5 Cancers You Need to Know About

Within the realm of diseases and ailments that one can experience in their lifetime, cancer seems to be the one most people are concerned with; we don’t blame them. In fact, new data suggests the number of annual cancer diagnoses has surpassed 1.5 million. With statistics like this rearing their ugly head, now is the perfect time to turn inward and examine your own health.

  1. Prostate Cancer

Most individuals have been misinformed about this type of cancer. As a result, many patients don’t take prostate cancer screening guidelines as seriously as they should. One way for men to take care of themselves and be proactive about this is through  Prompt PGS, a major advancement in evaluating genetic predisposition to prostate cancer. Prompt PGS empowers men with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health. The test is for any man who wants to better understand his lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer, enabling him to personalize his own respective approach to screening.

When asked about prostate health, many men feel as though prostate cancer is a slow-growing issue that never spreads to the surrounding area. Contrary to this belief, prostate cancer has the tendency to thrive in one of two states: slow and benign, or fast and deadly. Located below is a brief list of symptoms associated with this form of cancer:

  • Increased bathroom breaks
  • Inability to hold urine
  • Blood within the urine Colorectal

If you’ve heard the terms “colon cancer”, “rectal cancer” or “bowel cancer”, you’re well aware of the havoc that colorectal cancer can cause in one’s life. This form of cancer begins to show itself when frequent constipation becomes part of everyday life for a patient. From here, individuals may find dark blood in their stool, a full feeling in their stomach even when they haven’t eaten and extreme fatigue.

The most important factor to address when a doctor diagnosis colorectal cancer is to make sure tumors and cysts have not formed near the lymph nodes. Should they be found, immediate surgery will be performed to try and prevent cancerous growths from spreading. From here, the doctor will customize a treatment plan to give the patient their best chance at survival.

  1. Lung Cancer

To find out if a patient may have lung cancer, they first need to address the most common side effects. When lung cancer first begins to form, the individual may notice a large amount of rust-colored phlegm in their system. From here, a patient will notice extreme bouts of coughing accompanied by unwavering chest pain.

The causes of lung cancer vary, from heavy smoking to taking medication that could be a possible human carcinogen.

Treating lung cancer can range anywhere from small surgery, radiation or even chemotherapy. As always, consult with your healthcare physician to plan a course of treatment in the following months.

  1. Skin Cancer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer within the United States. Here is a brief list of things to watch form when examining yourself for potential areas with skin cancer:

  • Moles that are adjacent to other moles of a different color.
  • Moles and marks that have a dark, undefined border.
  • Areas that are discolored and painful to touch.
  • Marks that have multiple colors
  1. Breast Cancer

While breast cancer is mostly found within the female population, men are at risk too, making breast cancer awareness important for everyone. Always be aware of hard, non-moving lumps found within your breast tissue. The best way to screen yourself in these areas is to run your fingers and lightly squeeze using medium pressure over the breast on a regular basis. If found, consult with a physician immediately as the cancer may spread to the lymph nodes located within close proximity of the breast.

Need A Family Dinner Idea? Get Some Pork On Your Fork! 

In our fast-moving society, families across the country are losing the ability to sit together and have a chance to really connect with one another through conversation.  With classes, sports, jobs, and workouts, each family member may be operating on their own program for the majority of the day— which turns into a majority of the week, and so the vicious cycle continues.  Having a family dinner together is a great way to create a familial connection on a daily basis, which cultivates the closeness and bond that we all long for with those we love most.  

So how does a family on the go stop dead in their tracks for a meal together? One way to get all those agents of chaos to fall in line for dinner time is to make sure that the meal you all share is as delicious as much as it is nutritious.  There are so many delicious meal ideas that are quick, convenient, and centered around one of the most versatile and widely available meats on the market today…Pork!  

Pork is a red meat that is derived from pigs, and it’s the most commonly consumed red meat worldwide.  It is high-protein meat that is loaded with essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids that all play a huge role in overall health.  Lean pork (that is trimmed of visible fat) is nutrient-dense, satisfying, and good for you. Pork cuts like that of tenderloin, loin chops, and sirloin roast are made from lean cuts and are more healthy than chicken.  

