“About one in 15 homes in the U.S. has radon levels at or above the the EPA action level, according to the National Cancer Institute. You can’t see or smell radon, and scientists estimate 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year are attributed to it.

Radon is produced from a natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It enters homes, offices, schools and other buildings through cracks in floors and walls, construction joints or gaps around service pipes, electrical wires and sump pits.

Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. It is an invisible, odorless gas that can seep into various types of structures, including but not limited to basements, slabs and crawl spaces. The only way to know if it is present at dangerous levels is to test for it.”

NSC-National Safety Council (nsc.org)

“Radon is radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas.  You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. In fact, the EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General urge all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes, schools and other buildings for radon. Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk.”

EPA United States Environmental Protection Services

“To diagnose for glaucoma your MD will do a comprehensive exam that includes measuring intraocular pressure (tonometry), testing for optic nerve damage with a dilated eye examination and imaging tests, checking for areas of vision loss (visual field test), measuring corneal thickness (pachymetry),  & inspecting the drainage angle (gonioscopy).  The damage caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed. But treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if you catch the disease in its early stages.”.

MAYO CLINIC

“January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. Currently, more than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58 percent increase“.

Glaucoma Research Foundation (www.glaucoma.org)

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“There are several types of glaucoma. The two main types are open-angle and angle-closure. These are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye.  The most common type in the United States is called open-angle glaucoma — that’s what most people mean when they talk about glaucoma. The drainage angle formed by the cornea and iris remains open, but the trabecular meshwork is partially blocked. This causes pressure in the eye to gradually increase. This pressure damages the optic nerve. ”

Glaucoma Research Foundation (www.glaucoma.org)

“If the heart valves can’t open and close correctly, blood can’t flow smoothly. Heart valve problems include valves that are narrowed and don’t open completely (stenosis) or valves that don’t close completely (regurgitation). Examples of these problems would  be congenital heart valve problems.”

MAYO CLINIC

“Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a major cause of morbidity and premature death from cardiovascular diseases, making it an important clinical entity. Despite a dramatic decline in the incidence of rheumatic heart disease in industrialized countries, VHD remains highly prevalent. Although many VHDs are acquired during adult life, familial clustering and heritability have been noted for common heart valve defects.”

American Heart Association Journal (ahajournal.org)

“The CDC says that all women of reproductive age consume 400 mcg of folic acid, and pregnant women consume 600 mcg, each day to prevent two types of neural tube defects. During Folic Acid Awareness Week, observed January 3-9, 2021 (as well as the entire month for National Birth Defects Prevention Month), WIC staff are encouraged to take the opportunity to enhance their efforts to educate moms about the role folic acid plays in preventing congenital disabilities, & how their WIC food packages include folic acid-rich foods.  WIC staff can brush up on folic acid basics and find educational resources via Eye on Nutrition: Folate and Folic Acid.”

USDA WIC Works Resource System/U.S. Department of Agriculture

“Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth. If taken before and during early pregnancy, folic acid can prevent up to 70% of some serious birth defects of the brain and spine, called neural tube defects.”

National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN)