The 10 Worst States for the Flu; NJ Number 9

This article originally appeared in

Apartment Guide

Flu season is ready to hit hard across the country and we’re just a couple months from its peak

While we think of flu season as part of life in cold-weather winter states, it hits the warm South just as hard, or harder

These are the 10 worst states for the flu in the U.S. and the flu-related cost-of-living expenses in each

Michael Hochman

For much of the U.S., it\’s the season for winter chill, slippery streets and snow days — which also means flu season. But even if, and maybe especially if, you live in a warm weather climate, you know flu season can hit you just as hard.

Flu season is no joke. Between October 2018 and February 2019, nearly

45 million Americans

came down with the virus. But from Maine to California, what are the historically worst states for the flu, and how is that a predictor of what might happen this year?

Determining the worst states for the flu

We took a look at flu season numbers over the past six years from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control during February — generally considered to be peak flu season — and assigned weighted scores for minimal, low, moderate and high flu outbreak weeks in every state and added up the numbers to determine the 10 worst states for the flu ahead of the 2019/2020 flu season.

Additionally, we analyzed two of the most important flu-related cost of living factors in each of the 10 worst states for the flu, the average cost of a visit to the doctor and the average price of a bottle of prescription Ibuprofen at a local pharmacy to get a bigger picture of where the flu hits hardest both your wallet and your immune system.

Here are the 10 worst states for the flu.

10.

New Mexico

Desert air, dry heat, lots of warm and sunny days. While that doesn\’t sound like a recipe for a flu outbreak, the comfortable and dry weather of New Mexico allows plenty of people to gather outside for concerts and games and gatherings where the flu virus, thriving in the gentle climate, can spread from face to face contact with a plethora of people.

Last flu season, New Mexico was one of the first states to be hardest hit, and it\’s possible for that to occur again. In fact, New Mexico has seen more “high\” peak flu level weeks since 2013 than all but five other states, and has rated “high\” for 17 of the past 18 peak flu season weeks — more than any other state.

In the desert Southwest, the cost of a visit to the doctor to check on your flu-related symptoms is higher than both the top 10 worst states\’ mean and median, at an average of $118.10. And if that doctor prescribes a few Ibuprofen to bring your symptoms under control, a bottle of the medicine will run an average of $8.37. And in individual population centers, prices only go up.

In the largest city of

Albuquerque

, a doctor visit averages just more than $106. But just north of ABQ, doctor visits in the large suburb of

Rio Rancho

jump up to an average of $138.

An entry-level one-bedroom apartment in New Mexico averages $847 a month.

New Jersey

From real life medical facilities like the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospitals to the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital from the television show “House,\” New Jersey has always had a reputation as a center for health services and medical care. But it\’s also the top state in the Mid-Atlantic for the flu, so it\’s a good thing there are a few doctors in the house.

While in past years, the flu had spread sporadically throughout the Garden State,

levels this season

seem to be affecting all regions of the state. So, whether you say “pork roll\” or “Taylor ham\” or you root for the Giants or the Eagles, it\’s likely that the flu has or will infiltrate your part of Jersey. A spike in flu symptom-related emergency room visits and admissions is proving the theory.

Considering how much population New Jersey has surrounding the metropolises of New York and Philadelphia, you\’d expect cost of living statistics like doctor visits to be through the roof. But across the state as a whole, the cost of an appointment with your doctor remains moderate at $98.26.

Likewise, the price of a bottle of Ibuprofen runs $8.74 on average. Looking deeper at some of Jersey\’s metro areas,

Middlesex

/Monmouth, not too far from several RWJ hospital campuses, has the lowest cost for a doctor\’s visit in the state at $93.75, while Bergen/

Passaic

, one of the wealthier regions of the state and closer to New York City, tops out at $102.47.

Rent prices in New Jersey vary greatly from the New York suburbs to the southern part of the state. A one-bedroom unit starts for an average of $1,828 a month.

Alabama

In the movies, flu-sufferers are often depicted as bed-ridden and covered in used tissues as snow falls outside and those of sound health are jauntily building snowmen and tobogganing and the like. But in the real world, most of the worst flu states in the country are in the southeast, far away from cold winters and whiteout conditions.

And this season seems to be no exception. “We are already at really high levels nationwide and especially in the South,\” says the Children\’s Medical Group\’s

Darren Scoggin

on this season so far.

The rule stays true down in Alabama. Last year, flu patients filled more than

90 percent

of hospital beds in seven of Alabama\’s eight public health districts. This year is starting out early and could be severe, as well. As of October,

every county

in north Alabama showed an uptick in flu-related illness, and cases are expanding down to the Gulf.

Fortunately, some of the lowest costs to see a doctor in Alabama are in the regions in the north end of the state. The average charge for a visit in

Florence

is just about $70 and comes in at about $75 in

Anniston

Meanwhile, down on the southern Gulf Coast, the most expensive metro area to see the doctor in Alabama is

Mobile

at about $120.50 on average. Statewide, the average cost to be seen by a doctor is $93 and a bottle of Ibuprofen to fight your symptoms will set you back $9.18. But if you happen to be in

Dothan

, you\’ll pay a lot more, as the average cost for Ibuprofen is the priciest of any city among the 10 worst flu states at $11.23.

