Category: Brandpoint

2018-03-29T15:29:00

(BPT) – With spring having officially begun, many eager homeowners and landscape professionals across the country will roll up their sleeves and reach for their shovels to start projects that require digging this season.

During the transition into “digging season,” Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities, reminds homeowners and professional diggers that calling 811 is the first step toward protecting you and your community from the risk of unintentionally damaging an underground line.

Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a free call to 811. Installing a mailbox or fence, building a deck and landscaping are all examples of digging projects that should only begin a few days after making a call to 811. Calling this number connects you to your local one-call utility notification center.

According to data collected by CGA in a phone survey in February, millions of American homeowners will likely do DIY projects involving digging this year, but 36 percent of them do not plan to make a free call to 811 before digging. Extrapolated to the full population of U.S. homeowners, approximately 48.3 million people will dig this year without first calling 811.

A utility line is damaged every nine minutes in America because someone decided to dig without making a call to 811 to learn the approximate location of buried utilities in their area. Unintentionally striking one of these lines can result in inconvenient outages for entire neighborhoods, serious harm to yourself or your neighbors, and significant repair costs.

As a result, CGA offers the following tips to make sure you complete your project safely and without any utility service interruptions, so you don’t become a statistic.

Here’s how the 811 process works:

1. One free, simple phone call to 811 makes it easy for your local one-call center to notify appropriate utility companies of your intent to dig. Call a few days prior to digging to ensure enough time for the approximate location of utility lines to be marked with flags or paint.

2. When you call 811, a representative from your local one-call center will ask for the location and description of your digging project.

3. Your local one-call center will notify affected utility companies, which will then send professional locators to the proposed dig site to mark the approximate location of your lines.

4. Only once all lines have been accurately marked, carefully dig around the marked areas.

There are nearly 20 million miles of underground utility lines in the United States, which equates to more than a football field’s length of utilities for every person in the U.S. Your family depends on this buried infrastructure for your everyday needs including electric, natural gas, water and sewer, cable TV, high-speed Internet and landline telephone. With that much critical infrastructure underground, it’s important to know what’s below and call 811 before digging.

To find out more information about 811 or the one-call utility notification center in your area, visit www.call811.com.

2018-04-10T15:09:00

(BPT) – The bright lights. The energy and laughter that fills the room. Casinos are fun and exciting to the vast majority of people but for some, they can be problematic.

Casinos are a form of entertainment, so how do you ensure what’s meant to be a fun and leisurely activity continues to be a positive experience? Time spent at a casino should be a planned and budgeted entertainment option — like you would approach an evening out for dinner or a sporting event. There are preventative measures that can be taken to help ensure that an experience at a casino remains a fun one.

Leading experts in the field of gambling research maintain that it starts with being an informed consumer who understands the realities of gaming. “Being informed means understanding your thoughts about the next big win, beating the odds, and finding the hot machine or deck of cards,” said Dr. James Whelan of the University of Memphis. “Misunderstanding these thoughts about chance can lead to harmful mistakes and excessive losses of money. Informed consumers know that setting limits on how much you spend and how long you play is the best way to not let these thoughts result in you losing more than you can afford.”

Here’s what everyone should keep in mind before their next casino visit.

Betting on a winning streak

It’s always exciting to hit a jackpot, but winning streaks are highly uncommon and beyond anyone’s control. Each spin of the wheel or roll of the dice is an independent event, which means that the chances of a specific outcome aren’t influenced by previous outcomes. So rolling snake eyes once makes you no more (or less) likely to roll snake eyes again.

The chances of beating the odds

Casino games are designed with a house advantage. Mathematically, the house advantage is a measure of how much the house expects to win, expressed as a percentage of the player’s wager. For example, in a wager with a house advantage of 5 percent, the player will lose, on average over time, $5 for every $100 wagered. Because the odds always favor the house, the longer or faster a person plays a casino game, the more the person should expect to lose even in skill­-based or hybrid games. In the same way, the more a person wagers, the more the person should expect to lose.

