Clothes No Longer Make the Man

In 1963 I wouldn't have worn a suit to paint the porch furniture. My father certainly wouldn't have donned one of his Brooks Brothers sack suits before touching up the trim on the barn. So why is the man in this 1963 Chase nest egg ad wearing a suit?

Because a guy wearing an old sweater and stained khakis wouldn't have looked rich.

Half a century later, rich men display a variety of looks: bespoke suit, black tee shirt,  jeans and boots, hoodie . . . . Mark Shaw, the Chase photographer, would have a tough time depicting a generic "rich man."

A decade after this Chase ad ran, Thomas Stanley began studying the affluent. After discovering that many did not look that rich, he became a popular speaker at financial marketing gatherings, gaining national prominence with his 1988 book, "The Millionaire Next Door."

Before that best-seller, Dr. Stanley wrote "Marketing to the Affluent." A generation later, aspiring brokers and investment advisers still might find it worth reading.

Postscript: Strictly speaking, Mark Twain pointed out, clothes do make the man: "Naked people have little or no influence on society."

Unclaimerd property: Is your name on the list?

During fiscal year 2012, the State of Connecticut Unclaimed Property Division returned a record $83 million to 18,381 rightful owners representing the most money returned in a single year.  During the same period, the Division received $73 million in unclaimed property.

Use this link to see if your name is on the list:

www.CTBigList.com

Or call (800) 833-7318

 

"If you have to send $250 to claim your prize, odds are it's a scam."

PEORIA - From Hurricane Sandy frauds to fake Newtown charities,  2012 was fraught with scams and the Better Business Bureau has tips to avoid them.

AARP sent out a warning in the mail. It said, "If you have to send $250 to claim your prize, odds are it's a scam."

The Better Business Bureau says top scams this year include fake government programs claiming to pay utility bills, people being asked to pay back loans they never took out and scammers pretending to be grandchildren stuck in a foreign country in need of money.

"Don't make a decision on anything right away. If you're feeling pressured into doing anything or if something sounds really good it's a key indicator that you need to stop and do some homework first," said Jessica Tharp from the Better Business Bureau.

Tharp says, if anything ever looks questionable, you can always call the Better Business Bureau office and ask if it's a scam.

Helping the brain use alternative fuel may ease symptoms of Alzheimer's

(BPT) - Whether a patient faces a simple health problem, such as a head cold, or one as complex as Alzheimer's disease, relieving the symptoms is often as important as resolving the issue itself. Yet for the more than 5 million Americans affected by Alzheimer's, treating the symptoms is even more vital.

Some of the early signs of Alzheimer's include memory loss that disrupts daily life, mood and personality changes, and difficulty solving otherwise simple daily tasks.

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Of the top 10 causes of death, it is the only one for which there is no cure or preventive measure. However, research suggests that addressing one early facet of the disease - decreased blood sugar in brain cells, also known as diminished cerebral glucose metabolism (DCGM) - may help relieve symptoms for certain people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's.

In a healthy brain, glucose is the primary energy source. A brain affected by Alzheimer's doesn't process glucose into energy as efficiently as a healthy brain.

"Unlike other cells in the body that can metabolize fats as fuel, brain cells rely on glucose (sugar) for their primary energy source," says Dr. Richard S. Isaacson, associate professor of clinical neurology and vice chair of education at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. "One aspect of Alzheimer's is that it hinders the brain's ability to use glucose, and this significantly affects brain function."

"DCGM is an early feature of Alzheimer's disease, represented by region-specific declines in brain glucose - or energy - metabolism," Isaacson says. "DCGM correlates with both the cognitive decline and the pathology associated with Alzheimer's. Research suggests that addressing DCGM may help mitigate symptoms for some patients."

Providing brain cells with an alternative energy source may help ease the effects of DCGM, while enhancing memory and cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients. One prescription-only medical food aims at helping Alzheimer's patients by addressing DCGM - Axona by Accera, Inc.

The easy-to-mix, once-daily drink is currently the only prescription therapy for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's that addresses the link between the brain's inability to process and use glucose with the degenerative symptoms of Alzheimer's by providing the brain with an alternative energy source. The liver digests and metabolizes Axona to produce the naturally occurring compounds - ketones- that the brain can use as an alternative energy source. Patients or caregivers mix the powder with other liquids or foods and take it once a day in conjunction with commonly prescribed Alzheimer's medications.

"More research is necessary to determine the exact reasons why DCGM can have profound effects on cognition over the long term," Isaacson says. "When blood glucose drops rapidly, significant decline in cognitive function occurs and may be accompanied by confusion, coma and even brain death."

While Axona is not a cure for Alzheimer's, it can help some patients mitigate the symptoms of the disease. Doctors and caregivers of patients using Axona have reported patients appear more alert and engaged in daily activities and conversations. "If you or a family member experience symptoms such as poor short-term memory, changes in behavior and difficulty with language, see your doctor for a full evaluation," says Isaacson.

To learn more about Alzheimer's disease, visit www.alz.org, the website of the Alzheimer's Association. For more information on DCGM and Axona, visit www.about-axona.com.

New technologies offering hope for those with tinnitus - or ringing in the ears

 (BPT) - If you experience a constant ringing in your ears that's bothersome at best and debilitating at worst, you are far from alone. Tinnitus affects roughly one in five Americans and about 16 million people have serious tinnitus that requires medical attention. It's also the most common disability for military veterans, since it can be caused by extended exposure to loud noise.