You can find a one-bedroom apartment in Alabama for $870 a month on average.

Louisiana

Between 2013 and 2016, the flu danger level in Louisiana was rated at minimal, low or moderate 11 out of 12 weeks. But boy, times have changed. Since then, flu levels have jumped up to “high\” 15 of the last 16 peak flu season weeks. Down in the bayou, it may be a sign of a bad flu season.

This fall, Louisiana was already ranked with the

highest level

of flu cases in the U.S. and the season is barely underway. In fact, in mid-October, Louisiana was already in the red for number of people seeing a doctor with flu-like symptoms, while every other state was low or minimal for flu activity.

“We seem to be really at the forefront of the flu season this year,\” says Dr. Alex Billioux of the Louisiana Department of Health.

And if you need to go see the doctor to diagnose your fever and chills, you\’re going to pay up if you happen to be in

New Orleans

. At $144.17, a visit will cost you more than just about anywhere in the U.S. and the most of any city in the top 10 worst states. (And to add insult to injury, the cost of a bottle of Ibuprofen in the Crescent City is the second-most expensive of any city at a pricey $11.06.) Compare that to the southern Louisiana Acadiana town of

Houma

, where the cost of a doctor visit is well over half that of NOLA at just $65.75 on average.

An average one-bedroom apartment in Louisiana starts at around $970 a month.

Mississippi

With its heel jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico and a big, dirty, mighty eponymous river running aside the length of the state, Mississippi has historically been a state where viruses and diseases have traveled over long distances to infect a swath of the population. In fact, the historic flu pandemic of 1918 killed more than 50 million around the world at the end of World War I, and took the lives of 6,200 in Mississippi alone.

Last year, the peak of the flu season hit around the

end of February

, much later than in previous years in Mississippi. The year prior, peak struck around Christmas, a much more usual time for the state. That makes this season vulnerable for a late peak, early peak or any time in between.

Around the state, a doctor\’s visit to check on those flu symptoms will cost you nearly $90 on average. And if your doctor tells you to take two Ibuprofen and call him in the morning, $8.58 will snag you a bottle at the store.

The most expensive spot in the state to make that doctor\’s appointment is down on the Gulf Coast in

Gulfport

Biloxi

where it will run you an average of $99. But fear not, if you\’re self-medicating and happen to live in the state capital of

Jackson

, the average cost for Ibuprofen is just $6.86, one of the lowest in the nation and the cheapest of any city in the top 10 worst flu states.

One-bedroom rent in Mississippi is among some of the most affordable in our top 10 list. An average entry-level unit starts for just over $800.

Kansas

Ask any Kansan. When the wind rolls down the Rockies out west and across the plains country towards the Flint Hills, there\’s no stopping whatever is in the air. And dead in the center of the nation, Kansas experiences hot summer, cold winters and, you know, tornadoes and straightline winds throughout storm season. That wind and those conditions come flu season aren\’t ideal for keeping the flu virus from spreading. In fact, in 2018, Kansas was the

second-most “flu-ridden\” state

in the nation.

Since 2013, Kansas has experienced 20 “high\” condition flu season weeks, the fourth most of any state in the union. As well, the Wheat State has rated “high\” every single peak week since the start of the 2016 season, one of only three states that can make that unwanted claim. Statewide, a stop at the doctor\’s office will cost an average of $102.71, while picking up a bottle of Ibuprofen on the way home will knock you back $8.42.

The highest prices in Kansas for a doctor\’s visit are at the junction of I-135 and I-70 in

Salina

, at an average of $117.75. But way out in Western Kansas, you don\’t have to get out of Dodge to see the medicine man on the cheap, with an average of $86.88 in

Dodge City

for a doctor\’s visit.

Wichita

, the biggest city in the state, comes in around midway in pricing for the state. It will run an average of just more than $105 for a visit to the doctor in the Air Capital, with the price of medication running $8.23.

You can get into a one-bedroom apartment in Kansas for about $900 per month for an average entry-level unit.

Arkansas

Last flu season in 2018-2019, flu-related deaths in the state of Arkansas

were the highest

in nearly two decades and hit the state hard. And the state had an issue with false positives, sending infected people back to home and school thinking they were in the clear. Clinicians fought back by treating everyone that came in with symptoms regardless of their test during the worst flu season weeks.

\”A lot of clinicians don\’t even test in the middle of a heavy flu season because if they test positive, they\’re going to treat that patient for the flu, if they test negative, they\’re still going to treat that patient for the flu,\”

said Jennifer Dillaha

of the Arkansas Department of Health.

Across the state, the average cost of a doctor\’s visit ran $101 and Ibuprofen listed for just more than eight bucks. The

Little Rock

and

North Little Rock

areas were the most expensive in the state for doctor\’s visits at nearly $120, and

Hot Springs

had the most expensive medication, averaging $8.23.

Fayetteville

, and all its college students, had the lowest doctor\’s visit prices and the lowest cost for Ibuprofen, at $84.10 and $7.97 respectively.

Arkansas also has the lowest average rent prices for one-bedroom units at just over $750 a month.

Connecticut

Bitter cold, brutal winters and drifting snow. For centuries, the hard New England winter and red noses and sore throats are the stuff of turn-of-the-century novels. Flu outbreaks have been severe and deadly since the Mayflower days.