Believing in superstitions

It might be fun to imagine that rubbing a rabbit’s foot improves a player’s chances of hitting a jackpot, but the reality is that this “magical thinking” has no impact whatsoever. Cheating aside, there’s nothing a player can do — no ritual or lucky charm — to influence the outcome of any casino game. Superstitions can’t determine whether a player wins or loses because every casino game — whether it’s blackjack, craps or a slot machine — is based on randomness, or on chance.

Lisa Arroyo has worked at Harrah’s Joliet Casino in Illinois for the past 25 years. Like everyone who works at a Caesars Entertainment property, Arroyo thinks about gambling as a fun activity you pay for, like going to the movies or to a theater performance.

Arroyo has heard customers laughing and having fun playing blackjack — and she has also heard customers make troubling statements that have caused her concern. “We definitely don’t want people to come in and spend more than what they have budgeted. We want our guests to simply have fun and gamble responsibly. If someone makes a statement or series of statements that concern us, we will have a discussion with the patron and inform them of responsible gaming options and alternatives if needed.”

Gambling responsibly?

Is responsible gaming an oxymoron? Not at all. Arroyo wants gambling to be a choice made for the right reasons. She is one of the advocates of Caesars Entertainment’s Responsible Gaming program, the first hospitality gambling program of its kind to formally train employees on the importance of Responsible Gaming.

The premise of the program involves Arroyo and her colleagues across Caesars’ global network of properties, called Responsible Gaming (RG) Ambassadors, who are celebrating their 15th year of assisting casino guests who may not be gambling responsibly. If comments or statements are made that are concerning to any employee, that concern is brought to the attention of the RG Ambassador who will sit down with the guest to address the reported concern, offer problem gambling program assistance and help resources, and answer questions. “We just let them know that if they feel like they might have a problem, we’re here to answer questions and help,” said Arroyo.

She informs people who express they might have a gambling problem to ask themselves some of the following questions.

* Do I lose time from work due to gambling?

* Is gambling making my home life unhappy?

* Have I ever felt remorse after gambling?

* Do I ever gamble to get money to help pay debts or to otherwise solve financial difficulties?

* Does gambling cause a decrease in my ambition or efficiency?

* Do I ever gamble longer than I had planned?

Caesars Entertainment wants everyone who plays at its casinos to be there for the right reason — to simply have fun. For the past 25 years, Caesars has been committed to promoting responsible gaming and has provided assistance to guests who may not be gambling responsibly. This year, Caesars’ Responsible Gaming Ambassador Program is celebrating its 15th anniversary with 815 Responsible Gaming Ambassadors that may assist guests with problem gambling help resources.

2018-03-29T15:01:00

(BPT) – Do you love dairy, but usually regret eating it shortly after it’s gone? That sour stomach after drinking milk, munching on cheese or eating ice cream is sometimes called a dairy hangover. The culprit: lactose.

Lactose is a milk sugar. Infants have special enzymes that break down lactose. As people grow, the ability to digest milk typically decreases because they lose these enzymes. In fact, approximately 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest milk and foods made with milk after infancy, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance

If you’ve had the following symptoms after eating dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant:

* Gas

* Bloating

* Abdominal cramping

* Diarrhea

* Nausea

If you or your children have these symptoms, there are many things you can do. First, talk with your doctor or nutritionist about your health concerns. Second, consider keeping a food journal of what you eat and how it makes you feel. This can help uncover trends and important connections. Finally, research high-quality dairy-free alternatives for you and your family’s diet.

Tips for going dairy-free

Adjusting to a low-dairy or dairy-free diet might seem overwhelming. There are many dairy-free milk options on the market, but it’s important to be a conscientious shopper. Whereas most dairy-free beverages use non-food flavorings and additives like carrageenan, all plant-based Mooala products are made with real ingredients, and are USDA-certified organic, Kosher and GMO-free.

