The Advantages of a Dehumidifier

Adding a dehumidifier to your home is one of the most important steps that homeowners can take to ensure that they reduce the amount of moisture that they are exposed to. Excessive amounts of moisture in the home can lead to excessive levels of mold and dust mites. This can cause serious health consequences, aggravate allergies, and cause respiratory problems to become worse. For those who have compromised immune systems, asthma, allergies, or other respiratory problems a dehumidifier is essential to maintaining good health.

A dehumidifier operates through the process of condensation. When air becomes cold it can no longer retain moisture and the moisture in the air will pool. This is the process used by a dehumidifier. The air circulates through the dehumidifier, the dehumidifier cools the air, and then the moisture is siphoned out through the back of the unit. If youve ever had an air conditioner, youve noticed how the back of the air conditioner continually drips or leaks water. This is the same process used with a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier is the perfect solution for those who are in humid areas but do not run air conditioning units.

Another great use for a dehumidifier is when someone has a basement that contains too much moisture, or if it has been subjected to leaks or flooding. The excess moisture can lead to rapid growing mold that can destroy any items that you have stored in the basement. Since installing air conditioners in the basement is often an impractical solution, keeping a dehumidifier in the basement solves the problem. Additionally, many people fail to realize the impact that mold in the basement has on the health of everyone who lives in the home. This mold can cause serious health and respiratory problems for residents and may even have life threatening consequences. Removing moisture is the number one way to reduce the amount of mold and allergens in the atmosphere.

When choosing a dehumidifier its important to determine how large the unit is as well as how much water the unit will both hold and remove. Since you will need to empty the water you will also need to choose a unit that has the water removal method that works best for your needs. If you need to manually empty the tank when it becomes full, make certain that it wont be too heavy for you to carry. You might find that it is best to choose a dehumidifier that enables you to connect a water drain hose so that you wont have to concern yourself with emptying the water.

No matter what type of dehumidifier you select or how large the unit is, it is imperative that you care for your unit according to the manufacturers instructions in order to ensure that your dehumidifier continues working properly. Depending on your units specifications, filters may need cleaning and coils may need special care to prevent them from freezing. Always read the manufacturers recommendations and follow them.

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Moisture and Mold

Much moisture can be floating around in the atmosphere of a home in the winter. This could be because millions of us have switched from the occasional log fire in our living room fireplace to the occasional gas fire - either natural gas or propane. But it could also be because mold is always with us - just waiting for the environment to become perfectly moist so that it can move in quietly and unannounced.

Moisture doesn't quite cause mildew and mold, but it does make it comfortable

Much moisture can be floating around in the atmosphere of a home in the winter. This could be because millions of us have switched from the occasional log fire in our living room fireplace to the occasional gas fire - either natural gas or propane. But it could also be because mold is always with us - just waiting for the environment to become perfectly moist so that it can move in quietly and unannounced.

Moisture doesn't quite cause mildew and mold, but it does make it comfortable for them to set up a colony! Mold is a problem that is not very good for us - especially those of us who have any kind of respiratory disease.

One obvious way to reduce levels of mold is to reduce levels of moisture. Nature has provided us with fresh air and sunlight for this.

Mold growth can actually be seen on surfaces and it is mostly seen as a patch of gray, brown, greenish or black discoloration. Mold thrives on leaves, wood, paper or dirt, all of which must have an element of dampness. Tiny spores are released into the air from these mold organisms and it is these that affect our lungs.

Moisture is particularly prevalent in bathrooms - due to bathing, showering and the steam emitted; it can also be hiding in the bathrooms beneath the surfaces where water may have once seeped undetected.

Humidifiers and the drying of wet clothes indoors is another common source of dampness, as is a leaking roof. Mol d can and will affect health, particularly if it is widespread in a home. Apart from the tell tale discolored patch, there is also a musty smell associated with mold which is partly from the gasses given off by the microbes.
If you do have a mild problem that you are going to tackle, be sure to wear a respiratory mask. As you clean, you will dislodge the spores and your lungs and airways will be right where the airborne spores will be floating around. Try to buy an N-95 particulate respirator from the local hardware store for maximum protection.

Throw away or burn all moldy material, scrub down walls or non porous areas with a detergent; for uneven surfaces clean with a stiff wire brush. Renting a wet/dry vacuum is recommended and cleaning all your air ducts is also advisable. Clean all areas with a bleach solution and actively dry the area over a 2 day period. For this you may require to hire a fan heater that circulates warm air.

