individual considering implants must have perfect oral hygiene and healthy gums. What are the advantages of the implants? Appearance: As they are designed to fuse with the bone and become permanent, they will become a natural part of your very own teeth. Speech: People with dental problems have difficulty speaking clearly. This isn’t the case with dental implants, whatsoever. Confidence: Having a desired smile will surely boost every individual’s self-esteem. Durability: With the proper oral care, your dental implants can last many years due to their high durability. Am I eligible for this procedure? In case you need such a treatment, you must contact a dentist to determine whether you have enough bone and healthy gums for the purpose. However, each and every individual must be evaluated individually before starting the treatment as other health conditions might cause problems. According to statistics, the success rates of these implants is over 98%, but it highly depends on which part of the jaw is being placed on. What does the procedure involve? As we have already said above, every individual is special and requires a personalized treatment plan. First of all, your dentist must prepare the spot using restorative dentistry. Then, the tooth root implant is placed in the empty spot and the healing begins. As the jawbone recovers, it grows around the implant, making it rock solid. Once the bonding procedure is done, a special connector post is attached to hold the new tooth. Afterward, the replacement tooth, also known as a crown, is attached to the connector’s post. The replacement tooth is created after a model of your bite, making it look and feel just like your own natural teeth. Are they safe? As long as you hire a well-known professional, you don’t have to worry about your implants as they are considered the safest way to replace a missing tooth. They won’t only look and feel natural, but they will also promote the bone’s growth beneath the missing tooth, allowing you to recover faster. Can children have dental implants? Kids are energetic and often mischievous, which can lead to an accident or an injury while growing up. None of us made it to adulthood without a single scar, but what can we do if our child loses teeth? There are many procedures that can save a child’s broken tooth, but dental implants can be placed only after the bones of the jaw stop growing. The earliest possible age for the dental implant’s procedure is considered to be 17 years. According to the Fort Wayne dentists we talked to, it is recommended to go through a series of examinations before proceeding with children’s implants. Read Also : 5 Dental Hygiene Tips For A Healthier Smile Important Habits To Protect Your Ear Health And Hearing

3 Things to Know About Long-Term VOC Exposure

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are one of the leading causes of air pollution. They pose an immediate environmental risk to the average individual. VOCs can be both natural and manufactured. They are dangerous because of their volatility, which means the toxins evaporate into the air at room temperature. VOCs are released into the indoor air that we breathe and can cause exposure. Beyond the danger of their short- and long-term effects, VOCs are particularly hazardous because most of the time, you cannot see or smell them. Learn the following about long-term exposure to VOCs and how you can reduce your risk. You Can Be Exposed Through Everyday Activity: Individuals can be exposed to VOCs in a variety of ways. Smoking cigarettes or being in the presence of secondhand smoke, using common household cleaners, working with commercial building and crafting chemicals, or using products that contain formaldehyde or benzene all increase your exposure to VOCs. There are two ways to be exposed to VOCs. First, you can become exposed by inhaling air that contains volatile compounds. In addition, you can become exposed when your skin comes into contact with products that contain and release VOCs. Formaldehyde is one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution via VOCs because of the significant amount of residential, commercial, and personal products that contain it. Long-Term Exposure Can Cause Serious Issues: The danger of VOC exposure varies depending on the amount of VOCs in the air, the length of time you have been exposed, and how often you are exposed to it. Short-range exposure can garner a variety of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, irritation to the eyes, and memory issues. Being exposed to VOCs for longer periods can induce more serious symptoms. They can include consistent eyes, nose, and throat irritation; nausea; loss of coordination; prolonged periods of fatigue; damage to your liver, kidneys, and central nervous system; and in some cases, even cancer. It's Possible to Reduce Your Risk: To limit your risk of VOC exposure, it is advised to reduce the amount of time you spend breathing in air that contains VOCs. Likewise, limit the time you spend using chemicals that contain and release VOCs, such as household cleaners or commercial crafting supplies. Whenever possible, buy and use naturally sourced cleaning supplies, cosmetics, or other personal items. Taking measures to improve air quality can also help to reduce symptoms and any long-term damage. The installation of features such as air-cleaning ventilation systems can improve your air quality. These systems help take out the air that contains VOCs inside your home and replace it with preconditioned fresh air. Volatile organic compounds are an immediate threat and can cause harmful long-term symptoms. However, there are ways you can protect your health. Start by limiting your exposure to air that contains VOCs. In addition, install ventilation systems to replace contaminated air inside your home. It doesn't take a lot to make a difference, but it can save you from some serious health concerns in the long run. Read Also: Are X-Rays Dangerous? American Healthcare And Its Woes Can Vaping Really Help You Kick Your Smoking Habit? As The Years Go By: Top 3 Challenges Faced By The Aging Population

Spot It Early: 9 Common Signs of Addiction You Need to Look out For

1. An Increase of Stress and Feelings of Paranoia:

2. Changes in Behavior:

3. Cold or Flu-Like Symptoms:

4. Manipulative Behavior:

5. Unexplained Disappearances:

6. Dishonesty:

7. The frequency of Use:

8. Discovery of Drug Paraphernalia:

9. Development of a Tolerance:

Other Signs of Addiction:

More Helpful Advice:

Benefits of Buying Your E Juice in NZ Online

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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Common Medical Billing Errors And How Software Fixes Them

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Spot It Early: 9 Common Signs of Addiction You Need to Look out For

1. An Increase of Stress and Feelings of Paranoia:

2. Changes in Behavior:

3. Cold or Flu-Like Symptoms:

4. Manipulative Behavior:

5. Unexplained Disappearances:

6. Dishonesty:

7. The frequency of Use:

8. Discovery of Drug Paraphernalia:

9. Development of a Tolerance:

Other Signs of Addiction:

More Helpful Advice:

Share this Article

Benefits of Buying Your E Juice in NZ Online

Different Types Of Blood Circulation Exercise

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related