Do You Need a High School Diploma?

Gloucestercitynews.net (December 30, 2019)–In the United States,

90% of the population

has a high school diploma or higher.

Do you need a high school diploma? To answer that question, let’s break down what exactly a high school diploma does for you. How it can help you and whether or not a high school diploma is truly necessary.

Starting off, we can look at tangibles that can be measured by statistics. Then, we will explore the social impacts of not having a degree.

Work Options

If you don’t have a high school diploma, you’ll have fewer options for work. Many employers require that employees have at least passed high school before they are eligible to be hired.

You can

get a GED

to make up for a lack of a high school diploma. This will open a lot of doors, but without either, you’re going to have trouble finding a job.

Construction jobs and jobs with specific apprenticeships are among the few choices. In general, you will have to elect for a more physical job.

Earning Potential

As a general rule, the higher an education you have the more you make. Those who have at least a high school diploma earn more than those who don’t.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the

average weekly earnings

of someone

without

a high school diploma is $493. If you have a diploma, then your weekly earning potential is bumped up to $678.

The more education you receive, the more you are likely to make. The less you receive, the less money you will be paid. Time and experience can turn those tables a bit in your favor.

Social Status

Many people who do not receive a high school diploma feel awkward about it. Over time it can even become something that you will feel embarrassed about.

Most of this reaction comes from how people treat those who do not have high school diplomas. They can be viewed as less intelligent or lazy even if that is not true.

In some cases, it can even affect your ability to get a spouse or significant other. Working low-level jobs that require a lot of physical exertion will keep you from meeting a lot of people.

If you work hard enough and promote high enough at your job, you can escape this stigma. It will require that you put in years gaining experience and the trust of your employer. Hard work can pay off.

Making It Harder on Yourself

Without a high school diploma, you are

making life harder on yourself

. Very few people have viable options to begin their adult lives without having a high school diploma.

You’ll have to work twice as hard as someone with a high school diploma to obtain the same things in life. Education doesn’t mean intelligence, but it does make things easier.

Having the diploma is like having proof that you are a smart, creative and interesting person. If you don’t have one, you will have to prove all of those things to everyone you work for.

Other Options to High School

The question “Do you need a high school diploma?” can be answered another way. It is possible to get a GED which will function exactly the same as a high school diploma.

The difficulty in receiving your GED is that you won’t have anyone keeping you on task. You will have to motivate yourself and work at your own pace to succeed.

Studying is also something that makes the GED more difficult. If you don’t like studying or think you will have difficulty being motivated to study, you might have difficulty getting your GED.

If you are studying for your GED and want to have a diploma, you might consider a realistic diploma. You should

find out more

about realistic diplomas if you feel that might be a good temporary solution.

Do You Need a High School Diploma?

The short answer is not necessarily. There are options such as the GED and manual labor careers that don’t require a high school diploma.

The main thing that having your diploma will do is give you options. If you don’t want to work in a career field that requires heavy manual labor or equipment operation, you will need a high school diploma.

Not everyone will judge you for not having a high school diploma. You can simply not mention it to your friends and colleagues. Eventually, someone might find out, but perhaps by then, it won’t matter.

If you don’t have a diploma, you will make less throughout your life. While you can earn your way up, you will start at a lower pay scale. This will make it more difficult for you to retire at a reasonable age.

Millions of people graduate every year with high school diplomas. Diplomas have lost some value because so many people have them. The problem is this creates a large majority pool.

The size of this population pool means that employers don’t have to lower standards. They don’t have to give a chance to someone that doesn’t have a diploma. They have plenty of people to choose from as-is.

Without a high school diploma, you could potentially still have a good life. Most of what applies to

not

having a high school diploma also applies to having a high school diploma when compared to higher degrees.

In the end, degrees aren’t the end-all of life, but they help tremendously.

You Need a Diploma

Life is difficult as everyone already knows. Challenges and difficulties will continue to confront you throughout your life. As we choose our paths in life, things can be more or less challenging.

Do you need a high school diploma? Yes. If you want to make things easier for yourself and make it further in life, you will. Having a high school diploma, or even a higher diploma, can open doors that otherwise will have to be forced open by long, hard work.

We hope you found this article helpful. If so, please take a moment to browse our site and find other great reads to inform and entertain you.