But there\’s only one New England state in the top 10, and it\’s probably not one of those one would first think. In Connecticut, the flu season has come in hard like the cold weather, with the first

flu-related deaths

in early November, one in Litchfield and one in Fairfield.

As an affluent state, one of the factors that makes the flu bad at times in Connecticut is the number of people that travel abroad and bring back the flu virus from places where the flu shot and other flu preventative measures are less common than in the U.S. Statewide, an average doctor visit runs over $124, unsurprisingly the highest figure among the 10 worst states, and $8.76 will get you an average bottle of Ibuprofen.

The

Stamford

area is among the highest in the nation for doctor visits, and the highest of any city among the top 10 states, with an average of $133.20, with a bottle of Ibuprofen retailing for an average of $8.57. Hartford County is where the

most cases

of the flu occurred last season, and the city of

Hartford

, despite being the lowest metro area price in the state, still averages $108.77 for a doctor\’s visit, and has a slightly higher price for Ibuprofen, at an even nine bucks.

New England living comes at a price. A one-bedroom apartment in Connecticut will start at an average of $1,520 a month.

Oklahoma

If you\’ve already sneaked a peek at the No. 1 state below, it\’s not hard to extrapolate why Oklahoma is No. 2 on this list. While Oklahoma is less urban and less spread out than its top ranked neighbor, it\’s still a warm flu season in the southern Plains, and people are outside spreading the virus whether it be in the crowd at an OU game or a crowd at the mall. Since 2013, 22 weeks of peak flu season have been rated as “high.\”

The flu season in OK is nothing to take lightly. Last season,

more than 60

Oklahomans died from the flu, with another 2,500 hospitalized in what was the

longest flu season

in a decade. Officials are saying that this season is going to be a severe one, as well, but the good news is a flu shot may be

more effective

this time around.

The price of an average doctor visit in Oklahoma is below midrange, at about $99. A dose of Ibuprofen averages $8.87. Costs around the state vary, with a high for a doctor visit of $125 in

Enid

and a low of $63 and change in

Ponca City

. In OK\’s capital and largest city,

Oklahoma City

, a doctor\’s visit runs just more than $100 on average and medication runs $9.61 per bottle.

Rent in Oklahoma is also second-most affordable of all states in the top 10. The average one-bedroom starts at an average of $759 a month.

Texas

While we tend to associate the flu with cold winter weather, it\’s warm weather Texas that takes the crown as ground zero for the worst state for flu sufferers. The CDC reported 23 widespread flu activity weeks in Texas out of the 30 peak flu season weeks tracked since 2013, with just one week rated as “low.\”

As the second most populated state in the Union, maybe it\’s not a surprise that Texas is the worst state for the flu in 2019/2020. A lot of people living in close proximity but also in a wide-open state, a lot of travel by car and plane, and warm temperatures that don\’t force people inside for the winter.

Texas is a diverse state, containing three of the biggest cities in the nation but also a lot of farm, ranch and open land, where the level of medical care can fluctuate pocket by pocket. Statewide, the cost for a trip to the doctor runs about $104 on average, and a bottle of Ibuprofen sells for $8.60.

Of all the large metro areas in Texas, it\’s the city of

Temple

, near Killeen\’s Fort Hood military base, that\’s the most expensive in the state for doctor visits at $189 on average, and

El Paso

, on the border, where Ibuprofen skyrockets to nearly $11. In the state\’s largest city of

Houston

, a visit to the doctor will cost $88.30 and a bottle of Ibuprofen sells for just more than $8.

Rent prices in Texas are slightly higher than some of the other southern states on this list, where an average entry-level one-bedroom apartment costs $1,115 a month.

Flu data in all 50 states

Still looking for data from your state or where your loved ones will need you to send them chicken soup? Here\’s the full list of flu severity data for all 50 states and D.C.

Rank

State

Weeks of High Flu Activity

Weeks of Moderate Flu Activity

Weeks of Low Flu Activity

Texas

Oklahoma

Connecticut

Arkansas

Kansas

Mississippi

Louisiana

Alabama

New Jersey

New Mexico

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina

New York

Georgia

Arizona

Missouri

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Hawaii

Rhode Island

Kentucky

Indiana

Illinois

Wyoming

Colorado

Minnesota

California

Vermont

Maryland

Alaska

West Virginia

Utah

Nebraska

South Dakota

Massachusetts

Oregon

Nevada

Florida

Michigan

Wisconsin

North Dakota

Idaho

Iowa

New Hampshire

Ohio

Delaware

District of Columbia

Washington

Montana

Maine

Methodology

Flu data comes from the

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\’s weekly flu reports

for February since 2013. February weeks were selected because this month is generally considered peak flu season. We counted the number of weeks during this time period for high, moderate, low and minimal flu activity and weighted the totals. States with the highest overall score were determined to be the worst for flu.

Average prices for physician visits and Ibuprofen come from the

Council for Community and Economic Research

\’s Q3 2019 Cost of Living report.

The rent information included in this article is based on December 2019 entry-level multifamily rental property inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

When to Consult the Best ENT Specialist Doctor in Singapore For Ear Nose Throat Treatments?

