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.

7 Steps to Protect Yourself from the Winter Sun

What outdoor activities did you do this past summer? Maybe you went on a vacation to the beach. Maybe you spent some time playing your favorite sports such as baseball, golf, or tennis. Maybe you went swimming or had a barbeque in the backyard with family and friends. Regardless of the outdoor activities you did over the summer, most likely you were aware that it was important to protect yourself from sun while outdoors.
Now winter is approaching. I am turning my attention to putting away my summer items to make room for the winter ones; long sleeve shirts for short sleeve ones, corduroy pants for shorts, and boots for sandals. Most of the sports equipment I have been using is going to get put away as well. But what about those items I have been using to protect myself from the sun? Things like my sunscreens, sunglasses, and sun protective hats and clothing.
You may be putting these items away and not using them during the winter. The National Council of Skin Cancer Prevention reported in their January 2003 newsletter that research shows only 3 percent of Americans routinely wear sunscreen during the fall months, and only 2 percent during the winter months. However, you can still get a sunburn and snow blindness during these months. The colder temperatures do not block the UV rays and reflections off the snow and higher altitudes can make matters even worse. You may be causing yourself significant, long-term damage by not properly protecting yourself.
How do you protect yourself from the winter sun (or any other season)? Follow these simple sun safety action steps recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency:
1. Limit Time in the Midday Sun - The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Whenever possible, limit exposure to the sun during these hours.
2. Wear a Hat - A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection to your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck - areas particularly prone to overexposure to the sun.
3. Cover Up - Wearing tightly woven, loose-fitting, and full-length clothing is a good way to protect your skin from the sun's UV rays.
4. Wear Sunglasses that Block 99-100% of UV Radiation -Sunglasses that provide 99-100% UVA and UVB protection will greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Check the label when buying sunglasses.
5. Always Use Sunscreen - Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher liberally on exposed skin. Reapply every 2 hours, or after working, swimming, playing, or exercising outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen can come off when you towel off, sweat, or spend extended periods of time in the water.
6. Avoid Sunlamps and Tanning Parlors - The light source from sunbeds and sunlamps damages the skin and unprotected eyes. It's a good idea to avoid artificial sources of UV light.
7. Watch for the UV Index - The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun. Developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and EPA, the UV Index is issued daily in selected cities across the United States.
I am going to keep my sun protective items out to use this winter. I am trusting that you will do the same so that you can enjoy the outdoors while in the cold, on the ice, or in the snow. Have a terrific and safe winter!

Improve Your Health While Saving Money on Pure Water

Is Bottled Water the Answer?
Nothing is more important to our health than drinking lots of pure water. All of the complex biochemical functions in our bodies depend on this key substance. Along with regulating the many micro-processes in our cells, it's essential in absorbing and transporting all nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. It's equally critical in eliminating wastes and toxins from the body. At a time when we are exposed to increasing levels of environmental toxins from our food, air, and water, the conventional wisdom to "drink 6 to 8 glasses of clean water per day for optimum health" is more important than ever before.
Unfortunately, as most people now know, most sources of drinking water are also contaminated with a wide variety of toxins. As a result, increasing numbers of people are now using water filters and are spending large sums of money annually on bottled water.
It is not so widely known, however, that an FDA survey has stated that 31% of the 52 brands of bottled water tested were tainted with bacteria. Similarly, a study conducted by the National Resources Defense Council on 103 brands of bottled water found that about one-third of them contained levels of contamination--including synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. Moreover, there is growing evidence that xenoestrogens can leach out of the plastic bottles into the water when they are stored for long periods in either hot or very cold environments.
So many Americans, in spite of spending over $1,000 a year on bottled water, may still be exposing themselves to a significant level of toxins. These two facts taken together provide a major incentive for considering a new alternative to bottled water. It's called "WELLNESS WATER."
A Brief History of Wellness Water
Around 30 years ago, Haru Naito left Japan to attend the State University of New York. After winning the NCAA swimming championship there, he returned to Japan to coach Japan's National Swimming Team. Through his devotion to improving the performance of his swimmers, he became involved in the emerging field of sports medicine. This led him to start investigating the unusual levels of health, vitality, and longevity of certain ethnic groups, including the Hunza of Pakistan.
As a result of his extensive research with this group, he concluded that their extraordinary health and longevity was largely due to their water supply. Through careful analysis of this water, he discovered that it had certain unique features as a result of being filtered through minerals of volcanic origin.
During the following years, he continued to investigate the effects of filtering water through similar volcanic minerals in Japan until he developed water with properties very similar to those he had discovered with the Hunza. The final result of his ongoing research was the development of the "Wellness Filter."
Following the circulation of many anecdotal reports throughout Japan about the health benefits of drinking water that had been conditioned by this special filter, the Japanese Ministry of Health conducted rigorous scientific testing of this filter. This resulted in an unprecedented governmental endorsement of the filter. It has now been installed in over 100 government hospitals in Japan, and one of its mineral components has been licensed in Japan as a medicinal mineral.
It was introduced into the U.S. for the first time in 2000. Research here has added further documentation of the many health benefits of this enhanced "wellness water," not only for humans, but also for chickens and cows. (A link to an extensive online summary of this research can be found by clicking on the URL provided at the end of this article.)
How to Have Your Own Portable Supply of Wellness Water
Very recently, the "Wellness Filter" has become available in a 16 oz. Wellness Sport Enhanced Water Bottle. Through the use of this unique bottle, ordinary tap water is instantly transformed into purified ENHANCED water. Not only is this water at least as pure as the best bottled water, it also alters the water so that it: 1) increases the ease of absorption, helping your body absorb nutrients and rid itself of toxins; 2) adds trace minerals for cellular health; and 3) adds reduced ions for an anti-oxidant and anti-aging effect.
In additon to being superior in all of these ways to bottled water, Wellness Water is also much less expensive. Depending on the particular brand of bottled water used as a price comparison, the savings can range from $160 to over $1,000 per year.
Finally, using this Wellness Sport Enhanced Water Bottle as an alternative to bottled water eliminates the expense and burden on the environment of disposing of approximately 1,000 plastic bottles per person each year.
The Wellness Sport Enhanced Water Bottle is now being distributed in the U.S. exclusively by only one American company. To get further information, including how to purchase it, please click on the URL below.