Cleaning up mold is a long and tiresome job, but it will prevent many respiratory problems such as wheezing, coughing and sore throats. Getting rid of mold may also improve susceptibility to sinus congestion and eye irritation.

Young children, asthmatics and older folk will be particularly susceptible to air-borne spores, but the longer that healthy residents breathe in this tainted air the more likely it is that they may develop allergies to it.

for them to set up a colony! Mold is a problem that is not very good for us - especially those of us who have any kind of respiratory disease. One obvious way to reduce levels of mold is to reduce levels of moisture. Nature has provided us with fresh air and sunlight for this.

Mold growth can actually be seen on surfaces and it is mostly seen as a patch of gray, brown, greenish or black discoloration. Mold thrives on leaves, wood, paper or dirt, all of which must have an element of dampness. Tiny spores are released into the air from these mold organisms and it is these that affect our lungs.

Moisture is particularly prevalent in bathrooms - due to bathing, showering and the steam emitted; it can also be hiding in the bat hrooms beneath the surfaces where water may have once seeped undetected.

Humidifiers and the drying of wet clothes indoors is another common source of dampness, as is a leaking roof. Mold can and will affect health, particularly if it is widespread in a home. Apart from the tell tale discolored patch, there is also a musty smell associated with mold which is partly from the gasses given off by the microbes.

If you do have a mild problem that you are going to tackle, be sure to wear a respiratory mask. As you clean, you will dislodge the spores and your lungs and airways will be right where the airborne spores will be floating around. Try to buy an N-95 particulate respirator from the local hardware store for maximum protection.

Throw away or burn all moldy material, scrub down walls or non porous areas with a detergent; for uneven surfaces clean with a stiff wire brush. Renting a wet/dry vacuum is recommended and cleaning all your air ducts is also advisable. Clean all areas with a bleach solution and actively dry the area over a 2 day period. For this you may require to hire a fan heater that circulates warm air.

Cleaning up mold is a long and tiresome job, but it will prevent many respiratory problems such as wheezing, coughing and sore throats. Getting rid of mold may also improve susceptibility to sinus congestion and eye irritation.

Young children, asthmatics and older folk will be particularly susceptible to air-borne spores, but the longer that healthy residents breathe in this tainted air the more likely it is that they may develop allergies to it.

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Bariatric Surgery - The Benefits Of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Success with bariatric surgery continues to improve as surgeons learn more about the disease of obesity and how the body functions. With new information and techniques, doctors are able to offer more options to obese individuals seeking medical help. One of the newest bariatric procedures performed for obesity treatment is Gastric Sleeve Surgery, also known as Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG). Gastric Sleeve Surgery involves removing a large portion of the stomach, while keeping both ends of the stomach as well as the small intestine intact.

About the Procedure

The Gastric Sleeve procedure helps with weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach and thereby restricting the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time. During surgery, the surgeon removes about three-quarters of the stomach along the outside curvature. The new stomach is the shape of a thin tube, which spans the original distance from the esophagus to the small intestine. The pyloric valve, the normal outlet which controls the release of food from the stomach to the small intestine, continues to function normally. The surgery also helps to control hunger by removing the upper stomach portion, which is the area that produces the hunger stimulating hormone, ghrelin.
The gastric sleeve is increasingly being performed as a stand-alone procedure, but many times it is considered the first step in a two part process. For patients who are either extremely obese or have so many health problems that they do not qualify for gastric bypass surgery, the gastric sleeve can be performed to help a patient start losing weight. After a few years of weight loss, a patient has usually lost enough weight so that the second step of the process can be completed, usually with the duodenal switch procedure, if further weight loss is desired.

Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Bypass

When comparing the gastric sleeve to gastric bypass surgery, there are two primary surgical differences. With gastric sleeve, the natural outlet of the stomach (pyloric valve) is preserved and the small intestine is not cut, rerouted, or bypassed. With gastric bypass surgery, a new stomach outlet (stoma) is created and the small intestine is cut in two - t he first portion is bypassed and the last portion is attached directly to the new stomach pouch at the new opening.

The benefits of the gastric sleeve procedure compared to gastric bypass surgery include: digestive system is not bypassed or rerouted and digestion occurs normally, does not cause malabsorption or nutritional deficiencies, less chance of developing ulcers, less complicated procedure, safer for extremely obese and those with many health problems.

