ON THE COVER: Benefits of Red Leaf Lettuce

.... Red leaf lettuce is similar to romaine lettuce, except it has red-tinged leaves. The colour pigments in red lettuces have additional health benefits. According to the USDA nutrient database, the red leaf lettuce is fat and cholesterol free, is low in sodium and calories, a good source of manganese, and an excellent source of manganese, lutein, and vitamins A, and K.

Surviving a Disaster

.... As we go about our day-to-day lives, disasters are far from the minds of most people. But 90 percent of Americans live and work in places where there are significant risks for earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, terrorism or other natural and human-made disasters. When a life-or-death situation occurs, some people do better than others. In the midst of a disaster, many people panic, while others assume leadership roles. Some people emerge as heroes while others simply freeze.

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The Battle has begun!

.... The 2011version of the battle against West Nile Virus has officially began. The first helicopter larvae site drop of the season. Was at Fenton Pond in Chula Vista. The mixture kills mosquito larvae, from mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus. These mosquitoes become more active with the warm weather...

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Vector Control Goes Hi-Tech to Fight the Bite!

.... It’s West Nile virus season again. Are you prepared to Fight the Bite? West Nile virus (WNV) is a disease that is transmitted to people through the bite of infected mosquitoes. West Nile virus affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. The elderly, children and people whose immune systems are compromised are at the highest risk.. Continued

Ticks!

....Gardening, walking, camping, hiking, and just playing outdoors are all great activities, but when planning you need to make tick protection part of your outdoor plans as well. Any contact with vegetation, even playing or gardening in the yard, can result in exposure to ticks. Ticks can be found in local parks and open spaces. They can lurk in moist, shaded woods, or dense weeds. (Continued PDF)

The rice goodness

.... Rice cultivation began in California during the Gold Rush when the lure of finding gold attracted adventurers immigrants from all over the world. The immigrants from China felt themselves fortunate to find that California have a perfect climate and soil for agriculture, and started farming rice for their own consumption. Although commercial production started in 1912, by 2006 the state of California becomes the....Continued

A cool place to stay: the COOL ZONE sites

.... According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 400 Americans die each year due to summer’s sweltering heat.Everyone is at risk when temperatures rise above 90 degrees but the elderly, the very young and people under certain medical conditions are most susceptible to heat and heat-related illnesses.
Heat-related illnesses--which include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and heat rash-are caused by overexposure to sun or high temperatures. Under normal conditions, the body behaves like a thermostat and maintains a constant temperature. But when the temperature soars too high... Continued

Warning signs of teenage alcohol and drug abuse

.... It’s difficult to know if your teen is using drugs or alcohol because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleeping habits and changes in hobbies or other interests are common in teens. But if you’re asking yourself if it might be happening, look closer, because it just might be. It also helps to talk to the teen’s doctor and/or school counselors....

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Child injuries are preventable

.... Every parent wants to protect their children from harm and to keep them safe. We don’t want children to suffer any pain, whether it’s from a common cold, a bump, or a bruise. Parents can play a life-saving role in protecting children from injuries!

.... Injuries are the leading cause of death in children ages 19 and younger. It's important to take action, because most child injuries can be prevented... Continued

A Vaccination rates Up, deaths down

.... A severe measles outbreak two decades ago led to the creation of a countywide coalition that has increased the number of fully immunized infants and children in San Diego, resulting in fewer deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The San Diego County Immunization Coalition (SDIC) was born as a result of the outbreak, which infected nearly 1,200 people and resulted in three infant deaths... ---> Continue reading in PDF

Asthma

.... Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects 22 million adults and children in the United States according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). That number has tripled in the past 30 years and is on the rise. Asthma kills thousands of people in the United States each year, and according to the American College of Emergency Physicians, 17 percent of kids who are seen in the ER are there for an asthmatic episode.That’s nearly 10 percent of all children. ....Continued

Second hand-smoke and asthma

....Asthma symptoms can certainly cause a life-threatening emergency and should be taken seriously. Research has shown that children and spouses of smokers tend to have more respiratory infections, asthma and allergies. In addition, exposure to secondhand smoke aggravate the asthma, and increase the risk of allergic complications such as sinusitis and bronchitis.. Continued

Making living to 100 looks easy

.... Her doormat says it all --“G.O.L.F.: Getting Old and Living Fine.” With the zest that her friends and family expect, Escondido resident Margaret “Peg” Zaylor turned 100 on April 19: “I’ was looking forward to it. Sure. Why not?”

....Peg didn’t inherit her long life from her parents. Her mom died at 33 and her dad in his 50’s. She’s the last of the siblings. Her longevity is more from healthy choices and “being open to new things.” She proudly displays the list of 80 friends and neighbors who will be joining her to celebrate that special day. She’s the eldest of them all. Making younger friends is one of her secrets to long life.

The family caregiver balancing act

.... According to the Chinese tradition of filial piety, not even carrying your parents on your shoulders for 1,000 years can compensate for all they have done for you. An amazing thought, but what does that mean when it comes to caring for a declining parent? How do we balance our own well-being with the needs of our parents?

.... Researchers use the term "caregiver burden" to describe the physical, emotional and financial cost of providing care. Studies indicated that caregivers who live with the one they care for have the highest burden scores. Caregivers with a loved one in a nursing home also have very high burden scores, but daughters living with a patient .. Continued

A cautionary tale

.... “Good morning, Ma’am.” A clean-cut young man in a suit stood on Judith’s porch. She sized him up. “I was just walking down the street on my way to a meeting and noticed your roof. It’s in bad shape! You should do something about that.”

...“It is?” Judith asked. She recalled her son-in-law mentioning something about the roof when he and her daughter were in town at Christmas. She .. Continued