Toxic Chemicals That Can Clog Your Arteries

Cardiologist Joel K. Kahn, MD, advises people to avoid exposure to these heart-harming toxins in his book The Whole Heart Solution.

1. In canned goods and plastics, watch for: Bisphenol-A (BPA)

Sometimes called an endocrine disruptor because it interferes with the function of healthy hormones, BPA can mimic the effects of estrogen, increasing your risk of prostate and breast cancer and obesity. It may set the stage for heart disease too. One study linked high blood levels of BPA with an increased risk of dangerous types of plaque that are likely to rupture and cause sudden and often fatal heart attacks. When researchers from a number of different institutions looked at the levels of BPA in the urine of nearly 1,600 Brits and followed their health outcomes for 10 years, they found that people who developed heart disease were more likely to have elevated levels of BPA in their urine.

Solution: Buy canned food and water bottles marked BPA-free. Don’t touch sales receipts printed on thermal paper.

2. In toiletries, watch for: Phthalates

These chemicals are another type of endocrine disruptor linked to lower sperm counts, birth defects, obesity, and diabetes. One study linked high blood levels of a certain type of phthalate metabolite to an increased risk of hardened, clogged arteries. Recently, high blood pressure in children has been linked to phthalate exposures. More than 50 medical papers link phthalates to cardiovascular issues.

Solution: Avoid scented lotions and other personal care items.

3. In non-stick pans, watch for: Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)

These chemicals, also found in water-resistant coating on clothes and furniture can affect thyroid function, sperm quality, and kidney health—as well as heart disease. 
In a recent Danish study of 500 children found that overweight children who had higher levels of certain PFCs in their blood were more likely to develop risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes, including higher levels of insulin and triglycerides (the findings weren’t different for normal-weight children). 

Solution: Avoid treated products.

4. In clothing, furniture, and carpet, watch for: Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

New furniture, carpeting, and mattresses are
 created with dozens of different chemicals. Think about the smell of new carpeting or of a new mattress. It comes from chemical fumes that are escaping. One such type of chemical is PBDE, which mimics thyroid hormones and can lead to lower IQ.

A few years ago, a team of Danish and Swedish scientists measured certain markers of health in 21 healthy, elderly couples while the couples performed their normal routines at home. Then for two more days, the researchers measured the same health markers but filtered the air inside the homes. The air filters removed up to 9,000 particles per cubic centimeter from the air in each home, resulting in a near immediate 8 percent improvement in the function of small blood vessels. This could be enough to lower blood pressure, reduce angina pain, or improve blood flow. 

Solution: Use a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner and buy organic cotton clothing, furniture, mattresses, and other products when you can.

5. In dry cleaning, watch for: Perchlorate

Great at removing stains, perc also protects clothes against shrinking, evaporates quickly, and can be reused over and over again, making it very cost effective. That’s why as many as 85 percent of dry cleaners use it as their primary solvent. But it comes at a price. Exposure to this chemical results in dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and nausea. It has been shown to cause cancer in rats and mice and is rated “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The relationship to heart disease is not yet certain, but the toxic effect of perc on important enzyme systems including the liver is concerning.

Solution: Take the plastic off your dry cleaning and air it out for a few days before you wear it. And drink filtered water.

Most Needed Jobs in the Future

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, every major occupational group, with the exception of farming and fishing occupations, are expected to gain jobs in the next 10 years. That being said, the possibilities are endless when it comes to picking your future career. Whatever your personality or interests, you can find your niche in one of the many growing markets today.

1. For the Caregiver: Physician Assistant or Registered Nurse

Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of doctors and surgeons. Becoming a physician assistant requires a master’s degree in nursing. The median pay is $90,930 per year. RNs coordinate with doctors and provide care and emotional support for patients. To become a nurse you need a diploma from a nursing program, a B.S. in nursing or A.A. in nursing. As of 2014 the median pay is $65,470. Similar jobs to PAs and RNs include audiologists, EMTs, paramedics, dental hygienists, and midwives.

