(NewsUSA) – For the fifteenth year, November has been declared National Family Caregivers Month. Parkinson’s disease (PD), which inhibits motor skill function and cognitive ability, affects not only the person diagnosed but also family and friends around them. Carolyn manages her PD with proper treatment, exercise and support from her husband and caregiver of 51 years, Joe.In his caregiver role, Joe says, "From day one, I had to accept the hand we were dealt and do what I could to ensure that Carolyn remained active and continued taking her medication as directed."After experiencing a slight tremor in her right thumb and persistent handwriting abnormalities for five years, Carolyn and Joe visited a neurologist who diagnosed her PD and prescribed AZILECT® (rasagiline tablets) and regular exercise to help manage her disease.While symptoms and treatment may vary among patients, Carolyn finds that having her husband, Joe, as a dedicated caregiver makes life easier. When asked his most important piece of advice for fellow caregivers, Joe replied, "Long-term planning for medical and financial security is essential." Additionally, he cites patience and understanding as two virtues that all caregivers must display.With Joe’s care and her daily treatment, Carolyn has been able to continue enjoying the things she loves, like spending time with her grandchildren, traveling and enjoying water sports at a nearby lake.For more information about PD, please visit www.parkinsonshealth.com. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT AZILECT Patients should not take AZILECT if they are taking meperidine as it could result in a serious reaction such as coma or death. Also, patients should not take AZILECT with tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene, dextromethorphan, St. John’s wort, or cyclobenzaprine. Patients also should not take AZILECT with other monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Patients should inform their physician if they are taking, or planning to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, especially antidepressants and ciprofloxacin. If patients have moderate to severe liver disease, they should not take AZILECT. Patients should not exceed a dose of 1 mg per day of AZILECT in order to prevent a possibly dangerous increase in blood pressure. All PD patients should be monitored for melanoma (skin cancer) on a regular basis. Side effects seen with AZILECT alone are flu syndrome, joint pain, depression, and indigestion; and when taken with levodopa are uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia), accidental injury, weight loss, low blood pressure when standing, vomiting, anorexia, joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, rash, abnormal dreams, and fall. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. See additional important information at http://azilect.com/Resources/PDFs/PrescribingInformation-pdf.aspx, or call 1-877-4-AZILECT.
Family Caregivers Month Highlights Parkinson’s Disease
Better Business Bureau Expert Advises to Let Others Go First
(NewsUSA) – Sometimes being first isn’t the best idea, advises Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois. According to Bernas, smart shoppers should refer to the vast collection of online reviews covering everything from hotel rooms to car dealerships.
“No one should make a purchase before doing their homework,” says Bernas. “Knowing what others think before you buy — and even knowing what others think of the place you’re buying from — can save you from making mistakes, and more importantly can save you money.”
Bernas concedes that not all reviews can be trusted, “It’s possible for restaurants or online merchants to write their own glowing reviews, or for competitors to pan the competition. I always advise shoppers to read online reviews to get a feeling of what people think. If the majority of reviews are pretty good, you’re usually safe.”
Bernas offers sites to help shoppers shop smartly:
Amazon.com: This site has nearly every product under the sun, most of which have reviews. Even if you don’t purchase online, it’s worth visiting just to see what others are saying about that item you’re considering.
BBB.org: The Business Reviews on this site, based on user comments, are professionally compiled and evaluated to provide an easy-to-understand letter grade of the business.
Cars.com: Known for their automotive expert-reviews, Cars.com recently started asking car owners to write their own reviews for both cars and dealerships. Knowing how much to pay for a car is important, but so is knowing where to buy it.
CNET.com: If you’re into technology, this is the place for you. Almost every piece of technology has been reviewed here, so if owning that new mobile phone is a priority, make sure you hear from others before you sign a contract.
TripAdvisor.com: No hotel room should ever be booked without first consulting this site. Does “Ocean View” really mean “Ocean View?” Find out from past guests.
Yelp.com: Your guide to everything local. Yelp provides user reviews about restaurants, shops and more.
Classic Favorite Enjoys Spirited Renaissance
(NewsUSA) – In a world of constant upheaval, cognac makers have always taken pride in how their centuries-old techniques never change. So it’s big news that these days the brandy — which originates in the Cognac region of France — is enjoying quite the renaissance among bar and restaurant patrons of all age groups, cultures and regions.