Flavorful and inexpensive, pork is the underrated, jack-of-all-meats that works in all kinds of dishes— from “Taco Tuesday” to “Stir Fry-day,” it couldn’t be easier to be the culinary dynamo your family has always wanted you to be, and create fresh dinner ideas with all of the different types of pork cuts at your fingertips.  Here are 3 quick and easy ways to get a little bit more pork on your fork, and spread more joy around your family’s dinner table.

PULLED PORK TACOS

We all love the taste of pulled pork tacos.  Having a taco bar with some delicious pulled pork in the spotlight will have your family coming back to the table time and time again.  With a recipe that is as simple as it is delicious, your family won’t be able to say no to taco night!

HOT ‘N’ SPICY PORK NOODLES

Standard spaghetti and meat sauce is always a crowd-pleaser, but….snooze.  Try, instead, a savory asian twist on a family favorite to create a bowl of goodness that is way more exciting and just as easy to throw together.  Sometimes, all it takes it an innovative, spicy pork twist on a classic red sauce to create to bring the family together week after week.

Pork Salad Wraps

For those who are more health-conscious, and looking for a healthier way to serve the ones they love, look no further than a fresh lettuce wrap stuffed with savory pork tenderloin!  What better way to take the “bad rap” away from salad than by creating a finger-lickin’ fresh way to get some veggies on the table for your family. No one will bat an eye at the fresh veggies they’re scarfing, as long as the pork is juicy, savory, and as delicious as family dinner should be.

Although none of us can keep life from charging us at what seems like warp-speed, all of us can make the choice to slow down, connect with one another, and create the connection we all long for over the pork we all share with our fork.

 

Family Healthcare: Choosing the Right Primary Care Doctor 

A comprehensive healthcare plan is something that every person needs. When you are younger you may need it for a pregnancy or for basic procedures such as dental checkups and annual health physicals. However, as you grow older, its importance grows, too. 

Deciding on the Right Plan 

Most employers present an extensive healthcare package that contains an abundance of information regarding several different companies and plan options. This in itself can be overwhelming, especially if you are uncertain as to what your needs going forward may be. In order to make a decision that benefits you, a good approach may be to write down what you would like to have in your healthcare plan, such as the ability to continue to see your current doctor and to have the ability to go out of network to see a specialist. Another important aspect is the deductible. Some plans may cost less, however, they will more than likely have a much higher deductible for procedures like surgery, emergency room visits and prescriptions. 

Finding the Right Doctor 

If you don’t currently have a primary care provider, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. One way to narrow the search is to check their credentials and their rate of client satisfaction, which you can usually find on the doctor’s website. Another thing to look for is how they protect their client’s personal information. Today, unlike just a generation earlier, hackers are constantly looking at small businesses as their payday for a wealth of personal information they can use. When you are in the healthcare industry it’s a requirement by law that you take specific necessary steps to protect your patient’s private information. A doctor’s office that is HIPAA HITECH compliant is doing everything they can to achieve that goal. Trusting your healthcare provider is more than liking the doctor, it means keeping your private health information safe; not breached, not for sale, and not available for product development. 

Convenience

The workday today can begin at 8:00 A.M. or 2:00 P.M. There is no one-size-fits-all for office hours anymore. Selecting a doctor’s office that understands that not everyone can make it to their office prior to 4 or 5:00 P.M. is important. Many doctors today have a more flexible schedule wherein they have at least one evening where they remain open until 8 or 9:00 P.M. and some even have hours on Saturday. Additionally, you should find a doctor within your local area. It makes it convenient for regular visits and, if you or your child becomes very sick, you can get there in short order. 

Cater to Their Clients

Not all doctors put their focus on their clients’ needs ahead of their own wallets. You may find a doctor within your location and one that accepts your insurance; however, they might be lacking in customer service. For instance, some doctors, in order to make more money, schedule several appointments for the same time slot. You walk into the doctor’s office and see a room full of people seated and waiting and suddenly find out that they all have the same scheduled appointment. This can cost you valuable time and, if you took time off from work, it means you’ll spend the entire day in the office versus at home getting rest.

A Formal Meeting

While liking your doctor isn’t the most important issue if they provide quality care, it helps. When you like a person you are more apt to strike up a conversation which, in many cases, can include things that trouble you either emotionally or physically. So, in the end, it can help you maintain better health.