CHOP RESEARCHING HAND/ARM DISORDERS & TREATMENTS

PHILADELPHIA PA–Orthopedic clinicians at Children\’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are actively researching a range of hand and arm disorders and treatments. Orthopedic doctors regularly collaborate with The Center for Applied Genomics at CHOP, one of the world\’s largest genetics research programs and the only center at a pediatric hospital to have large-scale access to state-of-the-art throughput genotyping technology.

Current hand and arm research includes:

Long-term follow-up of gunshot wounds to the hand or upper extremity in children

Pink pulseless hand (prospective study)

Diagnostic utility of MRI scans in pediatric wrist injury

Outcomes of reconstruction of congenital hand anomalies such as syndactyly

Unstable supracondylar humerus fractures: experience with the “suprone” technique

Validation and integrated use of a simulated pediatric distal radius fracture reduction model

Functional outcomes of displaced distal radius fractures in children

Shoulder instability in adolescents

With research, orthopedic leaders at CHOP hope to be able to improve surgical techniques, range of motion and quality of life for children with hand and arm disorders.

For an appointment/referrals with the Hands and Arms Disorder department call

215-590-1527

USDA Approves Plans for Domestic Production of Hemp by Louisiana, NJ, and Ohio and Three Indian Tribes

(December 28, 2019)–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the first set of plans submitted by states and Indian tribes for the domestic production of hemp under the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. The plans were submitted by the states of Louisiana, New Jersey, and Ohio, and the Flandreau Santee Sioux, Santa Rosa Cahuilla, and La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indian Tribes.

image courtesy of

https://www.agriculture.com/

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) directed USDA to develop a regulatory oversight program for hemp and include provisions for USDA to approve hemp production plans submitted by states and Indian tribes. Accordingly, on October 31, 2019, USDA issued an

interim final rule

establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program and the provisions for USDA to approve submitted plans. State and tribal plans provide details on practices and procedures that enable hemp producers in their jurisdictions to operate according to their individual plans and in compliance with federal laws.

To produce hemp, growers must be licensed or authorized under a state, tribe, or USDA production program. The program a grower is licensed under depends on the location of the hemp growing facility. If a state or tribe has an approved plan or is in the process of developing a plan, growers must apply and be licensed or authorized under its hemp program. If a state or tribe does not have a plan and does not intend to have a plan, growers can apply for a license from USDA.

USDA continues to receive and review plans from states and Indian tribes and maintains a list of all on our website, along with approved plans. To check the status of a plan or to review approved plans, visit:

Status of State and Tribal Hemp Production Plans

For additional information about the program and the provisions of the interim final rule, visit the

U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program

web page.

For information or questions related to a specific plan, please contact the applicable state or tribe.

See New Year\’s Eve Fireworks on the Battleship

CAMDEN CITY, NJ–The Battleship will open her decks for guests to watch the 6 pm or Midnight SugarHouse New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront.

We’ll have music, food concessions and bar service. We will open her decks two hours before each show – 4:00 pm for the 6:00 pm fireworks show and 10:00 pm for the midnight show.

Come aboard for just a $10 donation per person.

Become a member today ($40) and receive 5 free tickets to the fireworks show! Call (856) 966-1652 Extension 127 for details.

All proceeds go to the on-going restoration of the Battleship, a non-profit museum and memorial.

Fire the 5-inch gun at the conclusion of the 6:00 pm and Midnight Fireworks! We’ll offer chances for guests to pull the trigger and fire this historic gun on New Year’s Eve!

6 PM Show Tickets

Midnight Show Tickets

Also available by calling 866-877-6262 ext. 108, or at the Battleship’s Ticket Office, open every day from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, except Christmas Day, and prior to both the 6:00 pm and Midnight shows on New Year’s Eve.

Unless there are dangerous weather conditions, the fireworks will go forward, even if it’s raining. The Battleship will have the Officers’ Wardroom and the Exhibit interior spaces on the main deck open for guests prior to the start of the fireworks.

There are no chairs and lawn chairs are not permitted to be brought aboard the Battleship. No alcohol is permitted to be brought aboard the Battleship.

Both SugarHouse New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront shows are free to Battleship Members.

Location:

62 Battleship Place Camden, NJ 08103

Francis A. \”Frank\” Zappa, World War II Navy Veteran; Iron Worker; Liberty Clowns Member

The greatest measure of a man is not measured in the crucible of imperfections, but rather, in the metamorphoses of what he becomes. Francis A. \”Frank\” Zappa was a man of strength and conviction. He was stern, argumentative and preferred to just do it himself. But, when Frank was needed, he was wise, dependable and unconditionally offered himself to the matter at hand. Mr. Zappa was a renaissance man who was accomplished in the kitchen, the garden, the dance floor and had been a part of the

Philadelphia Mummers Parade as a comic in the Liberty Clowns.

He was born in the cradle of Liberty, South Philadelphia. \”Mum-Town USA\”. During these formative years he had contributed to the manpower of our great nation serving as a coxswain in the United States Navy. Frank defended the ideals of our American freedoms during World War II in the American and Pacific Theaters aboard the troop ships; SS Robin Wentley, SS Cape Canso, SS Dashing Wave and the cargo ship SS R. Mansfield. The world in which we live equally distributes talent. But, it doesn\’t equally distribute opportunity. Opportunities are often disguised as hard work. Frank had driven a taxi through the city, owned and operated his own Barber Shops in Yeadon, Pa., Riverside and Delran. He made a career as an ironworker at G.H. Steel Co in Broomall, Pa.

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Frank pressed lady luck in the casinos at the craps table, enjoyed fishing, hunting and telling stories of the \”big one\” that got away. Some memories never leave your bones. Like the salt in the sea; they become part of you – and you carry them. We\’ll meet again. Don\’t know where, don\’t know when. But we know we\’ll meet again.

Mr. Zappa was the widower of his late wife of 64 years, Mary (Sassano), and was the father of Sandra and her husband, Peter Genzano, Barbara Adams, and Stephen and his wife, Mary Jane Zappa. He was the proud grandfather of seven and great grandfather of seven. Frank was the brother of the late Dominic Zappa and Rose Thomas, and is also survived and will be sadly missed by his many nieces and nephews. Mr. Zappa\’s family would like to extend a sincere thank you and sentiment of gratitude to Dr. Kathleen Heintz, everyone at MD Anderson and the Cooper Heart Institute for all of their care and concern.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at the Creran Celebration Etherington & Creran Funeral Homes, 400 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, N.J. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Cinnaminson. Interment New St. Mary\’s Cemetery & Mausoleum, Bellmawr, N.J.

The Sixth Most Charitable State is Pennsylvania

By Dave Fidlin |

The Center Square

Pennsylvanians are more likely to help their neighbors, stick with a volunteer activity and partake in fundraising compared to most other areas of the country, according to a recent

study.

Researchers with personal finance website WalletHub recently combed through various data for the study, “

2019’s Most Charitable States

.” Pennsylvania ranked sixth of the 50 states.

Charitable giving, naturally, is a front-and-center topic amid the holidays. WalletHub asked a number of academics and experts to weigh in on this topic in a broad sense.

Femida Handy, professor and director of the University of Pennsylvania’s social welfare program, offered her insight and views on a number of topics, including the percentage of income households should donate to charity.

“All households, with incomes above the median income, should donate, and they should donate anywhere from 2 to 6 percent of their incomes,” Handy said.

According to WalletHub, study data was analyzed into two overarching categories – the first being volunteering and service, the other under the overarching umbrella of charitable giving. Pennsylvania ranked No. 12 in the first category, and No. 11 in the second one.

However, more granular analyses within both categories were weighted differently, which pushed Pennsylvania into its single-digit position within WalletHub’s analysis.

A look at states’ numbers of volunteer hours per capita carried 12.5 points, for instance, while a metric on the number of charities per capita carried 2.78 points. All told, Pennsylvania notched 65.88 points in both categories.

WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann said multiple sources were considered for the analysis, with data gleaned from such organizations as the Corporation for National and Community Service, Charity Navigator, Gallup and U.S. Census Bureau.

Pennsylvania landed in the top 10 in five metrics. The state tied for No. 1 in the metric of state regulations deemed friendly to charities.

According to the report, 43.61 percent of Pennsylvanians engage in fundraising or sell items to raise money for a specific cause. The statistic landed the state in No. 4 for the individual metric.

Pennsylvania also landed in the top 20 percent of all states in the nation using Google to search for charities (No. 6 ranking). Data also revealed 58.9 percent of the state’s population reported doing favors for neighbors, resulting in a No. 8 ranking in the metric.

Additionally, the state was singled out for having a higher than average volunteer retention rate. Data suggested 69 percent of Pennsylvanians stick with a charity after pledging to volunteer time and money to the cause.

