Author Archives: mdstory1

Jan
06
2019

Dealing With A Cystoscopy?

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If you’ve dealt with having a cystoscopy before, you might not know what to do first. Some people fear the process is painful, takes a long time, and might require a lot of medication. The truth is that the process of having a cystoscopy doesn’t have to be as complicated as it stands. If a patient is tested and is found to have an increased of a future bladder infection, a doctor will give them the green light to have a cystoscopy done. Typically, they have already reported having issues with some slight pain in the bladder area or having problems with urinating throughout the day. The procedure is more of a simple test than an invasive surgery. The procedure is frequently used for patients who have mentioned slight discomfort or suffer from frequent urination problems. Let’s take a look at what a person can expect if they get a cystoscopy and how they can recover safely after the procedure is over with.

Getting a cystoscopy doesn’t have to be scary.

Why Someone May Have A Cystoscopy

Anyone regardless of their gender, ethnic background, or previous health history could be prescribed a cystoscopy to prevent a future infection in their bladder. Before the procedure is done, patients must take an easy urination test in the hospital lab to look for any premature bacteria. If a patient reports having pain “while they go”, having to go many times during the day, or having trouble not going at all their doctors will used the symptoms as a decision for the cystoscopy. As they arrive in the hospital on the day of the produce, the doctor will give them a dose of anesthetic in case any pain is caused by the small insertion of the mini camera which is attached to a tube. Usually, patients are allowed to stay awake during the procedure since only a millimeter wide cut will be made in the groin area. This drug will make you feel slightly dizzy, but the side effects will fade after spending some time to rest at home. From there, the camera will show the doctor if any infection or possible tumors represent.

If you want to be properly ready for your cystoscopy, make sure you take antibiotics before and after the procedure to block off outside bacteria from infecting the site. Usually, people who are of older age, have history of a weakened immune system, or are already ill are given antibiotics to ward off any potential risks. Make sure using machinery, doing any physically hard work, or driving when you are post-surgery. If anything, ask for a ride home or Uber if you have to after the procedure.

Before Getting A Cystoscopy

Be aware of the risks that come with getting a cystoscopy done. In order to protect yourself, make sure your doctor knows about any previous medications you’re taking that could affect your bleeding after the surgery, any possible complications, and if you are pregnant or not. Some medications and drugs are not safe to be in contact with a forming child if you aren’t careful.

Don’t be too worried if there is some excess bleeding or if you feel a burning feeling after you urinate after the cystoscopy. Bleeding is normal after the surgery, but if you are bleeding a lot definitely tell your doctor and get checked at the hospital to make sure your body isn’t reacting too harshly. You also might face having to urinate more than usual during the night or day after getting the procedure done, but this is also completely normal. Make sure you set your schedule around the possibility that you may have to go at more unexpected times. Definitely don’t hold anything in so you aren’t at risk for a blood clot in the area. As for your diet, make sure you drink enough water during the day and eat as healthy as you can to speed up your recovery process. For a typical person, drinking at least eight glasses of water is sufficient to stay hydrated. Don’t go back to the gym and attempt to smash your most difficult workout after the surgery either. Successful recovery takes time and your body will mend if you are patient with it.

Finally, to prevent any possible infection from germs present in the area make sure you clean the cut. Some signs of a possible infection include unexpected fevers, any feelings of nausea, acute lower back pain, and bad scented urine. You will usually feel or notice if something is off because you know your body the best out of anyone. f this happens, call your doctor immediately to treat the issue. If you called or visit your doctor about your pain, they can allow Advil or Tylenol while you finish recovering.

Have A Successful Procedure

There’s no need to fret about having the procedure done, even if you haven’t heard about it before. Take the steps to set yourself up for successful and a great recovery by following the advice I have laid out. Even though the side effects of a cystoscopy may sound uncomfortable, you don’t need to be afraid.Everyone’s body is different so there’s no guarantee no compilations will happen, but the same can be said for nearly every kind medical surgery you could get. Never be afraid about asking your doctor “stupid” questions either about your cystoscopy. Their job is to keep you safe, comfortable, and at ease from start to finish. It’s better to get an answer for a question you think is embarrassing than get no answer at all!

You don’t have to feel alone when getting a cystoscopy!

 

 

Jan
06
2019

Addiction in San Francisco

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Addiction and mental illness issues have been rampant in our country for quite some time now. With increased distribution and popularity of drugs, it’s becoming extremely difficult to help people who don’t have the resources of money to get the treatment they need. In metropolitan areas like San Francisco, homelessness and addiction are two highly correlated problems that are taking lives every day. As the country is dealing with nearly 115 deaths from opioid addiction each and every day, the city wants to shape up their climate. The city’s leaders are hoping that they can tackle the constant opioid addiction in the streets with free and proper medical treatment.

In the middle of California’s homelessness crisis and the national opioid epidemic, the city’s Mayor Mark Farrell recently announced a budget plan to create a ten person large medical team that will visit people and offer prescriptions. He stated, “Drug abuse is rampant on our streets, and the recipe of waiting for addicts to come into a clinic voluntarily is not working. Plain and simple. So we’re going to take a different approach”. This team would be funded by six million dollars to support their travels, basic needs, and the cost of the drugs themselves.

Farrell’s announcement also allows the city to join several others across the country who are quickly taking steps to open up treatment centers to battle the national’s opioid addiction. These prescriptions would be buprenorphine prescriptions to homeless people in the city through needle exchanges, parks, and other public locations that are often used as flu shot centers throughout the area. This would drastically help more people who can’t afford to reach help to access help for their opioid addictions. In turn, with consistent use the medications will help stop their opioid cravings and ease off often painful withdrawal effects.

The San Fransisco homelessness crisis has been growing.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

To combat their addiction crisismore directly, Farrell also announced that San Francisco tent cities would be set up to help provide additional help for the homeless. This plan called for an additional $29 million for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.  More than half of that fund is going directly towards creating the cities where homeless men and women can gain free of charge substance abuse counseling, mental health help, and even career searching advice. Right now, San Francisco has five tent cities and the newest in development is meant to specifically help women who are pregnant.

Since recovering from substance abuse doesn’t just work by physically removing drugs, these people can benefit from learning about coping skills from the experts themselves. This is what dual diagnosis treatment encompasses as it treats both sides of the person’s addiction. The mayor’s hope is that his plan to roll out more San Francisco tent cities will help friends and family of the homeless repair bonds as well. As they wear off their dependence from the drug and can function more normal again, the career centers can help them find steady work and earning a reasonable living again. And although everyday life will still be stressful for these people after rehab, they will always have the free resource down the neighborhood to aid any possible episodes of relapse. Ultimately, Farrell hopes that homeless in San Francisco and across the state will slowly decrease as more people are helped to get back on their feet. The cycle of poverty is vicious and can only be broken with ample education, an opportunity for a living wage, and resources for both men and women.

Helping Homeless and Addiction

By having access to enough resources to stop their addiction to opioids, the social climate of San Francisco’s streets and crime rate has a chance to steadily improve as well. Since drug abuse is directly linked to many problems like domestic abuse and violence, sexual assault, theft, property damage and driving under the influence many possible outbreaks can be prevented.

Overall, most drug addiction-focused programs like Farrell’s plans are cost effective since they reduce the public expense toward the social problems it does cause However, it’s important for the city government to consistently fund, manage, and track its performance at all sites to determine what methods and locations are the most effective. In the city of San Francisco, police officers and other public serving leaders have already pointed out where the most heavy areas for drug-related activity area. This activity tends to cover any reports of illegal drug sales, using drugs in the public, or criminal acts committed by people under the influence of using illegal drugs like opioids.

Future of addiction in San Francisco

The future of the city of San Francisco looks bright as their medical team starts to sweep the streets for people in need of opioid addiction treatment. As more homeless people learn about the counseling centers and the opportunity to gain medication for their withdrawal effects, the more they’ll be inclined to improve their quality of life and hopefully seek the chance to become a contributing member of society. While getting over addiction is never easy, it always helps to have a group of experts to provide information on dealing with symptoms and provide you moral support to get through the toughest days. I have faith that more cities will catch on to San Francisco’s opioid addiction treatment plan since the whole country is suffering from the epidemic. As someone living in the Midwest,I think it’s crucial for more hubs like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Minneapolis to invest in similar programs or expand the reach of theirs if they haven’t already. Thousands of lives could be saved if everyone pitches in and realizes that there’s still people out there who need help!

It can be difficult to deal with opioid addiction.

 

Nov
27
2018

Opioid Withdrawal and Addiction

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No one is ever safe from developing an addiction to heroin. If you happen to be hooked onto a certain food, activity, or another illicit substance like alcohol or drugs, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You tend to crave it during the day no matter what you’re doing, and the thought of going cold turkey with the opioid withdrawal symptoms makes your skin crawl already. The worst part about being addicted to drugs, however, is that the withdrawal symptoms are much more intense and sometimes painful to go through alone. Across our country, thousands of people are experience withdrawal symptoms from being addicted to prescribed or recreational opioids. 

Opioids are designated as its own class of drugs working which are often given by doctors in every field to relieve severe muscle or bone pain. Typically the process for a patient to receive these drugs is easy, but the effects of their long term usage can be devastating if they aren’t educated on its risks. Opioids are present in popular medications like painkillers and heroin to date. Once a patient realizes they feel pleasure or no longer have the pain they can’t stand experiencing, they turn to opioids weekly, daily and sometimes multiple times a day to cope. With the numbers of patients checking into rehab centers with opioid addictions climbing each day, it’s crucial to know how they work and what risks there are if you see being prescribed the drug in the future. With the current opioid overdose epidemic affecting every community in our country right now, you don’t want one with the numbers. 

It can be difficult to deal with opioid addiction.

How Do Opioids Work?

Naturally derived from the opium poppy plant we can find in nature, opium blocks any types of pain receptors and communicate “pain” to us in our body. This is why most patients suffering from traumatic injuries, are healing from an extremely invasive surgery, or are experiencing a severe disease are given opioids by doctors to cope. 

On the flip side, opioids also help patients feel more happy or satisfied with their surrounds in the “high” they come on to. This pleasurable effect is proven by research to be highly addictive and is hard to come off of if it is used in large doses too often. 

If a patient is using opioids for a very large period of time, they may start to experience more erratic or slower breathing patterns, an irritable bowel or constipation issues, feelings of vomiting, dizziness or lack of focus, and drowsiness throughout the day. For a person that needs to keep up an active lifestyle or has a large workload, this can be extremely detrimental to their daily functionality. In addition, opioids can completely restrict your ability to breathe at a dangerously high dose which can lead to a fatal overdose. 

