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Many people are unaware to the potential for cancer causing radon gas inside their houses. In some cases, people are skeptical and don't believe an unseen gas could cause cancer.Lets put a few facts on the table. You can make up your own mind.

Radon is clear odorless gas that is the natural byproduct from the decay of uranium. Uranium occurs naturally in most rock and soil. Radioactive radon gas is being created all around us all the time. Much of the natural background radiation we are exposed to each day is from this naturally occurring material. The low levels of this radiation is not harmful to us. In most areas, the levels of naturally occurring radiation is below the amount of radiation we can receive from a dentist's x-ray. In low doses, the radiation from radon gas is harmless.

Radon becomes a problem when we are exposed to it at high levels over a long period of time. Radon gas must be inhaled to cause injury. Cell damage can be caused by inhaled radon gas. Cancer may be the result of this constant repetitive damage of the lungs cells. This link between Radon and Cancer, was first observed in underground mines.

Without a doubt, radon induced lung cancer is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon gas exposure in implicated in over 20,000 deaths each year. Mixing cigarette smoke with radon gas increases the risk of lung cancer dramatically.

Radon can enter our homes through cracks in our house foundations, walls, floors, radon contaminated water and building materials. A tightly sealed home with good insulation and poor insulation, can inadvertently cause the accumulation and build up of radon gas.

Fortunately, correcting a radon problem is reasonably simple and low cost. The first step is to purchase a self administered radon test kit These kits are placed in strategic places in your home and collect samples for 2 to 90 days. They are then sent to a test lab in a prepaid envelope.

If your home is determined to be contaminated, one of several methods can be employed to prevent the incursion of radon gas or the removal of the radon gas. New homes are often built with radon barriers below their floors and around the foundations. The most common method of mitigation in existing homes is radon sump ventilation . The cost of professionally installed radon ventilation equipment on average cost between £600 and £1200.

Radon is a known cause of lung cancer. Every home owner should be concerned but shouldn't panic about the problem. There is no immediate danger, only danger from long term exposure. Check with your local municipality and find out if there is a known radon problem in your area. Purchase a low cost test kit and get a definitive answer. If you suspect a radon problem, consult with a radon mitigation specialist in your area and determine what the correct method for correcting the problem is.

Do I need antibiotics for sinus infection?  Probably not and don't be surprised if your physician is hesitant to prescribing them to you. Research has  indicated that antibiotics are not the best solution for sinusitis, or sinus infections . Over 60% of sinus infection sufferers will recover from their sinus infection without antibiotics. Many agencies are now recommending that doctors be conservative about giving their patients antibiotics.

Why are more and more doctor's less likely to prescribe antibiotics for sinus infection?

Most sinusitis cases are caused by viral or fungal infections, not by bacteria. Antibiotics will only kill bacterial infections.  If antibiotics are misused and taken frequently for ailments caused by fungal or viral infections instead of bacterial infections, the bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotic, rendering the antibiotic when it is actually needed. consequently, an antibiotic will do more harm than good if taken for a fungal or viral infection. Futhermore, you really don't need antibiotics for sinus infection. If an antibiotic is taken for bacterial sinus infections, studies have shown that the infection duration is only decreased by a day and a half.

Okay, so what medication will cure my infection?

At this time, there aren't any. Unfortunately, there aren't any medical cures for viral or fungal sinusitis at this point. Most patients are plainly asked to "wait it out." But there are many over-the-counter medications that can help ease the symptoms. Oral decongestants can help ease sinus pressure. Pain relievers can help soothe sinus headache. Nasal sprays work wonders for nasal congestion, but use them sparingly. Do not use them more than recommended on the box  (usually 3 days) or they can actually make your  symptoms worse. Alot of  people  claim to be addicted to the the nasal sprays. A newly popular holistic remedy called the neti pot can be used to cleanse the nasal passages of extra mucus and give short term relief from the congestion.

 How can I tell if my sinus problems are  caused by bacteria or something else?

Well, what are your symptoms?   Antibiotics For Sinus Infection, a new website attempting to inform  the world of their antibiotics addiction, gives a list of symptoms to look for so that you can tell if your sinus problems are bacterial.  Whether your infection is caused by bacteria or something else, the website gives recommendations for some natural remedies that have been shown to cure and prevent the sinus infection without the use of harmful antibiotics.

