Damp Crawlspace And Damp Or Wet Basement

Water under the crawlspace or in the basement is usually due to incorrect building. We will begin with methods of fixing a damp crawlspace or a damp and wet basement.

Number one: make sure the house has rain gutters and downspouts, and that the downspouts direct water away from the base of the house. One way to do this is to have the downspouts go into underground perforated tubes that lead water at least 20 feet away from the house. Another way is to have the rollup frog tongues, as some people call them, connected to the downspouts. When it rains and water fills the rain gutters and goes down. The downspouts, the fraud tongues rollout and direct water away from the house.

Number two: ensure that good ventilation is occurring in the crawlspace or the basement. This can be done by making a small outlet in the heating and air-conditioning system or by installing a small fan to create a continuous airflow and the crawlspace or basement.

Number three: look carefully outside, around the entire crawlspace or basement and make sure that the soil is slanting away from the base of the house at all places. This slant or slope insures that all rainwater is draining away from the crawlspace or basement. Some soil may need to be brought in, to even this up and make sure the water runs away from the basement or crawlspace in all areas.

Number four: inside a crawlspace, one should make sure that the crawlspace is level and clean and then covered with a few inches of dry sand. Next two layers of overlapping five mil plastic and that plastic should be covered with another two or 3 inches of dry sand. This will keep the moisture in the soil from evaporating up into the crawlspace and eventually going up into the insulation of the house.

A damp crawlspace or wet basement creates conditions suitable for mold and mildew. Mold and mildew are bad for your health, and bad for resale of your home.

Soon sellers and realtors will be required to have mold and mildew tests for homes before they can be sold or as part of a home inspection. In some areas a home inspection includes dampness, mold, and mildew inspection now.

The Angry Guy on the Phone

Health problems Caused by Anger:
The constant flood of stress chemicals and associated metabolic changes that accompany recurrent unmanaged anger can eventually cause harm to many different systems of the body. Some of the short and long term health problems that have been linked to unmanaged anger include:
Headache
Digestion problems, such as abdominal pain
Insomnia
Increased anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
Skin problems, such as eczema
Heart attack
Stroke.
Anger just isn't worth the effort.
Let me explain...
The guy on the other end of the phone was having a terrible day.
He was angry with a capital A.
Apparently, someone had failed to meet him for a pre-arranged appointment and he was on the telephone, letting me have it with both barrels.
I listened.
Tried to get a word in edgeways.
Failed.
Waited whilst he raved on about "the importance of sticking to appointments"
Then I said something that stopped him dead in his tracks.
"My name is Chris. Not Dave."
"You have the wrong number."
After he hung up the phone (Just in case you are wondering, no - his didn't apologise) I went into the kitchen and put the kettle on for a cup of coffee.
And I thought; I wonder if, after he calmed down, he would have realized how utterly pointless his anger was and how in the big scheme of things it wasn't worth it.
You see, somewhere in this world a child is dying of cancer.
Somewhere a baby is taking his or her first breath.
Somewhere a man is sat by the bedside of his wife of 50 years, watching her fade away.
Somewhere, a teenager is falling in love for the very first time.
A couple are getting married.
Another are being torn apart by the pain of divorce.
A kid is learning to ride a bike.
A refugee is hiding in a ditch with soldiers searching for her, ready to shoot to kill.
When you compare THOSE things with the fact that some guy missed an appointment - our angry friend really has nothing much to worry about now does he?
What about YOU?
Are you getting stressed out over the little things?
Things that in the scheme of things really don't matter.
Next time you feel like getting angry - stop and make sure that it is something worth getting angry about.
9 times out of 10 you'll see that it isn't.
Use your energy for better things.
Go outside and look up at the stars and stand amazed at the beauty of God's creation.
Let go of your anger. The proverb says "Anger rests in the bosom of fools"
100 years from now all that will matter is how you have lived your life.
Choose the path that says; "I'm not going to give in to anger. I'm going to see things in perspective. I'm going to 'let it go' and choose to be calm.