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 13, 2020)–Our nose, throat, and ear are vital and delicate parts of our body! It helps us to breathe, smell, speak, swallow, and hearing, respectively. However, keeping in mind our fast-paced lifestyle, we often overlook minor and major problems that might occur to these body parts. Minor discomforts like a nose allergy or throat infection can get cured with regular antibiotics or home remedies. However, things become dangerous when there\’s any severe or critical issue. If you want to know about health and treat the condition, it is necessary to get in touch with an expert ENT specialist.

Reasons to visit an expert ENT doctor

The ear, nose, and throat are sensitive body organs! Hence, when you\’re having a nose irritation or ear pain, you need to know what\’s wrong with the body part. Average doctors might give you generic medicine to suppress the symptoms. It might provide you with temporary relief, but will make the ailment recur back. So, you need to tap into the root cause of the disease right at the start. For this, you need to count on the

top ENT specialist doctors in Singapore

Signs that you shouldn’t ignore

The ear, nose, and throat function in different ways! While mild bacterial infections, pains, and discomforts go away in a few days, serious issues persist! So, if you witness the following,

make sure to get in touch with an expert ENT specialist at the earliest

The ear

It is common for our ear to produce ear wax! Also, the ear has its internal cleaning mechanism as well. Also, the ear passages get mildly blocked because of cold winter air or during a flight. However, if you find that your ears are paining excruciatingly suddenly and persisting, you need to take that seriously. Also, sudden hearing impairment and ear mucus are causes of worry that you shouldn\’t ignore.

The throat

The throat is yet another vital body part! It helps us to speak and is the channel through which food passes down to the stomach. Minor throat infections leading to coughs and a husky voice are common. However, if your cough persists for months and it affects your swallowing capacity, you should consult an expert ENT. You should also get worried if your voice quality changes suddenly, and you witness other throat irritation, like an allergic reaction or burning sensation as well.

The Nose

You need to get extra careful about your nose! Our breathing gets affected if there\’s any discomfort with your nose. Hence, you shouldn\’t be taking sudden nose-bleeds and strange colored nose mucus lightly. Also, sometimes pollutants can get into the nasal tract and create irritations. You can witness a burning sensation and a running nose as a reaction to that. Only an expert ENT specialist can determine whether the condition is severe or not.

Most often than not, an expert ENT specialist asks people to observe their symptoms for a while. Along with medicines, they recommend medical tests to determine the condition of the ailment. It helps them to make the correct diagnoses and also treat the disease accurately, back to normalcy.

STUDY: New Jersey One of the States Hit the Hardest by Robo Calls

It’s not just in your head: the number of robocalls has increased sharply over the last couple of years. Robocall blocking company YouMail estimates that between 60 and 75 billion robocalls will have been placed in 2019, up from 47

billion last year and 30 billion the year before. What’s more, scams increasingly account for the majority of robocalls—45% of them in 2019, compared to just 17.6% in 2016.

To investigate this issue further,

Let’s Talk

culled robocall complaint and call frequency data from Federal Trade Commission and YouMail, and assigned each state in the U.S. a score. Based on this methodology, Maryland, Nevada, Colorado, Delaware and New Jersey have been hit the hardest by robocalls in 2019. The average Maryland resident receives a whopping

18 robocalls a month

Alaskans have suffered the least from robocalls this year—residents receive an average of 3.3 of them a month—followed by North Dakota, Indiana, Hawaii, Mississippi. Here’s a full list of the state robocall rankings.

As mentioned, scams account for the largest percentage of robocalls (45.7%), followed by alerts and reminders (22.7%), payment reminders (20.3%), and perpetually annoying telemarketing calls (11.3%). The percentage of telemarketing robocalls has hovered around 11-13% over the past three years.

Fortunately, there’s help on the way. A new federal law raises the penalty for a single robocall to a whopping $10,000—which should make spammers think twice. The major carriers have already rolled out a new robocall fighting measure called STIR/SHAKEN, which promises to help to ameliorate the problem as well.

METHODOLOGY

To come up with our state robocall rankings, we calculated each state’s ranking by giving them a weighted score based on two data points: the monthly number of robocalls per person in each state (weighted at 40%) according to YouMail, and the number of monthly robocall complaints per person made to the Federal Trade Commission in each state (weighted at 60%). The states were then ordered and ranked according to this score.

SOURCE: LET\’S TALK

Health Benefits of Taking a Hot Bath

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 12, 2020)—Whether we like it or not, stress and anxiety are here to stay. Although modern times cannot eradicate their ever-presence, there is a way to manage them.

Taking a hot bath is an easy way to achieve

relaxation. Ancient cultures believed in the healing powers of water, and you can replicate their ideas easily by having a hot bath.

Freestanding baths

are excellent options that make

your warm bath comfortable. So fill your tub with warm water, bubble bath, and essential oils, and you\’re set to go.

Relieves headache

Most headaches happen when nerves, blood vessels, and certain muscles swell, tighten, and experience an increase in press

ure from the surrounding nerves. Heat can soothe pressure points and relieve pain. Taking a warm bath is an excellent way to use the properties of heat for relief.

Therapeutic and calming

Soaking in a hot tub helps your body and mind rest. It enables you t

o quieten your thoughts and experience the moment. This moment can help you see a clearer picture of the things that are going well in your life, which is dimmed by the amount of stress your daily activities give you. Then gratitude takes the place of your

worries and finally, a moment of Zen. Repeat the process as often as needed.