Every Mooala product has 10 or fewer grams of sugar per serving and it can be found in approximately 1,500 retailers throughout the U.S. Try Original Almondmilk and Vanilla Bean Almondmilk for a creamy treat that tastes surprisingly similar to milk. Nut-free and soy-free Original Bananamilk is also available to the estimated 5 million Americans who are allergic to tree nuts.

Another concern for people cutting dairy is vitamin D and calcium deficiencies. Fortunately, there are foods you can add to your diet so you get these important nutrients. Egg yolks, canned tuna and almonds are good sources of vitamin D. Spinach, kale, collards and white beans are good sources of calcium. What’s more, many common grocery store items are fortified with calcium and vitamin D as well, such as breakfast cereals and orange juice. Just look at the label for more information.

There are plentiful options to eat well and go dairy-free if you have lactose sensitivities. Have fun exploring new recipes that support your nutritional needs. One that features many of these powerful dairy-free foods is a tasty smoothie you can whip up in just minutes:

Grapefruit Bananamilk Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 deseeded grapefruit
1 sweet apple
2 handfuls of spinach
1 frozen banana
1 handful of ice
1/2 cup Mooala’s Original Bananamilk
Dash of fresh ginger

Directions:
Place ingredients in blender, then puree until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

2018-04-10T07:01:00

(BPT) – By Jamie Schanbaum, GSK spokesperson, U.S. Para-athlete and meningitis survivor

Before I contracted bacterial meningitis in 2008, I had never heard of it. I didn’t know how it was transmitted, what the symptoms were or how to help prevent it. After spending seven months in the hospital and losing all my fingers and both legs below the knee, I learned as much as I could about meningococcal disease. Now I want others to know what I didn’t.

1. Meningococcal meningitis, often referred to as meningitis, is an inflammation of the protective membranes, or meninges, covering the brain and spinal cord.^[1]
2. About one in 10 people carry the bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, that can cause meningitis. These bacteria live in the back of the nose and throat. People who have the bacteria without any signs or symptoms of the disease are called “carriers.”^[2]
3. Meningitis is uncommon but can be fatal. About one in 10 people infected with meningococcal disease will die.^[3]
4. About one in five meningitis survivors will suffer long-term disability, such as loss of limbs (like me), brain damage, deafness and nervous system problems.^[4]
5. Young adults, including college students and those living in close quarters, are at increased risk for meningitis due to close contact with each other, sharing drinks or eating utensils, kissing or even just coughing.^[5],[6] I was 20 years old and in my first semester at the University of Texas when I contracted meningitis. I didn’t know about this increased risk.
6. Early symptoms may be similar to those of a cold or the flu, but can progress quickly and can be fatal, or cause disability within 24 hours.^[7],[8] Symptoms can include fever, headache and stiff neck as well as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and confusion.^[9] Everyone’s symptoms can be slightly different, however. For example, I had nausea and vomiting, but also felt exhausted. My hands and feet were extremely sensitive to touching cold objects, like the sink faucet and tile floors. In just 14 hours, I went from thinking I had the flu to being admitted to the hospital. My experience may not be the same as others, so it’s important to know all the possible signs and symptoms and to seek medical help quickly.
7. There are five different vaccine-preventable serogroups of meningitis – A, B, C, W and Y. Groups B, C and Y are the most common groups of meningitis in the U.S.^[10]
8. There are two different types of vaccines needed to help protect against the five vaccine-preventable serogroups of meningitis.^[11] It’s important to know that even if you’ve had a vaccine for serogroups A, C, W and Y, you need a different vaccine to help protect against serogroup B.^[12]
9. Despite the availability of serogroup B meningococcal vaccination since 2014, less than 10 percent of teens and young adults have been vaccinated, even though serogroup B accounts for 30 percent of all meningitis cases in the U.S.^[13],[14]
10. The CDC says all 11- to 12-year-olds should be vaccinated against meningitis A, C, W and Y and recommends a booster at age 16. Additionally, the CDC says teens and young adults (ages 16 through 23) also may be vaccinated against meningitis B, preferably at 16 through 18 years of age. Though vaccination may not protect all recipients, it’s the best way to help prevent the disease.^[15],[16]

