The xiphoid process is a small extension of bone just below the sternum. Discomfort in the xiphoid process can be painful as it can affect the lower ribcage, breastbone, and several major muscles located around the abdomen and diaphragm.

If you live in a state with a medically needy program, then you can use medical expenses you incur to reduce, or “spend down,” your income to qualify for Medicaid. States establish a spend-down period, during which they look at your income and expenses to see whether you qualify for coverage. You must re-qualify for Medicaid after each spend-down period. Spend-down periods range from one to six months.

For example, if your state has a spend-down period of six months, then you must show that you have enough medical expenses within the six months to satisfy your spend-down (that is, to lower your income below the medically needy income limit). Once you have enough expenses, then you are eligible for Medicaid for the rest of the six months. After the six months is up, you must satisfy the spend-down again.

Haphephobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of being touched. Other names for haphephobia include chiraptophobia, aphenphosmphobia, and thixophobia. Being touched by strangers or without consent can make many people uncomfortable. However, if the fear is intense, appears even when touched by family or friends, and if it causes significant distress, it may be haphephobia.

This condition is different from a hypersensitivity to touch, which is called allodynia. A person with allodynia may also avoid being touched, but they do so because it causes them to feel pain rather than fear.

Migraines can run in families and are diagnosed using certain criteria.

• At least five previous episodes of headaches
• Lasting between 4–72 hours
• At least two out of these four: one-sided pain, throbbing pain, moderate-to-severe pain, and pain that interferes with, is worsened by, or prohibits routine activity • At least one associated feature: nausea and/or vomiting, or, if those are not present, then sensitivity to light and sound

A migraine may be foreshadowed by aura, such as visual distortions or hand numbness.

Overuse of painkillers for headaches can, ironically, lead to rebound headaches.  Culprits include over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), as well as prescription drugs.

One theory is that too much medication can cause the brain to shift into an excited state, triggering more headaches. Another is that rebound headaches are a symptom of withdrawal as the level of medicine drops in the bloodstream.

When a sinus becomes inflamed, often due to an infection, it can cause pain. It usually comes with a fever and can be diagnosed by symptoms or the presence of pus viewed through a fiber-optic scope.

Headaches due to sinus infection can be treated with antibiotics, as well as antihistamines or decongestants

Cluster headaches, which affect more men than women, are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. They appear suddenly and are characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, and are often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion or a runny nose on the same side of the face.

During an attack, people often feel restless and unable to get comfortable; they are unlikely to lie down, as someone with a migraine might. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but there may be a genetic component. There is no cure, but medication can cut the frequency and duration.

Tension headaches, the most common type, feel like a constant ache or pressure around the head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck. Not as severe as migraines, they don’t usually cause nausea or vomiting, and they rarely halt daily activities.

Over-the-counter treatments, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen, are usually sufficient to treat them. Experts believe these may be caused by the contraction of neck and scalp muscles, and possibly changes in brain chemicals.

The states and territories that have medically needy programs are: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Feeling exhausted is so common that it has its own acronym, TATT, which stands for “tired all the time”. At any given time, one in five people feels unusually tired, and one in 10 have prolonged fatigue, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Women tend to feel tired more often than men.

Categories of Individuals Eligible for Medically Needy Programs

States that choose to have medically needy programs may decide not to offer the medically needy option to all categories of Medicaid-eligible people. For example, a state might chose to offer the medically needy program to elderly but not disabled people. However, states that offer any medically needy programs must offer them to most children and pregnant women.

“Share of Cost” is the amount you agree to pay for health care before Medi-Cal starts to pay. This is called “meeting your share of cost.” Your Share of Cost is a set amount based on how much money you make. You only need to meet your
Share of Cost in the months that you get health care services. After you meet your share of cost, Medi-Cal pays for your care the rest of that month.

Anxiety is common, but how it affects the brain is, as yet, poorly understood. New research has revealed “anxiety cells,” which provides a fresh direction for research into new treatments.

Question: What can I do if I have a problem with my share of cost?

Reply: You can complain if you think that you have a problem with your share of cost:

• You should be getting free Medi-Cal, or
• Your Share of Cost is too high, or
• The county is not allowing you to use one of your bills to meet your Share of Cost.

 To Complain

1. Tell your Medi-Cal worker what the problem is and ask the worker
to explain in writing why you have the Share of Cost or why the
bill cannot be used to meet your Share of Cost. Also ask what law
Medi-Cal based its decision on.

2. Ask for a fair hearing. A fair hearing gives you the chance to
question Medi-Cal’s decision about your bill. Call 1-800-952-5253
to get a fair hearing. Calls to this number are free.

3. You can also ask to speak to your county worker’s supervisor. If
your problem gets fixed, you can always cancel the fair hearing

Hot tea is a staple beverage in winter time; it can help to keep us warm and soothe sore throats. It can give us that energy boost in the morning or help to relax us in the afternoon. However, a new study suggests that drinking hot tea may have serious negative consequences for some of us.

However, a recent study from Peking University in Beijing, China, has found that the temperature at which tea is consumed could affect health — particularly in certain groups already at risk of negative health outcomes.

Question: How much will my Share of Cost be?

Reply: The more money you make, the higher your Share of Cost is. You can complain if you think there is a mistake and your share of cost is too high.