While some opioids are known as narcotics and help with patient’s pain, these are not the exact same type of drugs as one like Tylenol. You might have heard about drugs like Vicodin, OxyContin, fentanyl, and heroin which are illegal in all states in the country. For someone abusing these substances frequently, they may show signs of lack of hygiene, loss of control of their responsibilities, changes in their weight, eating, or sleeping habits, signs of irritability, and a newfound financial crisis. Some people are highly skilled in covering up their opioid addiction while others may find their habit slips through the cracks  Someone who takes notice of their own withdrawal symptoms persistence should seek therapy as soon as possible so they can prevent future damage. 

Keeping Up With Opioid Addiction

While there is immediate cure for a patient who has opioid withdrawal symptoms, they need to know that they must stay committed to maintain a sober mind and body. If you happen to be suffering from opioid withdrawal symptoms and don’t know how to cope, don’t get too nervous. The first action to take is to check yourself into a detox facility to first rid your body of any traces of the substance in a relaxed and controlled manner. This won’t be any kind of horror-esque rehab facility or a similar type of therapy you may be thinking of if you’re a fan of scary movies. You will be treated by employees who truly care about you and will lead your hand every step of the way so you minimize your levels of discomfort.  

If you were initially addicted to a dose of opioids nearly every day are drastically tapering your use, make sure you ask questions about how your body will react. You may have difficulty concentrating or have lower energy levels at first from the withdrawal. Make sure you read your reviews before attending a facility to start your treatment just in case there’s anything you should know more about. 

Finishing Strong

After you have detoxified your system, take the steps to organize a battle plan for getting over relapse and conquering sobriety. With the help of a counselor that may be recommended to you through the detox facility, you will gain ample education and emotional support about dealing with your opioid addiction. It is important that every patient understands that you might feel like a failure or feel hopeless in the beginning. This is completely normal and is not a sign of your potential in the end of treatment.

Yet, with enough emotional support from your counselor, potential support group, close friends, and your family members who are informed about your treatment, you will be armed with enough motivation to push through the journey. We all can use consistent encouragement and positive thinking from our loved ones so we get through the harder days during treatment!

Nov
27
2018

Car Maintenance Tips

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If you’re a huge fan of cleaning your car or going through car washes, it’s in your best interest to practice safe methods when doing so. You don’t want to run the risk of ruining a perfectly good car for the sake of a shiny exterior. Let’s walk through the best methods for washing your vehicle inside or outside. It’s much better to be safe than sorry if you’re washing your vehicle and avoid the most common pitfalls.

Keep your car clean with the best car cleaning hacks.

Hacks For A Car Wash

Many people might walk into the commercial car wash with a blind eye thinking that the employees or machine will do the work just right. Unfortunately, leaving your car neglected and not being aware of the process can actually do more damage to the car than if you didn’t go at all. As a result, sometimes it’s better to take the matter into your own hands so your car is left clean and as durable as before. Some key things to remember the next time you wash your car include the following:

  1. Choose the right kind of soap when washing your car. Some of the most tried and true tips for expert car washers are to not use dish soap, as it cuts through the handy wax protecting your car. This soap is formulated with extremely harsh ingredients that can sometimes even lift the paint off of your vehicle and harm the metal underneath. Do yourself a favor to not use those chemicals and use a soap that is formulated exactly for your car type. Going to an auto center or the auto cleaning section of a retail chain will help you find a variety of detergent options. 
  2. Keep off the dirty mitts. Never think that picking up a rag or mitt that you dropped on the ground is okay. Be very strict with yourself to keep an extra cleaning item with you so no little rocks, dust, or other debris is being transferred onto your car. If you don’t make sure you keep your cleaning items clean, you could lead spider web looking scratches on the paint and a dirty look overall on your car. The best type of item to use is a soft microfiber mitt or towel that is gentle yet absorbent for water and soap. This material won’t leave any kinds of scratches and are much softer to the touch. 
  3. When you want to wash your car, follow the same practice with your resource of cleaning water. You should keep two separate buckets of clean water to rinse your dirty mitt and another for a clean batch to rub in soap. This is a safe practice in general so you don’t scratch your paint or leave ugly streaks on your tires, bumper, front, or windows. Windows can be some of the most difficult areas to clean on your car, so be extra careful here!
  4. Take your car wash inside or under shade if it’s sunny outside. Most car cleaning experts know that a very hot day leaves the metal susceptible to spots from dried up soap and grime. I’ve heard water literally sizzle on some people’s cars during the summer and that’s probably the worst condition to leave your car parked outside in. If you have a garage, make sure to park your car in side their instead and use a function hose to blast clean water at the beginning of the wash if you have one. This helps take off any large chunks of debris so you can spend more time focusing on the more minute details. 
  5. Make sure you pay attention to the wheels on your car. The wheels on our car take on a lot of wear and tear as they’re constantly exposed to heat and cold form the weather. Dust and sharp objects can become nestled into our wheels if we’re not very careful with our driving. The best way to clean them is to buy a wheel cleaner that is formulated for the kind of rims you have. It’s a better idea to cool down your car to room temperature as well before spraying on the harsh chemicals. This is better for the surface of the care and for your own respiratory health as well while you’re kneeling down. 
  6. Dry your car right. What item you use to dry your vehicle is the finishing touch of a great car wash routine. Drying a car is crucial so water or soap spots don’t develop and leave marks on the paint you paid so much for. You can also use a water blade that has a silicone tap to brush away water without scratching your paint, or you can also use your handy microfiber if it is completely clean. If anything, investing in a third towel would be good so you have a fresh one to grab for each stage of your car wash process. 

Be Frugal And Efficient

You can save a lot of money if you take the weekly car wash to your doorstep instead of paying the premium at a commercial car wash site. The best thing to remember is to buy the right cleaning materials and detergents so you don’t cause any unwanted topical damage to your car surface. If you spend even just half an hour to an hour a week to touch on your car, you’ll notice that its life will last a lot longer. Don’t remember to tell your friends that you did all the hard work yourself. They’ll be surely impressed by the quality of your car and ask for pieces of advice, which you can further read about on all across the web. The knowledge online about car maintenance is endless, so don’t be afraid to absorb all the information that is available! 

Oct
29
2018

Environmental Toxins

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Environmental toxins are all around us whether we are aware of them or not. In order to protect your physical health and mental health, it’s vital that you protect your home atmosphere and remove any air pollutants that might be lurking. Over time, if you let these substances build up your body can start to suffer from uncomfortable reactions and overall fatigue. Luckily, you don’t need to be an expert in environmental medicine to begin taking small steps towards cleaning up the air around you. it’s not too hard or expensive to protect your home from any harmful environmental toxins. Let’s walk through ten easy ways to clear out your home and protect your body in the long run.

Removing Environmental Pollutants

Even making simple changes to your home will help your health and the overall safety of your home. Some changes can be a bit complicated while others are easy fixes, but the choice is ultimately yours for what to deal with. Among environmental pollutants like monoxide or pesticides lurking around corners of your home, studies have linked too much exposure with nervous system damage, brain complications, asthma, allergies, various types of cancer, and unexpected fatigue. However, you can decrease your exposure and risk of these problems with the following habits:

  1. Get rid of the dust. Having extra house dust really tampers with your physical allergic reactions and mental health. It also contains dangerous chemicals in the form of tiny particles like fire retardants, pesticides, and sometimes even bug feces. The best way to get rid of all the dust bunnies to replace your home’s carpeting and wipe down any vinyl surfaces that may be dirty. This can be a bit expensive though, as buying all the materials really does add up in fees. If you would rather save some money, opt for elbow grease to cleanse the surface level, vacuum every week, and invest in an at home carpet washing machine to scrub everything down.  
  2. Don’t continue smoking. If you’re someone who tends to smoke inside your home, it’s about time to quit. An estimated 40% of all children who live in a smoke invested home may develop severe asthma and sometimes even cancer issues later on in life. Since it’s costing the health of yourself and your living partners, opt for quitting the habit and stick to it before it’s too late.
  3. Make sure your paint is clean. Lead paint and even radon is extremely unhealthy for your living space and can cause serious brain damage to any young children around. What’s worse is that the lead can sometimes trigger a pleasure response in some people and lead to long term addiction. Avoid the environment pollution by checking in with your local health department to run a test of a paint chip sample from your home. They will be able to measure how much lead is in the substance and will recommend whether or not you should remove it and paint over the area with a less toxic paint.
  4. Never use pesticides in your home. These chemicals are meant to kill for a reason, as it can cause severe chemical burns on your skin and will cause serious breathing issues for younger children. Promote a healthier environment by preventing pests from coming into your home in the first place by washing your dishes at all times, cleaning up tables or cutting boards, vacuuming the floors, dusting off untouched spaces, and keeping food containers tightly sealed. A little goes a long way!
  5. Limit your cans and plastic goods. While these materials aren’t environmental pollutants, they can easily transfer toxic chemicals into the foods you eat every day. If you are regularly using plastic water or baby bottles, immediately go for a safer glass alternative that will not transfer BPA. BPA is clinically associated with various cancers that can form years later after overexposure. When you cook your foods, make sure you take out any plastic container or cling wrap that was covering it before. Heat easily melts plastic and can release a highly dangerous chemical that leads to burning eyes, toxic food, and a strong odor. Additionally, eat less canned foods so you are limiting any potential risks from the metal casing.
  6. Eliminating toxins in your water is crucial. Avoid drinking water straight from the tap by installing a water filter. Many choices today are inexpensive and highly efficient to ensure your water is safe and healthy for you to drink. In addition, avoid drinking bottled water at all costs as the water is only regulated by the FDA. The FDA requires much less strict regulation laws than local water surveys that usually test for bacteria and other toxins. If you’re on the go, fill up your handy glass water bottle instead!
  7. This may be a no brainer, but make sure you are always washing your hands or are using a hand sanitizer. After we get home from school or work, our hands have picked up thousands of harmful bacteria and chemicals left on surfaces we touched. Don’t let these environmental toxins harm your health further by letting it enter your home. Always make sure to wipe down your phone screen as well to cut down on germs and prevent sickness as well!

Better Safe Than Sorry

There’s always a good reason to keep your home clean and free for environmental pollutants. For the sake of your health and sanity down the line, you’ll be much happier you took extra time to clean up the corners and practice safer cooking instead of suffering from sickness. To make it easier, invest in just five to ten minutes a day or an hour each week to wipe down every dirty surface, dispose of foods sitting in plastic containers, or vacuum dusty areas. You’ll be glad you did!

 

Oct
29
2018

Commercial Real Estate

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Navigating the commercial real estate market by yourself can be a headache if you don’t know where to access the right resources. Commercial real estate exists almost everywhere in our daily lives as it refers to warehouses, work offices, and even large retail spaces we see often. If you are interested in getting into the market with your saved up funds, it’s absolutely critical to plan your strategy and real estate investments carefully.

Not doing so can run the risk of decreasing your income potential and maintenance problems that are often overlooked. As a result, it’s a good idea to think about hiring a property manager who can overlook all the necessary details if you’re looking to rent especially. Let’s dive into the benefits of having a second opinion and a helping hand for your real estate investments.

Using A Commercial Property Manager

Managing a real estate property can definitely be financially rewarding if done the right way. However, all the responsibilities with managing a property can take a lot of time and cause unneeded headache. Even if you consider yourself a frugal person who likes to take matters into their own hands, it’s much more practical to invest in a commercial property manager for the following reasons:

  • The commercial property manager will help you set an appropriate rental rate. Instead of sifting through hundreds of rental pages and rental Facebook groups, a manager will be able to conduct a thorough and accurate market analysis to ensure your rate is competitive yet satisfactory. Work with the manager on what your fears and needs are before conducting the market study. Open communication is key to maintain an efficient relationship with them. This way you can prevent any vacancy issues while still maximizing your income potential.
  • The manager will help you get your rent paid on time. Any landlord will tell you that they have had tenants who don’t pay their fair share of rent on time. Property management systems, on the other hand, have reputable and reliable systems in place so rent is collected at all times on time. If you have a limited number of real estate investments, having this benefit is crucial to maintain a healthy cash flow and gain peace of mind.
  • Marketing and advertising will benefit as well. Instead of figuring out what methods or graphics will work best to make your property look as alluring as possible, hiring a commercial property manager can help since they know what to do. They can form an informative and compelling ad for your property on the right platforms so people are reached. It’s no longer the right time to use classified or Craigslist anymore and the majority of young and even old renters are active on social media or renting specific platforms.
  • Once you’ve secured an interested tenant, you want to make sure that they are free of any problematic history and have the financial means to keep fees paid on time. A manager can easily do this work for you and run secure criminal background checks as well as running credit reports. In short, they can access all the important documents you need to make the right decision for the future of your real estate investment property.
  • Maintaining your real estate investment property can take a lot of upkeep. Hiring work from several different construction workers, plumbers, or engineers can be costly and complicated for your accounting records. The majority of property management companies will be able to find close contacts to vendors they’ve already worked with before to get you the best price possible. Since they have a good relationship with these businesses already established, the customer service you’ll experience will likely always be urgent and pleasant to deal with.
  • If you want to expand the amount of locations you have properties in, hiring a commercial property manager will also help to manage different areas. Normally, people are tied down to a single community or neighborhood since they don’t want to travel too far if a problem with the property or tenant arises. With a manager, they can provide the means to explore opportunities at other ends of town and possibly different cities. Don’t be afraid to explore places that you’ve never heard of before, you might be surprised with what hidden gems you find!
  • You’ll have more money and time in the long run. While hiring a manager might seem like too much of a luxury, they will take care of the day to day responsibilities of running a property successfully. With your free time, you can explore other investment options and keep better track of your expenses for the future. Preventing any risk of vacancy or late payments is also well worth the upfront cost, so no reason to wait!

Better Safe Than Sorry

As an upcoming real estate investor, it’s wise to do everything in your power to carefully plan and manage your hard earned investments. If you work alone, you could be spending a lot of time and money to correctly screen tenants for rent, market and manage your property, collect payment on a timely manner, or exploring further opportunities at different locations. If you aren’t sure how to go about hiring a trustworthy commercial property manager, look up reviews for ones around you who have a proven track record. Make sure that their investment properties are being properly taken care of and customer testimonials are genuinely written. After doing your homework, schedule a discovery appointment with the manager that you are most interested in. You’ll gain a better perspective on what their management style is and how well you communicate with one another. Don’t be hesitant to ask all the questions you need!

 

 

Oct
29
2018

Inbound Versus Outbound Marketing

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In today’s world of marketing, it’s extremely vital to keep up with trends and the right strategies to effectively grow your business. While you might be stubborn and may want to stick with old school marketing techniques like billboards, flyers, and even television spots, at this point in time the majority of potential customers are tuning in only to the internet.

Gone are the days of tuning into Saturday morning cartoons and listening to a boombox with the radio on. If your business wants to reach adults, you have to be active on Facebook, blogs, and form a website that they are willing to read. If you are targeting a younger audience like millennials, using social media spots like Instagram, Snapchat, and having an mobile friendly site will boost your brand integrity.

If this sounds like way too much information to consume at once, fear not. Let’s break down the differences between inbound marketing and outbound marketing along with tools you should be using right now.

Outbound Marketing Is Out

Do you ever wonder why some fashion trends tend to come into our lives for a brief moment before dying out while others are here to stay? People consume and use what is attractive and will provide value to them over the long term. The same principle goes with marketing your business, you want to be using a style of promotions that actually reach, resonate, and provide value to your customers.