On the other end of the spectrum, Pennsylvania fell into the bottom 10 of all states in one specific metric: share of income donated. According to WalletHub, Pennsylvanians on average donate 1.12 percent of their income – a statistic that landed the state at No. 40.

Neighboring states had across-the-board overall ranks in the analysis. Maryland ranked No. 3, Ohio was No. 5, New York was No. 19, New Jersey was No 29 and West Virginia was No. 42.

The most charitable state, according to WalletHub, is Minnesota, while the least charitable is Arizona.

published here with permission of The Center Square

How to Use CBD oil for Better Sleep

Gloucestercitynews.net

(December 28, 2019)–It might come as a surprise but according to certain reports, more than 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders. To put it the other way, a good lot of people are exhausted from personal and professional pressures of life, which often results in insomnia and other mental as well as emotional disorders.

There are many medical treatments available for getting you better sleep but most people do not recommend taking any sleep disorder medicines due to their addictive effects. This would be the moment where

top rated UK CBD oil brands

must enter your life.

Yes, currently, it’s the most natural treatment for insomnia and quite affordable as well.

If you or someone you know is suffering from sleeping problems, then CBD oil is just the thing for you! Of course, you would want to learn more about the use of

CBD oil for better sleep

and here it is!

First things first, let’s learn a bit about CBD oil

CBD oil is made from one of the 80 cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant. However, it is not the same as other compounds derived from the same plant. Unlike other compounds of this plant, CBD doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is primarily responsible for creating the ‘high’ in the brain. Yes, people get stoned due to its presence in marijuana and hashish. Since CBD doesn’t contain it, it is known to be a non-intoxicating or non-psychoactive substance.

In the United States, CBD or hemp oil has been excluded from the list of ‘controlled substance.’ This means that it’s legal to use CBD products as long as they are legal in your state. As per the 2018 Farm Bill, it has been made legal in all 50 states across America. So, unless your local laws disapprove of it, consuming CBD is absolutely all right!

So, what is CBD oil used for?

CBD oil has been in use since centuries dating back to 1200 A.D, where it was first mentioned that it can successfully treat people suffering from sleep disorders. Today, CBD oil used for the treatment of issues like anxiety, depression, chronic pain, epilepsy, inflammation, constipation, and in some cases, cancer.

There have been cases across the US where people successfully healed themselves with a daily dosage of CBD oil. So, anyone who is suffering from sleeping disorders must give it a try.

Can CBD oil impact the quality of your sleep?

Studies have shown that CBD, in fact, does help in improving the quality of your sleep. It can readily shift your body from REM to NREM sleep (as mentioned by the World Health Organization). As per experts, CBD oil can contribute in preventing the breakdown of a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain which affects the mental and emotional state of the body. It allows the sleep-promoting chemical to flow freely through your body and

makes you sleepy

without getting you high.

There is still a lack of conclusive research on the matter but there are some studies support the issue. In a

2019 study

, it was concluded that patient suffering from anxiety as well as sleep disorders showed improvement after a month of 25 milligrams (mg) of the CBD.

According to another

study

, it was revealed that CBD was capable of successfully treating RBD. CBD is also known to heal day-time excessive sleeping and grogginess.

How does CBD oil help in improving your sleep?

There are many direct and indirect ways that contribute in helping you sleep better after you consume CBD oil in your system. Here’s how it happens.

CBD helps in reduction of anxiety

: This means that CBD helps in regulation of cortisol, the stress hormone. It balances the serotonin level as well. When a person feels less-stressed, he or she sleeps better. According to a number of

studies

, CBD can successfully treat anxiety-related disorders and thus, improves the quality of sleep.

2. Relaxed muscles: As per certain

studies

, CBD treats movement disorders as well. It reduces muscle tremors which are often the result of anxiety disorder and keeps the person awake during the night. It helps in the treatment of insomnia as well.

3.Decreases restlessness: People who suffer from sleeping disorders have a habit of being restless all through the night and sometimes during the day as well. Those who suffer from REM sleep disorder which gives rise to nightmares and restlessness have shown positive signs of improvement in their sleeping patterns.

4.Relief from PTSD and trauma: Sleep disturbances and REM cycles often affect the mental health of patients. Sleeping problems might also be the result of post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD and trauma. A daily dosage of CBD oil reduces anxiety and depression related to PTSD and thus improves the quality of sleep.