Helps blood circulation

As you rest your tensed muscles and tensioned mind during a hot bath, your breathing changes. Your tendency to breathe deeper and slower during a relaxin

g activity like hot bathing has a positive effect on your blood flow.

Improves skin

Warm water opens up skin pores. Just before you end your hot bath, gently exfoliate your clean skin in small circular motions. Follow it up with cold water to seal your cle

ar pores. To prevent your skin from drying after a hot bath, it helps to moisturise after each bath.

Helps decrease blood pressure

Many people believe that a routine hot bath is effective in reducing blood pressure. For one, constant relaxation drives away

stress and the harmful effects it has on our health. Second, a study in 2016 revealed that passive heating releases levels of nitric oxide which dilates blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. Nitrix oxide, a molecule naturally produced by your body, is

essential in relaxing the inner muscles of blood vessels for improved blood circulation.

Prelude to a sound sleep

A warm bath increases your body temperature while relaxing tensed muscles along the way. Having an uninterrupted time during your bath is aki

n to meditating. It calms you, gives you peace of mind, relaxes your worries, and makes you feel safe. It replaces chaos with tranquillity, and before you know it, slumber is a matter of seconds away. Don\’t forget to hit the bed!

A warm bath has been a lon

g-standing practice for a good reason. It serves as an elixir that brings tranquillity to your present and alleviates your anxiety of the past and future. The pros of immersing yourself in hot water make it a good investment of your time; and bathtubs, a w

orthwhile investment of your money.

NIAAA Study: Alcohol-related deaths increasing in the United States

An analysis of U.S. death certificate data by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National

Institutes of Health, found that nearly 1 million people died from alcohol-related causes between 1999 and 2017. The number of death certificates mentioning alcohol more than doubled from 35,914 in 1999 to 72,558 in 2017, the year in which alcohol played a role in 2.6% of all deaths in the United States. The increase in alcohol-related deaths is consistent with reports of increases in alcohol consumption and alcohol-involved emergency department visits and hospitalizations during the same period. The new findings are reported online in the journal

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

“Alcohol is not a benign substance and there are many ways it can contribute to mortality,” said NIAAA Director Dr. George F. Koob. “The current findings suggest that alcohol-related deaths involving injuries, overdoses, and chronic diseases are increasing across a wide swath of the population. The report is a wakeup call to the growing threat alcohol poses to public health.”

In the new study, Aaron White, Ph.D., senior scientific advisor to the NIAAA director, and colleagues analyzed data from all U.S. death certificates filed from 1999 to 2017. A death was identified as alcohol-related if an alcohol-induced cause was listed as the underlying cause or as a contributing cause of death. The researchers found that, in 2017, nearly half of alcohol-related deaths resulted from liver disease (31%; 22,245) or overdoses on alcohol alone or with other drugs (18%; 12,954). People aged 45-74 had the highest rates of deaths related to alcohol, but the biggest increases over time were among people age 25-34. High rates among middle-aged adults are consistent with recent reports of increases in “deaths of despair,” generally defined as deaths related to overdoses, alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis, and suicides, primarily among non-Hispanic whites. However, the authors report that, by the end of the study period, alcohol-related deaths were increasing among people in almost all age and racial and ethnic group.

As with increases in alcohol consumption and related medical emergencies, rates of death involving alcohol increased more for women (85%) than men (35%) over the study period, further narrowing once large differences in alcohol use and harms between males and females. The findings come at a time of growing evidence that even one drink per day of alcohol can contribute to an increase in the risk of breast cancer for women. Women also appear to be at a greater risk than men for alcohol-related cardiovascular diseases, liver disease, alcohol use disorder, and other consequences.

“Alcohol is a growing women’s health issue,” said Dr. Koob. “The rapid increase in deaths involving alcohol among women is troubling and parallels the increases in alcohol consumption among women over the past few decades.”

The authors note that previous studies have shown that the role of alcohol in deaths is vastly underreported. Since the present study examined death certificates only, the actual number of alcohol-related deaths in 2017 may far exceed the 72,558 determined by the authors.

“Taken together,” said Dr. Koob, “the findings of this study and others suggests that alcohol-related harms are increasing at multiple levels – from ED visits and hospitalizations to deaths. We know that the contribution of alcohol often fails to make it onto death certificates. Better surveillance of alcohol involvement in mortality is essential in order to better understand and address the impact of alcohol on public health.”

About the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA):

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health, is the primary U.S. agency for conducting and supporting research on the causes, consequences, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol use disorder. NIAAA also disseminates research findings to general, professional, and academic audiences. Additional alcohol research information and publications are available at

www.niaaa.nih.gov

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

NIH, the nation\’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit

www.nih.gov

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health

Reference

Aaron White, PhD, I-Jen P. Castle, PhD, Ralph Hingson, ScD, Patricia Powell, PhD. Using death certificates to explore changes in alcohol-related mortality in the United States, 1999–2017

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Published online January 8, 2020.

PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety

Editor\’s Note

: Former Gloucester City Police Office John Driscoll shares his personal thoughts below about his battle with PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety. He included some suggestions on what he did to cope with these common problems. According to the

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

PTSD can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of weakness. A number of factors can increase the chance that someone will develop PTSD, many of which are not under that person\’s control. For example, if you were directly exposed to trauma or are injured, you are more likely to develop PTSD.

