Good night, sleep tight, don't let....

the bedbugs bite!

Bedbugs are making a comeback and they're being found in the nicest of places. Ick.

When my daughter was younger, we did a good bit of traveling for her dance competitions. We stayed at the lower end of the chain places for the most part because traveling isn't cheap - that's for sure. There were horror stories passed among the moms and we all hoped for the best when we ventured out to yet another competition.

But bedbugs? Ick.

The good news is that they really aren't a health hazard. The bad news? They're Ick. They bite. They itch, And they hitch-hike a lift back to your place if you're not careful.

How do you tell if your bed has bedbugs? They hide in crevices, so check the seams of the mattress and box spring, where the mattress meets the headboard, and even in wallpaper seams near your bed.

If you suspect you have bedbugs, the only way to get rid of them is with a professional exterminator. The good news is that this is usually very effective. If you're visiting somewhere and don't want any uninvited critters coming home, put your luggage, coat, etc, on a hard surface like a dresser or table, not the bed, chair, or carpet.

If you're bitten, there's not much you can do. The bites are itchy, like mosquito bites, but they will go away. As far as we know, bed bugs don't carry diseases, so take care of the bites as you would any other.

Ok, now I'm grossed out for the day.....

News for Today:

Car-Crash Death Rates Depend on Where You Live in U.S.

2nd Md. Teen's Death Also Blamed on Flu; Officials Urge Shots

Grand chief encourages First Nations to donate organs, tissues

Today at Seniors Support:

Video: A Parent’s Wish

Hobbies like reading or knitting may reduce memory loss

Today at Cancer Commentary:

New tool guides doctors to save cancer patients’ fertility

Breast cancer? Yoga may help you

Today at Womb Within:

A new source for people with cancer worried about fertility

Check your vitamins for iodine - you need it!

Preventing repetitive stress injuries from computer work

I learned a while ago that some people are more prone to tendonitis than others. Guess which group I fall into? As a result, I'm always trying to find ways to prevent bringing on new pain. Sometimes I'm successful, sometimes I'm not.

When it comes to working on the computer, I try to vary what I do to avoid having the same motions all the time.  I have a MacBook that I carry around the house. When I work at my desk, I have it hooked up to a keyboard and when I'm elsewhere in the house, I use the unit itself. What I did find last year is that if I use the computer for too long at the kitchen table, I develop excruciating neck pain - to the point that I can't move. It took me a while to put the two together, but when I stopped using the computer in the kitchen for a few weeks, the pain eased off and disappeared altogether after a while. Huh.

Anyway, all this to say, I've tried different styles of mouses (mice?) and trackballs, to help my hands. I loved my big trackball until I found that it messed up my thumb. That was unexpected.

Fast forward to now. Last month, Wacom sent me a Bamboo pen and tablet to test out in place of a mouse. I know many people use - and really like - the Bamboo for art programs and designing, but the idea of using it instead of a mouse was intriguing. So, that's what I'm doing now.

I set it up last month but didn't really use it too much because it takes some getting used to. I kept going back to my mouse, but this weekend, I started to use it more. I'll keep track of my progress and do a review after I've used it for a good length of time. So far, I like it although I still find it a bit awkward. I imagine that will lessen in time.

What do you use? A mouse? Trackball? Something else?

In Today's News

Vitamin D tied to muscle power in girls

New Advances May Treat Stroke Faster, Better

Woodworkers Lend Skills to Injured Soldiers

Shift and blue-collar workers more likely to be obese: StatsCan

Brain injury raises epilepsy risk for years: study

I've neglected you

It's been a long few months and once again, I'm apologizing for my absence. I only have one more week of "everything to do and not enough time to do it" and then I should be able to get back to a relative state of normalcy.

In August, we decided to sell our house, so we've been working hard on getting it ready for a good, fair sale. On top of that, there's work and life - and the occasional blip - along the way. Unfortunately, then you have to prioritize and some of the things you'd rather not drop end up getting dropped.

So, as I say, one more week of this upside-down-ness and then I plan to be back on an even keel. Sorry for the absence - I know that many of you enjoy the posts of different health issues, and I do appreciate your visits!

Know what to do if someone faints

Have you ever fainted? When I was a child, I fainted quite a few times and I also did as a young adult a couple of times. It's a horrible feeling. In my case, I start feeling very odd and then voices and sounds seem like they're coming from quite far away. Then I feel as if I'm in a tunnel before I pass out.

Luckily, although it took a while, I learned that I can't beat the faint by willing it not to happen. I had to sit down and "assume the position," put my head down between my knees to encourage the blood flow. I also learned that a big part of my problem was my low blood pressure when it was combined with standing for long periods, especially if it was warm. I still can get that feeling starting to come on, but then I get myself out of the situation before I can actually faint.

While fainting itself isn't usually dangerous, how you faint and where you faint is the problem. One time, I woke up right at the top of a set of stairs. I remember feeling like I was going to faint, but I kept on walking. Waking up right at the top of the stairs was a real wake up call (no pun intended). If I had taken another step or two, I could have been seriously injured.

Do you know what to do if someone else feels faint? Here's a quick video that shows you what to do and when you should be worried enough to call 9-1-1. Just click on the TV screen below: