Your mom probably said “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite” when you were getting ready for bed as a child.  Other than that, you probably haven’t thought much about bed bugs.  You may have not even realized that there really is such a thing as a bed bug.  There definitely is , and they are ornery pests that are difficult to get rid of.

The bed bug (Cimex lectalarius) is a member of the family Cimididae.  Insects from the family Cimididae are blood suckers that feed on birds and/or mammals.  The bed bug is the only member of this insect family that has adapted to living exclusively with humans.

Following World War II, the bed bug was predominantly eradicated from the U.S., existing in only small pockets across the the country.  However, in the last decade it has made an amazing resurgence.  This is largely because are so so easily spread.  Bed bugs can be accidentally carried on luggage, furniture, and other items, so problems with bed bugs tend to be most severe in motels, apartments, and other locations with high volumes of human traffic.

Bed bugs typically feed in the middle of the night while people are sleeping and the bites are painless.  They normally feed for less than ten minutes before the insect is satisfied and returns to hiding to digest the meal.  It is common for a line of bites to appear where a number of bed bugs have fed along the edge of a bed sheet or a piece of clothing lying next to the skin.

Even though the bite is not felt right away, it is common for people to react to the proteins of the bed bug saliva introduced during biting.  Usually, a reddish welt can develop, causing swelling and itching.  There may be little response directly following the bite with maximum irritation noticed after a week, then gradually decreasing.  Recurring exposure to bed bug bites can produce more intense reactions and itching.  However, these reactions vary greatly between people; some react strongly while others show little response.  Despite any symptoms that develop, there is nothing unusual about bed bug bites that can be used for positive identification.  The recognized presence of bed bugs is necessary to determine if a “reddish” bite might be from bed bugs.

Luckily, thorough testing has established that bed bugs are not capable of transmitting human pathogens like mosquitoes are.

Female bed bugs cement their small, oval eggs in groupings of two to five eggs.  Usual spots for egg laying include the folds of a mattress, in the joints of a bed frame, and behind molding.  During an adult female’s several month life span, she may produce more than 200 eggs.

Eggs hatch after six to ten days, subject to the temperature, and the newly hatched nymphs will begin to seek out food immediately, if it is available.  As with the adults, feeding occurs at night.  The insects use heat and carbon dioxide to locate their host.  For the bed bug nymph to develop, a blood meal is required prior to each molt.  Blood meals are also necessary for a female to produce each batch of eggs.

Under ideal conditions, bed bugs can mature to full size in around one and a half months, with an average adult life span of about nine months.  Cooler temperatures slow development and general bed bug activity begins to decrease with temperatures lower than 60°F.  However, bed bugs are fairly resistant to starvation and adults have been known to survive up to a year without feeding.  Nymphs can endure starvation for around three months.  When food is available, bed bugs can continue to develop and reproduce year round, producing three or four generations annually.

Bed bug treatment in the home frequently involves a profound degree of prep work.  This includes heat treating and bagging up of items in the infested area – items that can’t be treated with chemicals.

Bedding can be easily disinfested by laundering that includes a dryer cycle.  The high temperatures involved in drying are essential to successfully kill bed bugs, with exposure to temperatures of 120°F or greater for a few minutes typically being sufficient to kill all life stages.  Washing, cool drying and dry cleaning may not kill all life stages.

When stripping beds during a bed bug infestation, remove the bedding carefully so as not to dislodge eggs or drop eggs onto the floor where they are likely to  be missed by other treatments.  Bagging of bedding as it is moved to be laundered can prevent the accidental spread of bed bugs.  Wash all bedding and affected materials promptly, do not store in laundry area.

Disposal may be necessary for infested mattresses, box springs, couches and other furniture.  If this is done, proper disposal needs to be ensured.  Leaving such items on the street for disposal may cause them to be scavenged, which will spread the infestation to new locations.  It is also important to use great care when removing these  items so the bed bugs will not be knocked loose, causing other areas of the home to become infested.

Eradication of bed bugs in a home involves the use of powerful insecticides applied to all places where bed bugs are present.  These treatments have to directly contact the insects during application to be effective.  Bed bugs that come in contact with a treated surface but were not directly contacted with the insecticide during application may not be killed.  Also, currently available insecticides do not effectively kill bed bugs in egg stages.

