ALWATAN News

Yes, the holiday season is near ! When playing host for your guests during holiday season, do be aware that one in six American suffer from either allergies or asthma.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology offers these tips for party throwers to help ensure their guests’ asthma and allergy symptoms don’t rear up:

1. Ask guests about food allergies before planning your menu. Even trace amounts of an offending food can trigger a reaction. Know what is in each dish and avoid cross-contamination by thoroughly washing utensils, cookware and food storage containers between uses.
2. Minimize dust mites, animal dander and other allergens by dusting and vacuuming regularly in the weeks before the event. Vacuum upholstered furniture and drapery as well as carpets.
3. Clean or replace furnace air filters so they trap allergens better.
4. If people are staying overnight, clean their rooms thoroughly the day they arrive, including washing sheets and pillowcases in hot water.
5. Keep pets out of guests’ rooms and, if necessary, confined to another area of the house, such as the basement.
6. Limit fragrant candles, plants and potpourris. Apply perfume conservatively.
7. Don’t burn wood in the fireplace as smoke and ash can trigger asthma issues. Require guests who smoke to do so outdoors.

Do run thru the above, just to ensure everything goes well for both you and your guests during the holiday season.

SOURCE: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, news release, Nov. 13, 2008

The primary need for today’s home health care population is more frequent and convenient monitoring of chronic diseases and conditions. A wide range of health and social services gradually are being delivered at home to recovering, disabled, chronically ill, or terminally ill people.

Chronically ill infants/children are receiving sophisticated medical treatment in a familiar and secure home environment. Many younger adults who are disabled or recuperating from acute illnesses are choosing home care, whenever possible. Adults and children diagnosed with terminal illnesses also are being cared for at home.

According to a study, the most common home users for healthcare services are seniors, which is also the most rapidly growing segment of the population. Two-thirds of Americans over 62 have at least one chronic disease, and so may need to use home-monitoring devices daily, such as heart rate monitors.

Heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory problems are the top chronic diseases of this age group. And more and more older people, electing to live independent, non-institutionalized lives, also are receiving home care services as their physical capabilities diminish.

Cloud computing, the sexy name for Web-based applications, is a hot topic that’s been heating up even more recently following Microsoft’s announcement of Azure, a platform for hosted applications and services.

What exactly is the cloud, and why should a company want to go there ? Would a company be ready for it ? and make the shift ?