*****

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 10, 2020)–My name is John Driscoll and I suffer from depression and anxiety as a result of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Although, people who suffer from depression, anxiety or any number of mental illnesses do not always require a starting point or trauma mine did.

Recently, after, my community experienced a great loss, I contemplated sharing my story including what initiated my disorder, how I was diagnosed, and how I am impacted by it. However, after some consideration, I thought it might be more helpful, at least to some, if I share my coping mechanisms, techniques and some information about treatments I have explored in hopes that they might help someone else.

image courtesy of https://www.freedomcounselingutah.com/

So, I have listed a few items below that may help you if you are suffering from a mental illness.

Care for yourself. If you are not taking care of yourself physically, attempt too. If you started to go to the gym- good for you. If you had a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar- good for you. If you walked around the block for the first time in a year- good for you. If it was the first time in two days that you got out of bed and took a shower-good for you. I know that if you suffer from depression it can be difficult to exercise. Even, getting out of bed can feel like you already have a great weight to lift, but, find the strength, and take that first step. Then, add to it, and slowly you will feel better. I still suffer but maintaining a healthy lifestyle reduces my depression.

Consider treatments like therapy, service animals, medication and/or peer groups. The sooner one gets help, usually, dictates the better the outcome. Also, everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another, so, give different remedies a try if need be. Furthermore, you can get a bad doctor or therapist like you can get a bad mechanic, so, if one isn’t good for you, get another doctor.

Speak up when you are hurting. I was afraid to speak up because of the stigma I thought that would be placed upon me. And, I thought a police officer can’t ask for help. I thought it was a sign of weakness, or that I would lose my job, but I was wrong. If I had received help when I was starting to deteriorate, I may have never gotten to my breaking point.

Feel no shame about your condition. You are not to blame. You are not weak. You have made it this far despite your medical challenges.

Know that if you were the best mechanic before you knew your diagnosis, or before your peers knew your diagnosis you are still the best mechanic. Don’t let someone take that from you. I cannot tell you how many times someone attempted to invalidate something I did or said because they, now, know I have PTSD. PTSD doesn’t mean I am no longer a good father or husband.

Apologize if you wronged someone. Your mental illness does not give you the right to treat others poorly. If once, you apologized to them, and they can’t or won’t forgive you then move on. Only apologize once. There is no living in the past.

Forgive, if you can, and you will feel better/lighter.

Avoid overindulgence in drugs and/or alcohol. Consider avoiding them altogether as they are not the solution and can easily exacerbate your mental health issues.

Rest if you are hit with a steep depression. It is okay to take a day off from work and spend it in bed. No one would want you coming into work with the flu, nor should they want you coming into work in a depressive state. You must realize that you are sick, however, you can’t spend too much time in bed. After you are rested from having the flu you get up and you must do the same after a depressive episode.

Utilize the tools available. I try to keep my mind occupied as it helps reduce the effects of my PTSD. Sometimes watching a movie or reading an article can do the trick, However, I feel I must be riveted in a book or movie for it to have any significant impact. One thing that has proven helpful in redirecting my mind when it is thrust into a negative episode is doing some activity that requires me to utilize my mental and physical abilities at the same time. So, try challenging yourself to do something that requires both. I find even a simple game of solitaire can help to redirect me. There are numerous apps that you can also utilize like Box Breathe.

Remember that the old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” should be applied to all social media accounts like Facebook. Social media does not tell the entire story. That picture of a smiling man may be the façade of a man with many problems including depression.

Celebrate good moments.

Last, and most important is having a good support system if you have someone already- great, and if you don’t get someone, talk to a family member, friend, therapist, or join a peer group, but never give up.

John Driscoll,

Retired Police Officer

Some Quick References

American Addiction Centers. (2019, October 10).

Can Alcohol Induce Depression?

Retrieved from American Addiction Centers: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/depression

Greenberg, M. (2017, April 2).

Stuck in Negative Thinking? It Could Be Your Brain

. Retrieved from Psycology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201704/stuck-in-negative-thinking-it-could-be-your-brain

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017, September 27).

Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms

. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495

New Jersey and Pennsylvania continue to dominate the sports betting market

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 9, 2020)–A year and a half ago, the US Senate decided to legalize online sports betting at a national level. It was a decision that shook the global betting industry – the world\’s largest market had just opened the floodgates… or so it seemed.

What followed has been a protracted, confusing state-by-state process that has left all of US\’ states at different stages of the legalization process. The federal setup in the US has led to a patchwork effect across the country with each state deciding on whether or not to allow sports betting as well as setting their unique restrictions, fees and tax rates.

At the time of writing, there are two frontrunners in this current situation; New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It was the former that set the standards early on by creating an attractive environment for sportsbooks and customers alike. Low tax rates and an easy licensing setup which involved partnering with existing casinos meant that sportsbooks flooded into the Garden state. The most crucial decision may have been to allow full and unrestricted access online. This decision stood in stark contrast to Nevada, which requires an in-person sign-up deposit and withdrawal. Many expect the Garden State to overtake Nevada in gambling revenue soon. You can now enjoy the largest selection of

sportsbooks in New Jersey

Pennsylvania took a little longer to get off the ground. The 36% tax rate, and license fee of $10 million, proved an initial stumbling block for sportsbooks. However, the lure of 13 million potential customers soon attracted the likes of Sugarhouse and eventually Fanduel, DraftKings and other followed suit. It expected that the number of

PA sportsbooks in 2020

would grow to compete with NJ.