Outbound marketing is the term for old fashioned marketing our parents grew up with and consumed throughout the day. These promotions include magazine spreads, radio and TV commercials, huge roadside billboards, product catalogues, and flyers mailed to the door. In the age where technology waits for no one, you have to be aware that almost everyone is spending nearly the whole day on their phones or computers.

Customers are actively consuming social media posts, videos, product reviews on Youtube, and attractive landing pages from brands that they feel they relate to. While doing this, they won’t be tuned into the hundreds of random flyers posted up on the wall beside them or the dressed up gorilla on the street corner promoting a furniture sale.

Since you don’t want to completely rule out outbound marketing, most marketing professionals advise businesses to invest no more than 10% of their overall campaign budgets to the method. This way, enough content is being made online but somewhat of a physical presence is still maintained for a brand.

For example, almost anyone following style trends have noticed that Adidas sneakers are nearly on everyone now after viral campaigns and celebrity endorsements the past two years. They recognized that their target audience of young people will relate to popular figures sporting their wear. They also completely rerouted their campaigns and understood that younger customers will appreciate consistent content provided across its social media, corporate blog, and sponsored YouTube reviews. Yet, while you still may see an Adidas ad on the street every once in a while the exposure is much less than what you may experience while scrolling your feed.

Inbound Marketing Is The Move

Now that we’ve realized the outdatedness of outbound marketing, it’s time to dive in on what strategies you should use with inbound marketing. The point of inbound marketing is to not broadcast your brand’s message to the masses, but to have customers reach for your benefits instead. This is done by forming a “hub” for your brand for people who are already searching online for the big players in your industry.

The trick is to create strongly consistent and engaging video or photo content across your social media. Keep a clean look and a straightforward message to your viewers, post weekly giveaways to create more traffic, and always reply to comments from people whether its negative or positive. Link your company website into the bio of your largest social media profile and invest time in making the site itself professional.

Utilize high quality photographs, product demonstration videos, customer reviews, and above all make sure your pages are attractive and quick to load for users on their phones. No one wants to stay on a cluttered website that is slow to road and boring to look at it.

Another great tip is to practice search engine optimization on your website by inserting highly popular keywords that pertain to your services and industry. This increases the chance that customers will find your page when they’re on Google or Safari because your page is being favored by the engine’s algorithm.

For example, if you are running a website for fitness coaching service, consider entering keywords like “fitness coaching”, “healthy lifestyle”, “training program”, etc. so someone searching those exact terms may stumble on your content.

The best thing about inbound marketing is that the opportunities are endless after setting up your platforms. To procure a strong relationship with your visitors, include a call to action and ask for their emails in return for a free newsletter sent straight to their inbox every week. These newsletters can be about seasonal promotions, tips that pertain to the problem they are dealing with, and different ways to get in touch with you. Make sure you do your homework on who your exact customer niche is so you can tailor your writing to their styles of communication.

Get Out There

As the entrepreneur and social media marketing influencer Gary Vaynerchuk would say, today is the best time in the history of mankind to be alive. Thanks to technology and social media, communication is easier than ever before and brands can directly be in touch with their customers with a simple like, direct message, or live video. The choice is yours on what marketing methods to use to grow your sales, but remember the sky’s the limit if you do it right!

 

Oct
29
2018

Dealing With Heroin Addiction

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Dealing with an addiction to any type of drug can be extremely hard. These days society and the mainstream media have intensified the stigma against drugs. Popular shows like Shameless feature main characters who are constantly using drugs like cocaine and heroin while letting their life spiral out of control.

If you know someone who is in need of heroin recovery or is currently suffering from another type of opiate addiction, make sure you know how to spot the signs of an intense addiction and react quickly. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal can also cause a lot of havoc on one’s body, so knowing more about those mental and physical side effects will greatly increase your ability others in need.

Long Term Side Effects Of Heroin

While addiction is still not fully understood by everyone, the effects that the drug has on our brains are substantial. The drug has the power to radically change our brain’s chemical pathways and form a large dependency on it over the long term.

For an addict, using a drug too frequently disrupts their normal behavior and causes them to suffer from long term issues . Symptoms of heroin withdrawal come into play as an addict’s body starts to yearn strongly for the substance with scary, painful, and disruptive side effects. These can include sudden onset depression or anger, chronic fatigue, intense and unexpected shaking, bloodshot eyes, pain in certain limbs of the body, and severe migraines in some cases.

Even if they want to calm down from these physical and mental problems, many people lack the determination to cut down on their drug use. In some cases, they might even increase their daily or weekly dosage so they can get through the temporary heroin withdrawal symptoms.

Over a long period of time, heroin addicts can suffer from life threatening diseases or develop problems that wouldn’t exist if they were sober instead. Such issues include long term heart damage or heart disease, collapsed veins from injection heroin methods, lung problems, a higher risk of developing pneumonia, long term memory loss or other processing damage, increased anxiety and moodiness, kidney disease, and potential death from overdose.

Clearly you don’t want any of these issues to hurt the health of anyone. As a family member of friend of someone who is hooked to a drug, it’s your responsibility to understand where they are coming from and not quickly judge their reasons for taking it so often. Many might actually want to get heroin addiction recovery but fail to do so because they are suffering from low confidence, lack of control, and debilitating physical effects that plague their daily life. You don’t have to be an expert in the heroin addiction recovery field, but you can help be supportive and encourage them to seek professional help.