5.Chronic pain: Those who suffer from chronic pain in joints or muscles always have a hard time sleeping. Since CBD oil has successfully proven to heal body pains. When pain is reduced from the body, it indirectly helps people sleep better during the night.

How to use CBD oil for sleep

Everyone has a different body type. Thus, there are a variety of CBD products, such as gummies, creams, sprays, vapes, and capsules that help one person in a far better way than the other. However, CBD oil has proven to have a great effect on most people dealing with sleeping disorders. A spoonful of CBD oil put under your tongue slowly releases its effect on your body slowly, thus, helping you sleep for a longer time than usual. The best time to consume CBD oil is an hour or so before bed time.

How much CBD should one use for the treatment of sleeping disorder

Since CBD is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) right now, this means that there is no guideline for a definite dosage of CBD oil. On the basis of studies, a higher dosage of CBD oil has proven far more healing than smaller ones. An optimal dosage of CBD oil anyway depends on height, gender, weight, and other deciding factors.

It is important to consult your doctor or a medical professional about the dosage of the oil. It is recommended to have a talk with your regular doctor, if possible since he or she knows all about your medical history and can decide the most suitable dosage for you.

Closing thoughts about cbd & sleep

When compared to other sleeping aids, CBD products are considered to be safer and more effective than the traditional medicines. It is natural and quite an affordable way to say goodbye to your sleeping disorders however slowly. However, there is still a lot of research needed to completely accept the therapeutic effects of CBD oil.

Nonetheless, people who are suffering from disturbing sleeping patterns can surely rely on this safe, effective, and non-addictive form of medication.

images courtesy of unsplash.com and pinterest.com

University of Washington: SAD lights push back depression during dark days

SAD is a subset of depression that can be marked by feeling blue and tired, craving carbs, and having less interest in socializing.

Getty Images

About ten percent of those who live in the Northwest suffer from SAD, according to UW Medicine experts.

For Robert, * it was getting just too hard to get out of bed in the morning during the winter months.

Finally, his partner, who lives near Skagway, Alaska, suggested using a seasonal affective disorder light, otherwise known as a SAD light, to deal with his sleepiness and mild depression.

“This worked far better than expected. I would even call it life changing,” said Robert, a Seattle resident and software engineer, who, like others living in the Northwest, endures many dark months in a place where sunlight barely limps pass the eight-hour mark in December.

Most of us struggle to get out of bed, but for Robert, the task was particularly hard, especially when the sun wasn’t rising until well after he was on his way to work.

“I had extreme trouble waking up in the morning,” he said. “Drinking coffee would boost my energy for an hour or so, but I could not sustain my energy throughout the workday.”

Then, on the recommendation of his doctor and his roommate, he bought a SAD light. The struggle to get out of bed and the need for coffee stopped.

While Robert’s experience might be dramatic, it is not surprising, said

Dr. Nina Maisterra

, of the UW Medicine Belltown Clinic, who has recommended SAD lights to her patients who struggle with depression or lack of energy during the winter.

About ten percent of people living in the Northwest suffer from SAD, according to UW Medicine’s

Dr. David Avery

, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Avery has studied diminished daylight and its effect on people for the last three decades. For his patients, Avery suggests working at controlling their wake and sleep times, and keeping active socially but avoiding what resembles “jet lag” during the weekends, such as staying up late and sleeping in.

SAD is generally classified as a subset of depression, It can be marked by feeling blue and tired, craving carbohydrates and feeling less interest in socializing. Research has linked SAD to changes in circadian rhythms and serotonin levels, Maisterra said.

Treatments may include cognitive behavioral therapy that’s focused specifically on SAD; medications known as serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, which work by increasing the levels of a nerve-cell signal in the brain; and light boxes. These are used either as dawn simulators or as a daily exposure that mimics being outdoors in the sun.

“It’s effective for some people. It’s just like many treatments, sometimes you have to use a combination of therapies,” Maisterra said.

Robert started using his SAD light in August. He sets the timer to go on 30 minutes before he actually wishes to rise in the morning. He reads in bed, the timer goes off, the light turns off, and it’s time to get up.

His co-workers are beginning to ask about using the light, now that winter is coming in.

“I tell them to test it out,” he said. “It’s easy to buy online and doesn’t really require any lifestyle changes to use.”

*Robert asked that only his first name be used for this article.