Smoking Bans Start Arguments

Whether you puff on them, hate them – love them or berate them – cigarettes are being banned from more and more bars, restaurants and cafes across the country. Smoking bans seems to hit on a nerve for everyone. The news is either heard with extreme joy or extreme irritation – all depending on whether you smoke, don’t smoke, own a bar, feel a ban infringes on your rights or wish the government instituted the ban years ago.

There are many controversies surrounding smoking or smoking bans – and everyone seems to have their own opinion on whether the move towards no smoking was right or wrong:

• Non-smokers: most non-smokers are happy for the ban, and insist that the government apply it to more places, including cars and homes - so that the children of smokers will not have to suffer in a smoky environment.
• Smokers: most smokers sense that the public is prejudiced against them. There are even a few who argue that the negative side-effects of smoking are not solidly proven by those carrying out the studies. There are less and less people to support this belief as more and more research is published about the risks of smoking.
• Business Owners: then there are the business owners who had to suddenly enforce the ban in their businesses, restaurants, clubs and bars. There are some businesses that still draw the same number of customers - but then there are others who have seen their businesses go belly up.
• Politically Minded: there is also a lot of smokers and non-smokers who oppose the ban simply because they think it is an infringement on their rights. They argue that once the door is open to government regulating the behaviors of the public, who knows what other rights will be taken away.

 

In my opinion, there are legitimate concerns on all sides of the argument. Undoubtedly there are benefits to the smoking ban - the most obvious being the safeguarding of public health. On the other hand, there are drawbacks to the ban - for instance the number of business owners who can no longer pay their bills because they lost their patrons to the few local clubs that are exempt from the smoking ban.

There are also the completely unforeseen, border-line outrageous side-effects of the ban. For example, how the ban has impacted drunk driving fatalities, spawned a generation of “healthy” cigarettes and linked barbeques to some of the same chemicals as smoke.

This article will give you a breakdown of my take on smoking bans including "the good, the bad and the ugly".

 
-The Good-

Here are some good things that have been put into motion by the smoking bans:

1.  Drop in Heart Attack Occurrence. This is an absolutely astounding fact! Heart attacks have long been associated with smoke, since the chemicals in smoke cause narrowing of the veins and arteries in the body, putting strain on the heart. Blood clotting is also a cause of heart attack that is often directly related to smoking.

2.  Research done at the University of California found that after only 1 year of having the smoking ban in effect, heart attack rates were 17% lower than usual! Some of the individual towns studied by the University of California had more dramatic results – Helena, Montana had its heart attack rates cut in half only after 6 months of the smoking ban!

3.  Healthier Work Place. Some estimate that working in a smoky environment for a long period of time can cut your life expectancy by 10 years! This is because the same diseases that come with smoking comes with inhaling second hand smoke.  A smoke-filled workplace can be a non-stop source of secondhand smoke – working an 8 hour shift in a smoking environment is similar to chain smoking for all of those hours.

So now your favorite bartender or waiter can look forward to living a longer life with a decreased risk of developing cancer, COPD, stroke or heart attacks.
(But then again, if they choose to work in a smoky environment in the first place then avoiding smoke may not be at the top of their list. You would have to agree that no one made them work there – there are many other smoke-free callings and careers out there!)

4.  Healthier Restaurants and Bars. No more smoky smelling clothing! Now your favorite clubs and nightspots are a healthy place to spend a few hours. A lot of businesses claim that the number of patrons has increased with the smoking ban in place - this probably means that all of the non-smokers who used to stay at home to avoid the smoke are getting out and having fun at their local tavern.  Restaurants that are smoke-free and much better for their youngest customers – since children are at more risk from cigarette smoke because of their small, developing lungs.

5.  VFW and Elks Clubs Boost in Members. Private clubs that do allow smoking are now in high demand. Some organizations like VFW posts and Elk clubs that used to have sparse numbers now are booming with new members (as long as they are exempt from the ban - many clubs that have banned smoking have given up their charitable donations or have closed completely because of it).

6.  More “Quitters”. In some areas, the ban has inspired renewed efforts to quit smoking. New York City reports that adult smoking is down 19% - which translates into 240,000 less smokers in NYC’s population. Banning smoking from public places like bars should lend a hand to those trying to quit. However, other areas have actually reported an increase in smoking among working class men since the ban. 