2. For the Gym-Addict: Physical Therapist

Physical therapists provide help to improve the mobility of injured or ill people. They are important to the physical rehabilitation of patients with chronic injuries and help with pain management to people who have experienced physical trauma. Physical therapists also work with injury prevention and education. To be a physical therapist you must have a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree and have a license to practice. The median salary is $79,860 per year as of 2014. Jobs similar to this include audiologists, chiropractors, physical therapist assistants, and speech language pathologists.

3. For the Outdoorsy Type: Brickmason

Brickmasons use natural and man-made stones to build fences, walkways, and structures. Though some hold higher degrees, most masons primarily learn through apprenticeship or on the job training. In 2014 the median salary is $44,950 per year. Similar occupations include construction work, carpentry, terrazzo work, and marble setting.

4. For the Curious Mind: Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists help injured or ill patients recover and improve the skills they need for living by therapeutically working through everyday tasks. Becoming an occupational therapist typically requires a master’s degree in occupational therapy, though in some cases a B.A. in psychology may be accepted. All occupational therapists are required to be licensed or registered. The median pay as of 2014 is $75,400 annually. Similar jobs include physical therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and exercise psychologists.

5. For the Math Minded: Personal Financial Advisor

Personal Financial Advisors give financial advice to their clients. They help with taxes, investments, insurance, and monetary decisions. To be a financial planner you need a bachelor’s degree, but higher degrees and certificates help increase chance of employment and increase in client base. The median salary in 2014 is $67,520 per year. Similar careers include budget analysts, financial analysts, financial managers, and insurance agents.

6. For the Computer Lover: Software Developer

With the growing emphasis on computer technology, app development, and data communications, cyber buffs are in full demand. Software developers generally have a bachelor’s degree in computer science and an in depth knowledge of computer programming tools and language. The median pay as of 2014 is $93,350 per year. Similar jobs include computer and information research scientists, computer hardware engineers, computer programmers, computer application engineers, and computer systems analysts.

7. For the Organized Mind: Management Analyst

Management Analysts brainstorm and plan ways to improve a company’s efficiency. They make recommendations on how to make organizations most profitable and are oftentimes responsible for budget and revenue goals. Most management analysts usually have a bachelor’s degree, but this is not required. The median salary is $78,600 per year as of 2014. Similar occupations include accountants, auditors, budget analysts, administrative services managers, market research analysts, and business executives.

8. For the Bookworm: Teacher

Teachers are responsible for the education of students within their field. There are tons of different types of teachers, but the ones with the highest projected growth are preschool teachers and college instructors. Education requirements for a preschool teacher vary by school and state, ranging from high school diploma to a college degree. Their median salary in 2014 is $27,130 per year. College instructors require more formal education and often require a master’s degree. Their median salary in 2014 is $68,970 per year. Similar jobs include high school teachers, anthropologists, special education teachers, historians, and economists.

9. For the English Majors: Technical Writer

Technical writers prepare journal articles, instruction manuals, and supporting documents essential to the communication of complex information. They are responsible for researching and developing technical information for customers, designers, and manufacturers. Technical writers generally have a college degree, but knowledge and experience with the technical subject is more important. The median wage is $65,500. Similar careers include editors, interpreters, public relations specialists, and fundraising managers.

10. For the Biology Major: Medical Scientist

Medical scientists aim to improve overall health by conducting research, clinical trials, and investigative methods. Medical scientists almost always require a Ph.D. in biology or life science. The median pay is $76,980 per year. Similar jobs include agricultural and food scientists, biochemists, epidemiologists, and healthy educators.

Earliest Signs of Alzheimer’s

"We need to find and treat people much earlier."

With grim prognoses and very limited treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, early detection isn’t particularly advantageous. But that may be changing—fast. One of the hottest areas of Alzheimer's research involves treating people in the very earliest stages of the disease with drugs that decrease the production of amyloid beta (proteins that bunch together to form damaging plaques in the brain). Experts believe that people begin to develop amyloid plaques in their brains at least 10 years before they develop any obvious symptoms of dementia.