Heroin Addiction Recovery

As soon as long term signs of heroin addiction and heroin withdrawal symptoms show up, it’s critical to gain help from a detox center. That’s the first step to cleansing the body of all the toxins left from the drug before starting an organized treatment plan. However, it’s important to note that while the physical problems are possible to get rid of, any mental health disorders that stem from heroin use may not be reversible. Addiction will always pay a visit to someone’s life and cause cravings that are amplified by the stress of a mental disorder.

In addition, co-occurring mental health disorders like depression might be present in an addict’s body for a long time even after their body is cleansed. Reaching out to a local addiction specialist will be great for the addict to treat both issues in a safe and sustainable fashion.

Luckily, there are a variety of treatment methods available today for people who are struggling with heroin withdrawal symptoms. A person can choose from behavioral treatments that are combined with medications prescribed by doctor to restore functionality to their mind.

Addiction support groups and holistic therapy will also calm the rest of the body and give emotional strength to overcome any relapses that may occur in the future. The most important thing to communicate to the addict in your life is that they need to choose to take action and not be afraid to be vulnerable to gain help.

Heroin addiction recovery is not an easy path; there will rocky days and feelings of regret along the way. But considering the long term health benefits that they will benefit from, it’s more important to break addiction from a professional detox and treatment center so their life is not cut unexpectedly short.

Communicating With The Addict

Keep an open mind, remain patient, and never give up on your goal to encourage the addict in your life to seek help. If the person is especially stubborn or wants to avoid your pestering questions, catch them in a time during the day where they are the most free to talk intimately.

Make sure you let them know that you truly care about their health and are very worried for their future. To make things easier for you and the addict, you can even schedule an initial appointment with a professional treatment specialist and offer to go with them. They may agree to go or react angrily, but odds are that they will come around to learning more about ending their heroin addiction if you can just take them along for the first point of help!

Don’t Give Up

Dealing with heroin withdrawal symptoms is never an easy task, but with the right resources in your area and enough patience, you can conquer the mountain of struggle it brings. Never forget that that an addict is saving their life, money, and relationships by suffering through temporary withdrawal effects in order to break their unhealthy habit once and for all. As long as you do the best in your power to give them support and positivity, you are helping them find the road to success!

 

Sep
20
2018

Benefits Of Yoga For Men 

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Being a yoga enthusiast can seem like such a cliche these days. When I think of yoga, the first picture that comes into my head are suburban moms who religiously drink green tea and meditate in the morning, chat with their pals at yoga class by lunch, and wear nothing but the latest Lululemon gear when they’re out and about.

Luckily, today there are so many variations of yoga to try, even if you’re not a woman. Hundreds of prominent male figures all over the world have preached about their love for practicing yoga because it helps calm down their mind, strengthen their core, and nurture their spirit. Even if you’re skeptical of the legitimacy of all those benefits, it certainly doesn’t hurt to give yoga a try. Let’s walk through the top benefits of yoga for men!

Reasons Why You Should Start 

  1. Practicing yoga does wonders for helping your mind. If you need addiction and depression help, doing yoga at least a few times every week will help fight your symptoms and reduce your overall stress. Oftentimes depression can affect our energy and confidence levels, so taking the time to strengthen our body and break a sweat is great to regain control. Yoga also helps many men with their chronic anxiety issues as it helps them form a stronger connection to their thought patterns. When you have a stronger grasp of how to manage your emotions and calm down your nerves with steadily controlled breathing, anxiety will have a much harder time taking control over you.
  2. Doing yoga regularly helps your cardiovascular health. Just like doing any other exercise, yoga helps decrease blood pressure levels and promotes healthy circulation. Your body will feel much stronger and ready to take on the day if your heart is consistently reinforced with yoga positions that encourage it to work hard. For starters, feel free to try the warrior and sun salutation pose for a quick energy boost during the day. There are many videos on YouTube and Instagram that can walk you how to perform each position correctly!
  3. Taking time to perform yoga positions will feed your sense of mind. Aside from the stress reducing benefits, yoga helps you focus more on the present and on your surroundings. In our daily lives we are usually constantly on the go from one event to the next, so taking time to slow down is necessary. You’ll also develop a greater peace of mind if you move between different positions and feel your anxiety levels melting away as time goes on. Overall, the activity will give you a reason to practice self-care and you confidence levels go hand in hand with that.
  4. Yoga helps boost your relapse prevention coping skills. If you went through a detoxification program or were once hooked on consuming drugs or alcohol, yoga can serve as a great alternative. Since yoga is a holistic activity for healing the mind, body, and spirit at the same time, it helps people deal with the pain that comes with tapering off their addiction. It doesn’t hurt that yoga releases lots of endorphins, or the chemicals that promote inner happiness either!
  5. Yoga makes you feel stronger. Avid yogis these days often report feeling very strong and empowered after each yoga session they complete. Whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs are, you can weave them in with the yoga philosophy. The philosophy that yoga and meditation can teach us is mainly about forcing peace in the mind and completely balancing your nerves. Try out a couple of beginner yoga poses for yourself and think positively while you’re still in the learning process. Don’t get discouraged if your form isn’t totally perfect the first time!
  6. Yoga will boost your social life. Even if you already have a ton of friends, joining a local yoga class, yoga club in your school, or even a Facebook group online will connect you to a lot of amazing people! Everyone who takes part in yoga all share the same passion of improving their mindset and strengthening their health. You might find a core group of people to learn from and share your struggles with as you tackle new and difficult positions. Being great at yoga takes time, but the process of getting there is what’s worth it!