Specialized equipment has been developed that can force high temperature, dry steam heat into areas where bed bugs are present.  This method of killing bed bugs is especially useful for the treatment of bed frames, mattresses and box springs where insecticide uses are limited.  This equipment is only available through professional pest control operations and requires experience for effective use.  In other words, if this is the method you want used in your home, contact a professional.

Webcams have become very popular in the last few years.  They allow people to carry on face-to-face interaction over the Internet.  It is a way for people who are far apart to chat like they are in the same room; it doesn’t matter if the people are across town or across the ocean, they can still talk face-to-face.  Follow these instructions to set up your webcam:

1. You will first need to buy yourself a webcam.  You want to look for one that permits a high rate of frames per second.  The reason you want this is that it will make the picture appear more clearly, without choppy images, for the person you are speaking with.  There are also high definition webcams that will allow the image to be even more clear.  You may want to purchase one that has both capabilities.

2. Download the software that comes with the webcam.  If it did not come with operating software, you can try to download Microsoft Windows Media Encoder version 9, which is available free of charge online.

3. Once the software is installed, restart your computer.  Connect the USB cable connection of the webcam to the back of the computer.

4. Join MSN, Yahoo, or AOL messenger.  If you already have an e-mail account with one of these companies, you can sign up to use their messenger service.  Also, the person that you plan to video chat with will have to be signed up with the same messenger service that you are for you both to be able to see each other.

5. Position the webcam where you want it.  You can either attach it to the top of the computer monitor or set it beside the monitor.  The majority of webcams are build so they can be connected to the top of computer monitors.

6. To begin the video chat, sign into the messenger and select the person from your contact list.  Select “Contacts” in the chat window, then “Contact Options,” and “View WebCam.”  As long as your friend carried out the same steps on their end, you should now be able to see each other.

Talking via webcam is a way that soldiers are able to keep in touch with their families during tours of duty; college students can talk with their parents or friends who have gone to different schools.  Because most of these messaging services are free of charge, it is considerably less expensive for people to make long-distance and international contact than it is to use a phone, and the people have the added bonus of being able to see each other.

Luckily most people will never experience brake failure thanks to a variety of mechanical checks and balances built into every vehicle.  Although most drivers will never experience this problem, it is wise to know what to do in the event that it does happen.  As recently as 2010, Toyota issued a recall on several different models of their cars and trucks for brake failure related to a software problem.  This means that although unlikely, brake failure can occur, and it never hurts to know what to do.  Follow these steps to get your car to stop:

1. Evaluate the traffic situation, and make your decision on how to proceed based on the proximity of crossroads, steep hills, and most importantly, other vehicles.

2. Watch for a safe location to steer your vehicle and downshift to a low gear.  You can downshift both manual and automatic transmission cars.  Automatic gear shifts do not only have reverse (R), drive (D), neutral (N), and park (P), there is also a second gear (2), and a low gear (L).  Simply move the gearshift from the drive position to the 2.  This low gear will force the car to slow.

3. Build up pressure in non-antilock brakes by pumping the brake pedal firmly and rapidly.  After pumping three or four times, the brakes should have enough pressure to be able to engage.  If your car has antilock brakes, do not pump them.  Instead, push very hard on the brake pedal and assume that it will take a bit longer to stop.  You will likely feel a pulsing sensation in the pedal of a car with antilock brakes, this is normal.

4. If pumping the brakes is unsuccessful, pull the emergency brake (also known as the hand brake).  If the car begins to skid, release it promptly.

5. Remember to continue steering the vehicle.  Swerve only if it is absolutely essential.  doing so can result in loss of control of the vehicle.

6. If none of the previous steps in successful in stopping the car, throw it into reverse.  It is highly likely that you will cause some serious damage to the transmission by putting the car into reverse while it is moving.  However, getting the car to stop may save your life.

Learning to and making a routine of taking your pulse can help you to recognize any type of irregular heart beat that you may have developed, like tachycardia or atrial fibrillation.  In order to measure your pulse, take the following steps:

1. Place your index and middle finger on the under side of your wrist.  This can be felt with either hand, so use the hand that feels most comfortable for you.  Do not use your thumb to take your pulse, as your thumb contains a blood vessel that is large enough that a pulse can be felt.

2. You want to place your index and middle fingers on the radial artery in your wrist.  This will be a point half-way between the center of the wrist and the thumb-side outside of the wrist (if you were looking at the inside of your hand).  When your fingers are in the correct location, you should feel your heart beat.

3. Apply light pressure with your middle and index fingers so you can feel your pulse.  Count the number of beats you feel for 30 seconds.  You should use either your watch or a wall clock to time yourself.

4. In order to calculate the number of beats per minute (or the pulse number), you are going to take the number that you counted and multiply it by two. For example, if you counted 30 beats, you would take 30 and multiply it by 2 to get 60 beats per minute.

5. Repeat the process and compare your results.

If you have any sort of abnormal heart rhythm, you may feel either skipped beats or extra beats, instead of the steady boom boom of a consistent rhythm, you may have a heart arrhythmia.  If you feel your heart start racing, and there appears to be no cause,  like you are sitting  fairly stationary on the couch, you may have tachycardia.  If you experience any of these abnormal heart rhythms, contact your doctor.

Once you know the process for checking a pulse, you will be able to not only check your own, but other people, as well.

If you love the rich sweet taste of peaches and the moist sweet flavor of muffins, this recipe is for you.  These low-fat muffins are perfect to serve for breakfast, brunch, or even with a salad or soup for lunch.  They are so sweet and delicious that you may even choose to eat them for dessert.  This is a recipe that is easy to make and quite figure friendly, so you can eat these sweet little treats without any need for guilt.

This recipe makes 12 regular muffins or 6 giant muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 extra-large egg
• 1 ¼ cups fat-free plain yogurt
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 (15 oz.) can sliced peaches, drained and chopped in ¼” pieces

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Grease the sides and bottom of each cup in a 12-cup muffin tray (or use paper muffin cups).

2. Break the egg into a medium-sized bowl and beat lightly.  Stir in the yogurt, sugar, and vanilla extract.  Set to the side.

3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  Slowly add the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture in three separate batches, stirring well between each addition.  Make sure that all of the dry ingredients are incorporated into the wet ingredients, but stop stirring once everything comes together.  Over stirring will cause the muffins to get tough.

4. Stir in the chopped pieces of peach, carefully.  You do not want to smash the peaches.

5. Fill the pre-greased muffin tin cups 2/3 of the way full.  For even baking, fill any empty cups with water.

6. Bake at 350°F  until the muffins are puffed and light golden brown in color, approximately 20-25 minutes.  Let stand for at least 5 minutes before removing from pan.

There you have it, an easy, delicious, and low-fat muffin recipe that everyone in your family will love.

It’s not written anywhere that a small space has to feel overcrowded, uncomfortable, or dreary.  Her are some easy steps that can make any small space seem brighter and more spacious:

1. Break up different areas with different colors of paint.  If you use one color for the hall way and the kitchen, and a different color for the connecting living room, it will add definition between areas, as well as creating interest and creating more space within a space.  Where as, painting all of the walls in your home the same color, will cause all of the areas to “bleed together”.

2. Carry the prints and motifs from the kitchen into the connecting hall way.  You can do this by using the same wall paper or border in both the kitchen and hall way.  This is a fun way to make that small kitchen seem grander without being too over-the-top.

3. Keep the space as light as possible.  Whether you have carpet, tile, or hardwood floors, try to use light colors.  Hardwood can be stained in light blond wood colors; use area rugs that are light colors throughout the space.  Open up the curtains and let the sunshine in.  Opening the windows will visually expand the space.  Other than brightening up the area, the sunlight also tends to bounce off surfaces, giving the room a more cheery feel.

4. Integrate floor to ceiling curtains, stripes, or artwork.  The idea of all of these things is to draw the eye upward, toward the ceiling.  This will make any room feel more spacious.  Wallpaper or painted stripes emphasize high ceilings, and hanging large pieces of artwork higher than eye view on the wall, will draw the focus of the room upward.  The point of all of this is to draw people’s eyes away from the close proximity of the walls.

5. Mix in a couple of pieces of oversized furniture.  Although this may seem counterintuitive, the idea is that the oversized furniture will trick the eye and make the other furniture seem smaller.  Also, having one or two large, interesting furniture pieces will distract from the small size of the space, and put the focus on the furniture, because most people don’t think of using oversized furniture in a confined space.

Atrial fibrillation (also know as A. fib) is a common heart disorder that is found in over 2 million Americans,  During an episode of atrial fibrillation, the two small upper chambers of the heart (the atria) quiver rather than efficiently beating.   During this period of “quivering,” blood is not entirely pumped out of the atria, so the blood can pool and clot.  If a portion of a blood clot in the atria is pumped out of the heart, it may become lodged in an artery of the brain, resulting in a stroke.  Roughly 15 percent of strokes occur in persons with atrial fibrillation.

The potential for developing atrial fibrillation increases with age.  Between three and five percent of persons over the age of 65 suffer from atrial fibrillation.

Methods of treating atrial fibrillation:

There are a few different approaches to preventing and treating arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats):

• Medications are often used to slow a rapid heart rate related to A fib.  These medicines may include drugs like digoxin, calcium antagonists (verapamil, diltiazan), amiodarone, disopyramide, beta blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propanolol), sotalol, flecainide, propafenone, procainamide, quinidine, etc.
• Electrical cardioversion may be utilized to electrically shock the heart into a normal sinus rhythm, when medication is unable to improve the situation.
• Intravenous drugs (like ibutilide) can also be used to return the heart to a normal rhythm.  These drugs are only administered under direct medical supervision.  They are delivered through an IV line, typically into the vein of a patient’s arm.
• Radiofrequency ablation is effective in some patients when medication is unable to regulate the heart beat.  For this procedure, thin, flexible tubes are introduced through a blood vessel directed into the heart muscle.  Once in the region of the heart, a bust of energy in the form of radiofrequency is administered to destroy the tissue that is causing the abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal electrical pathways.
• Atrial pacemakers can be implanted under the skin to moderate the heart beat.
• Surgery can also be used to break up pathways that cause episodes of atrial fibrillation.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation is an important step in stroke prevention.  For this reason, the American Heart Association recommends aggressive treatment of this particular heart arrhythmia.

Medications are also used to reduce the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation.  Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs are used to thin blood and make it less likely to clot.  Warfarin is the anticoagulant  most commonly used for this purpose, and Aspirin is the most common antiplatelet drug.  Long-term use of warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation along with other risk factors for stroke can reduce the occurrence of strokes by 68 percent.

• Health professionals differ on the choice of medications used to prevent embolic stroke (stroke caused by blood clot).  While warfarin is more effective than aspirin against this type of stroke, warfarin has considerably more side effects than aspirin.  Some potential side effects of warfarin include ulcers and possible bleeding problems.
• Patients thought to be at a high risk for stroke should likely be treated with warfarin, unless there are clear reasons why warfarin should not be used.
• Aspirin is the accepted treatment for patients with a low risk for stroke and under the age of 75.

Easter is a holiday that is ideal for a delicious, and hearty brunch with the family.  This is an easy and delicious recipe that is just suited for such a gathering.  It only takes a few minutes to put together and less than an hour to bake.  Even better, this recipe is even better if made the night before and served cold.  That means that you don’t have to cook on Easter morning!  Your family will love all of the flavors, and the energy it will bring them for Easter egg hunting or any other festivities planned for the day.  However, this quiche is so tasty that your family will likely request it more than on just Easter.

Ingredients:

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
• 6 slices of bacon
• 1 cup fresh button mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 4 extra-large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups grated Gruyere cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F.  Spray a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with the non-stick cooking spray.

2. Remove the plastic from the package of frozen spinach and set the entire box on a plate.  Place in the microwave and microwave on high power for 4 minutes.  Allow the spinach to cool and take it out of the box.  Squeeze all of the fluid out of the spinach and put it into a large bowl.

3. In a medium skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes.  When crisp, transfer the bacon to a plate that is covered with 3-4 layers of paper towels to drain and cool.  Once cool, crumble the bacon up and set aside.

4. Drain all but about 2 teaspoons of the bacon grease from the skillet.  Add the chopped onions and sliced mushrooms.  Cook until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are soft.  Pour the mushrooms and onions into the bowl with the spinach.

5. In a blender or food processor, add the eggs, sour cream, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, flour, salt and pepper.  Blend until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.

6. Pour the egg mixture into the bowl with the spinach, onions and mushrooms.  Add the grated Gruyere cheese and the crumbled bacon and combine with a spoon until well blended.  Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the top with a spoon.

7. Bake until set, approximately 45 minutes.  Remove the baking dish from the oven.  The quiche will be puffed when first removed from the oven, but will fall slightly as it cools.  Allow it to cool, then refrigerate.  Cut the quiche into serving-sized square and cool.