Reisa Sperling, MD, director of the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is leading a new clinical trial, called theA4 study, which will evaluate patients with evidence of Alzheimer’s damage in the brain but who still have normal thinking and memory function. The trial will randomly assign groups to receive medication, and researchers will determine over three years whether the drugs affected the patients’ memory or levels of amyloid. “When a person already has a lot of memory trouble, they already have significant neuron loss,” says Dr. Sperling. “We need to find and treat people much earlier.” Here's what to watch for.

Read more: http://bilalbashir.dollarwp.com/early-signs-of-alzheimers/

What’s Behind These Doors

The house was built on a triangular lot. It was an affordable land space, but it was difficult to build upon.

I’ve seen some truly remarkable pieces of architecture while writing for LittleThings — especially tiny houses. Followers of the Tiny House Movement will be quick to tell you that a small space doesn’t mean a lack of options and possibilities. In fact, some tiny houses can be more impressive than huge mansions. I’ve seen tiny houses in the shape of crosses, boulders, piles of logs, and even Hobbit holes.

Recently, I saw photos of a gorgeous tiny house built in a triangle shape so it fits on a peculiarly shaped lot.

This Japanese house designed by the brilliant architects at Mizuishi Architects Atelier fits a family of three in a 594-square-foot home on an abnormally shaped property.

According to a study reported by the Guardian, quirky homes like these are more common in Japan because homeowners and architects can afford to build homes that may fade out of style. Homes are built more for style than longevity because of the frequency of earthquakes. Building codes get updated nearly every ten years and, as it stands right now, it is actually cheaper for many families to rebuild than to restructure. Most homes in Japan depreciate in value rapidly, and to make their home investments worth it, Japanese homeowners will destroy their house and build a brand new one to gain profit. This calls for a huge demand for more modern and innovative homes.

This planned obsolescence has made resulted in an increased demand for Japanese architects. There are 2.5 architects per 1,000 residents in Japan, while the United States has only .33 architects per every 1,000 residents.

The architects at Mizuishi Architects Atelier have done an incredible job making a deceptively amazing tiny house!

Of course, adding three levels of windows allows for lots of light to make the space feel a little larger.

But can such a narrow space really be nice to live in?

The answer is a resounding "Yes!"

The lofted area of the "steeple" provides a great children's playroom, but it can also be used as an office or spare bedroom.

The loft-style vaulted ceilings make it feel much airier and more spacious.

The ground floor is divided into a bedroom, living area, and kitchen.

This house has the beds out in the open in a studio format so that additional walls don't make it feel more closed off.

However, curtains around the bedroom area allow for some privacy.

There's even plenty of kitchen space.

Modern amenities and a sleek design help prevent this house from feeling cluttered.

With its river views, this house might be one of the most enviable new Japanese properties.

Personality Trait for Strawberry Ice-cream lovers

Strawberry lovers are introverts.

In a study by Hirsch for Baskin Robbins, strawberry lovers were often tolerant, devoted, and introverted; in research conducted for Dreyer's/Edy's, he found fans of the berry flavor were also logical and thoughtful.

the Most Interesting Facts, Ever

If you’re anything like us, you enjoy knowing an abundance of useful(less) information. You never know when it will come in handy!

As our grandparents always told us, “Every kind of information and/or education can be helpful at some point or another.”

These days, you pick up a lot of information. You can’t turn anywhere without constantly being bombarded by facts, figures and news from the television, Internet and magazines.

No, these aren’t things you need to know, but it doesn’t hurt to be well-versed in trivia.

Usually, unless you’re going to compete in the ultimate nerd-off, where knowledge of useless facts is celebrated, these things will just sit in your memory bank waiting for their time to shine.

But who knows? Maybe the next time you’re out with your friends playing bar trivia these things will come in handy. If someone were handing out medals for knowing random junk, you’d win the gold.

