(NewsUSA) – Being aware of your home’s carbon footprint takes targeted effort, but it can also save you money. Incorporating eco-friendly additions into your home can massively reduce energy bills and save on repairs.
According to CellularWindowShades.com, up to 24 percent of a fuel bill can escape out of leaky windows. But replacing windows can cost anywhere from $400 to $800 per window. Depending on the size of your house and the state of your windows, total cost could be anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000.
One affordable yet environmentally efficient option is insulating window shades. There’s some hesitation around insulating shades, but here are a few questions and explanations straight from the expert’s mouth.
Q: Our windows are cold. Do we need to replace them, or can we use insulating shades?
A: If your windows are no longer functional, and your energy bills are off the charts, go with replacement windows. However, if they are simply old and cold, homeowners might want to consider high-quality insulating shades with side tracks that provide a four-sided seal. Shades like these will solve your heat-loss problems immediately.
Q: How do I know if insulated shades are the right option for my home?
A: Quality insulated shades are part of a good energy-conservation plan. After installing energy-efficient CFL bulbs, insulated shades are the next step. Mini-blinds can transfer the cold from your window into the room, increasing your energy costs by 10 percent. Insulating shades can reduce that by half.
Q: What are the environmental benefits of using insulated shades?
A: Residential heating and cooling eat up more fossil fuels than any other sector. A shocking 50 percent slips through poorly insulated windows. Experts guage that the equivalent of 450 million barrels of oil could be saved every year if all windows in the U.S. had effective insulating shades.
For more information, go to cellularwindowshades.com. The shades come in a variety of attractive and complementary colors.
12 in 2012: Doctor-Prescribed New Year’s Resolutions
Salga de la oscuridad con exámenes oculares regulares
(NewsUSA) – Cada cinco segundos, alguien se queda ciego, pero en el 80 por ciento de los casos, la ceguera es prevenible. La ceguera por una enfermedad ocular a menudo tiene tratamiento, pero solo si se encuentra en una fase temprana mediante exámenes oculares regulares.
Para ayudar a prevenir una pérdida de visión evitable, EyeCare America, un programa de servicio público de la Fundación de la Academia Americana de Oftalmología, ofrece exámenes oculares gratuitos realizados por oftalmólogos voluntarios dedicados a una buena causa. Los oftalmólogos son los médicos que se especializan en los ojos y el cuidado de la visión, desde gafas a intervenciones quirúrgicas complejas.
“Más de 45 millones de personas en todo el mundo están ciegas”, afirma el doctor Richard P. Mills. “En muchos casos, las enfermedades oculares más severas no ofrecen señales de aviso hasta que es demasiado tarde y la pérdida de la visión es irreversible. Pero exámenes regulares de los ojos le pueden ayudar a encontrar los problemas pronto, cuando todavía hay tiempo para tratar las enfermedades y evitar la pérdida permanente de la visión”.
EyeCare America proporciona exámenes oculares durante todo el año a un costo accesible para las personas de 65 años o más. Los exámenes oculares son proporcionados por un cuerpo de casi 7.000 oftalmólogos de EyeCare America en todo EE.UU. y Puerto Rico.
Las personas interesadas en el programa pueden visitar www.eyecareamerica.org para comprobar si son elegibles. El centro de referencia online de la organización también permite a los amigos y miembros de la familia averiguar al instante si sus seres queridos son elegibles para asignarles un oftalmólogo.
Aunque algunas enfermedades de los ojos, como las cataratas, progresan muy lentamente y tienen síntomas, los problemas oculares serios, como el glaucoma, la degeneración macular por la edad (AMD) y la retinopatía diabética, ofrecen pocas o ninguna señal de alerta. Se pueden encontrar y tratar en las fases tempranas mediante un examen ocular médico cuando el cuidado preventivo todavía es posible. Para cuando estas enfermedades comienzan a mostrar síntomas, como visión borrosa o puntos negros en el campo de visión, la pérdida de visión es irreversible.