Gastric Sleeve vs. Adjustable Gastric Banding

The gastric sleeve and adjustable gastric banding procedures (LAP-BAND or REALIZE Band) both help promote weight loss through restrictive methods, neither method involves changes to the small intestine. They help a patient lose weight by controlling feelings of hunger and limiting meal portions. Although the gastric sleeve is not adjustable or reversible, it also does not involve having a medical device implanted into the body, does not require follow-up appointments for adjusting and filling the gastric band, and food does not get stuck at the opening to the stomach.

Making the Choice

While gastric sleeve surgery offers many benefits, deciding which type of bariatric surgery is the best procedure for you should only be made after an evaluation and discussion with your bariatric surgeon.

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Water Treatment System – 3 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Selecting Home Filtration

Knowledge is power, how often have you heard that phrase? Well it applies to selecting the right water treatment system as there are many that still leave you exposed to harmful chemicals. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid to ensure you get the best system.

#1 Getting Demineralized Water

Demineralized water is another term for distilled. This basically means that the essential and natural trace minerals have been removed like potassium and calcium.

Many systems like reverse osmosis (RO) and distillation result in this while the best water treatment systems will not.

Many sellers of RO filters say this is not important but that is simply untrue because even the World Health Organization says that we should all drink water with these minerals in. The truth is our bodies absorb these minerals better from water than from any other source and we also drink a lot of it too.

#2 Not a 99% Removal Rate?

Many water treatment systems will reduce the amount of contaminants by 60 or 70%, which may sound good, but is in fact very poor. You will still be at risk and most systems are unable to remove the main two toxins lead and chlorine.

You can ask to see the Performance Data Sheet which will tell you exactly what each system can remove.

The only type that can achieve 99% removal rates for all the main contaminants is a carbon block filter. The best ones with a dual process and ion exchange ensure that all the supply is pure and healthy with the essential minerals left in.

It is especially important to remove the carcinogenic VOCs, THMs and cysts and again only the carbon filters can achieve this to fully protect your health and future well-being.

#3 Paying Too Much

You would be shocked by the price difference between some types of water treatment systems, especially as the more you spend does not guarantee better results!

Some RO systems can cost many times more than the effective carbon block filters and these RO systems also cost more to maintain, especially as they waste so much water (up to 80% of what they use).

As a guide, you can get a countertop system for around $120 and a whole house system for $1000, so don't pay any more than that.

As you can see, if you avoid the most common mistakes when selecting your system, you can enjoy cost-effective, healthy and great tasting water and protect your health at the same time.

Visit my website below to discover more details you need to know when it comes to choosing a home filtration system.

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Eight Steps in Restoring Your Fire Damaged Home

Old appliances such as old coffee makers, toasters, or even computers can be a dangerous fire hazard. Update your appliances immediately if they begin to smell smoky or work much less well. In addition, unplug any appliance after you're done using it and store it away properly.

Fire restoration services are crucial, especially in cases where homes and other properties have had serious smoke damage. Properly removing soot and smoke residue from homes or buildings is not an easy task to accomplish, so property owners should always look to the experts for such needs. Soot is a huge health hazard and can potentially cause a number of different respiratory complications and illnesses. Professionals will commonly remove soot first before administering any other repairs or restoration methods to properties, and because of the dangers present, home and property owners are advised to steer clear of the area during this part of the fire cleanup process.

Water damage also causes alarming damages to house, residential apartments, commercial buildings, offices etc. Causes of water damage can be numerous like leakages in pipes, sanitary malfunctions, broken plumbing; rusting of pipes, overflowing tanks, water damage caused by torrential rains and it also includes the water damage caused during fire damage repairs. When a building is on fire huge quantities of water at high pressure is hammered at the building which causes quite a lot of damage. Water combines with ash and forms sludge and slushy mire which is hard to get rid of can lengthens the process of fire damage repair as well. Water damage, if neglected, over time can cause an outbreak of mold, fungus and moss in the building which is dangerous for the structure as well as for human health. These molds eat away at the material of the building and rot the walls, floorings, roofs, and especially wooden structures, which makes them weak and susceptible to collapse. Some t ypes of molds have spores which are hazardous for human health if ingested or breathed.

The extent of fire damage depends on the intensity of the fire. If it is caused by a short circuit or gas leakage, it can spread in a rapid pace which means that losses will be severe. Whatever may be the reason behind fire accidents, it is enough to mention that all of them can be devastating.

For example, the smoke left behind from the fire can be absorbed by various materials in the house, especially if they are porous in nature. Carpets, walls and even ceilings will continue to absorb the smoke left behind and it will remain even after several months. Unless you know what chemicals and deodorizers to use, it will be very difficult to restore your home to the old self. A professional fire restoration company will use their expertise in dealing with smoke damage they may even move out furniture and other belongings to an offsite facility for cleaning and restoration this eliminates the risk of further contamination by smoke and water. Once they have been moved out, they will use various EPA approved chemicals along with ozone cleaners to rid the furniture and other belongings of the smoke odor. Fire damage experts will also be able to restore slightly damaged furniture if they are scorched or singed in the heat. However, materials that have been partially burnt or charred will be very difficult to restore.

These professionals can help you to prevent further damage to your valuables and home based on their years of experience. They will remove the water, smoke odor, and soot from your home and belongings (if possible). They will help you return your property to its original, pre-fire condition. State-of-the-art equipment is used to restore your home and possessions, and these professionals can also eliminate the smoke and other offensive odors caused by fire. Finally, they will clean and sanitize your home to complete the restoration process.

A common cause of house fires are portable grills and deep fryers. When using grills or any other outdoor cooking equipment, it is important to keep a good distance between the cooking apparatus and the house. Another important safety measure is to keep combustible material such as firewood, lighter fluid, or charcoal away from sparks that may shoot from the grill. One simple little spark can ignite a fire that can go out of control rather quickly.

Creating a safety zone around your house and property can help reduce the amount of damage done to your home by flames. Minimizing the amount of vegetation within thirty feet of your home will lessen the risk of fire damage to your possessions. It is recommended that trees and shrubbery be pruned to fifteen feet of fireplaces, stoves, and chimneys. Brick walls, stone patios, and swimming pools can also act as barriers against flames.

For additional resource material on understanding hazards associated with fire and smoke damage we would like to recommend this book, "Fire and Smoke: Understanding the Hazards". There you will find more specific information on some of the pollutants discussed on this page.

Fire and smoke damage is a very particular problem and requires more work than simply washing down surfaces. Smoke gets deeply into hard surfaces such as walls and floors and if it's not treated quickly, will linger for many years no matter how often you clean them.

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Canada Internet Pharmacy | Online Pharmacy Allegra | Claritin Online Pharmacy

Out of myriad available online sources to consult with them for any problem concerning sensitivity of your health Canada internet pharmacy, Mexican pharmacies, Claritin online pharmacy and online pharmacy allegra are countable sources.

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Not only is these two but online pharmacy allegra also an important cheapest online pharmacy. This mail order pharmacy has major drugs available which you may have not been available online anywhere. This pharmacy has a professional staff and group of pharmacists who have been qualified from counted medical colleges.

Canada interne t pharmacy is most popular with the internet surfers is an online prescription pharmacy. Canada internet pharmacy is 24/7 online with many certificates from various authorities who have acknowledged it the base to provide online drugs with effective quality.

Mexican pharmacies, on the other hand, are also conducive to health mail order pharmacies which can be consulted much often at the time of pressing need when no other way out is available.

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Canadian internet pharmacy has been a renowned source for online drugs. This pharmacy has left all others online in the race of quality products at cheap considerably low prices.

Generally, Claritin online pharmacy, Canadian internet pharmacy, online pharmacy allegra and Mexican pharmacy are most notable foreign pharmacies. These pharmacies have the chief regard to only serve mankind with matchless services online. As it is known to all people online that an online prescription pharmacy is regarded as busiest source. But despite all those hurdles these mail order pharmacies have facilitated people online to receive a positive response if they have some grievances with them.

Mexican pharmacies and Canadian internet pharmacy are available 24/7 online to listen to your appeals and pleas if you have any besides providing you with best drugs. If any one has a confusion or wants to add some comments he has right to con sult with foreign online pharmacies customer support department.

These internet pharmacies along with other Mexican pharmacies are readily available to help you in any case regarding your health and its protection. These pharmacies provide the best drugs because these pharmacies know your health.