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2018-03-28T17:15:00

(BPT) – The kidneys play an important role in maintaining our overall health. While these bean-shaped organs perform multiple functions, a primary role is filtration, critical to clearing waste such as urea and to keeping the body’s fluids and electrolytes in balance. Good kidney health is essential for everyone, yet today, more than 30 million adults in the U.S. have chronic kidney disease (CKD), and there has been little new innovation to treat kidney disease in over a decade.[1]

So how does diabetes, an all-too-common cardiovascular and metabolic (CVM) condition, impact our kidneys? The most common causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure.[2] For those with diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or use normal amounts of insulin properly. Because of the high levels of sugar in the blood, the millions of tiny filtering units within the kidney are overused and damaged, leading to chronic loss of kidney function and, eventually, diabetic kidney disease. Diabetic kidney disease can lead to end-stage renal disease, which requires dialysis or kidney transplantation, further increasing the already elevated risk in diabetes for cardiovascular-related death.[3] Even with an estimated 1 in 3 people with type 1 diabetes and half with type 2 diabetes eventually developing CKD, there have been no recent breakthrough treatments for this disease.[4]

March is National Kidney Month, and it stands as a reminder of how important it is to not only take care of our kidneys and live a healthy lifestyle, but also to continue to research new ways in preventing, treating, and ultimately curing such life-threatening and widespread disease.

“Diabetic kidney disease continues to devastate communities worldwide, driven by rising diabetes incidence,” said James F. List, M.D., Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Head, Cardiovascular & Metabolism at Janssen Research & Development, LLC. “This condition is chronic and progressive with severe impact on a patient’s overall health and well-being. To have a meaningful impact on the fight against kidney disease, we need to focus our research on addressing diabetes, the primary cause of this disease.”

CKD often goes undetected until it is at an advanced stage. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the following steps can be taken to help protect the kidneys and improve overall health:[5]

1. Get tested: Ask your doctor for an albumin-to-creatinine ratio urine test, or a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) blood test annually if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, are over age 60, or have a family history of kidney failure.
2. Monitor and limit NSAIDs use: Pain medicines, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), may alleviate your aches and pains, but they can harm the kidneys.
3. Cut processed foods: Processed foods can be an unhealthy source of sodium, nitrates and phosphates, and have been linked to kidney disease, among other diseases.
4. Exercise regularly: Being active for at least 30 minutes a day can also help control lower blood sugar, which is vital to kidney health.
5. Control blood pressure and diabetes: Monitoring and managing blood sugar levels can slow the progression of kidney disease.

Kidney damage caused by diabetes can occur slowly and can go undetected over many years. However, you can take these easy steps to protect your kidneys, so act now.

2018-04-09T12:01:00

(BPT) – “As a doctor, I want patients to have open conversations with me about any symptoms they may experience without feeling uncomfortable,” said Dr. Howard Franklin, MBA, vice president of medical affairs and strategy at Salix Pharmaceuticals. “But, I understand that patients may sometimes choose not to talk about symptoms they find embarrassing.”

Such is the case when it comes to discussing bowel movements. For people who experience abdominal pain and diarrhea, it is important to discuss these symptoms with your doctor as they may be signs of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).

A report published by the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that up to 75 percent of individuals living with irritable bowel syndrome may be undiagnosed. You are not alone.

For the up to 16 million Americans living with IBS-D, it is often an uncomfortable disorder that can reduce a patient’s quality of life. IBS-D affects twice as many women as men and often occurs in people younger than 45. It can cause interference with daily activities and avoidance of certain foods.

If you’ve experienced these symptoms, Franklin offers two important steps you can take.

Understand the disorder

IBS-D is a disorder of the large intestine and though the precise cause is unknown, it is believed that there are various factors that can play a role in creating symptoms. Stronger, longer muscle contractions in the intestines and poorly coordinated signals between the brain and the intestines are all possible causes for IBS-D. Often, IBS-D is triggered by food, caffeine, stress, carbonated drinks, artificial sugars or infectious diarrhea.