EyeCare America proporciona servicios a las personas mayores sin servicio médico y a aquellos que tienen un alto riesgo de enfermedades oculares. Desde su creación, EyeCare America ha ayudado a más de 1,5 millones de personas.
5 Yummy Tips for Healthy Snacking
(NewsUSA) – When family schedules go into overload, healthy eating is easily overlooked. And when time is tight, it’s even more important for snacks to pack a nutritional punch. For busy families on the go, try these healthy snacking tips from chef and registered dietitian Michelle Dudash.
1. Plan Ahead. Carrying family snacks in your purse, car or gym bag while out and about can prevent vending machine and drive-through slip-ups. Apples, California Raisins, nuts and whole-grain crackers serve as great portable options.
2. Find the Perfect Snack Pairings. A blend of nutritious fats, complex carbs and lean proteins can help curb appetites. Consider a cheese stick and pear slices, fruited Greek yogurt or trail mix.
3. Refuel Your Body Naturally. The first 30 minutes after any physical activity is the most critical time for parents and kids alike to replenish the body’s energy stores. Reboot with a natural snack like a handful of California Raisins, which also contain antioxidants and fiber.
4. Curb Those Cravings. A healthy bite after school can keep the kids satisfied until dinner. Try carrot sticks and sugar snap peas dipped in hummus, a strawberry banana smoothie or a brown rice cake spread with natural peanut butter topped with banana slices.
5. Treat Yourself With Decadent Alternatives. Satisfy your chocolate cravings with nutrient-rich combinations, like strawberries dipped in dark chocolate syrup and rolled in slivered almonds or whole-grain crackers with natural chocolate hazelnut spread.
Next time that late afternoon hunger strikes, reach for this sweet and savory “Reboot” Trail Mix with California Raisins!
Create an Outdoor Resort in Your Backyard
(NewsUSA) – This year, many people will spend vacations at home instead of traveling. According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), with a few updates to your outside lighting, you can enjoy a mini vacation at home. Believe it or not, it’s easier and less expensive than you might think to transform your existing patio, deck or pool area into a lovely retreat. Rather than buying a costly designer patio set or lounge chairs that will lose their luster by next season, invest in a new lighting scheme that will enhance your existing outdoor furniture and amenities.
“Creating a beautiful landscape doesn’t have to be expensive,” says Rick Wiedemer of Hinkley Lighting. “A few well-placed, low-voltage path or accent lights can make a huge impact on a well-manicured landscape.” No lawn is too small. “Even modest homes or those with limited yards or gardens can benefit,” he says.
All that is needed are some basic tools, a transformer (which reduces standard 120-volt household current to the safe 12-volt level), outdoor low-voltage copper cable and low-voltage lighting fixtures — all of which you can find at your local ALA-member lighting showroom.
“The best thing about using low-voltage lighting outdoors is you don’t have to do everything at once. I recommend purchasing a transformer that is larger than you immediately need,” says Lew Waltz of Philips Hadco. That way, when you are ready to install additional lighting, the larger transformer will already be in place and ready to handle the task. “You only pay for the energy consumed by the fixtures,” says Waltz. “In other words, a 600-watt transformer that only has 200 watts of fixtures on it, uses 200 watts of energy, not 600.”
When laying out your project, remember that a little light goes a long way outdoors. Consulting with a lighting professional at your local ALA-member lighting showroom can help you avoid making the common mistake of too many fixtures in one area. To find more information about lighting all areas of your home, go to www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com.
Eyeing the Window to Your Health
(NewsUSA) – Some say the eyes are windows to the soul. But did you know that the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can also indicate increased risk of heart attack or stroke?
EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is raising awareness about AMD and its potential “window to health” through your eyes.
Imagine seeing black holes in your field of vision instead of your family, your garden or your favorite book. More than 10 million Americans suffer from AMD. AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the eye’s macula, where the sharpest, central vision occurs. It’s the leading cause of vision loss for those 65 and older. While not curable, AMD’s advancement can be delayed and treated, leading to many more years of healthy vision for those who detect it early through an eye exam.