This is partially because of the way that nicotine affects your brain. The more nicotine that enters your body, the more nicotine receptors are developed in your brain to absorb the chemicals. A smokers brain would have billions more of the receptors than a non-smoker. Being in a place where you can smell smoke, or see someone else smoking in enough to switch on the receptors that cause your nicotine cravings. The smoking ban cuts the number of times a “quitter” will be irritated by the nicotine receptors during a night out, making it easier to quit.

 

 
-The Bad-

Here are some negative effects of the smoking ban:

1.  Bars and Restaurants Driven Out of Business. For some areas, the smoking ban has taken such a toll on their businesses that owners are closing their doors for good. Certain states, like Delaware (40% decrease in profits) have had a substantial loss in profits since the smoking ban took effect.

2.  For business owners, this is a nightmare scenario – and for employees it means that their jobs hang in the balance. Clubs like VFW Posts and Elk Clubs that were listed in the “Good” category above can just as easily fall into the “Bad” category all depending on whether they were excluded from the smoking ban or not. These organizations were once known for their charitable gifts to the community – but now their money making events like Bingo no longer attract a crowd. Now they struggle to keep their doors open.

3.  Job Loss: It goes without saying that businesses that have been hit hard by the smoking ban will be forced to lay off employees. Previously flourishing small bars and nightclubs have had to tighten their belts now that they have to ban smoke. For many owners, their business was their livelihood – and losing their business spells financial ruin for them. 

Employees have reason to worry as well. In general, bartenders, waiters and waitresses make very little money per hour, because the greater part of their income comes from tips. The loss of smoking patrons means that they get fewer tips, and as a result, their bills become harder and harder to pay.

4.  Erosion of Personal / Property Rights. For many smokers and non-smokers, the government imposed bans on smoking in public places represents a dangerous stance. Is it right for the government to ban the use of a completely legal product on private property? (i.e. any property that is owned by a private citizen. Private Citizens are the rest of us who aren’t holding a public office . . . so that means most of us). 

They see this as infringing on the rights of the public – and that the future may bring more of these controlling mandates on personal or public matters. Perhaps a ban on greasy, fast food meals will be next – or maybe a nationwide ice cream ban? Obesity is the fastest growing cause of avoidable diseases and deaths in the U.S., so this would only be the next logical step towards better public health.  How would you feel if the government began regulating what meals a restaurant was allowed to serve you – or what food you were allowed to eat in your own home?

5.  “The Quitters". Yes, I know – the Smoking Ban Smoking “Quitters” was listed as a “Good” outcome of the smoking ban, but it can just as easily be categorized as “Bad”. This is because the average smoker burns up to 200 calories more per day because of their habit. Also, since nicotine is an appetite suppressant, they are less hungry throughout the day.  When someone quits smoking, the most common means of coping with the withdrawal is eating.Once taste buds get back their ability to taste after smoking is stopped, food will taste better and be almost irresistible.

Though the average quitter gains 10-20 pounds, roughly 10% of all quitters will experience 30 pounds or more in weight gain. This means that out of those 240,000 people who quit smoking in NYC, 24,000 of them are joining the ranks of people who are in danger of becoming morbidly obese. Ironically, many of the same diseases linked to smoking are linked to obesity (heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, cancers, asthma, depression, etc).

 

-The Ugly-

Here are some very strange facts about the smoking ban:

1.  More Drunk Driving Deaths. No one wants to die in a hospital bed as a result of breathing second hand smoke. How about being run down on the road by an inebriated smoker?  Strangely enough, the smoking ban actually increases your chances of dying in a car accident.

A study done at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee compared the number of drunk driving fatalities in areas where smoking was banned versus areas where smoking was still allowed. The results were surprising and suggest that smokers are willing to drive longer distances just to find a bar where they can light up and enjoy a couple of drinks.Before the bans took effect, a smoker could walk to the local tavern.  Now, he must take to the road and drive to a neighboring county or state that allows him to smoke in public. Getting behind the wheel in the first place, plus the added travel time means that there are more drunk drivers swerving down the road in smoking ban territory than in smoke-friendly areas. It just seems like if the smoke doesn’t kill you one way, it will kill you another way.

2.  Cigarette Companies Developing “Healthy” Cigarettes. Huh? Healthy Cigarettes?

British American Tobacco is hard at work developing a new, less toxic cigarette. It sounds crazy, but the truth is that they have been able to reduce the toxins in their new cigarettes by up to 90% compared to conventional cigarettes. To test their new product, they recruited a room full of smokers to puff on the cigarettes and then tested biomarkers in their saliva and urine and compared those levels to regular cigarettes smokers and non-smokers.