Changes in bacteria in the gut have also been linked to symptoms of IBS-D. In a healthy state, the microbiome and the human host have a mutually beneficial relationship as the host intestine provides the bacteria with an environment to flourish and the bacteria provides physiological stability. A change in the number of bacteria and in their type can disrupt this relationship.

Talk to your doctor

Don’t hesitate to initiate the conversation with your doctor if you experience symptoms of IBS-D.

It’s time to talk to your doctor if:

* Your abdominal pain keeps coming back at least one day per week in the last three months

* The frequency of your bowel movements, and/or the way your stool looks has changed

Here are a few ways you can prepare for a conversation with your doctor:

1. Write down your symptoms and triggers.

2. Make a list of all your medications.

3. Plan questions in advance, such as: What are the likely causes of my symptoms? Should I make any changes to my diet or lifestyle? What treatment options do you recommend for me?

There is no need to suffer with IBS-D in silence. Speak up to your doctor and, together, find ways to manage the disorder. For more information about IBS-D, visit www.LetsTalk-2.com.

2018-03-28T13:00:00

(BPT) – Carolyn Rios and her husband Rick have adventured far and wide together. From their post-college move to the Alaskan wilderness to 20 years of humanitarian work in Russia, this couple of more than 50 years has shared experiences that have far exceeded their imaginations.

Decades of adventure together — including a forced landing in their bush plane when its engine failed over a mountain range — have helped Carolyn and Rick learn to face and effectively manage unexpected challenges. But even as the two have come to expect the unexpected, nothing could have prepared the couple for Carolyn’s diagnosis at age 69 with the rare lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, in 2015.

“All of my emergency training could not equip me for the day Carolyn was diagnosed,” said Rick. “My initial thought was, ‘What do I do now? Where’s the emergency plan? How do we land this plane?’”

IPF causes permanent scarring of the lungs. It affects up to 132,000 Americans and yields about 50,000 new cases every year. A proper diagnosis for IPF patients often takes years because its symptoms, including breathlessness and a dry persistent cough, are similar to — and easily confused with — other more common and recognizable lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or asthma.

After Carolyn’s diagnosis, she experienced a period of deep concern for taking the next best steps — spiritually, emotionally and medically. Praying brought her comfort and clarity. Sharing the news with their two sons, family members and close friends brought support and companionship. The medical information seemed so bleak, yet her energy to pursue the next best steps remained. Thankfully, she and Rick were able to identify a pulmonologist who educated the two on Ofev^® (nintedanib), a treatment option that could help slow the progression of the disease.

Armed with information about IPF and potential treatment options, Carolyn and Rick started thinking about IPF as their next adventure and charted their course. Carolyn began taking Ofev^®, and Rick became her helper, assisting her to map out her daily regimen, track her medications and doctor appointments and follow a precise exercise and nutrition plan.

Today, Carolyn’s regular checkups have indicated only a slight drop in lung function. She experiences queasiness due to the medication but works with her doctors — her “adventure guides” — to manage this by eating certain foods prior to taking the medication.

“Life leads us on many adventures. Some adventures we plan, others are unexpected, and others challenge us more than we expect! But regardless, every adventure teaches us something if we’re willing to learn,” said Carolyn. “Experiencing IPF is another one of life’s adventures for me and accepting the challenges that come with it brings me to a deeper understanding of the true essence of my life. Each day still has opportunities to love well — with or without IPF.”

Carolyn and Rick are still able to travel together and most recently planned five trips for their 50th wedding anniversary — one trip to celebrate each decade of their adventure-packed marriage. And while their new “adventure” with IPF is ongoing, they are determined to focus instead on their time together and with their sons and grandchildren.

To learn more about Ofev^® visit www.Ofev.com.

What is OFEV?

OFEV is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It is not known if OFEV is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about OFEV (nintedanib)?