Hannibal Lecter

In the movie Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter never blinks. Apparently, Anthony Hopkins watched a video of Charles Manson being interviewed and he didn’t blink. Acting at its finest.

Want to grow a beard faster?

Think about sex. Since facial hair is largely governed by the production of testosterone, even the anticipation of sex will help you grow a beard faster.

Overdosing on Chocolate

A lethal dose of chocolate is 22 pounds… or 40 Hershey bars.

Cleopatra

Apparently, she lived closer in time to the moon landing than to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Giraffes

A male giraffe will headbutt a female in the bladder until she urinates, then taste her urine to determine whether she is ovulating.

Goosebumps

Dead people can still get them. Creepy.

Honey

It does not spoil. You could probably still eat 3000 year old honey if you wanted to.

McDonalds

McDonalds calls frequent buyers of their food “heavy users.”

Mosquitos

It would take 1,200,000 mosquitoes, each sucking once, to completely drain the average human of blood.

Plastic Surgery

Worldwide, the United States undergoes the most plastic surgery procedures. Next in line is Mexico.

Porn

Surprise, surprise. For every “normal'”webpage, there are five porn pages.

Sleeping

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

Southern Sea Otters

These cute creatures have flaps of skin under their forelegs that act as pockets. When diving, they use these pouches to store rocks and food.

Turtles

Turtles can breathe through their butts.

Most Frightening Female Serial Killers

It is a known fact that the most dangerous serial killers are the ones who seem like normal, ordinary people. That way they are able to get away with the horrendous crimes. Throughout history, there were a number of women who secretly poisoned and tortured innocent people. We compiled a list of some of worst and most terrifying killers. Wives, maids, young girls, and even nobles, these criminals came from all walks of life and from all over the world. Read below for our list of the most frightening female serial killers in history.

1. Elizabeth Báthory

Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed was a 16th century Hungarian noble. She is perhaps the most well-known female serial killer, as well as the most terrifying. Witnesses claimed Bathory would torture and kill her victims in the dungeons of her castle, and even eat their flesh and drink their blood. The Countess started with young peasant girls, luring them with promises of well-paid work as maids. She moved on to women of the lower nobility, who were convinced they are moving to the castle to receive etiquette lessons. After further investigation, Báthory was accused of killing as many as 650. The “Blood Countess” was found guilty in trial in 1611 and died in her prison four years later. The story of the countess inspired many legends, books, and films.

2. Amelia Dyer

Amelia Dyer owned a “baby farm” in England during the late 19th century, where she took in newborns from mothers who became pregnant illegitimately. Dyer would either help find adoptions for the babies or let them die from malnutrition, but eventually she started to murder them. It is confirmed that she killed six babies, but she was believed to have murdered 200 to 400 more. Dyer was caught in 1879 and sentenced to six months of hard labor, and once she was freed she went back to killing babies. She was caught again 15 years later, and this time she pleaded guilty and was hanged.

3. Delphine LaLaurie

Madame Marie Delphine LaLaurie was a New Orleans socialite during the early 19th century. She had a number of slaves, who everyone believed were treated well. Many praised LaLaurie for her beauty and charm. However, after a fire in her home it was revealed Madame had a torture chamber where several black slaves were found hanged. LaLaurie fled to Paris after an angry mob attacked her house. The investigations reveal that the socialite was involved in the torture and murders of hundreds of slaves.

4. Gwen Graham and Cathy Woods

Gwen Graham and Cathy Wood began dating when they met at the Alpine Nursing Home, where they worked as nurse’s aides. As part of a “love bond,” the two conspired and smothered five elderly people. Graham started dating another woman and moved up with her to Texas. In 1988 Wood’s ex-husband, who knew about the murders from Wood, went to the authorities. During the investigation process, Wood and Graham accused each other as the main motivator and the manipulator in the relationship. Graham was sentenced to five life sentences after she was found guilty on five counts of murder. Wood was sentenced to 20 years, and is expected to be released in 2021.