So, will cigarettes get a healthy, new, image makeover in the future? British American Tobacco would like to think so.

3.  Every-Day Sources of the Same Toxins. If you escape the cigarette smoke, then what about the frying pan full of bacon – or the barbequed shrimp – or the gas station? These are just a few sources of pollutants that are the same as those found in cigarettes. Cooking bacon fills the house with volatile nitrosamines that are the same as those found in cigarette smoke.

Eating barbequed food exposes you to polyaromatic hydrocarbons that are also found in smoke. Standing at the gas station to fill up your car – or filling up the lawn mower with gasoline - can easily fill your lungs with a heavy dose of benzene that is present in both gasoline fumes and cigarette smoke. These are just a few examples of other toxic situations that you encounter everyday. Has the smoking ban really made life safer? I guess so - as long as you don’t drive a car or other gas-powered vehicle to your favorite bacon and barbeque-free night spot.

 

 
Was placing a Government Ban on Smoking the Only Way?

Whether you are a smoker or not, it sure seems like there were other options to explore before an all out ban was called into effect.

If the government wants a nation of non-smokers, maybe the solution would be taxing cigarettes even more heavily – or making them illegal altogether. No, they can't do that because big tobacco pours way too much money into political contributions and has a VERY powerful lobby. Plus, the loss of tax income to the government would be staggering.

Maybe the solution is segregating smokers and non-smoker by creating pro-smoke and anti-smoking bars? It sounds extreme, but it would certainly give customers and employees more options. We don't need laws for this option - just progressive thinking bar owners.

Another plausible solution would be having smoking hours after the dinner rush – when most people stop at the bar for a drink and a smoke. Pros - prevent children from the heaviest of smoke levels. Cons - unless the business does something to clean the air between the night time smoking hours and the daytime crowds - one could argue that a lot of the smoke is still in the air.

What about improving the air inside the bars? This seems like the easiest solution.The challenge is that the most prominent technology in the smoke removal industry were electrostatic smoke eaters. See, companies that made these machines played on the bar and business owners wishes of not wanting to spend money on filters. So, they created electronic smoke eaters that didn't require filters. Problem solved, right?

Hardly…

See, the electronic smoke eaters required time consuming, messy cleanups. If you don't maintain them properly - the effectiveness drops off considerably. (meaning, they stop working) So, based on the poor maintenance and even worse performance - the bar and restaurant industry got the incorrect impression that smoke eaters don't work. So, they stopped trying to solve the problem altogether.

Had more businesses tried filter based smoke eaters, they would have had a workable solution. Perhaps if this were the case - bar owners would have solved their own problems and the government could have stayed out of it altogether.

While no smoke removal system is perfect, a HEPA filter based smoke eater that also has a carbon filter for gases, fumes and odors and a pre-filter for the heavy particulate can do a great job. And when you get enough power to filter the air 10-12 times an hour - you can really make a dramatic difference in the air quality.

So what do YOU think about the smoking bans?

 

A non-smoker?

 

A business owner?

How have these smoking bans affected you - positively or negatively?

Please leave a comment below.

 

 

Are you a smoker?

Quitting smoking has many advantages. You're able to taste and smell your food better after you give up smoking. Also your breath gets better. You start to look a lot younger. Likewise, quitting smoking protects you from many illnesses like cancer, macular degeneration, cataract and osteoporosis.

The first step in giving up smoking is setting a date. Preferably team up with another person also interested in giving up smoking. Start noticing the things you often do when you smoke and change the habits accordingly. Smoking routines and associated behaviour should additionally be kept in check .Keep your cigarettes scattered all over to make it harder for you to find them. Try smoking by holding the cigarette in the other hand or swap to a make of cigarettes which isn't of your preference.

As you head forward, remove all the cigarettes from your sight. Remove all the ashtrays. Change your morning routine. Don't sit in the same place at the dining table. Stay busy. When you have an urge to smoke, try doing something else. Have a chewing gum or a glass of water. And when you have successfully resisted cigarettes the whole day, go for a flick or enjoy your favourite meal to reward yourself.

zero in on activities which engage you like calling up buddies or going for a stroll. Alternatively,you can start with household improvement projects or participate in activities like biking, jogging, swimming or aerobics and others which are certain to distract you and reduce any urges to start smoking again. The activities will not only cater to your sense of wellbeing but also ensure better health.

attempt to make an arrangement with friends whom you can call at any time of the day, whenever the urge becomes irresistible.If you cannot stop smoking on your own, consult a medicare professional and he or she may suggest some aids to help you stop smoking.