Healthcare is something every person in your family needs. Throughout your lifetime you will, from time to time, have difficult decisions to make when it comes to healthcare. Finding a qualified physician with excellent credentials, a superb reputation and protections in place to preserve the integrity of your personal information are key factors you should weigh carefully before making your final decision.

Top Home Improvements You Probably Shouldn’t Do Yourself

Thanks to home improvement reality shows and blogs DIY has caught on everywhere. Homeowners are learning just how easy and cost-effective it can be to complete home maintenance and repairs on their own. While it can seem like a win-win (maintain your asset and save money), that’s not the case for all home improvement projects. 

If you were to do a quick online search of DIY mistakes or disasters, you’d find a ton of stories of homeowners who attempted to complete projects on their own that backfired big time. It ended up costing them more money to have a professional come out and fix what they damaged while also taking care of the original repair. 

Not to discourage you from doing your own home repairs and improvements, but there are some things that really should not be done without professional assistance. How do you know which projects are safe and which you should hire a contractor? Check out this list below: 

Electrical Projects

Electricity is dangerous to anyone that doesn’t have adequate education and training. You should never try to work with electrical wiring on your own. You run the risk of getting electrocuted or starting a house fire. As electrical wiring runs throughout the home, you should hire an electrician when doing everything from installing a ceiling fan to a kitchen or bathroom remodel. You can visit sites like PacmanElectric.com to find certified electricians servicing your area. 

Significant Structural Changes

You don’t know how many DIY disaster stories there are from homeowners who tried to make structural changes on their own. They suddenly decide that they want an open-concept kitchen and knock down a wall. Only the wall they knocked down happens to be load-bearing which causes a ton of mess. 

There’s more to a wall than meets the eye. Behind many of them, you can find everything from plumbing to electrical wires. If it is also a wall that serves to support the weight of the property, removing it can result in significant structural damage. So, any time you want to tear down a wall, it is best to at least hire a contractor to advise you on whether or not tearing it down would cause an issue. 

Roof Repairs

Cleaning your gutters is one thing, but trying to install a roof, repair damage, or any other roofing repair without assistance is an accident waiting to happen. Without the proper safety gear and equipment, you increase your chances of falling and getting seriously hurt. Not to mention, if you damage the roof while trying to repair it, it will most certainly cause other issues around the house like leaks and water damage. It is a safer bet to contact a reputable company offering commercial roofing (or elsewhere more relevant) and have the job done properly first time round.

Tree Removal

Dead trees can become a serious issue for homeowners fairly quickly. They need to be properly removed to prevent them from falling and causing damage to your property, your neighbor’s property, or hurt someone passing by. While it might seem simple enough to grab a chainsaw and begin hacking away, cutting trees is a lot more complex than you think. Cutting the wrong way could lead to property damage or injury. It is best to contact an arborist or landscaping company to have them come and cut the tree safely for you. 

Other Factors to Consider

These aren’t the only home improvement projects you probably shouldn’t complete on your own. Before deciding to do any project yourself, consider these factors: 

  • Knowledge – how much do you know about what you’re trying to accomplish? If you don’t have much comprehension on the topic, chances are you shouldn’t be doing it yourself. 
  • Tools – While some home repairs and maintenance projects require nothing more than a hammer and a few nails, there are others that require more advanced tools and equipment. If you cannot afford or do not have these tools readily available, you do not want to complete the job yourself. 
  • Permits – Each locality has its own rules and regulations as it pertains to getting home improvement projects permitted. These permits are to ensure that the work is done up to code and also means that your work will be evaluated by a city or county inspector. Unless you want the headache of going through all the red tape, it is probably best to hire a contractor to ensure the work is done appropriately. 

No one is against saving a few bucks while also maintaining your property, but it is important to play it safe. Trying to complete a home improvement project that you’re not skilled enough in or is very risky can cause you more harm than good. If you’re not sure you should be completing it on your own, it is best to start searching for the best-qualified contractor to get it done for you. 

How to buy the right type of international medical insurance

If you are taking your family abroad for a holiday or on a trip to see relatives you really need to buy travel insurance. Most of the time, things will go well and you will not need to use it.

