Warning: Be extra careful on your birthday. New report: You’re more likely to die on your birthday:

It’s the most unwelcome birthday surprise: death.
People are 14% more likely to die on the day they were born than any other day of the year, a new study found.
And for individuals over 60, that number climbs to 18%.
Researchers at the University of Zurich analyzed data from more than 2.4 million Swiss people who died between 1969 and 2008 and published their findings Monday in the Annals of Epidemiology.
"We concluded that birthdays end lethally more frequently than might be expected,” lead author Dr. Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross told the Independent.
The findings give credence to the "birthday blues" or anniversary theory, which suggests the stress of turning a year older can be lethal. Read More.

From AAA: New website is a great tool for seniors and their families

As 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, AAA is helping aging drivers and their families cope with the life-changing transitions by offering expert advice and easy-to-find resources.

Our new website, SeniorDriving.AAA.com, provides convenient, online access to a wealth of interactive material, and AAA’s Senior Driver Safety Expos offer a local hands-on opportunity to sample AAA’s suite of free tools. Read More.

A Message by George Carlin

June 22 is the 4th anniversary of George Carlin's death from heart failure in Santa Monica, California. He was 71 and lived in Venice, California. Love him or not he sure brought us some interesting insights on life.

Here is an example of his work that I really appreciate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?

George Carlin

Ever wonder how PEZ candies are made?

Gather up the grandchildren and take a ride over to the PEZ factory in Orange and find out.
The PEZ visitor center is open seven days a week but is not operational on weekends and holidays.
Click her for more information

What four factors influence the severity of allergy season?

 (ARA) - While many people rejoice when the weather gets warmer, it's not always a pleasant time for everyone. Those who suffer from seasonal allergies know to expect difficulties around this time of year, but the severity of allergy season can vary.

The presence of the common causes of spring allergies - pollen and mold - can fluctuate depending on a number of weather-related factors. Here are some of the conditions that can affect pollen counts, according to the experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

* Length of the growing season. Longer growing seasons might be a good thing for farmers and gardeners, but it can mean increased misery for allergy sufferers, as it increases the time pollen and mold are present as well.

* Erratic weather. A warmer-than-usual winter season, as experienced this year, makes trees pollinate earlier. If spring weather fluctuates greatly between warm and cold spells, it can result in more intense periods of pollen release during the warm spells, when plants take the cue to grow and release pollen.

* Rainfall. Rain can be either a good thing or a bad thing for allergy sufferers, depending on when it happens. The worst allergy seasons are often preceded by a wet spring, which promotes rapid plant growth later on. But rain can also provide a much-needed respite for those with allergies, as a heavy rainfall can help clear the air of pollen.

* Wind. Dry and windy weather is not kind to people with allergies, as the wind spreads pollen and mold.

Since so many factors contribute to high pollen counts, it's all but impossible to predict how intense an allergy season will be. However, in addition to taking steps to limit your exposure to allergens that affect you, seeing an allergist before the season starts can also help ensure you find relief.

Why see an allergist?

Allergists are not only trained to treat your systems, but can identify the source of your allergies and develop a treatment plan to address your symptoms. A doctor who is also a certified allergist can teach you how to avoid potential triggers for your allergies, and recommend treatment options that may go beyond over-the-counter medications.

An allergist may also recommend allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, which can alter the progression of allergies, providing more than just symptom relief. Even if an allergy shot might not be for you, an allergist can recommend both prescription and over-the-counter medications that can best treat your symptoms.

"You can waste a lot of time, money and energy treating yourself instead of seeing an allergist," says Dr. James Sublett, an allergist and chair of the ACAAI Public Relations Committee.

In fact, studies suggest immunotherapy, when used on the appropriate patients, can result in health care cost savings of up to 41 percent. To learn more about allergy symptoms and treatment, or to find an allergist, visit www.allergyandasthmarelief.org.

Surprising facts you should know about hearing loss

(ARA) - When it comes to our health, many Americans have two realities: what we know and what we think we know. When what we think we know is less than accurate, it can be as harmful to our health as the things we don't know at all. Perceptions about hearing loss are a good example of this phenomenon.