Serves:  8-10

The field of plastic surgery has gown significantly over the last fifteen to twenty years and continues to grow as more people are seeking ways to achieve their ideal body image.  As a potential patient, how are you supposed to know what plastic surgeon to choose and what qualities are important?  As one would guess, it is considerably easier to get good results with a single good surgery than it is to be forced to undergo multiple procedures to fix the results of a botched plastic surgery.  And although liking your surgeon can help to some degree in choosing a plastic surgeon, there is more information to consider.

Following a few simple steps can likely help you to  avoid less trained surgeons and ensure that your procedure and recovery will go as well as possible:

• Check that your surgeon is well trained and certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  There are a number of “cosmetic surgeons” that claim to be certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.  However, the Board of Cosmetic Surgery is not officially recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, and is therefore not an actual board.  Also, many of these surgeons are not plastic surgeons even though they claim to be able to perform plastic surgery.  The bottom line is you need to do a little research.
• Ask questions.  Ask specifics about what your surgeon was actually trained in.  Once again, there are many “cosmetic surgeons” that claim to have adequate experience in the field of plastic surgery.  Ask specific questions about their training, like what they trained in, where they trained, and the number of procedures in this area that they have carried out.
• Advise your plastic surgeon of any medications that you are currently taking, and provide your complete medical history.  This information is crucial prior to undergoing an procedure (no matter how minor).  The more information your surgeon has before the procedure, the better he or she will be able to foresee any potential risks.
• Check that the surgical facility is officially recognized and that there are licensed, skilled staff that will administer and monitor you before, during, and after your procedure.
• Lastly, make sure that you are comfortable with the surgeon and the staff.  Surgery can be frightening, so the more you know and the more comfortable you feel before,  the better you will feel after.

While good credentials cannot guarantee a positive outcome, they are an important step in the right direction.  To verify whether your plastic surgeon is board certified, contact the American Board of Plastic Surgery or visit their website at www.abpsurg.org.

A good plastic surgeon will talk with you, at length, about your goals and expectations prior to moving forward.  You can think of plastic surgery like a journey.  They begin a step forward and continue to a chosen end point.  Like a journey, you should know where you are going before you start.  Good outcomes are no accident and the careful choice of your plastic surgeon can make all the difference.

Using water more efficiently in your home can save a considerable amount of money on your monthly water bill, as well as ensure that you are wasting as little of this precious finite resource as possible.  Follow these simple steps to begin conserving your water usage:

1. Inspect all faucets and toilets in the house to make sure that none are leaking.  If you do find a toilet or faucet that is leaking water, either fix it yourself, or have them repaired by a plumber.

2. Change out all shower heads and replace them with low-flow shower heads.  Regular shower heads allow a water flow of 3 gallons per minute, while some low-flow shower heads allow a water flow of just 0.5 gallons per minute.  Since in a typical household, showers account for 20-30% of water usage, water usage can be dramatically reduced  by changing from standard shower heads to low-flow shower heads.

3. Install inline shut-off valves to reduce water flow while shampooing or soaping.  These are shut-off valves that are next to the shower head that allow a water conscious person to tighten the valve and reduce the flow of water during various times during their shower.  Of course, for the very water conscious person, you could also wet yourself down and turn the water completely off while you are  lathering your hair or body, and turn the water back on to rinse off.

4. While you are waiting for the water to get hot, you can collect the cool water in buckets and use it later for cooking or gardening.

5. Insulate hot water pipes in the home.  This will keep the water that is left sitting in the pipes from getting as cold, thereby reducing the amount of water that has to run before getting hot water.

6. Turn the water off while you are shaving or brushing your teeth.

7. Wash dishes in a sink or plastic basin full of hot water, rather than washing each individual dish under running water.

8. Do not run the washing machine or dishwasher until you have a full load, and select the shortest cycles.

9. Take shorter showers.  Most people love to take a long shower from time to time.  However, the longer you allow the water to run in the shower, the more water you use (even if you have installed low-flow shower heads).

10. Don’t fill the bath tub with hot water and wait for it to cool before getting in.  Fill the tub with the temperature water that you want from the beginning.

11. Clean the garage and driveway by sweeping them off with a broom, rather than hosing them down.

Even adopting just a couple of these recommendations could save you some considerable money on your monthly water bill; adopting all of them could help you to save even more.  It is wise to use only what is needed of our remaining natural resources to guarantee that we have plenty of water for many years to come.