But, despite this fact, buying it is never a waste of time. Without the right type of international medical insurance should someone fall sick the bill can potentially run into tens of thousands.

Coverage for your medical bills

The cost of treatment alone can be very high. Healthcare costs vary, but they are never cheap. Even in India, which has one of the lowest-cost healthcare services in the world, a broken ankle could easily set you back $7,000. You would also need to add the cost of drugs, crutches and outpatient visits to that amount. In other parts of the world, you would pay an awful lot more to fix a badly broken ankle.

So, it is wise to buy a policy that provides sufficient coverage for your medical bills. It is also important to check if there is an excess. If there is make sure that you understand how much it is.

The types of treatments covered

Look at the small print to see what kinds of treatments are covered by your policy. For example, if a brain injury is suspected you would want to be able to have a scan rather than just an x-ray because that is all your policy covers.

Transport to the medical facility

Not all policies cover transportation to the medical facility. It is never wise to assume that this bill will a small one. Even in well-developed countries like the UK, you may have to be flown to a specialist hospital to receive treatment for something like a broken back. If you have not bought the right type of international medical coverage you will have to pay that bill. Again, that bill can easily run into tens of thousands.

Repatriation coverage

Should you, or a member of your travel party, be so ill that they cannot return home without a medical professional you will again be facing a huge bill. As you can see here, the cost of medical evacuation is currently running at between $25,000 and $250,000. So, again, it is very important to make sure that your policy provides adequate coverage for this eventuality.

Expenses for other members of your party

Often, someone will need to stay with you to take care of your immediate needs. Again, this can work out expensive. You will have to find the cash to pay for their accommodation, food, travel expenses and new tickets to get home. All costs that the right international medical insurance policy will cover.

The activities that are included in your policy

You also need to be sure that your medical travel insurance policy will kick in regardless of how you get injured or fall sick. The last thing you need is to break your leg on a hike only to find that an injury sustained while hiking is not covered. For some policies, the list of activities that are not is a ridiculously long one. So, always check the small print before actually buying your policy.

The above is not a comprehensive list of what you need to consider when buying international medical insurance. Just the most important things, so, before buying please take the time to do a bit more research.

6 Ways Your Home Could Be Affecting Your Health And How To Combat This

Where you live has a profound affect on both your mental and physical well being, and even small details can make a big difference. In this article we outline 6 ways that your home can cause problems to your health and the easy improvements you can make that’ll bring about big, beneficial changes to your whole life.

Mold Can Lead To Serious Health Issues

A type of fungus that often grows in damp and musty conditions, mold can lead to serious health problems if it isn’t treated quickly. You need to clean the affected area to get rid of the mold, then prevent its return by finding the root cause of the problem and fixing it. Often mold is caused by poor insulation, or condensation as a result of ineffective ventilation, so work with a contractor to identify and rectify the issue before it causes you serious health problems.

Dust Isn’t Just Unsightly

As well as being a sign that your home hasn’t been cleaned thoroughly in a while, dust can also cause respiratory problems and lead to allergies. These health problems are easily avoided by dusting your home regularly and using a high-quality vacuum cleaner to dispose of any dirt as quickly as possible.

Pests Can Be More Than Just Annoying

Not only do unwanted visitors cause a disturbance, but they can also lead to serious health problems including rashes, allergies and respiratory problems, as well as potentially spreading diseases such as salmonella. The most effective way to rid your home of pests is to collaborate with an expert pest control service like Aswatona Pest Control, whose talented team can eliminate any trace of pests and leave your home fresh and clean.

Uneven Flooring Is A Trip Hazard

Having uneven floors and dangerous staircases can lead to falls, which could potentially lead to a serious injury. To avoid this, make sure that any bumps on the ground are removed and that any lifting carpet or flooring is fixed so that you can walk around your home safely.

House Plants Aren’t Just Decorative Some house plants can lead to skin rashes, respiratory problems and even be poisonous, so you need to make sure that you check that your plants are non-toxic and safe. If you notice any change in your health when you’re around your plants then consider moving them to a place you don’t spend a lot of time in, or even getting rid of them altogether.

Damp Is Never A Good Thing

If your home gets damp then this could not only lead to more serious problems like mold, but on its own it could cause breathing problems, fungus on your skin and even other issues like a loss of appetite and poor mental health. Being damp can seriously affect your health and also damage the structure of your home, so find and fix any damp patches before they worsen and cause you health issues.

3 Ways to Control Pharaoh Ants in the Home

Monomorium pharaonis, or Pharaoh ants, are thought to be natives of Egypt, but they have spread all over the world, including to North America. Measuring just 2 millimeters, these ants are brown or yellowish in color. Although originally a tropical species, Pharaoh ants are highly adaptive to climate and temperature variations. They can even survive in American homes in winter if the central heating is on. As a loving and caring parent, you’ll want to get rid of this all-season nuisance pest.

Pharaoh ants live in colonies and they follow the social order of polygyny. Often, there are several queens in a single colony, so their population multiplies rapidly. When a colony becomes overpopulated, it gets fragmented into bud colonies, thus increasing their presence inside a home. Colonies can be anywhere including electricity pipes and ducts, small holes, or even cracks in walls and floors. Pharaoh ants can also damage silk, rayon, and rubber products, as they feed on almost everything sweet with sufficient protein content.

What is the biggest threat from Pharaoh ants?

These ants do not pose any major threat themselves except for mild stings. However, Pharaoh ants can transmit many illnesses and diseases as they are transporters of several pathogens. These include Streptococcus, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Pharaoh ants must be eliminated from modern homes to keep the family healthy and happy. However, keeping your home ant-free is a big challenge.

Why is it difficult to eradicate Pharaoh ants?

There are two major challenges in ant control. First, ants are very tiny and agile, and can easily escape or hide inside holes and cracks if attacked. Second, Pharaoh ants also have the unique gift of sensing insecticides and will abandon colonies before any harm comes to them.

What then are some effective ways of controlling pharaoh ants? Here are three options.

Ant-baiting

These ants have a terrific sweet tooth, so the smartest way to destroy them is by preparing poisonous baits mixed with honey, crushed sugar, or any other sweet solvent. Boric acid and baking soda are two effective household bait ingredients. These baits should be placed strategically and particularly in and around cracks and openings so that the ants can easily access them. Quite often, ant workers carry food to their queens so this method is also effective in killing the queens and thus controlling the population.

Capping holes, openings, and cracks

These are the gateways for Pharaoh ants that facilitate their entry and exit in homes. By sealing them, you can restrict their movement successfully. The challenge here is to spot and seal all possible points of entry, as many of them may be out of reach or simply go unspotted.

Spraying pesticides

If the ant infestation remains unmanageable even after trying the previous methods, you can try spraying pesticides. This should be the last resort because the average homeowner might struggle choosing the right pesticide for the job, as well as finding one that was safe. Using the pesticide both correctly and effectively might also be a challenge to a layperson.

Pharaoh ants are both smart and elusive. Controlling them is an expert’s job, so the best way to do it is by involving professionals. When it comes to the health and safety of your family, you would not want to take chances, right?

Top 6 Kinds of Matching Living Room Sets

Furniture is often placed into specific categories for comparison. For instance, furniture is sorted by style, color, brand, or frame material. While those classifications are useful, it’s also fun to take a look at the most popular kinds of matching living room sets in a more general way. Here are six of the top choices in living room furniture.

1. Leather Living Room Sets

Leather furniture is in a class by itself. There’s no material that’s quite as classic, luxurious, and sophisticated. Yet, not all people who adore buttery leather sofas and loveseats buy this kind of furniture. Why? Usually, it’s because they don’t know it’s possible to get it at an affordable price. They think of leather and assume it’s out of their price range. However, at 1StopBedrooms online store, you can get discounts, coupons, and free delivery to lower the cost. You may be surprised to find that leather isn’t out of your reach at all.

2. Reclining and Power-Reclining Sets

Nothing’s more comfortable than easing back in a reclining sofa, loveseat, or chair. Now, you also have the option of choosing a power reclining set with an adjustable headrest and infinite position reclining mechanism. The matching set gives everyone in your living room a chance to put their feet up, lean back, and relax in any position they like.

3. Outdoor Living Room Sets

More and more, people are taking advantage of their outdoor spaces for entertaining and relaxing. To make a summer evening even more special, it’s great to have an outdoor sofa with matching loveseat and chair. Add some outdoor tables, set up your grill, and you’re all ready to get the party started!

