News Letter 2006 09

M. A. SMITH

A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

MASAPLC.COM

Michael A. Smith, Attorney at Law

319 E. Foothill Blvd., #C Voice - (626) 357-1177

Arcadia, CA 91006 Facsimile - (626) 357-4588

September 2006 No. 16

According to The National Parkinson Foundation, more than 1.5 million people are living with Parkinson’s disease. It is estimated, thousands go without proper diagnosis or incorrectly diagnose themselves.

While there is no cure for Parkinson’s, diagnosis is the most important step to getting the best treatment to ease symptoms and cope with the disease. Symptoms include, shaking with the limb at rest; slowness of movement; stiffness of limbs or trunk; poor balance. When at least two of these symptoms are present, a diagnosis is made, unless atypical features suggest an alternative diagnosis. Thanks Fred C.

When it comes to taking care of their health, most people get regular check-ups and screening for diseases, such as breast and colon cancer. Unfortunately, a lot of people neglect their oral health.

1. Gingivitis. This is a buildup of plaque which causes the gums to swell, turn red and become sensitive. The gums are more likely to bleed when brushing. If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to

2. Periodontitis. Bacteria have penetrated the gums’ defenses and invaded the ligaments and bone supporting the teeth, causing them to rot. Symptoms include: bad breath, throbbing, chronic bleeding, pain, hot and cold sensitivity, abscesses and tooth loss. Unfortunately, many people experience little pain or few symptoms until the damage is done, virtually ignoring periodontitis as it destroys tissue and bone.

Gum disease can have a very serious impact on overall health, too. It is an infection and can affect the entire body, bombarding the blood stream with virulent bacteria and other toxins. Bottom Line Daily Health News

Wars have been waged about employees using the internet at work. Studies, and common sense, suggest employees are capable of taking breaks, attending to some personal business and then getting back to work with little or no loss of productivity. A NY judge, seemingly in agreement, ruled a state employee could not be fired for using the internet at work. He stated, “It should be observed that the Internet has become the modern equivalent of a telephone or a daily newspaper, providing a combination of communication and information that most employees use as frequently in their personal lives as for their work.”

Common sense suggests, if an employee’s online behavior has a negative impact on their work, that is what warrants attention, not use of the internet itself. However, if your boss tells you not to do personal business at the office (including use of the internet) don’t do it, regardless of the law. Thanks Mike S.

A small sustained weight loss can be more effective in dealing with health issues than any single preventative drug on the market. It could improve cholesterol levels and delay the development of arterial deposits which lead to stroke and heart attack. It lowers blood pressure which reduces stress on the kidneys and lowers glucose and insulin response which prevents diabetes and stress on the pancreas. It can also reduce DNA damage which leads to degenerative diseases.

The study showed emerging evidence that eating less but eating a nutritious diet could delay the ageing process and prolong life. Thanks Fred C.

As of July 1, 2006, individuals signing up to receive or renew Medicaid benefits will be required under federal law to show proof of U.S. citizenship; passport, birth certificate, certificate of naturalization and, in some cases, some form of identification. The requirement is intended to prevent undocumented immigrants from claiming to be citizens and receiving benefits they are not entitled to.

Under federal law, undocumented immigrants can only receive emergency care through Medicaid. In many cases a single document (passport or certificate of naturalization) will satisfy the requirement. Use of a birth certificate will require additional identification such as a driver’s license, or school records for children. Thanks Fred C.

An increase in complaints has prompted the IRS to, once again, remind taxpayers to be alert for bogus e-mails. The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails asking for personal information.

If you get an e-mail or telephone call where the caller says they are with the IRS (or the Franchise Tax Bboard), HANG UP ON THEM. DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION TO CALLERS. Thanks Fred C.

According to a story in The Wall Street Journal (December 2005), as many as 3 million Americans may have celiac disease (an intolerance to gluten), a group of proteins found in certain grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Symptoms may include gas, diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, bone pain and nausea. Left untreated, it could lead to anemia, osteoporosis or intestinal cancer.