“Cognac is really gaining ground with the recent cocktail renaissance hitting bars across the country,” says Todd Appel, a master barman in Chicago, Ill. “It is such a timeless and elegant spirit
– not to mention, it appeals to such a wide range of tastes, such as bourbon and scotch drinkers, whether ordered neat, on the rocks or in cocktails — that bartenders are turning to it more and more often.”
Here are a few things to keep in mind when ordering cognac:
* There are three grades of cognac: Very Special (V.S.), which is aged two years; Very Superior Old Pale (V.S.O.P.), which is aged four years; and Extra Old (X.O.), which is aged six years.
* The younger varieties (V.S. & V.S.O.P.) work better in cocktails. Older, more mature cognacs are better consumed neat.
Why the resurgence in this beverage’s appeal? Well, according to spirit aficionados and experts, it’s in large part thanks to the emergence of new ranges of the amber liquid that defy the drink’s image as a spirit best enjoyed in the winter months. In fact, not only are two of the latest stand-outs — the aromatic CAMUS Elegance V.S. and V.S.O.P. — perfect year-round given their distinctive smoothness, aroma and overall elegance, but they’re ideal for making cocktails taste like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.
If you’re really looking for a treat, try the CAMUS Pink Love cocktail below, which Appel says is perfect before, during or after dinner.
Impact of Running Away Is Chillier Than Winter
(NewsUSA) – Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away each year in the U.S. The brutal cold of winter is only one of the threats that runaway youth will struggle to overcome. According to the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) 2011 Runaway Youth Longitudinal Study, the long-term impact on their health, economic and legal outcomes as adults is another significant risk."Long-term consequences of youth running away should encourage parents, teachers and other adults to get involved earlier to prevent a runaway situation," said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director. "Hopefully, knowing the potential consequences also deters youth from running away."For adults who ran away from home as adolescents, the likelihood of having suicidal thoughts increases 51 percent, they are more than three times as likely to attempt suicide, the likelihood of them being a smoker is 2.4 times as high, they are 67 percent more likely to use marijuana, and they are 53 percent more likely to report having a sexually transmitted disease.Running away doesn’t just affect health — it also impacts the economy. As an adult, a former runaway’s annual income level is $8,823 lower on average and the likelihood of being a recipient of AFDC, public assistance or welfare is 76 percent higher.The negative effects of running away don’t stop there. Adults who ran away as adolescents are approximately 2.5 times more likely to be arrested, and they are 99 percent more likely to sell drugs. The key is runaway prevention, and NRS offers a few tips for parents to keep their child from running away:* Understand Your Child. Try to sympathize with what your kids are going through, and look at life from their point of view.* Discuss Feelings. Talk about what it feels like to be a parent, and encourage your children to talk about their feelings, too. When parents share their feelings, children know it’s safe to share theirs.* Use Teamwork. Work together to find mutually agreeable solutions.Find help and information for runaway, homeless and at-risk youth by visiting www.1800RUNAWAY.org or by contacting NRS at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
Impact of Running Away Is Chillier Than Winter
(NewsUSA) – Parents send their children to school hoping and trusting that teachers and school systems are providing a well-rounded, holistic education that’s personalized and supportive.
Now, thanks to an initiative by ASCD, one of America’s leading education associations, anyone interested in preparing today’s youth for success can check whether schools make the grade.
Using the “Grade Your School” tool (www.wholechildeducation.org/gradeyourschool), a resource presented as part of ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative, parents and communities can confirm whether their schools meet the five tenets of ASCD’s Whole Child approach to education. Those tenets are:
1. Each student enters school healthy and learns and practices a healthy lifestyle.
2. Each student learns in an environment that is safe.
3. Each student is actively engaged in learning and connected to the school and broader community.
4. Each student has access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults.
5. Each student is challenged academically and prepared for success in college or further study and for employment and participation in a global environment.
“The Grade Your School resource really gets you thinking about what an effective, even ideal, learning environment should be. I will use this tool to open the conversation with my child’s school on how parents could work collaboratively with school officials and others to create an even better learning community,” says Sioban Maslar, Silver Spring, Md.