You may think you already know a lot about hearing loss and treatment, but some of the facts surrounding this prevalent problem - for instance that, according to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), 11 percent of Americans report having hearing difficulties - could surprise you. Here are some realities that may make you reconsider what you think you know about your hearing, what puts it at risk and what you can do if you suffer a hearing loss:

Surprising fact No.1 - Not everyone who has hearing loss is old. In fact, most people with hearing problems (65 percent) are younger than 65, BHI reports. And, more children and teenagers are experiencing hearing loss. Nearly one in five American teens now has some level of hearing loss, according to a 2010 study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

While you may think the volume dial on Johnny's iPod is directly related to his hearing problems, there's more to the story, researchers say. Which leads to the next fact.

Surprising fact No. 2 - Threats to our hearing lurk in places you might not expect. Protecting your ears while engaging in activities you know are loud - such as attending a rock concert or a visiting a shooting range - is only the start. Gradual hearing damage can begin to occur with prolonged exposure to sounds of just 85 decibels-roughly the volume generated by a kitchen blender.

So while that MP3 player may be a contributing factor to a child's hearing loss, it's not the only one. In fact, very loud toys -those that emit 90 decibels or more - can be a risk factor, too, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Hearing experts take the toy risk so seriously, that every November the Sight and Hearing Association publishes a list of the noisiest toys.

Surprising fact No. 3 - Loud noise isn't the only thing that can damage hearing. In reality, many outside factors - from some medications to a blow to the head - can cause hearing loss. Pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum can be harmful, putting SCUBA divers and frequent flyers at risk.

Diseases like sickle cell anemia, kidney disease, toxoplasmosis and even herpes have been linked to hearing loss. Chemotherapy drugs, loop diuretics and some antibiotics also can affect your hearing. Even large quantities of aspirin (salicylates) may cause hearing loss.

Surprising fact No. 4 - Hearing loss not only affects your ability to hear and your quality of life, it may even hurt your earning potential. The BHI reports that untreated hearing loss may decrease your income by up to $30,000 a year. The good news is that treating hearing loss with hearing aids can reduce the risk to your income by 90 to 100 percent if your hearing loss is mild, and from 65 to 77 percent if it's moderate to severe. Which leads to fact five.

Surprising fact No. 5 - Hearing aids change lives. Technology has made modern hearing aids more effective, versatile, convenient and discreet than ever before. Advances like completely-in-canal styles make it virtually impossible for observers to know if someone is wearing a hearing aid.

Wireless hearing aids, such as those marketed by Starkey Hearing Technologies, can even stream sound directly from your TV, MP3 player or radio to your hearing aids, all without a relay device. The aids automatically transition from one device to another when you move from room to room. And the Starkey Hearing Technologies wireless hearing aids come in three custom styles including completely-in-canal (CIC), in-the-canal (ITC) and in-the-ear (ITE).

Surprising fact No. 6 - Despite the prevalence of hearing loss, less than 15 percent of American adults who get a physical exam this year will also have their hearing screened by their physician or nurse during that exam, a BHI survey indicates.

"The vast majority of doctors in today's health care system don't include hearing health as a routine part of annual exams, despite the fact that more than 95 percent of those with hearing loss could benefit from hearing aids," Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of BHI, said in a press release announcing the survey.

How to Enjoy the Sun and Avoid Skin Cancer

The lure of the outdoors is here for almost everyone. Working in the yard, going to parks with grand kids, sports and barbecues are just a few activities most seniors are planning over the next several months.
But spending time in the sun can be a costly adventure for seniors. With age, the skin is more susceptible to damage and cancers of the skin rank number 1 as the most common form of cancer.
Estimates are that over 1 million new cases will be diagnosed this year alone and the annual frequency of skin cancer is increasing indicating we either haven’t learned how to manage in the sun or we tend to ignore the warnings. Take heed…if you live to reach the ripe age of 65, almost 50% will confront skin cancer at least one time. Read More.