Holding Back the Years

Maintaining a youthful appearance is a goal for many of us - both men and women alike - as the years pass by we look at ways of preventing the onset of inevitable signs of aging. Thanks to an established range of treatments offered by LINE BREAKER, specialist in the provision of non-surgical procedures you can prevent the visible signs of aging.
Founded by respected consultant surgeon, Mr Adrian Richards and Melanie Smith a specialist aesthetic nurse, the company is committed to preventing the visible signs of aging. The straightforward procedures, are in the form of Botox®, Restylane® and Juvederm® injections and a range of skin peel products including Obagi Blue Peel and Glycolic Peel. Also included in the range of non-surgical procedures are Isolagen® and IAL System.
Botox® is highly effective at treating forehead lines, crow's feet and frown lines. The virtually pain free process involves injecting a tiny amount of Botox® solution just under the skin, in sites on the area to be treated, using a very fine needle (the same type of needle that is used for premature babies). All in all, the treatment takes only 10 minutes, its effects last on average of four to six months and results can be expected in a little as fourteen days.
Botox® treatment has been used successfully for over 20 years and is backed by extensive clinical trials, with over 1400 medical research papers showing it to be safe and effective. The treatment, which is administered by a highly trained medical practitioner, works by the botulinum toxins attaching themselves to nerve endings and blocking the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. This releases the muscles and allows the skin to repair deep wrinkles from the bottom up.
Restylane® is a popular non-animal alternative to collagen replacement therapy and consists of a clear gel, which will smooth wrinkles and folds and give contours, as well as providing lip augmentation.
Juvederm® is a hyaluronic acid in the form of viscoelastic gel, which is transparent and homogenous and has emerged as a compound for filling in wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is a physiological constituent of dermal tissue which maintains local moisture content and is gradually reabsorbed with time.
Obagi Blue Peel® is a procedure designed to significantly improve the appearance and health of your skin, as well as even out any pigmentary problems involving the face and other areas of the body suitable for men and women of any skin type and colour. It is ideal for anyone who wants to look better and reverse the appearance of the ageing process. Those who have blemish-prone skin, wrinkles, pigmentation problems, sun damage, or general poor skin quality will benefit the most.
Glycolic Peel is comprised of an all natural alpha hydroxy acid derived from sugar cane. Alpha Hydroxy acids occur naturally in certain fruits and foods. Of all the alpha hydroxy acids, Glycolic is the smallest in molecular size. This small molecular size allows it to penetrate the skin.
Treatment with Glycolic acid is gentler than chemical peels and is used to improve and smooth the texture of the skin of the face by removing its damaged outer layers.
Rejuvenation treatment unlike any other available today.
IAL System is a long acting bio-revitalisation programme to recreate a youthful appearance by restoring elasticity, firmness and hydration of skin. As we age, the level of naturally occurring hyaluronic acid in our skin decreases considerably, leading to the appearance of ageing skin and the formation of lines and wrinkles. IAL stimulates the production of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, all vital components of younger looking skin.

ADHD - Sleep Difficulties, Procrastination And Other Difficulties Related To Job Stability

Statement: My intent in this newsletter is to express as quickly as possible my own beliefs and opinions on matters. I have no problems with people who disagree with my opinion and have even been swayed to rethink my position from time to time.

I wanted to let you know that our book many years in the making should be ready for release (FINALLY) in NOVEMBER it is authored by me and Robert Eme Ph.D. and will be titled ADHD and the Criminal Justice System-"Spinning out of control. The book is designed for the police, jails, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation, prisons, halfway houses and parole officials. To learn more and get updates click here.

Obtaining and maintaining a job are common problems for many with ADHD. Many of these problems relate to the tendency of people with ADHD to be night owls. They have difficulty getting to sleep at night and when they finally do go to sleep have difficulty waking up in the morning. This can cause them problems at work with being late on a regular basis and conflicts with employers.

Another common problem is the tendency to speak our minds without hesitation. In the heat of a dispute with our boss we might fail to hold our tongue and blurt out whatever might be on our mind at that moment. Needless to say what comes out of our mouth at that moment can have serious consequences on maintaining employment.

Some of us take jobs that offer very little variety or stimulation which can be a recipe for disaster. ADHD people normally do not perform well on assembly line type work and are restless about really enjoying our work. Job satisfaction is very important to anyone who works. For a person with ADHD the fact that our job is boring or lacks adequate stimulation further complicates the first two problems of oversleeping and using verbally inappropriate responses to our employers.