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.

Dr Bob's Newsletter

High Blood Pressure And You
Did you know that nearly two thirds, yes 66% of Americans under sixty have or are on the verge of high blood pressure and at least 1/3 do not know it. Having this "silent killer" not only increases there risk of heart disease or stroke but puts them in a higher risk category for hospitalization and death according to a recent study.
There are new guidelines for high blood pressure that have been agreed upon over the last several years and you need to know about them. First the new guidelines are that normal blood pressure is when the systolic ( top number) is 119 or lower and the bottom number is 79 or less. In the recent past we felt that abnormal blood pressure was anything that was 140 or above over 90 or above. Now, people who have this are definitely hypertensive or have high blood pressure.
When the reading is 120 - 139 for the systolic and / or 80 - 89 for the diastolic we are to be considered "pre- hypertension. Each of needs to know what our blood pressure reading is, so don't be shy, ask your doctor.
Also, it makes good sense that if your blood pressure is not normal get a blood pressure cuff in the drug store and have your spouse, partner or children take it periodically and jot down the numbers for your doctor. There is such a diagnosis of "white coat" syndrome" where blood pressure rises when you go to the doctors office.
Dr Bob's Take: It is so important to know what your blood pressure is and if it is pre-hypertensive or in the category of high blood pressure (hypertensive) get it treated and you can make a dramatic difference in your life.
Anti-Oxidant Update
Last month we talked about Vitamin E and the potential for increasing the risk for heart disease. Initially when the first studies came out about 10-15 years ago it was felt that Vitamin E was going to be a panacea for "preventing" heart disease.
Well, there are more studies that are being released which is showing that the herbal remedies that are being touted as anti-oxidants are not proving very effective in preventing diseases like cancer. These are substances like beta carotene, vitamin C, and selenium. The researchers in France have been looking at this and have concluded that there may be a small benefit for men (none for women) but that the benefits can easily be derived by eating a balanced diet. This study was recently reported in the November issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Dr Bob's Take: as an American I like you are looking for the "holy grail" which in the US is "take a pill and cure it" is not the answer here. We need to really eat right and exercise and this will lead to a healthy "us".
Pacifiers and Baby's Teeth
A study in the Archives of Disease in Children this month, shows that there is a difference in the formation of "baby teeth" when a baby breast feeds or uses their thumb to suck or is given a pacifier during the first 3 months of their life. The study took place in Italy with 1000 children aged 3-5 years old. It found that 1/3 of all children who used pacifiers or sucked their thumb had malocclussion, where the teeth did not line up properly. 89% of had an open bite, where the front teeth do not meet. Whereas only 11% of those with an open bite were breast fed.
This study took place when the children were 3-5 years old and based on information about how they were fed and the use of pacifiers or thumbs. It also is based on the 1st set of teeth - the baby teeth. It is felt by the researchers that the pattern for the teeth is set by how the 1st set is treated.
Dr Bob's Take: although this may have quite a bit of significance for our children's future and their biting and chewing abilities I don't see many of us changing what we are doing or what we have done. But, you know the orthodontists will continue to flourish.
Prescription Tablet Splitting
Some of you may have remembered the articles in the papers about 3 years ago when it was suggested by some health plans that members cut their tablets in half with some medications. Well in Florida a pharmacist has noted that with cholesterol lowering medication a savings of about $850 could be saved per year by splitting the tablet. He goes on to say that this is one way to fight some of the escalation in prices for medications. It was found that with patients of the Veterans Affairs Dept there was a savings of $46 million when eligible patients split their Zocor.
Dr Bob's Take: before you go and do this you first need to check with your doctor. Bring in a sample of the medication so he/she can judge whether or not it would be wise to split the tablet.
Grape Juice and Cholesterol
Yes, the studies are in, grape juice does have a positive effect on raising the HDL part of cholesterol. Dr Jane Freedman, associate professor of Pharmacology at Boston University studied a group of 17 men and 3 women with a grant from Welch's. The participants were 63 years old on average and were 2 weeks on the juice, off for 2 weeks than given a placebo (non-juice) for another 2 weeks.
The outcome showed that the grape juice drinkers elevated their HDL on average from 45 to 50mg, about a 10% rise. This group also lowered a chemical in their system that shows the presence of inflammation in the blood vessels. It is felt that yes grape juice can work like red wine in humans. And for those who don't drink red wine there is an alternative.
With that good news I will close for this year and talk with you again next year.

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.