OFEV can cause harm, birth defects or death to an unborn baby. Women should not become pregnant while taking OFEV. Women who are able to become pregnant should have a pregnancy test before starting treatment and should use birth control during and for at least 3 months after your last dose. If you become pregnant while taking OFEV, tell your doctor right away.

What should I tell my doctor before using OFEV?

Before you take OFEV, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver problems
• heart problems
• a history of blood clots
• a bleeding problem or a family history of a bleeding problem
• had recent surgery in your stomach (abdominal) area
• any other medical conditions.

Tell your doctor if you:

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if OFEV passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed while taking OFEV.
• are a smoker. You should stop smoking prior to taking OFEV and avoid smoking during treatment.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements such as St. John’s wort.

What are the possible side effects of OFEV?

OFEV may cause serious side effects.

TELL YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY if you are experiencing any side effects, including:

• Liver problems. Unexplained symptoms may include yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes (jaundice), dark or brown (tea colored) urine, pain on the upper right side of your stomach area (abdomen), bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, feeling tired, or loss of appetite. Your doctor will do blood tests regularly to check how well your liver is working during your treatment with OFEV.
• Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Your doctor may recommend that you drink fluids or take medicine to treat these side effects. Tell your doctor if you have these symptoms, if they do not go away, or get worse and if you are taking over-the-counter laxatives, stool softeners, and other medicines or dietary supplements.
• Heart attack. Symptoms of a heart problem may include chest pain or pressure, pain in your arms, back, neck or jaw, or shortness of breath.
• Stroke. Symptoms of a stroke may include numbness or weakness on 1 side of your body, trouble talking, headache, or dizziness.
• Bleeding problems. OFEV may increase your chances of having bleeding problems. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bleeding, bruising, or wounds that do not heal and/or if you are taking a blood thinner, including prescription blood thinners and over-the-counter aspirin.
• Tear in your stomach or intestinal wall (perforation). OFEV may increase your chances of having a tear in your stomach or intestinal wall. Tell your doctor if you have pain or swelling in your stomach area.

The most common side effects of OFEV are diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, liver problems, decreased appetite, headache, weight loss, and high blood pressure.

These are not all the possible side effects of OFEV. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, visit OFEV.com or contact Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals at 1-800-542-6257

2018-04-09T08:01:00

(BPT) – A Simple Blood Test Can Help Doctors Determine Your Current Likelihood of Having a Blockage in Your Heart Arteries

Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as a blockage in the heart arteries, has many telltale signs. Chest discomfort. Heartburn. Tightness or pressure in the throat, jaw, shoulder, abdomen, back or arm. Yet all these signs can signal other issues going on inside the patient. Too much spicy food, stress, a pulled muscle. The list can grow rather long. Determining the cause of these symptoms can be tricky business. So how do you and your doctor correctly identify the cause of your specific symptoms? It can be as easy as a simple blood test.

Understanding the results of the blood test is just as easy as getting the blood test done. This simple blood test is scored on a scale of 1-40. Those with low scores, defined as ≤ 15, can be safely assessed as having symptoms unlikely to be caused by CAD, whereas patients with higher scores have a higher likelihood of CAD. Patients with low scores can be spared invasive and potentially risky cardiac tests and procedures, while those with higher scores can receive additional testing necessary to achieve their proper diagnosis and treatment.

Recently, the results of the registry study, called PRESET,¹ looked at how effective the test does what it was designed to do. This simple blood test minimized unnecessary cardiology referrals and additional cardiac testing for low-risk patients. This means reducing patient exposure to radiation from a nuclear stress test or coronary CT scan, decreased likelihood of skin rashes where electrodes are placed for echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, exercise stress tests and more, reduced risk of dye reactions or risk associated with surgical heart procedures such as possible injury to the artery, kidney damage, bleeding complications, and more. These patients can get reliable information without the risks of the traditional tests.