Both states boast a vast number of sports teams which will have attracted sportsbooks. PA alone is home to the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburg Pirates in the MLB; the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Steelers in the NFL; the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburg Penguins as well as the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. NJ is home to the New York Jets and New York Giants in the NFL and the New Jersey Devils in the NHL.

The only state that could compete with both NJ and PA online in 2020 will be Indiana. There are currently only three IN sports books; FanDuel, DraftKings and BetRivers. It is expected that 2020 will be the year that Hoosier State begins to compete with NJ and PA.

NJ is expected to retain the crown for best state for sports betting in 2020. The gaming commission is considering to legalize esports, which could lead to even more growth. Currently, 80% of sports bets in NJ are placed via mobile betting, a trend that is set to continue as sports books continue to pump investment into their apps. New Jersians also love their basketball – in the first year, there were $200,000,000 more wagers placed on basketball than the second most popular – football.

Pennsylvania is still set to reach its full potential. There have been murmurs of a reduced tax on sports books setting up shop in the Keystone state. This would increase the state\’s competitiveness, especially concerning newcomers like Indiana and West Virginia.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

5 Free Address Lookup Service Online

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 9, 2020)–When you want to find someone or details about an individual, you can use their address to know who they are. The challenge, however, that most people face is finding the right service

to use because there are different options to use.

That is why today, our article focuses on helping you know the best address search sites on the internet. We are going to list five of them. Stay tuned.

Zosearch

At the top of our list is

Zosearch

, which is an address search tool, amongst other things, delivers what it promises. It has more than one million users, and something you will like about it is that it has numerous recognitions from sites such as TechRadar, Forbes, Pc mage, and many other high authority sites.

Getting the report is easy. Since it is

a free address lookup site

, Zosearch ensures that you have the report within a minute or so. You do not pay anything to get the full report or do searches. Every search is free, and you can do as many searches as you want.

Besides that, Zosearch has an active customer support team. In the case of problems, they are available to help you.

PeopleFinders

If you are looking for great insights within your reports, then you should use this site. The

report, which is what you require most, is easy to use. Meaning, you will not have any problems analyzing them and finding essential data from them.

Nevertheless, the report does not feature a person’s social media detail, which is not that much of a problem since you can use the Zosearch site for this purpose.

The only negative thing about this site is that you have to pay 25 dollars to use the site. No one who likes free stuff may enjoy the service, nevertheless.

US Search

Just like People finders, this is useful for people who want to invest in an address search tool. Though it is a cheaper option, this one offers all its services at different prices. So instead of a onetime subscription fee, this one will charge depending on the type of information you

want from the report.

For instance, if you want a basic report, then you pay three dollars. For extra information such as marital status, you will need to spend about forty dollars.

On the positive, this site is easy to use, and the information present on these reports is up-to-date. Therefore, there is less likelihood of getting the wrong data.

Instant checkmate

If you want to know more about the owner of a home using their address, then you need to subscribe to their services. The address search option is suitable for people with a budget since their subscription is as low as 40 dollars in a month.

People who search regularly should use this site. The reports are updated, and they contain in-depth information about an individual. Instant checkmate warns you about the details, and if you want to download the report, you will need to pay more to get it.

Been Verified

Other than using a person’s address to locate them, this website also allows you to use their phone number, name, or email address. The site is easy to use, and finding your way while using the tool should not be a challenge.

Reports contain all the information you require. However, the catch 22 situation here is that you have to pay a subscription to get critical details, such as criminal records. Otherwise, when you create an account, you can get the individual’s basic information without incurring any charges.

Final remarks

Now it is up to you to pick out of these five. All these options are viable, and you can depend on them for accurate reports.

When choosing the site to use, be sure that you put your priorities right. For instance, if you do not use the address search tool frequently, then using a free site like Zosearch should be the way to go. Furthermore, the site provides all the details you require in the report.

Nevertheless, if you have to pay for a subscription, then PeopleFinders can be a great option since the reports are self-explanatory, and the subscription is affordable to anyone.

UPPITY: THE WILLY T. RIBBS STORY (video)

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 8, 2020)

– Chassy Media announced today that

UPPITY: THE WILLY T. RIBBS STORY

, the incredible true story of Willy T. Ribbs, the first Black driver to win a Trans-Am race, test a Formula One car and race in the Indy 500, is now available for purchase at

Chassy.com

. The film is co-directed by podcaster and comedian Adam Carolla and Nate Adams (

THE 24 HOUR WAR and SHELBY AMERICAN: THE CARROLL SHELBY STORY

Willy T. Ribbs was the Jackie Robinson of auto-racing who shattered the color-barrier in the all-white sport. Willy was referred to as \”Uppity\” behind his back by mechanics and other racers. He overcame death-threats, unwarranted suspensions and engine sabotage to go after his dream. Ultimately, Willy beat the haters and became the first Black driver to win a Trans-Am race, test a Formula One car, and race in the Indy 500.