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Ionized Water - Five Important Reasons to Drink Ionized Water

The reasons to maintain an alkaline diet are many and various; from improving your overall health to increasing your energy levels and boosting your metabolism and the resultant weight loss that the increases in energy and metabolism will promote, but even the best of results can be amplified by making one small change to your lifestyle, and that is drinking and preparing your foods with ionized (alkaline) water. Below you will find the five most important reasons for adding ionized water to your diet.

1). Ionized Water is More Hydrating
Ionized water is completely different from standard tap water or even bottled water. Our DNA has become adapted, over many millennia, to absorb chemical-free, dynamically ionized water (or water that is moving not just on the physical level, but on the sub-atomic level). It is only since the onset of the Industrial Revolution that our air, water and food have become tainted by pollutants and only in the last seventy years that chemicals have been added to our water and crops under the guise of health benefits and increased health productivity.
It is a fact that when water has been ionized the water molecule cluster's size is made smaller and changes its shape. The new size and shape allows the water to be absorbed by your tissues more easily. Also, when the alkalizing minerals are ionized, they are much easier absorbed by your body, meaning that they will be far more effective. It used to be that all water had this size and sha pe, but while there are still a handful of locations around the globe where naturally ionized water can be found, in Western Societies it is next to impossible to any longer find a source of unadulterated water.

2). Ionized Water is a Powerful Antioxidant
Over 70% of our body weight is made up of water and plays a part in many important bodily processes and functions. In fact, without the proper amount of hydration the body begins to deteriorate and if the body goes longer than a week without water, it can die.
While water is important for life itself, it is also important as an antioxidant by producing hydroxyl ions to help with oxygen production, a process which neutralizes harmful free radicals and helps to not only boost your energy levels but also to increase your metabolism, resulting in effective weight loss.

Again, it used to be that extra ionization was not necessary, but due to our increasing pollution of the planet; our air, water and food combined with our increasingly stress-filled lifestyles we are slowly poisoning ourselves. The increased oxygen levels imparted by ionized water helps to remove wastes more efficiently carry nutrients to where they are needed more effectively, increases our resistance to bacteria and viruses but helps through the alkalization of the bloodstream, to destroy cancer cells and ensure an environment in which they cannot live.

3). Ionized Water Improves the Taste of Food
Because of its increased oxidation ability, ionized water hydrates food more effectively, drawing out its natural flavors and goodness and making eating foods that have been grown with or prepared with ionized water better able to pass along their nutrients.

4). Acid Ionized Water as a Beauty Tool
Our bodies are held together with the largest organ of all, the skin. The skin is an acidic organ and those who wash in acidic water obtain clearer, younger looking skin than those who use hard water; hard water usually being alkaline due to the presence of excess calcium. Washing in soft acidic (ionized) water you can clear up excess bacteria that will help to remove acne and work like an astringent to tighten up the skin and even remove wrinkles. Another application of acidic ionized water is to wash your hair in it to relieve any itchy scalp conditions.

Acidic Ionized water can even be used as a medicinal tool to help sterilize wounds, treat ulcers, removes bacteria and viruses as well as reduce itching caused by insect bites, skin conditions and inflammation. While you don't want to drink the acidic water due to its acid content, its application as a skin tonic is beneficial in many ways.

5. Ionized water is Alkaline
Last but probably most important is the fact that ionized water is alkaline, meaning that it will help to balance your body's pH level which, due to our highly acidic Westernized diets and lifestyles (not to mention the acids added to our air, food and water due to pollution) are usually far too acidic to process our wastes and provide our bodies with the proper amount of oxygen.

An overly acidic body is a welcoming host for any number of diseases, and when a body starts becoming too acidic, the body's defense mechanisms try to counter the acidity by leaching calcium and magnesium from the bones. It also reacts by turning acid wastes (which are very harmful to the body and can cause the organs to slow down and malfunction) into solids, which it then stores in our tissues. The end result of the body's efforts to protect its organs results in a hardening of the arteries and a build-up of excess weight as well as crystalline deposits of acids in the joints which cause inflammation and stiffness, even arthritis.

The Choice is Yours

It is, of course, up to you as to whether or not you avail yourself of the multiple benefits of ionized water such as that provided by Chanson Water Ionizers, for while keeping to an alkaline diet is important to your overall health, drinking and using ionized water to prepare your foods and drinks can result in far greater reduction of the acidic wastes that have accumulated over the years.

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