4. Sets with Button-Tufted Sofas, Loveseats, and Chairs

Button-tufted furniture has always had a special appeal. It’s so elegant, but it’s also very comfortable. This kind of furniture never goes out of style. What’s more, high-quality button-tufted sets will hold up very well for many years.

5. Colorful Furniture Sets

The colors of living room furniture are always fascinating. In the neutral zone, you can choose among many shades of brown, beige, grey, black or white. But, these days, there are even more exciting colors. Check your online furniture store for colors like salsa, Pecos red, orange, and sky blue.

6. Cheap Furniture for Living Rooms

Now, we come to the kind of furniture anyone would love: the inexpensive kind. No matter what other categories of furniture you want, the bottom line is likely an important part of your final decision. The best way to get this kind of furniture is to go to a furniture website that has a wide variety of matched sets at discount prices.

Comparing furniture in different terms than usual is a fun exercise. If you want even more fun, browse through the selection of an online furniture company. Look at each of these kinds of furniture, or make up your own, entirely new, categories. And, if you like what you see, consider whether it’s time to go for it.

Maintain Generator For Best Performance

 

Too often, we are guilty of buying a fancy gadget and not worrying about its maintenance until the first problem occurs. Although a standby generator may seem like a simple machine that runs on sources of mechanical energy – it really isn’t. In fact, it’s a clever complex piece of equipment that needs as much care as your regular car would need. If you need help with your generator installation, the internet is a great place to look up some expert tips and tutorials. Alternatively, a professional may be hired to help get you set up.

Like a car, a standby generator has a list of parts, wiring and other materials that are critical in its seamless functioning. This is the primary reason why it is important to regularly run checks on your generator to ensure it will be available at the time of need.  If you find that your generator is not working properly, you can check your area for a local repairman.  Consider doing an internet search, such as Generator Repair Milwaukee.

Reasons To Maintain Your Generator

A poorly or never maintained generator is as much bad news as an unpredictable loss itself. Here are a few reasons as a generator owner to ensure regular maintenance:

Parts, parts and the bigger picture: Like any equipment, generators also have plenty of parts that require regular checks. Each part within the generator adds up to make the generator work. Comprehensive maintenance of your residential generator plan should include checking of oil, oil filter, spark plugs, adjust and tighten any valves, check gas pressure, clear air filters, cross-check voltage, hertz, RPM outputs, perform a transfer test, last but not the least, the battery itself. Just like you would take your car for maintenance or call a professional to service your air conditioner, a standby generator requires a complete check-up at frequent intervals.

Maintain to remain: A standby generator is definitely a long term buy. Whether it is a short term outage or a power cut off that extends for a month- a standby generator should be available to run until normal power returns. A well-maintained generator can run from 10,000 hours to 30,000 hours. 10,000 hours translates to about 20 years of usage! Not only do you have a buy that’s long term but can attend to all your emergency needs.

Be risk smart: Your family and life are more important than anything else. Whilst you cannot mitigate every unforeseen event, investing in maintaining your generator can save you lots of trouble. When you don’t maintain it regularly, you are definitely putting yourself and your loved ones up for the risk. Imagine a blackout during terrible weather such a rainstorm, with no power, therefore no heating? It’s at these times that you need a fully functional generator to provide you with a seamless supply of power to have access to basic necessities like heating, information, and communication. Don’t risk instead, be smart, invest in the maintenance rather.

How to Maintain your Generator?

If yours is an industry like farming, you will understand the importance of having seamless and quality electricity at all times. In fact, In the farming world, Brett Patterson from AbleSales.com.au says that poor electrical quality is a common problem, making a reliable generator a must. Maintenance is the way to ensure your existing generator is a reliable one. While you may feel overwhelmed just looking at your generator equipment with all the wires and protective covering it may have, it’s actually quite straightforward on how to maintain it. Here are a few tips:

Create a comprehensive generator maintenance plan

This is probably the most important and the first thing to do right after you purchase a standby generator. A one-time schedule, it must include a routine maintenance check to ensure all aspects are covered along with timelines. If you decide to hire an outside contractor or a professional to carry out maintenance, it may be worth discussing your plan with them to gather their inputs.