“Willy T. Ribbs is an extraordinary racer who overcame adversity throughout his career. Willy’s determined spirit and desire to prove his naysayers wrong serves as a beacon of light and hope that one should never give up on their dreams and to continue to fight regardless of what others think,” said co-directors Adam Carolla and Nate Adams. “We are thrilled to share his amazing story and are very excited for audiences to learn more about this incredible man!”

UPPITY: THE WILLY T. RIBBS STORY is produced by Adam Carolla, Nate Adams and Mike August and features interviews with Willy T. Ribbs, Paul Newman, Bernie Ecclestone, Dan Gurney, Bobby Unser, Al Unser Jr., Robby Unser, David Hobbs, Caitlyn Jenner, Wally Dallenbach Jr., and Humpy Wheeler.

ABOUT CHASSY MEDIA

Founded in 2014 by Adam Carolla and Nate Adams, Chassy Media is an award winning, one-stop-shop production company that specializes in feature films, premium documentary films, comedy specials, branded content, and much more. Whether it’s the story of the first Black driver to race the Indy 500, the real story of Ford v. Ferrari or a comedy special about the rags to riches tale of Adam Carolla. Chassy creates story-driven, character rich content that connects and resonates with audiences everywhere. Our skilled team of professionals, from producers to editors, works tirelessly with our partners in order to deliver the highest quality content that best suits their brand.

GUEST OPINION: NRA-Defended Lawsuit Preserves Predator Hunting in Alaska

Brian McCombie/NRA-ILA

Great news for hunters in Alaska: Predator hunting, in accordance with Alaska law, can continue on the nearly 77 million acres of National Wildlife Refuge land in Alaska. And the National Rifle Association (NRA) helped make this happen.

Predator hunting was threatened, thanks to a federal lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), in CBD v. Bernhardt. The NRA and Safari Club International and others intervened as defendants in the lawsuit and argued against the CBD’s various claims against predator hunting on Refuge lands.

“This is an important victory for hunters and I’m proud NRA was an integral part of this litigation,” said Director of Hunting Policy for NRA-ILA Erica Rhoad. “Because of this case, states will continue to have the right to manage their wildlife as they deem appropriate.”

Hiking lead staff members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\’s Alaska Region to a large caribou herd in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Image by Danielle Brigida, USFWS.)

According to Associate Litigation Counsel for NRA-ILA Michael Jean, the genesis of the lawsuit goes back to August 2016, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the U.S. Department of The Interior (DOI), promulgated a rule that limited predator hunting—hunting that was otherwise authorized by state law—on National Wildlife Refuge land in Alaska. As reported by this NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum website,

“not only did the Obama Administration’s blatant overreach counter America’s lauded state-based wildlife conservation

practices. It was also at odds with Alaska’s constitutional mandate to manage its fish and wildlife under the principles of sustained yield. Just as important, the difference between Alaska and other states is that many Alaskans subsistence-hunt for survival.”

However,

in accordance with the Congressional Review Act, as reported by NRAHLF.org, the DOI submitted that rule to Congress

. Then, in February 2017, Congress passed and President Trump signed H.R.J. Res 69 into law. H.R.J. Res 69 rescinded the DOI rule that limited predator hunting, prohibiting the DOI from promulgating a substantially similar rule in the future, allowing hunting to continue in accordance with Alaska law.

CBD challenged both H.R.J. Res 69 and the Congressional Review Act under the “Take Care” clause of the U.S. Constitution, which directs the Executive branch to take care and faithfully execute the law. CBD\’s argument was that because Congress did not directly amend any substantive law, the DOI didn’t know what the law was and could not faithfully execute it. The lawsuit launched by CBD named current DOI Secretary David Bernhardt as the defendant.

This grizzly was spotted from a camp on the Sheenjek River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Image by Alexis Bonogofsky, USFWS.)

In May 2018, U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason dismissed the suit in its entirety, relying on arguments made by the NRA and SCI. CBD appealed.

Yesterday, on Dec. 30, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that ruling dismissing all of CBD’s claims.

According to Courthouse News Service,

the judges “found that the Center for Biological Diversity failed to make a valid argument

that Congress violated the constitutional balance of powers when it passed a 2017 joint resolution allowing certain hunting techniques to be reinstated throughout Alaska’s expansive wildlife refuge system.”

The article also noted, “Because Congress properly enacted the joint resolution, and therefore validly amended Interior’s authority to administer national wildlife refuges in Alaska, Congress did not prevent the president from exercising his constitutional duty to faithfully execute the laws,” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta on behalf of the panel. “Indeed, the president now has the constitutional obligation to execute the joint resolution.”

The legal precedent here is important, too, as it can be used to keep National Wildlife Refuge hunting regulations in accordance with host states’ hunting seasons and regulations.

Follow NRA Hunters\’ Leadership Forum on Twitter @HuntersLead.

About the Author:

Brian McCombie is a field editor and editorial contributor for the NRA\’s American Hunter. He writes about firearms and gear for the NRA\’s Shooting Illustrated website, as well as handling public relations and marketing for companies and manufacturers in the shooting sports industry. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Brian likes hunting hogs, shooting 1911s chambered in 10 mm and .45 ACP, watching the Chicago Bears and relaxing with his two cats, Peanut Morgan and Simon.