In working with people with ADHD we discuss these matters regularly. I encourage them to find jobs that correspond to their peak performance hours. This is often the 300pm - 1100pm or 400pm - Midnight shift. This allows them to get off work and have a few hours to wind down before going to bed. They can then sleep in and are up and ready to make work on time. Others seem to do better working the overnight shift although this too can be problematic for those who seem to be wide awake at 300am and start fading around 400am.

What are the reasons for having trouble going to sleep at night and waking up in the morning to maintain a day job? Usually what happens is when it is time to go to bed sleep does not seem to come naturally on many evenings. We start concentrating on getting to sleep. This focus seems to usually lead to thinking about our need to get to sleep. After awhile this changes to questioning of why I can't go to sleep. This leads to reviewing the day to find out what might be bothering us. This seems to quickly lead us to an ever increasing number of problems that have occurred that day. Soon it seems that our minds are abuzz with so many thoughts it would be difficult to write them all down. As the minutes and hours pass and we still find ourselves awake we start thinking of how much sleep we have already missed and this only makes matters worse.

We may get up and watch television, or read a book hoping that will help us to become tired. This may work on some occasions and not so well on other occasions. It is usually impossible for us to identify why this works one day and not the other.

As a result we find ourselves tired during the day and maybe even having to take a nap in an attempt to make up for missed sleep. This can then lead to compounding our sleep problems that evening.

Waking up from sleep can also be confusing to us. After having so many problems going to sleep the night before we have difficulty getting up in the morning even after the alarm has gone off. The snooze button is an ADHD person's second favorite creation (next to the television remote control). We usually push the limits as to when we get up till it's too late to make it to commitments on time. On days off or weekends we seem to struggle getting up and often find ourselves spending too much time in bed. Another commonly reported problem is the seeming need to take naps on our days off. This will often result in poor self esteem due to wasting our day off or being even more tired from what I call getting "too much sleep" or self labeling ourselves as "couch potatoes".

I have found in my own situation that the best thing to do is set my alarm and when it goes off have my medication by the bedside and take it and hit the snooze button. Usually within the 10-15 minute snooze period our medication will kick in and the new alarm goes off and we seem to know what we need to do and take action.

Sometimes no matter what we try nothing seems to work all the time so we may have to accept some aspects of this. There are relaxation and exercise techniques that are out there that have worked for some and it might be worthwhile pursuing one or more of these on your own.