Many diseases share over-lapping symptoms. Self diagnosis is not only unwise but very dangerous. If you experience problems after eating grains, see your doctor.

When does higher education become a bad investment? Generally, you should not borrow more for school than you expect to make the first year out of college. If you have to take on much more debt than that, you really cannot afford the education you are buying--even if it is your dream school.

The result, you will be saddled with debt that will inhibit and possibly prevent you from pursuing other important goals, such as buying a house. You will also drastically increase your chances of falling further into debt because so much of your income will have to go to pay off student loans.

Colleges and universities are businesses and we as students need to be smart consumers. If a school out-prices itself, we need to “buy” somewhere else. Schools must give value for dollars charged. Consider state schools; they are cheaper because taxpayers pick up 2/3 of the cost.

Remember, student loans cannot be discharged through bankruptcy and lenders can pursue these debts virtually to the grave. Also, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled student loan lenders can garnishee disability and Social Security checks for unpaid loans. Thanks Fred C.

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem harmless. Early detection and treatment of this disease can decrease the chance of complications. Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability and blurry vision.

See your doctor immediately, if you have any of these symptoms. Reader’sDigest.com

Many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack. Without help, you have about 10 seconds before passing out. If this happens, coughing repeatedly and vigorously will “buy time” to get help.

Take a deep breath before each cough; the cough must be deep and prolonged (as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest). A breath and cough must be repeated every two seconds without let-up until help arrives or the heart is felt to be beating normally.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and the coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep blood circulating. The squeezing pressure also helps the heart regain normal rhythm.

The AP reported, FEMA, in conjunction with the Association of Public Television Stations, will begin sending emergency alerts to cell phones and other text-messaging-enabled devices in addition to the radio and television alerts currently being broadcast, as part of the Emergency Alert System. The wireless alerts service is expected to be in place in 2007.

What was not said is, this service is already in place and operational through the Incident Page Network. IPN covers everything and sends thousands of alerts each week to cell phones, pagers, PDAs and e-mail addresses, as incidents occur.

For many, accumulated exposure to the sun has caused permanent damage to skin cells, causing the overproduction of pigment that shows up as unsightly dark splotches and uneven skin tone. New research indicates glucosamine (best know for the treatment of arthritis), can actually help stop the formation of new age spots, and help fade existing ones.

Scientists and a group of leading dermatologists from around the world met to review and discuss the glucosamine data. They determined n-acetyl glucosamine, a more stable form of glucosamine, reduced the amount of melanin in skin cells. They also concluded, a formulation of n-acetyl glucosamine and niacinamide, a vitamin B derivative, significantly reduced the amount and appearance of hyperpigmentation (age spots and uneven melanin distribution). Thanks Fred C.

Beer conditions the hair. Pam cooking spray dries nail polish. It’s also a great lubricant. Treat minor burns with Colgate or Crest toothpaste. Dandruff? Rinse your hair with vinegar. Wine stains? Pour on the salt and watch it absorb the wine. To remove wax, take a paper towel or piece of linen and iron it over the wax stain. Crayon on the wall? Rub in some Colgate, let it dry and brush it off. Use crazy glue on paper cuts. Elmer’s glue can be used for a facial; paint it on, allow it to dry and peel off. Thanks Olga S.

Persistent headaches--Chest pain-- Abdominal pain--Bruising and bleeding--Breathing problems--Sadness

Riding a bicycle can do wonders for your health as long as you do it safely. Be sure to wear a helmet, padded gloves and bright, reflective clothing every time you ride.

http://www.incidentpage.net Never use the cruise control when the pavement is wet or icy. If your car begins to hydroplane (when your tires lose contact with the pavement), your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed and you take off like an airplane. It is estimated cars travel through the air at 10 to 15 mph faster than the speed set on the cruise control. Thanks Pauline M.

Remember you must turn on your car’s lights when operating your windshield wipers. It’s the law!

Keep your car keys next to your bed on the night stand. If you hear a suspicious noise or someone is trying to get into your house, just press the panic alarm button to set off the car alarm. The button will work most everywhere in your house and the alarm will continue until reset. Thanks Pauline M.