Composed of 14 short multiple choice questions, the Grade Your School tool helps anyone quickly find out how well a school and community are doing to prepare children for the future. ASCD then provides a report card and some tips on how to use the results.
“Each community has educators, families, administrators and counselors working hard to support the success of each learner,” says Molly McCloskey, managing director of Whole Child Programs at ASCD. “The Grade Your School tool is a starting point for anyone to check how these groups are working to support the whole child approach to education, and open a dialogue about how to work together.”
Visit the Whole Child Initiative homepage at www.wholechildeducation.org to learn more.
Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre las cataratas y su operación
(NewsUSA) – Aunque las cataratas es la causa principal de la pérdida de visión en todo el mundo, los mitos aún persisten acerca de sus causas y tratamiento. Las cataratas afectan a cerca de 22 millones de americanos a partir de los 40 años. A la edad de 80 años más de la mitad de los americanos tienen cataratas según el Instituto Nacional de la Visión.
“Las cataratas no pueden prevenirse pero pueden tratarse” afirma Richard P. Mills, MD, “y la mejor forma de asegurarse de que la visión sigue sana a lo largo de nuestra vida es visitando al oftalmólogo. Más del 90 por ciento de las personas que tienen operaciones de cataratas vuelven a tener visión”.
Cuando la lente del ojo, ubicada debajo de la pupila, comienza a envejecer sus células mueren y se van acumulando. El resultado es una visión e imágenes borrosas. Las cataratas las provocan algunas enfermedades oculares, ciertas medicaciones así como la diabetes. Al comienzo de esta enfermedad, se puede reducir los problemas de visión causados por las cataratas con una iluminación más potente y el uso de gafas. Pero llega un momento en que la operación de cataratas -; la operación más realizada en el país -; se hace necesaria. Hay cuatro mitos comunes acerca de las cataratas que debemos aclarar:
* MITO 1: Las gotas de ojos pueden prevenir o disolver las cataratas
o DATO: La Administración de alimentos y medicinas no ha aprobado ninguna gota que cure o retrase las cataratas. Debido a que las cataratas no son sustancias, no hay nada que las gotas puedan disolver.
* MITO 2: Las tareas diarias de visión corta como puede ser leer o coser pueden provocar que las cataratas empeoren.
o DATO: Las cataratas no se provocan por cómo se use o esfuerce la vista. Sin embargo, las cataratas suelen notarse más cuando se hace este tipo de tareas. Un signo de la catarata es la necesidad de más luz para realizar las mismas tareas.
* MITO 3: Las cataratas son reversibles.
o DATO: Las lentes se van nublando mientras van envejeciendo. Este proceso es inevitable e irreversible. Pero su progreso puede ralentizarse dejando de fumar, comiendo una dieta equilibrada y llevando gafas de sol.
Si tienes 65 años o más y crees que tienes cataratas, podrías acceder a un examen ocular gratuito. Los exámenes oculares se ofrecen a través de un programa denominado EyeCare America, una organización en la que trabaja cerca de 7.000 voluntarios oftalmólogos en los EEUU y Puerto Rico. Visita www.eyeamerica.org para ver si puedes acceder, o tus familiares, a este tipo de atención oftalmológica.
Look Better, Feel Better, Have More Energy
(NewsUSA) – As you push to fulfill the demands of your hectic schedule, make sure that you carve out some time to take care of you and your health. It may seem …
American Workers Seek Immigration Reform to Secure Jobs
By Armstrong Williams
For NewsUSA
With everything else going on in the world, it’s easy to forget one of the most important topics our country has been hesitant to deal with—immigration. Our dependence on foreigner workers is one of the major reasons we are having a “Sputnik Moment”, as President Obama called it in his recent State of the Union address.
Many argue that we need immigrants to take jobs natives deem beneath them. Others claim L1B foreign workers are necessary because not enough skilled American workers exist to fill such positions. Both of these beliefs are undermining the true strength of America and gradually degrading her future.
IRAs Vital to Your Future Financial Health
(NewsUSA) – In today’s economic climate, saving for retirement has become essential; opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or contributing to an …
11 Ways to Save in 2011