Combating the effects of gloomy weather

How to Choose High Quality CBD Oil

Gloucestercitynews.net (December 28, 2019)–CBD industry is expected to grow by $ 1 billion in 2020. It is one of the top players in the health and wellness industry as well. This is no wonder because people across America have realized the therapeutic effects of CBD products.

Even though the research on the health benefits of CBD is fancy, there are numerous cases of common people who have successfully improved their lives with daily dosage of CBD oil. Intrigued to try CBD oil to heal your mind and body? Well, go ahead but keep in mind to choose the

best quality of CBD oil

for consumption.

Now, the question is how to choose high-quality CBD oil? There are a few things you can do to be assured that the CBD oil or any other product for that matter, is of great quality and worth trying.

Before anything else, you should know these things about CBD

CBD or Cannabidiol is derived from the cannabis plant, yes, the parent plant of marijuana. Before you question the legality of it, you should know that CBD, unlike its siblings, is non-psychoactive in nature. This means that it doesn’t comprise or encircles only traces of THC, which is basically the high-inducing compound.

You should know that CBD is also excluded from the list of ‘controlled substances’ in America. Under the 2018 Farm Bill (passed in December last year), CBD is now legal across all 50 states. However, you must learn about local laws of your state as well.

Why is CBD oil a hit among people?

CBD oil is an amazing supplement and considered to be a great alternative form of medication for people suffering from illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, skin problems, indigestion, even cancer.

Here’s a list of diseases that CBD oil is known to treat naturally-

Stress

Depression

Anxiety

Sleep disorders

Epilepsy

Bipolar disorder

Cancer (in some cases)

Inflammation

Skin problems

Indigestion

Hair fall

Migraines

Heart disease

Blood pressure

Parkinson’s disease

Restlessness

Fatigue

Irritability

There are no conclusive studies on humans about the positive benefits on CBD oil on people’s health. However, there are countless anecdotes across the country about people who have healed and still are healing with the help of CBD oil and other products.

Now that you’ve gathered all the necessary information about CBD oil, it’s time to learn about the product that suits you.

Things to keep in mind before buying CBD oil

There are plenty of CBD oil available in the market at affordable prices. However, everybody responds differently to different products. Thus, it is important to do thorough research on the products before you pick the

best CBD oil

for you.

So, are there any signs of quality CBD oil that you can use to determine whether it’s reliable or not? Whether you are a rookie or an expert in buying CBD oil, here are the following points that you must keep in mind to get the best quality of CBD oil-

1. Do your research: The first thing to do before buying a CBD oil is to do a thorough research. Do not incline toward the companies that sell CBD oil at a low price. Understand all the terms related with CBD oil, such as full-spectrum, pure oil, interaction with Endocannabinoid system, THC, etc. Once you learn about the necessary information on the same, go ahead and buy the product.

2. Packaging: Once you are through with the research part, head over to the label of the CBD product you are thinking to buy. Learn the terminology of what is written on the label both at the time of order and delivery. Also, make sure that the material is made of dark ember glass which is impenetrable. A good packaging helps the product to last for long and guarantees a good quality.

3. THC content: According to Federal Law in the United States, the concentration of THC in CBD products shouldn’t go beyond 0.3%. If it is over the limit, then it is absolutely illegal to sell or purchase the same. It is imperative to check the THC content of the CBD oil before buying it, or it might cause more harm than benefit.

4. Make sure that it is third-party lab tested: You might have heard about the phrase ‘third-party lab tested’ but what does it really mean? Well, for starters, it is crucial to know this before buying CBD oil. The quality and dosage of CBD oil is yet not regulated by FDA and the government. The product is tested for purity and quality in private labs. The report worked out by these labs includes content like date of publication, synchronicity with the product label, certificate of analysis, and accreditation. So, make sure that product is tested by a reputable lab party, such as, Think20 Labs.

5. Be assured that CBD oil is additive-free: When it comes to buying CBD oil, fewer additives, the better it is. CBD oil shouldn’t comprise of anything apart from its main ingredients, such as essential oils and cannabinoids. The more natural it is, the more effective it will be for your problem.

6. The knowledge of hemp-growing standards: If you do not find any indication of growing standards in the product, don’t trust its quality. If you are not able to verify the hemp-growing standards, in most cases, it means that the hemp has come into contact with toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers. This will directly affect the quality of the CBD oil.