Target Specific Heart Health Risks

Heart Protection Nutritional Supplement Guide:
Following a heart-healthy diet can do a lot to reduce risk, but for many people, it's not enough. Heart-protecting drugs usually come with troublesome side effects, such as fatigue and the possibility of liver disease. For some risk factors, like homocysteine and low-density lipoprotein prescriptive drugs are not available.
HEART HEALTH FACTORS TO BE AWARE OF:
I. Total Cholesterol: Desirable cholesterol is below 200; borderline high is between 200 and 239; high is 240 and above.
Beneficial Nutritional Supplements:
Plant sterols. Beta-sitosterol and other plant sterols have a chemical structure similar to that of cholesterol, which enables them to reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine. Several studies have found that plant sterols can lower cholesterol levels by an average of 6 to 8 percent. Take sterol supplements 2 to 3 times a day, products labeled plant sterols, phytosterols, or beta-sitosterol.
Niacin: This form of vitamin B-3 has been known since the 1950's to reduce cholesterol levels. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration for lowering cholesterol, it is sold both by prescription and over the counter. As effective as niacin is, it triggers the release of histamine, which often will turn the skin beet red and tingly for about an hour. If you keep taking niacin, the intense flushing episodes should eventually ease. Start at 100 mg. once or twice a day and work up to 500 to 1,000 mg. three times a day.
Coenzyme Q10: People who must take statin drugs should also take 100 to 200 mg. of CoQ10 a day because statins can deplete the body's natural supply.
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol: Small, dense LDL globules are far more likely to cause blood clots than are larger, less dense ones. And when a person's antioxidant intake is low, LDL oxidation increases, which appears to be a key step in the development of heart disease. If total LDL is high, it may be wise to have an additional blood test to find out which type predominates.
Beneficial Nutritional Supplements: Plant sterols can lower LDL levels by an impressive 8 to 14 percent. Take sterol supplements 2 to 3 times a day, products labeled plant sterols, phytosterols, or beta-sitosterol.
Vitamin E: Won't lower LDL, but will curb its tendency to promote heart disease. Contrary to common thinking, LDL is not entirely bad - it's needed to transport fat-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, throughout the bloodstream. Vitamin E and other fat soluble antioxidants prevent LDL oxidation. Take 400 to 800 IU of natural-source vitamin E.
Dietary Options: To lower LDL, reduce your intake of saturated fat (in fatty meats and dairy products) and avoid processed foods containing trans fats such as most shortenings, partially hydrogenated oils, and most cookies and crackers on the market.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol: HDL is widely considered the "good" form of cholesterol, mainly because it helps transport the LDL or bad cholesterol to the liver where the LDL is then processed for excretion. The higher your HDL levels, the lower your risk of heart disease.
Ideal HDL levels are 55 mg./dL or higher for women and 45 mg/dL or higher for men.
Beneficial Nutritional Supplements:
L-carnitine: A component of protein, is highly recommended.
Fish Oil "Omega 3" Supplements: Contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - both essential dietary fats that boost HDL. They're also potent blood thinners so they prevent clotting, and they help to regulate heart rhythm.
Niacin: A form of vitamin B-3, will raise HDL levels. You may experience an intense one-hour flushing sensation after your take it. Aim for 500 to 1,000 mg. three times daily.
Dietary Options: To boost HDL, don't skimp too much on fats, particularly heart-healthy fish oils and olive oil. Low-fat diets, long recommended to reduce the risk of heart disease, actually lower HDL levels. Cut back on refined carbs, which can decrease HDL.
Triglycerides: Triglycerides actually account for most fat found in the blood and in body fat. A higher ratio of triglycerides to HDL has been associated with a significant increase in heart attack risk.
Anything under 150 mg./dL is considered normal. Aim for 100 mg. or less. Levels of 150 to 199 mg. are borderline high, and 200 mg. and above are considered high.
Beneficial Nutritional Supplements:
Fish Oil Supplements: Can lead to impressive reductions in triglyceride levels. In some studies, plant sterols have also been shown to reduce triglycerides.
Dietary Options: Triglyceride levels are directly related to the quantity of refined carbohydrates you eat, so reduce your intake of table sugar, white bread, cookies and other sweets, refined pasta, and bagels, and focus instead on whole grains.
Homocysteine: Homocysteine is normally a short-lived byproduct of protein metabolism - it's only when levels become elevated that they cause trouble. If you eat lots of veggies, particularly those that contain folic acid such as spinach, romaine lettuce, and other greens, there's a good chance your homocysteine is at healthy levels.
The American Heart Association considers normal levels to be from 5 to 15 micromoles per liter of blood. Ideal levels are under 7.
Beneficial Nutritional Supplements:
Three B Vitamins are particularly helpful in breaking down homocysteine: folic acid (1,000 to 5,000 mcg. daily), vitamin B-6 (25 to 50 mg. daily), and vitamin B-12 (2,000 mcg. daily.)
Dietary Options: Load up on leafy greens: spinach, romaine lettuce.
V. Glucose Tolerance
Beneficial Nutritional Supplements: Many supplements can help lower and stabilize glucose and insulin levels, but if you already take glucose-regulating drugs, be sure to work with your physician to adjust their dosage.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: An antioxidant, is widely used in Germany to treat peripheral neuropathy, a nerve disease caused by diabetes. Studies have found that it can lower both glucose and insulin levels. Take 100 to 300 mg. daily.
Chromium Picolinate: An essential mineral, has been shown to lower glucose and cholesterol levels. Take 400 to 1,000 mcg. daily.
Cinnamon: Can lower fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
Ginseng Supplements: 1 to 3 grams of American ginseng (Panax quinqufolius L.) significantly reduced the rise in blood sugar.
Silymarin: The antioxidant-rich extract of milk thistle, is well known for increasing liver activity. Italian researchers found that 600 mg. of silymarin daily reduced several key measures of glucose tolerance, including fasting glucose and insulin, over the course of a year.