Purchase a warranty

Investing in a warranty is one of the best backup plans you can have. Most generators don’t come cheap, ensure to understand the coverages- whether full or partial.

Invest in a cover

It may be worth investing in a cover or building an enclosure to protect your generator. The slightest bit of rainfall can damage parts that can prove to be costly.

Test your generator every 3 months

Most manufacturers recommend powering up your generator every 3 months for at least 30 minutes to charge the battery. Testing and maintaining your generator frequently improves the performance. The last thing you want is to get is a nasty surprise of your electric starter not working at a moment of need.

Check the outsides

Do a regular check outside of the radiator core and the intercooler of the water tank. There should be absolutely no foreign objects blocking the way.

Check the oil levels

If your generator runs on diesel, it’s important to check the oil level is between maximum and minimum levels of the dipstick scale.

Leaks

Inspect for any leaks from the equipment. If there are, investigate the source and clean up any residue.

Air filter blockage

Check if there is an air filter blockage. If the indicator shows red or is pointing towards the red zone, do not delay to replace the filter. The filter must be replaced after the unit is shut down. Remember not to reuse the air filter that was replaced.

Electrical connections to control systems

The last thing you want is to discover electrical connections to control systems are loose or faulty during an emergency. Run checks to ensure all portals are connected and fully working.

Use soft water

Check the cooling water level in the water tank. If it needs filling, make sure to use pure distilled water or soft water to ensure there is no corrosion.

Buying a generator may be simple. But ensuring it’s long life involves regular and complete maintenance. A standby generator has proven to be extremely useful at times

of need, especially life-altering emergencies that rely on medical equipment. Mitigate the risk of not having power by taking care of your generator. If you are unable to find the time or lack the ability to ensure regular checks, it may be worth hiring a professional to overlook the maintenance for you.

Is Mental Illness Preventing a Sweet Home?

Many people focus on finding happiness through material gains: buying a new toy, getting some new recipes, making their home a ‘better’ place by filling it with new belongings. However, all of this materialistic purchasing begets a bigger question: why aren’t you happy in the first place?

This simple question could be the answer to a lot of people’s unhappiness. Many people struggle with some sort of unidentified mental health issues, like anxiety or depression. Rather than acknowledge and cope with these problems, they prefer to look to external sources in hopes of ‘covering up’ the problem.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this – most times people aren’t even aware that they struggle with a mental illness. However, the sad reality is that in our society, a huge number of us are. One of the best things that you could do to improve the quality of life is not to buy new things, but to consider checking in with your mental health. You can see a professional and get a Mental Health Primary Diagnosis.

Self-Help Blogs and Mental Wellness Blogs There are tons of mental health and self-help blogs (for example: E-counseling.com) that are directed towards people in a similar situation. It’s becoming quite common knowledge that having more (material) wealth doesn’t equate to being happier, but unfortunately, not everyone is aware of what the alternatives are.

The alternatives generally involve a great deal of honesty and self-care, which means checking in with yourself to determine whether or not your mental health is really as good as you think it is. It is also equally as important to understand mental illness, as many people simply hear buzz words these days but don’t understand any of it. Make sure to read up about mental health. Read up on Google News. Research any questions you may have on mental health through resources like Mental Health America and NAMI.

Mental Health – Is It Really That Important?

Mental health is one of the most important things for anyone to take care of – just as important as physical health. The problem is, while many of us are educated about physical health, not nearly as many of us are educated about mental health.

Mental health is important for many reasons.

· Mental health follows you everywhere, just like your physical health. A good state of mental health will improve your work, your relationships, and your overall quality of life. On the other hand, if you have mental health problems, you will likely struggle in these same areas.

· If mental health problems are left unaddressed, they can manifest as physical illnesses. Chronic stress, for example, can lead people to develop heart disease or immune problems.

What to Do About Mental Health

Even though many people are aware of what mental health problems can do to their lives, they may not know what to do next.

One of the best things that you could do to improve your quality of life is not to buy new things, but to consider checking in with your mental health. For instance, you could see a professional and get a Mental Health Primary Diagnosis. This is the first step toward getting a treatment plan in place and making a positive step forward.

If you think that you could improve your mental health in any way (and most of us certainly can), don’t hesitate to seek the counsel of a therapist.