Stay Open Minded 

If you never tried anything new in life, you wouldn’t be living life to the fullest at all. The key to attaining a peaceful mind or conquering the mountain of needing addiction and depression help is to take action. Even if you have never done yoga before, it’s easy to see that the benefits of yoga for men especially are outstanding. Practicing the natural exercise is far more worth the effort than resorting to a pill or fad trend that only promise instan results.

Take a look at your schedule not next week, but in the next few days to see when you’re free to try yoga. Start from looking at a couple videos online and following the positions that the content displays. You’ll probably find that it can drastically improve you stress levels and be motivated from the challenge. From there, look at what classes are open at a fitness club or university gym in your community. Almost every chain gym membership includes complimentary yoga sessions, so make sure to do your homework!

 

Sep
11
2018

Car Salesman Tricks 

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Buying a car is a big step. You want to spend your hard earned cash on a vehicle that you’ll love not only on the outside, but on the inside as you drive it for hopefully several years. While buying used cars are a popular choice among young adults to get the most bang for their back, it is extremely important to be cautious of sneaky car salesman who are trying to gain the largest profit. Over the past decade, used car dealers have earned a highly negative reputation for leading people into making risky purchasing decisions.

Part of the reason that these used-car dealers may seem untrustworthy is from the fact that selling used cars is tricky for dealers themselves. During their lifetime, a car will go through a countless number of possible damages like neglect, collisions, overheating, flooding, runs over damaging potholes, and usually a long term lack of maintenance.

A responsible used-car dealer should be fixing those problems right before reselling any used car for the sake of the customer. Unfortunately, not everyone follows their moral compass and look to get rid of their oldest inventory instead. Let’s walk through a variety of warning signs of a bad used-car dealership so you don’t have to learn the hard way.

Signs To Look Out For 

  1. Watch the quality of inventory. While every customer wants to have a great car at the most affordable price, many run into the problem of purchasing vehicles that are loaded with maintenance issues. From a faulty brake pad, a scratched rim, to disintegrating tires, no one wants to be stuck with a purchase that only seems to spark more expenses than before. If the selection of vehicles on the lot you happen to visit all seem a little too old or beaten up, your best bet is to leave and look to another dealership. Don’t commit to a certain model or luxury brand even if the price tag is dirt cheap.
  2. The shop belonging to the dealership can be hit or miss. Most used car dealerships around the country that have their own garage with certified mechanics are more likely going to do various inspections on their used cars. From there, they can address any problems they find with the car before it goes on stage to be resold. A larger shop is a better sign of a dealership that is holding themselves accountable for their inventory. However, if you are looking to buy a luxury model, especially one that is sourced from Europe, a wise choice would be to purchase a used-car that will allow the car to be taken to a new-car dealership for any fixes. Do your research and know what options are out there!
  3. Know what warranties are available with your purchased vehicle. You’re a lot better off looking at a used-car dealership that offers its own flexible version of a warranty on the inventory it sells. A warranty that lasts several years is a great choice, especially if you can snag in an unlimited mile amount on the car. Make sure to pay close attention to what the dealer’s attitude is in this situation. If they seem happy to offer you a great warranty service, you will likely not run into as many problems with them in the long run. If they are angry on the other hand, you might want to reconsider where you invest your money in.
  4. Ask for the title of the car. If a dealer wants to sell you a used car and are ignoring the title tied to the vehicle, you’re in deep water. Thousands of buyers in the country have been recorded to be left stuck with a used car that warrants a previous loan. The bank will be in charge of these loans (if any are still outstanding) instead of the dealer themselves. Make sure you ask the dealership about the history and financial status of each vehicle as you look at what they have at the site.
  5. Avoid the short term financing if your credit is currently faulty. It can be extremely easy to think that dealers who offer a variety of financing plans are doing a service to buyers with bad credit score. The reality is that at these kinds of used-car dealerships, interest rates can inflate from a ballpark average of nineteen to thirty percent or more. By the time a customer has paid a highly inflated price for the used car, invested in an extended warranty or credit protection plan they can find themselves paying up to three to five times the worth of the car originally. Make sure your money is safeguarded and not in the hands of a system that will use your hard work for no good.
  6. An uncooperative dealer is a red flag when it comes to inspections. A tried and true way to protect yourself when buying any used car, no matter if you’re working with a dealer or a private party, is to bring it to a trusted mechanic and ask them for an independent pre-purchase inspection. This is to ensure that if the car has any major issues, you can use the information they provided to think hard about whether or not it is worth the purchase price. If the dealer you are talking to won’t let you take the car in or is speaking with an ill tone of voice all of a sudden, you’ll know that you’re not dealing with someone who is truly honest.

Be Safe And Smart 

Before buying any car, make sure you are doing enough time to look at the reviews of each dealership you plan to visit. Not all used-car dealerships are built the same. Make sure you can talk to one that shows honest history of each vehicle, treats its customers with ultimate care, and understands what their needs are. The people truly make a difference when it comes to buying the car of your dreams!