Medical Insurance

Archive for December, 2010

In most of the country, except those in the states with a moderate climate, it is now officially winter. Freezing temperatures are a daily item and in many places sub-zero temperatures occur. It is difficult enough dealing with winter weather and adding icy roads to the list makes it even more burdensome. However, driving lessons can arm you with the knowledge of how to recognize the various icy road conditions which goes a long way towards becoming a safer winter driver.

There are five main icy road conditions that drivers are likely to face in winter driving. Each of them takes a different form and can be equally treacherous to the unsuspecting driver.

1) Bridge Ice. I’m sure you’ve seen the signs “bridge freezes first” on many bridges. These signs are there for a reason and you should recognize that indeed this is a true statement. This was taught in drivers ed for a reason. Because there is no temperature moderating ground directly underneath the bridge surface, the surface can retain ice when surrounding road surfaces are clear. Keep a sharp eye on the surface and look for any signs of ice. Some typical signs are a “shiny” surface or a surface that appears to be slightly darker than normal.

2) Freezing Rain. Often called sleet, freezing rain is a true menace for road travelers. It can stick to virtually any surface and can cause many secondary problems in addition to the actual road surface itself. You will recognize freezing rain by the fact that it will stick to the windshield (and everything else, for that matter). These are among the most treacherous road conditions and if possible, don’t drive. If you’re stuck driving, slow way down, and minimize quick vehicle changes such as braking, acceleration, etc. I can’t emphasize enough the danger of road conditions in freezing rain and it is worth taking additional precautions.

3) Compacted Snow. Newly fallen snow itself, while slippery, still provides a decent amount of traction. However, there is a time between when the snow has fallen and when it is removed from the road via snow plows that it can be compacted into ice. When this happens the snow takes on the appearance of ice, which is clear and shiny. As the compacted snow turns to ice, the road conditions are icy even though there is still a fair bit of “whiteness” to the road.

4) Ice. Standard ice is fairly straightforward to recognize as its clear and shiny. Obviously this condition occurs at sub-freezing temperatures and most driving school graduates can easily recognize this condition. However, ice can form above freezing temperatures depending on the dew point. Also, it takes a while for ice to melt when the temperatures does exceed freezing so do not assume that just because the temperature has risen that the ice is all gone.

5) Black Ice. This type of ice is very tricky to recognize and often hides in the shadows, literally. Black ice often occurs at temperatures around the freezing point and can be seen as a patch of slightly darker road surface. Since black ice is a very thin layer of ice, a little bit of sunshine can melt the ice away leaving a good road surface. However, even a small shadow of a tree or building can leave a spot of black ice in its shadow. The transition from road to ice is very tricky to maneuver and if black ice is suspect, minimize car adjustments, such as braking, acceleration, turning, etc.

Good driving schools spend a fair bit of time discussing the recognition and handling of icy road conditions. However, for those who have not had driving lessons for a long time or learned to drive in a moderate climate, please take additional care in icy conditions.

Cardiovascular health is an important subject both for an individual’s health and the United States’ collective fitness as a whole. Heart disease affects many Americans and is the leading cause of death in the United States today, killing one person every 34 seconds. Factors for heart disease are divided into controllable and uncontrollable causes. Uncontrollable factors include age, gender, and genetic predisposition to cardiovascular problems based on family history. Controllable causes include physical activity, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

By knowing about controllable factors, people can actively reduce their chances of developing this serious illness of the cardiac muscle. The first and most basic step that doctors and health professionals recommend is to increase exercise levels and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise improves heart and lung function, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and boosts energy. Obesity forces the heart to work harder, creating unnecessary stress. It is recommended that adults get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise on most, if not all, days of the week. Additionally, the exercise does not need to be all at once but can instead be broken up into intervals, if that is more convenient.

Additionally, eating a healthy diet is another important way to keep your body healthy. A diet low in fat, cholesterol and salt, and high in fruits, vegetables, grains, and fiber is recommended. Once healthy eating becomes a routine, the occasional slice of pizza with sausage or large bowl of ice cream is not problematic. Lowering blood pressure and cholesterol can be achieved through a combination of exercise and a healthy diet. Specific diet recommendations to lower blood pressure include eating less red meat, sweets, sugary drinks, and salt. To lower blood cholesterol levels, eating less fried foods, eggs, butter, and processed cheeses is advised.

Finally, heart health can be improved by stopping smoking and minimizing overall stress levels. Smokers have twice the rate of heart attacks and disease than non-smokers. Stress management is important because pressure and anxiety have been linked to high blood pressure. Additionally, medical professionals warn patients to not take diet drugs, such as Fen-phen or Redux, which have been linked with the development of the lethal heart disease called primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).

If you are interested in learning more about this deadly and rare complication from diet drugs, this website concerning the heart valve damage from PPH can provide more helpful information.

Driving in wet weather can present a whole new range of challenges to a driver, which can make the experience more demanding and stressful. However as long as you have the right knowledge, preparation and adjust your driving style accordingly it is possible to make safe and smooth progress in adverse wet weather conditions.

With increased levels of water on the road acting as a lubricant, the level of grip available to your tyres is significantly reduced, and it easy to skid or lose control of your vehicle. Even if your car has anti lock brakes or stability control it will still take considerably longer to stop on a wet road than it would on a dry one.

Remember because your tyres have less grip available to them, you need to be much smoother with your steering, braking and accelerating inputs. When applying the brake for example, initially apply a gentle pressure and then steadily build up the force needed to stop. Because of the adverse conditions it is a good idea to increase your safety margins by leaving a four second gap between you and the car in front of you.

Aquaplaning can be a drivers worse fear when driving in the rain. It occurs when the tyre rises up and surfs on the standing water on the road, resulting in a loss of grip and instability. A driver will normally feel when this is happening by the steering wheel feeling very light or by a sudden tug at the wheel. If your car is aquaplaning you must fight the temptation to steer or brake, as this could result in a massive loss of control. Instead gently ease off the throttle and as the car slows down the tyres will regain their contact with the road surface and your control we be restored.

Aquaplaning normally only occurs at high speed on wet roads, and can often occur when driving on a motorway in the rain. Therefore if the rain is persistent and you can see that there is standing water on the road, be aware that aquaplaning is a very likely possibility and reduce your speed accordingly.

The level of grip from your tyres will play a factor in the stability and control of your car during the rain. The legal minimum tread depth is set at 1.6mm, however many motoring organisations now recognise that ideally tyres should be changed when the depth falls below 3mm to ensure adequate grip in all conditions.

One of the biggest problems when driving in rain is the reduced visibility and which is why wiper blade manufacturers recommend that you replace your blades every 6 months. Ensuring that they are always in peak condition to clear the water away quickly, without leaving obscuring streaks or marks. It is also a good idea to keep your windscreen washer bottle topped up with screen wash so you can quickly clear any dirt or grime.

Alongside the rain obscuring vision on the outside of the windows you may also find that the inside of the glass has also misted up as well. To clear the mist switch your heater fan or air conditioning on to maximum or open a window to allow the air to circulate and clear the mist. Remember other drivers will also by experiencing reduced visibility so it is a good idea to switch your car headlights bulbs on whenever it is raining.

There is no doubt driving in the rain has it challenges and potential hazards, however if your vehicle is in good condition, you adapt your driving style accordingly, and increase your safety margins it can still be possible to make safe progress.