5. Júlia Fazekas and the Angels of Nagyrév

Júlia Fazekas, a midwife, had an interesting solution for women’s problems. During World War I, many women in the Hungarian village of Nagyrév took foreign lovers since their husbands were gone to fight in the war. Naturally, no woman wanted her husband to find her with another man or a child that wasn’t his. Fazekas helped these women, the “Angels of Nagyrev,” to poison their husbands. She participated in the deaths of over 300 people from 1914 to 1929. Fazekas allegedly said, “Why put up with them?”

6. Martha Needle

Martha Needle was raised in a poor and abusive home in South Australia during the 1860s. She reportedly showed signs of instability since childhood. By 1891, she poisoned her husband and three small children, and used the collected insurance money to buy a grave for the family.

A year after the murder, Needle was hired as a housekeeper by brothers Otto and Louis Junken. She and Otto started a love affair, which Louis was completely opposed to. He suddenly became ill for a mysterious reason and passed away a few months later. Otto’s second brother also died from an illness shortly after moving in with the couple. After an autopsy, it was revealed Needle had been feeding the brother arsenic. An investigation started and the bodies of her husband and children were found, and they all tested positive for arsenic. Needle claimed she was innocent, but was sentenced to death. Interestingly, Otto stayed by her side until the very end.

7. Magdalena Solis

Magdalena Solis, or “The High Priestess of Blood,” was a cult leader and serial killer in Mexico. Sometime in 1963, Solis and her brother were contacted by two criminals, the Hernandez brothers. The brothers convinced residents of a local village that they were prophets of Incan gods. The poor villagers paid taxes and provided sacrifices to the “prophets,”  but when the villagers realized nothing was changing, the brothers claimed Solis as a reincarnation of a goddess to restore faith in them.

Solis created horrifying rituals of human sacrifices that involved beating, burning, cutting, and mutilating victims. The priests would drink a mix of human and chicken blood. In the most extreme cases, there were dissections of live victims’ hearts.

That same year, a 14-year-old boy accidently witnessed the rituals. He reported what he saw to a detective, but after both of them disappeared the police started an investigation. The Hernandez prophets were arrested and Solis and her brother were sentenced to 50 years in prison.

8. Hélène Jégado

Hélène Jégado was a French maid who lived in the early 1800s. She started poisoning her victims in 1833 while she was working for a priest. She allegedly killed seven people in the course of three months, including her sister and the priest. Since there was a cholera outbreak in the area, nobody thought the deaths were unusual. In 1850 she poisoned a number of servants at the household she was working at. When a doctor requested to see one of the corpses for an autopsy, Jégado exclaimed that she was innocent — for no apparent reason. The doctor became suspicious and an investigation began. The maid was found guilty of three murders, three attempted murders, and eleven thefts. She was executed by guillotine in 1852.

9. Mary Bell

This killer started early. Eleven-year old Mary Bell from England was found guilty of strangling two small boys, aged 3 and 4. She went back to the murder scene and carved the letter M on her victims’ stomachs with a razor, as well as other mutilations. Bell was released from prison in 1980, when she was 23. Since her release, the killer has been living under court-protected anonymity. In 1998 a book was about her life was written, calledCries Unheard: The Story Of Mary Bell.

Everyday Items Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat

Your cutting board

University of Arizona researchers found that the average cutting board has 200 times more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat. A big culprit: raw meat, since many fecal bacteria originate in animals’ internal organs. So, the last chicken cutlet you diced? The tiny grooves your knife left in the cutting board are prime real estate for germs to get cozy.Clean it:Wash plastic cutting boards with liquid dish detergent and water, then soak thoroughly in a solution of 2 teaspoons bleach and 1 gallon of water. For wooden boards, do the same but use 2 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water. Don’t soak overnight.

