Roughly 480,000 U.S. deaths are attributed to smoking, 29% of which are due to Lung Cancer, while 28% are from Ischemic Heart Disease. Smoking addiction is one of the most common addictions in the U.S. yet so many don’t entirely understand the true cost of smoking. You can’t wake up in the morning without feeling the need to smoke, you can’t get through the day without multiple smoke breaks because the anxiety you feel without smoking is crippling. But in truth, you can never really gain anything of value from this addiction, but you can lose so much from smoking addiction. If you are struggling with a smoking addiction, you need to know that you don’t have to be one of these statistics. If you have come to the decision and are ready to quit the addiction, here some tips to help you on your way to success: 1. Find an accountability partner Holding yourself accountable is a highly effective way to keep yourself honest when you are fighting an addiction, and an accountability partner can do just that. This can be a family member, a close friend, a counselor, try finding a smoking cessation program. Tell them your goal, ask them to help hold you accountable for achieving that goal with regular contact and updates on how you are doing on your journey.

Watching a loved one begin to suffer with memory skills and loss can be quite heartbreaking. At first you may not even really notice much. In our own day to day activities we can often become forgetful. There are many times someone in wonderful mental health will walk into a room, become distracted and completely forget why they entered the room. Because of our hectic daily lives we often do not notice these early signs in elders until more warning bells start ringing. If you are concerned that your loved one might be showing signs of dementia here are 5 very common signs to look for: 1. Memory loss Memory loss is one of the most common signs of dementia. People suffering from this can have 2 types of memory loss. These types are past and present. In some cases people forget important life events that happened at some point in their life. The passing of a parent, a wedding, buying a house or the birth of a grandchild can be examples of this type of memory loss. Present memory loss is when those suffering forget things they were just told. Perhaps they were reminded of a doctor’s appointment and within an hour they have completely forgotten they are going to the doctor that day.

Type 2 diabetes, which is often referred to as adult-onset diabetes, is a metabolic disease that results from elevated blood sugar, insulin resistance (or the inability for the body to absorb insulin for energy), or a lack of insulin production. Patients with type II diabetes are unable to utilize insulin properly. Doctors may prescribe medication (i.e., insulin) and/or several lifestyle changes (i.e., healthy diet and exercise) to help manage the following symptoms: 1. Increased thirst and urination Frequent urination in diabetics is often caused by the body’s trying to remove extra glucose storage. However, frequent urination often causes the patient to lose critical nutrients that trigger several other symptoms on this list. In addition, you may also become increasingly thirsty as you eliminate more bodily fluid then you are taking in. The key is to control your elevated blood glucose levels as quickly as possible. 2. Unexplained fatigue and weight loss As you begin to lose critical body nutrients, you are more likely to begin to feel sudden and unexplained fatigue throughout the day. This is largely due to the body’s inability to use insulin for energy. In healthy bodies, insulin is produced naturally, however, when glucose levels become dangerously high, they then begin to produce high amounts of ketones.

Medicare can be great for hospital insurance and medical insurance for many people over the age of 65 and under the age of 65 depending on their disabilities. There are different medicare coverage benefits plans, including medicare supplemental options, some of which can be found on their health plan website. If you are interested in looking into medicare health insurance and want to know what isn’t covered, here is a list to help you: 1. Medical care for international travel If you or your family frequently travel internationally, it’s advisable to explore Medigap plans, which serve as supplements to Medicare. Some Medigap plans can cover expenses that Medicare does not, often up to 80%. Additionally, Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage for emergency medical expenses incurred abroad. 2. Preventive dental checkups Original Medicare does not include routine dental exam coverage, dental procedures, or dentures. Nonetheless, some Medicare Advantage plans may offer annual limits, such as the common dental limit of $1,500 per year. 3. Routine eye care, hearing exams, and hearing aids Original Medicare does not extend coverage to hearing exams or hearing aids. However, certain Medicare Advantage plans can provide assistance in this regard. Vision care, including eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, is not covered by Medicare.

In a world where attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), charity donations, nanny care, mental health, and addiction rehab are prevalent topics, it’s crucial to shed light on a much darker issue that often hides in the shadows: child abuse. This pressing concern affects children across all walks of life, and it is essential for us to recognize the signs and take action. With the help of this article, we’ll explore ten telltale signs that may indicate a child is experiencing abuse. Understanding these indicators can make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable children. 1. Behavioral changes One of the first signs to look out for is a sudden and drastic change in a child’s behavior. Children who are abused may become withdrawn, anxious, or overly aggressive. These behavioral changes are often linked to underlying emotional turmoil, and it’s important to be attentive and supportive. 2. Frequent unexplained injuries Unexplained injuries or repeated accidents can be a red flag. While children are naturally prone to bumps and scrapes, frequent and suspicious injuries should not be ignored. These may indicate physical abuse, and a closer look is necessary. 3. Regression in development Abused children might show signs of regression in their development.

Abuse can happen to anyone at any age. For elders, it may be by a loved one, a caregiver, or a stranger, and it may occur in the home, at a relative’s home, or in an assisted living facility. There are several types of abuse, including physical, emotional, neglect, financial, sexual,and abandonment. You may have ensured your elderly loved one has the best Medicare insurance, living arrangement, and so on, but it is not enough to protect from abuse—make sure you know who is in their life and that you can trust them. It can be challenging to recognize when an elder is being abused, especially if they suffer from dementia, so it’s especially important to be aware of the signs of elder abuse, which we outline below: 1. They seem depressed, confused, or withdrawn If an elderly individual has a significant change in mood or is demonstrating strange behavior, such as seeming depressed, confused, withdrawn, acting agitated or violent, or displaying signs of trauma like rocking back and forth, this can be a sign that abuse is occuring. Unfortunately, perpetrators often take advantage of the vulnerability of an older individual and these changes in mood can be a sign of any kind of abuse.

It’s hard to avoid your pets pleading eyes and whines when you’re eating, so we often slide a few pieces of food off our plate. But have you always made sure that it’s safe for them before giving them a piece? Fleas aren’t the only thing you need to worry about with your pets and many pets get sick due to getting into human food or being fed human food that is actually toxic to them. Some human food is safe to share, but when in doubt, it’s best to stick to their daily dog food or cat food. Here are some foods that are toxic to pets: 1.  Cherries Cherries are harmful for pets to ingest as their pits, leaves, and stems contain cyanide, which is toxic to dogs. What’s more, if your pup ingests the pit it could potentially result in an intestinal blockage. 2. Onions and garlic The group of plants known as alliums includes onion, garlic, and leeks—all of which are toxic to pets. The toxins in this group of plants are known as disulphides and thiosulfinates, causing damage to red blood cells. 3. Chocolate Chocolate contains two chemicals that pets cannot metabolize properly, caffeine and theobromine.