This same blood vessel damage can also indicate risk for heart attack or stroke — as much as 8 to 10 times greater. An Australian study noted that among those whose health was followed for a number of years, subjects with AMD had more than double the incidence of heart attack or stroke.
Eye exams let patients know of increased risk for other serious health problems.
EyeCare America provides eye exams at no out-of-pocket cost to people 65 and older and offers online medication assistance information. Eye exams are provided by a corps of nearly 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Those interested in the program can visit www.eyecareamerica.org to see if they are eligible. The organization’s online referral center also enables friends and family members to find out instantly whether their loved ones are eligible to be matched with a volunteer ophthalmologist.
EyeCare America is designed for people who are U.S. senior citizens or legal residents who haven’t seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years. Additional information can be found at www.eyecareamerica.org.
Cancer and Pain: What You Need to Know
(NewsUSA) – Pain is a frequent yet often overlooked consequence of cancer. An estimated 70 percent of those with cancer experience significant pain during their illness, yet fewer than half receive adequate treatment for their pain. If pain is not managed properly, it can worsen the physical, emotional and psychological toll of cancer.
Pain can result from a variety of sources, including the cancer itself (tumor growth, spinal cord compression), medical tests, and treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Uncontrolled pain may interfere with cancer treatment, weaken the body, and impair the healing process. It can also prevent people from engaging in everyday activities that make life more fulfilling.
According to Kim Thiboldeaux, president and CEO of the Cancer Support Community, managing pain can and should be an important part of overall cancer care.
“Pain doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of cancer,” says Thiboldeaux. “There are multiple options available to manage pain. For instance, many patients can benefit from an integrative approach that combines prescription or over-the-counter medications with complementary therapies such as yoga, acupuncture and guided imagery.”
One of the keys to effective pain management is open and honest communication with your healthcare professional. Prepare for medical appointments by keeping a journal, and note the severity, location, frequency, and duration of pain. Thiboldeaux also urges patients to learn as much as possible about pain management, and to be actively involved in the development of an individualized treatment plan.
To learn more, go to http://www.partnersagainstpain.com/pain-management/cancer-pain.aspx. The site features tools and information to help patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals better understand and manage pain.
Sharing the News About Medicare’s Preventive Services
(NewsUSA) – Did you know that as a result of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare now covers a yearly wellness visit and many preventive screenings and services? Preventive services like these can find health problems early, when treatment works best. These services can also help keep you from getting certain diseases or illnesses.
How to Add a Magical Touch To Your Child’s Bedroom
(NewsUSA) – From the tiniest of tots to tweens and teenagers, a child’s bedroom is a reflection of their identity. Kids often have strong opinions about their likes and dislikes when it comes to their rooms, which can pose decorating challenges for parents: one year, the little one is all about Winnie the Pooh; next Buzz Lightyear may capture his imagination. It’s hard for parents to keep up, let alone create an environment that reflects their children’s taste — and do so within a budget.
A solution can be found in a new collection of wallpapers, murals, borders and wall decals from Disney, the company that has brought beloved characters to life for generations. Best of all, this particular collection was created like building blocks that both capture the magic of the Disney Universe, and allow favorite characters to be added and subtracted according to a child’s changing whims.
The foundation of the collection is wallpaper, since nothing creates an environment more quickly and affordably than covering all four walls. Designed to remain relevant as the child grows, the wallpaper patterns feature enduring classic stripes, scrolls and geometric shapes in a range of soft pastels and rich, saturated colors. Certain patterns, such as a whimsical Mickey Mouse silhouette, are subtle and sophisticated interpretations of iconic Disney motifs that also work well in other rooms of the house.
Disney characters make wonderfully grand appearances on murals, borders and peel-and-stick wall decals. Borders and wall decals can layer on top of the coordinating wallpapers or stand on their own. Murals (starting at $149) are 6′ x 10′ and make a delightful decorating statement as a feature wall design. Versatile wall decals (starting at $12.99) can be repositioned, removed and reused and are great for toy chests, cabinets and headboards as well as walls. Adorable and affordable, they won’t break the bank when a new character strikes the child’s fancy.