A laser based system has appeared which is helpful for people who are done with smoking. It projects a laser bean at certain glands which release endrophins in the body. As enough endrophins are released, the body stops craving for nicotine. Be suggested that laser based method to give up smoking isn't the least expensive one though it is pretty fast. Many people have noticed the change after only 2 sessions.

Acupuncture is another less mainstream method to treat smoking addiction. It particularly suits strong willed people and disposes of nicotine cravings in the initial hours. The process involves the insertion of needles into the flesh as a way to control cravings.It may only be performed by trained execs who know where the needles mst be inserted. However, it is not considered not considered to be a very successful method of smoking conclusion.

Hypnosis is likely one of the most effective anti nicotine therapies available, with a proven history.What's more, it reduce nicotine longings in a healthy manner.

Sharing someone's smoke can cost you your health.  It has been proven that the trail of smoke from a cigarette can actually cause an increased risk of smoking-related disease for non-smokers.  Cutting smoking out of public places like pubs and restaurants can help to avoid spreading the harmful effects of smoke, but in some areas the smoking ban has caused many businesses to close and added to the count of the currently unemployed. 

 

 

 

Will a ban on smoking in your own home follow soon?  California, the first state to embrace a ban on smoking, is already targeting apartments, condominiums and cars as "public" spaces where cigarettes should be permanently extinguished.  Considering that lighting up at home is more likely to expose young children to cigarette smoke, this might be the next step in keeping the public healthy.  Whether the smoking ban ever hits homes or not, one way to keep your family healthy and cut down on smoke is through the installation of a home smoke eater.  Just be certain that it is a guaranteed smoke eater, so that you know what you are buying will work.

Want more facts about the good and bad caused by the smoking ban?  Check out this article about Smoking Ban Controversy.

The research in this video is what has sparked California's ban on smoking in cars with minors.  A device is used to read the levels of air pollution in the car, and shortly after a cigarette is lit, the air quality in the vehicle becomes far more hazardous than any outdoor air pollution (in fact, at one point the levels literally go "off the charts").

Watch this video and see why smoking in your car is so dangerous for children in particular:

 

 

 

Please share your comments about this video here.

Here is a video made by the StopSmoking campaign in Britain that gives an excellent blow-by-blow description of what makes smoking such a dangerous, addictive habit.  It shows what the different parts of the cigarette is made of, what happens to different part of your body when you smoke and also shows how quickly your body can begin repairing itself after you quit smoking.

• 20 minutes after you stop inhaling smoke, your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal
• 1 day after you stop inhaling smoke, your circulation will improve and the carbon monoxide from cigarettes will have left your body
• 6 months after you stop inhaling smoke, your lung function will increase and you will have brighter, less wrinkled skin
• 1 year after you stop inhaling smoke, your risk of heart disease will have fallen to one half of a smoker's risk.

Watch this video for more facts about smoking:

 

 

 

Need to rid your home of smoke?  Check out a home smoke eater to protect your lungs from smoke!

Many doctors warn that the number of people with COPD is rising in epidemic proportions.  Grace Ann Koppel (wife of journalist Ted Koppel) was told by her doctor that her past smoking habit was going to kill her.  Though Koppel had quit smoking years prior, the effects that tobacco smoke had on her lungs were irreversible. 

Watch this video to learn more about COPD and see what steps Grace Ann Koppel is taking to spread the word about the disease and it's treatment.

Who wants to spend their night in a hazy, smokey bar or restaurant?  Here are 4 mistakes commonly made by business owners when buying smoke eaters:

 

 

 

For more information about how to keep your business smoke free and your customers happy, read the full article: Smoke Eaters - 4 Mistakes to Avoid.

A new term has been coined to address the dangers linked to the lingering effects of cigarette and cigar smoke.  There has been a lot of research on the effect of second hand smoke (and the results show that second hand smoke is actually just as dangerous as being a smoker yourself), but now a new term - "third hand smoke" - is used to address the chemicals that sink into surfaces and potentially could cause health concerns.

It turns out that the chemicals created by tobacco smoke tend to stick around in you home, car or on your clothing and can actually contribute to creating the same health conditions for non-smokers that usually only affect smokers.  Children and infants are at the highest risk when exposed to third hand smoke - watch this report and find out why!

 

 

 

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