Top 40 Health Quotations

1. "Health is the thing that makes you feel that now is the best time of the year." -- Franklin P. Adams
2. "He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything." -- Arabian Proverb
3. "To get rich never risk your health. For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth." -- Richard Baker
4. "There's lots of people who spend so much time watching their health, they haven't got time to enjoy it." -- Josh Billings
5. "Health has its science, as well as disease. " --Elizabeth Blackwell
6. "Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died. " --Erma Bombeck
7. "Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do practice? " --George Carlin
8. "The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health. " --Charles Caleb Colton
9. "As I see it every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself." --Adelle Davis
10. "Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady." --Francois de La Rochefoucauld
11. "You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay well." -- Wayne Dyer
12. "Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
13. "The first wealth is health." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
14. "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." -- Benjamin Franklin
15. "Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing." --Redd Foxx
16. "Health is not valued till sickness comes." --Dr. Thomas Fuller
17. "A Hospital is no place to be sick." --Samuel Goldwyn
18. "Health is not simply the absence of sickness." --Hannah Green
19. "Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos - the trees, the clouds, everything." --Thich Nhat Hanh
20. "A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses." --Hippocrates
21. "The groundwork of all happiness is health." -- Leigh Hunt
22. "The oneness of mind and body holds the secret of illness and health. " --Arnold Hutschnecker
23. "Health is worth more than learning." --Thomas Jefferson
24. "We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique." -- Benjamin Jowett
25. "One out of 4 people in this country is mentally imbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends-if they seem okay, then you're the one." --Ann Landers
26. "To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life." -- William Londen
27. "It's no longer a question of staying healthy. It's a question of finding a sickness you like." --Jackie Mason
28. "Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away." --Robert Orben
29. "What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn't much better than tedious disease." --George Dennison Prentice
30. "The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results." -- Anthony Robbins
31. "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." -- Jim Rohn
32. "Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory." --Albert Schweitzer
33. "A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools." -- Spanish Proverb
34. "People who overly take care of their health are like misers. They hoard up a treasure which they never enjoy." -- Laurence Sterne
35. "Measure your health by your sympathy with morning and Spring. " --Henry David Thoreau
36. "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." --Mark Twain
37. "The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." --François Voltaire
38. "Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it." -- Unknown
39. "Time And health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted." -- Denis Waitley
40. "Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy." --Izaak Walton

A Buyer's Guide to Medical Insurance

It is important to shop wisely for trip insurance. Many people buy coverage that seems inexpensive only to find out that they are not adequately covered when a medical emergency occurs. Below are a few key questions you should ask your insurance provider before purchasing trip insurance:
o What is not covered by the policy? Insurance companies call these "exclusions," and every policy has them.
o Are there specific exclusions relating to sports or other activities?
o Does the plan have a deductible that you must pay each time you file a claim?
o Does the plan deny benefits if your medical emergency arises because of a "pre-existing condition or health problem"?
Knowing the answers to these questions can help you avoid unpleasant surprises when you make a claim. Make sure you understand exactly what your trip insurance plan covers. When in doubt, call your insurer. A reputable insurance company can give you straight answers to your questions. Most offer toll free numbers so you can call them directly from wherever you are.
If you find that a plan has too many restrictions and complications, or that your questions are not being answered satisfactorily, do not hesitate to look somewhere else.
A comprehensive travel health insurance plan usually covers the following emergency medical expenses:
o Hospital accommodations
o Medical bills such as those for a physician, surgeon, and anesthetist
o Ambulances
o Diagnostic services such as laboratory tests and x-rays
o Private registered nurses
o Medical aids such as slings or splints, and the temporary rental of wheelchairs or walkers
o Prescription drugs
o Cost of returning a deceased back home
Remember that when it comes to insurance, you get what you pay for. When shopping around for trip insurance, it is important to keep in mind that not all insurance policies are alike. Be aware of minor price variations between insurance companies (the cheapest may not be the best company to deal with when you have a claim.)