7. Place of manufacture: Make sure that the product is grown and manufactured in a place where selling and buying of CBD is legal. It is also important to understand that the company you are buying the product from sources its material from the states where the Farm Bill 2018 is applied and accepted. Also, make sure that the company you are buying CBD oil from is quite transparent in terms of money-back guarantee and return policy.

8. Learn how CBD oil is extracted: If you think that learning about the extraction process of the CBD oil isn’t important to know about the quality of the product, listen to this. There are various methods of extracting CBD oil that determine the quality of the end product. The best way to extract CBD is via CO2 at a given temperature and pressure. CO2 is a natural solvent, thus, the end product is generally of high quality and pure in nature. In fact, extraction process also helps in changing the genetic structure of the entire product.

Closing thoughts

At the end of the day, it is important to know why you want to buy CBD oil in the first place. So, the type and quality of the CBD oil also depend on the problem you want to buy it for. For instance, for skin problems, like acne, it is recommended to buy topical ointments of the extremely high quality. In order to treat body pains, it is recommended to

buy full-spectrum CBD oil

. Nevertheless, the quality, potency, and transparency are the top things one must keep in mind before buying CBD oil.

images courtesy of unsplash.com and pinterest.com

\’Nipple By Number\’ Device Helps Plastic Surgeons Perform 3D Nipple Tattoos

Newswise —

December 26, 2019 –

Three-dimensional tattoos offer a new alternative for creating a natural-looking nipple after breast reconstruction.

For most women, accessing this option means finding a tattoo artist with the skill to create these detailed tattoos. Now a new device called Nipple By Number® enables plastic surgeons to perform realistic-looking 3D

nipple tattoos as an in-office procedure, reports a paper in the January issue of

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®

the official medical journal of the

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

(ASPS).

\”Nipple by Number® is a simple stencil device that allows consistent, realistic 3D tattooing of the nipple-areola complex [NAC] to complete breast reconstruction,\” comments lead author Solomon Azouz, MD, of Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale. \”It allows plastic surgeons to perform this sought-after procedure in a safe, reliable, and more- affordable manner, without the need for special training or experience.\”

For most patients, mastectomy results in loss of the NAC – the nipple and surrounding tissue.

Breast reconstruction

has important benefits after mastectomy, but the surgical options for NAC reconstruction are limited.

In recent years, 3D breast tattoos have emerged as a new approach to creating a natural-appearing nipple and areola. Developed by skilled tattoo artists, these techniques use subtle effects of light and shadow to create realistic-looking 3D NAC tattoos.

But 3D nipple tattoos may be difficult to access for most patients. Relatively few artists can perform these sophisticated tattoos. Patients and surgeons may have concerns about verifying the artist\’s skill, or about visiting a tattoo parlor to have the procedure performed. In a survey, Dr. Azouz and colleagues found that less than one-fourth of plastic surgery offices can perform 3D nipple tattoos, or even refer patients to a qualified tattoo artist. National average out-of-pocket costs range from $640 for unilateral to $956 for bilateral breast tattoos.

The Nipple By Number device was developed to provide plastic surgeons with a way of performing 3D nipple tattoos as an office procedure. Itself created by 3D printing, the simple device consists of removeable stencil layers with customizable holes to provide a guide for well-controlled and precise tattooing.

\”The device allows a more facile and efficient approach by allowing those not skilled in the freehand artistic techniques of light and shadow to create a 3D recreation of the NAC,\” Dr. Azouz and coauthors write. The stencil includes openings to guide placement of highlights and shadows to create the illusion of a projecting nipple, and even the tiny Montgomery glands surrounding the nipple. In patients whose reconstruction includes a raised nipple, the device can also be used to create \”4D\” tattoos.

Women have the natural appearance of their nipple restored based on preoperative photographs, or choose from a catalog of NAC designs. The authors note that the Nipple By Number device not only provides a guide for performing tattoos, but may also shorten the learning curve for surgeons or other professionals to gain the technical and artistic skills needed to provide high-quality results with 3D nipple tattooing.

Dr. Azouz and colleagues hope their tool will help make the option of 3D nipple tattooing more widely available to women who have undergone breast reconstruction. The authors conclude: \”The Nipple By Number device will decrease the number of patients who are left to independently find a safe and skilled tattoo artist to complete their breast reconstruction and aid more plastic and reconstructive surgery practices in providing this important service.\”

Click here to read \”A Nipple-Areola Stencil for Three-Dimensional Tattooing: Nipple by Number\”

DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000006398

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