The test (known as the Corus^® CAD blood test) incorporates age, sex and gene expression measurements into a single score that indicates a person’s current likelihood of obstructive CAD. Unlike a genetic test, which provides information about a patient’s future risk of disease, this test provides the current likelihood of blockage in his or her heart artery. It’s much safer for the patient and has the benefit of saving the healthcare system money by reducing unnecessary tests and procedures.

Recently, the American Heart Association highlighted the Corus CAD test in a new 2017 Scientific Statement² about how precision medicine can be used to diagnose and predict cardiovascular disorders. The AHA’s statement confirms that this simple blood test has been proven valid and useful in clinical studies. If you are concerned about the symptoms of obstructive CAD, talk with your doctor.

For more information about the Corus CAD blood test, visit www.corusCAD.com.

Fast Facts

• One in seven deaths among Americans is caused by CAD³
• Traditional tests carry various risks
• A simple blood test called Corus CAD helps doctors identify patients who are at low risk so that unnecessary and potentially harmful cardiac tests can be avoided, as well as those at high risk so appropriate next steps can be taken

_____________

¹ Ladapo JA, Budoff M, Sharp D, et al. Clinical Utility of a Precision Medicine Test Evaluating Outpatients with Suspected Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease. Am J Med. 2017;130(4):482.e11-482.e17.

² Musunuru K, Ingelsson E, Fornage M, et al. The Expressed Genome in Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke: Refinement, Diagnosis, and Prediction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2017;10(4):e1-e25.

³ Benjamin EJ, Blaha MJ, Chiuve SE, et al. On Behalf of the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2017 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135(10):e146-e603.

2018-04-05T08:01:00

(BPT) – Whether it’s scrubbing through grime to reveal a sparkling surface, cleaning dust bunnies from under appliances or organizing your pantry, there’s something oddly satisfying about a deep clean.

According to a recent survey conducted on behalf of Clorox, lots of people get the good vibes flowing when it’s cleaning day. Seventy-one percent say it makes them feel relaxed, while 57 percent say they feel accomplished.

Of the most oddly satisfying places to clean in the house, 34 percent say they find their bliss after cleaning the countertops, while a clean microwave lends that special feeling to another 30 percent.

To reach that spring cleaning joy, try some of these not-so-obvious cleaning jobs that will transform the look and feel of your space into a springtime sanctuary.

Grout: Over time, mold and mildew buildup can make your bathroom grout look dingy, but with the right approach, the grout stains will disappear. Start by wetting the tile with a cloth. Then, dip a sponge into a gallon bucket of water with 3/4 cup of bleach and wipe down the tile. Wait five minutes for disinfecting, rinse and viola! Your tiles will shine, offset by the clean lines of white grout.

Microwave: We don’t like to think about it, but a lot of hard-to-remove food residue accumulates in our microwaves and we rarely spend the time to give it a thorough clean. Microwave a cup of water and in five minutes the steam will help loosen the stains. A Clorox Disinfecting Wipe will take care of those extra stubborn messes.

Dust: In addition to moving aside the beds, appliances and other heavy pieces of furniture to get those dust bunnies, make sure you’re tackling the not-so-obvious places. Use the vacuum’s brush attachment to clear your HVAC register vents and don’t forget to dust the tops of fan blades!

Windows: Those panes have taken quite a beating over the months. It’s time to get a soft sponge and a bucket of warm, soapy water to defeat the smudges and layers of dirt, and then wipe them clean with a squeegee. You’ll love how sparkling clean glass transforms the room.

Outdoor surfaces: Right outside your back door is a golden opportunity for a deep clean. Rent or borrow a pressure washer, and once it’s set up, you can enjoy watching the blast of water and degreaser effortlessly turn your concrete walkways and driveway into bright clean surfaces — like a magic wand. To easily remove the mold and mildew off your deck and patio furniture, add 3/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water and swipe away the stains from seasons past.

Try these tips and enjoy basking in the satisfaction of a deep-cleaned house. To find the tools you need for the job, visit Clorox.com/satisfyingspringclean/.