Your pet's food bowl

One of the home's dirtiest surfaces could be your pet's trusty kibble dish. If your dog licks a toilet seat, he’s picking up about 295 bacteria per square inch. But if he licks the inside rim of his unclean dish, he just gobbled up 2,110 bacteria per square inch—and what dog licks just one inch?Clean it:To keep pets healthy, wash all food bowls after every meal with hot water and soap, or combine baking soda, warm water, and salt in equal parts and scrub the surface in circles before rinsing. If you don't, bacteria will multiply on the leftover residue of your pet’s slobber and food bits, a little like if you used the same fork every day without washing it.

Your clean laundry

A load of underwear will transfer at least 100 million E. coli bacteria—the culprit behind diarrhea—to the washing machine, which becomes a breeding ground that can contaminate other clothing. With a front-loading machine, it's worse; water settles at the bottom and creates the moist environment bacteria loves. Your toilet seat, on the other hand, is too dry to support a very large bacterial population.Clean it:Disinfect your machine by washing a load of whites with bleach first, or cleaning your washer with bleach at least once a month (pour 2 cups of bleach into the detergent compartment, and run empty on the hottest cycle before wiping dry; leave the door open after). To avoid spreading bacteria, wash underwear separately with hot water and a color-safe bleach replacement.

Your smartphone or tablet

In a 2013 study, British researchers swabbed 30 tablets, 30 phones, and an office toilet seat. The tablets had up to 600 units per swab of staphylococcus (also known as staph, which can cause severe stomach sickness) and the phones had up to 140 units. The typical toilet seat had less than 20 units. Another uncomfortable detail: In a 2011 survey, 75 percent of Americans said they use their smartphones while on the toilet to text, email, and talk. It’s not just teenagers—91 percent of Gen Y responders said they used their phone on the toilet, as did 80 percent of Gen X and 65 percent of Boomers.Clean it:Reduce your exposure to germs by cleaning your electronic screens with screen wipes or a damp, soft cloth—or leaving them out of the bathroom in the first place.

Your carpet

Fun fact: Bacteria love munching on dead skin cells. Considering that the average person sheds about 1.5 million every hour, that turns your rugs into a fine dining experience when you add food particles, pet dander, pollen, and other bits. About 200,000 bacteria live in each square inch of carpet (nearly 700 times more than on your toilet seat), including E. coli, staphylococcus, and salmonella.Clean it:Since your vacuum cleaner can’t reach to the bottom of the carpet, hire a company to deep clean at least once a year.

Your faucet handles

Your bathroom faucet handle can have 21 times the bacteria of your toilet seat. Even worse—your kitchen faucet handles can harbor 44 times the bacteria of your toilet seat.Clean it:Disinfect and clean regularly along with the rest of your sink to make sure washing your hands isn’t making you dirtier.

Your computer keyboard

Clicking away at your computer in between bites of lunch may have led to the last “office bug” you picked up. When British researchers swabbed 33 keyboards in a London office, they found that they harbored up to five times the germs of a toilet seat. In 2007, a stomach flu outbreak at a Washington, D.C. elementary school struck more than 100 people, and may have spread through unclean computer equipment like keyboards, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clean it:Wash hands, and surfaces, often.

Your handbag

It goes with everything, including germs. When British researchers studied 25 handbags, they found that the average handbag is three times dirtier than an office toilet seat. Handbags used regularly were 10 times dirtier. Handles carried the most bacteria, but even items inside the bag were grimy—hand and face creams were the dirtiest, along with lipstick and gloss. Stomach flu viruses have been traced back to reusable grocery bags, too.Clean it:Keep your bags off the ground, and regularly wash cloth bags when possible. For plastic or leather bags, use disinfectant wipes.

Your kitchen cloth or sponge

When Arizona researchers collected 1,000 dishcloths and sponges in kitchens, they found that 10 percent contained salmonella. Each square inch of their surfaces contains about 134,630 bacteria, 456 times the number on a toilet seat. Dishcloths and sponges harbor the largest amount of E. coli and other fecal bacteria in the average home, mostly because they aren’t replaced as often as they should.Clean it:Each week, toss dishcloths in the washing machine and sponges in the dishwasher, or heat in the microwave (while damp) for 30 seconds.