While tinnitus is a common condition, it's one that can affect each person differently. While the general description involves a ringing in the ears audible only to the person with tinnitus, sufferers also report hearing a hissing, buzzing, whistling, roaring or chirping sound. It also varies in severity - merely an unwelcome distraction for some but completely debilitating for others.

Those who have tinnitus often report trouble sleeping, an inability to concentrate or complete tasks and changes in cognitive ability. If left untreated, tinnitus can lead to extreme stress for sufferers, and can present challenges both at work and at home.

No cure, but treatment available

Tinnitus is often related to hearing loss, although it can also be associated with earwax, head injuries, medications and other conditions. Much like hearing loss, there's no known cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments available.

Counseling and sound therapy are often used to provide relief for those with tinnitus, and the hearing aid industry has also recently developed products than can help alleviate the problems caused by tinnitus. For example, Xino Tinnitus from Starkey is an innovative, nearly invisible, behind-the-ear device that provides relief for tinnitus sufferers

The device has adjustable features designed to allow the wearer to experience a maximum level of relief, including volume and memory controls that can be controlled with the touch of a finger. The device can help offset the irritating sounds and thus many of the problems caused by tinnitus. This device can also be used as a hearing aid for tinnitus sufferers who also have a hearing loss and could benefit from amplification. More information can be found at www.starkey.com.

What to do if you think you have tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition that can often be treated by a hearing care professional, although certain conditions might require medical treatment from a physician or ENT. A specialist can help you develop a treatment plan and determine if a tinnitus treatment device can help alleviate your symptoms.

If you're suffering from tinnitus, the time to get help is now. While there is no cure for tinnitus, the right treatment methods can help you manage your condition and prevent it from reaching a debilitating level. Visit www.tinnitushearing.com to learn more about this condition and find a hearing care professional near you.

 

At this age, who couldn’t use a hearing aid

Last year, when my daughter Marianne visited me, she sometimes would say something while in another room, and I would only comprehend every third word, requiring me to constantly shout, What?” or “Wait till I’m in the room with you to talk.”

Never one to be indirect, Marianne told me I really ought to think about getting a hearing aid. Most of the time, in personal conversations, I’ve experienced no problem, but sometimes phone conversations or understanding all of the lines in a theatrical production can prove difficult.

When I had my hearing tested, I was told that my hearing loss was “age appropriate,” whatever that means and that a hearing aid would be beneficial. (Well, of course they think so, they are selling them.) However, I have been doing some serious research on the subject and here’s what I found out:

About two-thirds of adults age 70 and older have hearing loss. After age 80, the percent jumps to 79 percent. Read More.

Three tips to make your hospital stay safer

(BPT) - Each year, millions of Americans seek hospital care to treat a wide range of medical problems - from accidental injuries to chronic or life-threatening illnesses. While the majority of patients have positive outcomes, it is imperative to remember patient safety should be a top priority for everyone.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) notes patient safety is a serious global public health issue. Even in developed countries such as the United States, as many as one in 10 patients may be harmed while hospitalized. Injury rates are even higher in developing countries, making patient safety a high priority around the world.
You can take steps to help ensure your safety whether in the hospital for a planned or unexpected circumstance. Here are three things to keep in mind to make your hospital stay as safe as possible:

Reduce infection risks:
Hospital infections are a top concern, especially for surgical patients. According to WHO, hand hygiene is the single most important measure to reduce health-care-related infections. Patients should keep hand sanitizer at their bedside and use it often. Additionally, the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) recommends:
* Reminding your care team about hand-washing before any direct interaction.
* Keeping an eye on intravenous catheters and wound dressings, and notifying your health care provider right away if something looks wrong.
* Taking charge of health problems such as diabetes, excess weight and smoking, which can increase infection risk in the hospital.
* Following doctors' directions about breathing treatments to avoid lung infections.

Understand anesthesia:
Over the past century, anesthesiologists have advanced patient safety through innovative research, science and technology advancements. Whether in the operating room, procedure room, intensive care unit or pain clinic, anesthesiologists are committed to patient safety. Today, anesthesia-related fatalities only occur in less than one in every 200,000 procedures.
To help ensure the highest quality and safest care, anesthesiologists lead Anesthesia Care Teams to supervise non-physician providers during the administration of anesthesia to make critical life decisions when there are only seconds to make them. According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), anesthesiologists have more than 10,000 hours of related medical training and education to diagnose, treat and respond to any medical complications that may occur.
In addition to making sure a physician supervises your anesthesia care, it is important to follow all pre-operative instructions from your doctors and get plenty of rest before surgery. Also, be sure your anesthesiologist is aware of your prior anesthesia history and any medications you take. For more information about anesthesia and preparing for surgery, please visit LifelinetoModernMedicine.com.

Be aware of setbacks:
While unpredictable progress in recovery is not unusual, it's important to minimize the risk of avoidable setbacks such as falls and readmissions.
Tumbles are a major concern for the elderly, but even younger patients are at risk of falling in the hospital. NPSF often points to research indicating more than 500,000 falls occur in U.S. hospitals each year, causing 150,000 injuries. Muscle weakness, medication-related impairment and age can increase a patient's risk of falling. Follow your physician's directions and the hospital's procedures for surer footing.
Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand the doctor's after-care instructions to reduce your risk of readmission. Bring any questions or suspicions of complications to follow-up appointments to help your physician assess your recovery.
Health care is incredibly intricate and complex, and while medical science has made great strides for patient safety, patients need to play an active role in their care. With diligent research and advocacy for their own health, patients' collaboration with their care team can make them informed and, most importantly, safe.