Visit www.RoomMatesPeelandStick.com to view the Disney collection, order samples or purchase Disney wallpapers, wall decals and murals. The site also offers photos of decorated rooms with instructions on how to get the look.
The GRE Revised General Test Debuts In August
(NewsUSA) – Accepted by thousands of graduate schoolds and now more than 500 business schools worldwide, the GRE General Test can open up a world of opportunity for students looking to earn MBAs and other graduate degrees.
Prospective test takers have even more reason to take the test starting this August 2011, when the GRE revised General Test makes its debut. The revised test will include new types of questions and design features that contribute to a friendlier test-taking experience, as well as a new score scale that makes it easier for schools to compare test-taker performance. Here’s what you should know:
1. The GRE revised General Test will be more test taker-friendly. Featuring advanced technology that lets test takers edit or change answers, and skip and return to questions, all within a section, candidates will now have the freedom to use more of their own test-taking strategies. Candidates will also have access to an on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section.
2. Test-takers can save 50
percent on the GRE revised General Test if they take it in August or September, 2011. Educational Testing Service (ETS), creators of the test, is offering a limited-time 50 percent discount to all who take the GRE revised General Test between August 1 and September 30, 2011. Scores will be sent by mid-November.
3. Students can use Facebook or TaketheGRE.com to learn more about the GRE revised General Test. The GRE page on Facebook gives those considering graduate or business school an even greater opportunity to share advice and get clear information about the GRE revised General Test. The GRE program also introduced TaketheGRE.com, a website that provides pertinent information, plus access to free, official GRE test preparation software. Prospective test takers can sign up for free, customizable alerts and reminders about registration, test preparation and more.
4. The GRE revised General
Test will feature new question types. Questions in the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections now more closely reflect the kind of thinking you’ll do in today’s demanding graduate and business school programs. Changes include more emphasis on real-life scenarios and data interpretation and elimination of antonyms and analogies.
5. Registration is now open. Students are encouraged to select their test date as soon as possible. Candidates who need score reports before November should take the current test before August.
For more information, plus test preparation material from ETS, visit www.takethegre.com.
Statin Drugs Can Improve Vascular Health
(NewsUSA) – There are many benefits for patients with all types of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) when they take statins. Side-effects are relatively rare, and there are many varieties of statins available that allow careful selection for the best statin for each individual patient.Statins lower "bad" (LDL) cholesterol, which reduces the rates of stroke, heart attack, and atherosclerosis of leg arteries. Data suggest that statins beneficial effects go beyond simply lowering the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood stream. They stabilize atherosclerotic plaques, making sudden rupture that causes stroke and heart attack less likely. They also lessen inflammation within the artery by improving the function of cells that line the inside of the artery. This likely leads to a lower chance of sudden thrombosis of any artery affected with artherosclerosis.Even patients who have previously had a heart attack, heart surgery, angioplasty, or a stent benefit in survival and protection from other cardiac events by taking statins. And patients who take these drugs while undergoing surgery or intervention for cardiac or vascular problems have a noticeably lower rate of complications during the surgical time period.Few adverse effects of statins have been recorded since their introduction 40 years ago. However, the effects can be severe, and it is important to know the potential down-side of these drugs. In rare circumstances, statins can cause liver damage. There are no symptoms with liver damage, so doctors do frequent laboratory tests when use of a statin is started to closely monitor liver function. Statins can also cause a wide range of muscle injury. In its worst form, myositis results from statin use. This rapid muscle destruction can lead to kidney failure. This side-effect is rare, but muscle pain and cramps are frequent and far less serious side-effects of statins.If your doctor prescribes statins, follow their advice for laboratory tests. If your atherosclerosis leads to vascular disease, see a vascular surgeon. Today’s vascular surgeons are the only specialists who are skilled in all vascular therapies. They are comprehensively trained in medical, endovascular (minimally invasive), and surgical therapies. Vascular surgeons are the experts who provide the best diagnosis and treatment for vascular conditions.To learn more about your vascular health and to find a vascular surgeon, visit the Society for Vascular Surgery’s website at www.VascularWeb.org.
