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Deadly Exposure: Asbestos Still Lingers Around Our World

Dec 4, 2015

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Despite the fact that we now know all about the deadly perils of exposure to asbestos, it is still prevalent in some areas of the world and in certain industries.

As anyone who has been unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with asbestosis will confirm, crucial advice on how to try and stay safe when working with asbestos should always be heeded if you want to avoid potentially deadly exposure.

Worldwide exposure

If you thought that asbestos was a material that is firmly entrenched in the past, you will no doubt be shocked to discover that the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that some 125 million people around the globe are annually exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

There are still about 100,000 workers dying from asbestosis and related diseases every 12 months, so worldwide exposure is still very much an issue.

The health concerns surrounding exposure to asbestos have prompted over 50 countries to restrict or totally ban the use of asbestos since the 1970’s but despite this, the popularity of asbestos is actually on the increase in some developing nations where mass-produced building materials are highly sought after to meet demand.

Asbestos might be a cost-effective building material but it comes at a deadly price and the WHO is still trying to convince these countries that still use it that the health risks make it too deadly to work with on such a scale.

According to this infographic, the CDC says there is a naturally occurring level of asbestos in the air around us: about 0.00001 to 0.0001 fibers per milliliter. Understanding the measurement is critical, since asbestos tends to break up into fibers so tiny they can’t even be seen by the naked eye

Developing mesothelioma

Any worker who has been exposed to asbestos over a number of years is definitely at risk of developing mesothelioma.

The major problem with exposure to asbestos is that it manifests itself in your body over a period of many years and the prolonged effect of asbestos on the lung may well result in a diagnosis of mesothelioma at some point much later in your life.

Asbestos was widely used throughout many different industries for many years and even though its use has been restricted in many countries, its legacy is still being felt and will continue to be when you consider that it is still being used in some industries and certain countries who have not acted on the health evidence provided.

Preventing exposure

Workers in the past were simply not aware of the health dangers they were exposing themselves to when handling asbestos, but there is now plenty of useful handling advice available relating to this toxic substance.

Protective workwear should be provided by employers for anyone who is going to be handling or faces exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen but when it remains in good condition and is not being moved or removed, it does not actually pose a substantial risk to health.

This scenario changes dramatically if asbestos fibres become airborne and within the vicinity of anyone who could inhale them and risk these fibres becoming embedded in their chest. It is only years later that the true extent of this dangerous exposure becomes known, when it is potentially too late.

Asbestos is still very much part of our world in general and therefore great care needs to be taken when handling the material and there is also a strong requirement to be vigilant at all times when there is a danger of potential exposure.

Bernard Teel works in environmental health and is well-positioned to talk about subjects like asbestos exposure. He likes to share his observations and suggestions online and writes for a number of online resources.

Are RFID Chips Medically Safe For Our Children?

Nov 29, 2015

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While Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) has been around for over 90 years, few people had any idea about it. Nonetheless, it has stealthily grown to be a significant part of everyone’s life. Today, most likely not a day passes without you using some sort of RFID reader, and the things you purchase are certainly scanned at least once every week. Of particular interest is the growing use of RFID chips in our children for various purposes, like tracking and medical monitoring. Today, the focus is to examine whether or not these chips are medically safe for children.

RFID in Humans

RFID technology is designed in a way that the personal information that is encoded on it can be read remotely without anyone realizing that it’s being read. While there are several types of chips, the passive chips are the ones currently being implanted in people. For passive tags, they can only emit their signal out after being triggered by a reader.

The power with which the tag uses to respond to the trigger signal also comes from the reader. The passive tags do not provide information. They just contain something like a unique ID number, which is read for the software to connect it to your personal information.

Medical Benefits of RFID

All innovations in the medical industry, including mdsandbox, are meant to improve health care delivery, and RFID is no exception. There are significant benefits of RFID in the medical field. With access to your child’s medical history, a doctor can quickly reach informed decisions about medications among other treatments. Moreover, the ID is implanted in the patient, hence no risk of being misidentified in the hospital.

The Safety of RFID Chips

The RFID chip is passive, owing to the fact that it does not contain an in-built energy source. Thus, a tag alone cannot emit waves, posing absolutely no danger. It communicates when it falls within a reader’s electromagnetic field. It is this reader that releases electromagnetic waves at a given power.

The readers may emit electromagnetic waves in three frequency bands depending on the RFID technology – 900 MHz for ultra-high-frequency (UHF), 13.56 MHz for high-frequency (HF), and 125 kHz for very low-frequency (LF) readers. Consequently, the effects of these waves on children’s body will depend on the frequency band that’s used.

On measuring the electromagnetic fields produced by the reader, in laboratory conditions, it has been found that the field generated in the HF and LF bands fades rapidly and is only effective in the immediate proximity of a reader. Whatever the case, the radiation remains below the recommended threshold limit value for humans; according to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Although the magnetic-field spans greater distances in UHF frequency bands, the radiation never surpass the threshold limit values.

Therefore, for children who are occasionally exposed to RFID reader’s emitted waves, the risk is minimal. Nonetheless, in the event of continuous exposure, even with low radiation levels, it is recommended that you maintain a minimum distance of about 20 cm from the reader at all times.

Conclusion

A passive RFID chip does not pose any medical risk when implanted in an individual, as it doesn’t emit any waves while outside of the reader’s field. While readers emit waves, they have only a limited range. The same applies to active chips, which are somewhat rare and are like sensor networks. Therefore, the RFID chips are medically safe for our children and there is nothing we should worry ourselves about.

The Many Medical Benefits of Cannabis

Nov 26, 2015

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Marijuana or cannabis as it is also known is getting a lot of attention�as more and more states begin to legalize it for recreational or medical usage. It’s also getting attention because of how much it can help people who are suffering from medical issues. Marijuana is a naturally growing plant that produces a flower which can be smoked or ingested; it provides people with a “high”, but it also introduces THC and CBD into their bodies. These two chemicals are the topic of discussion by many medical professionals as they do so many things for the human body. There are even cannabinoid receptors in the human brain whose sole purpose is to receive these chemicals.

What Medical Conditions Can Marijuana Help With?

Because marijuana provides people with an euphoric feeling, it can be used by people who suffer from marijuana related anxiety issues. Previously, patients were taking things like Xanax and Ativan, which have many side effects that people would prefer not to deal with. Smoking the plant can reduce someone’s stress levels immediately and help them calm down, preventing a panic attack. Smoking cannabis is also beneficial for those who suffer from insomnia because it helps them relax.

Those who suffer from PTSD can also benefit from marijuana usage. Many times, a person with PTSD will experience periods where they are so paranoid they are unable to live a regular lifestyle. They will not be able to leave home or hold a conversation with someone because they are under so much stress. Marijuana allows them to relax and be able to go about their life unhindered by their paranoia.

In addition to helping with mental issues, marijuana can also help those who are suffering from inflammation and minor infections. Cannabis has antibacterial properties that make it useful on wounds�and was even studied in the 50’s as a treatment for tuberculosis. Marijuana also reduces inflamed muscles, which is why it has been used in many topical solutions for just this purpose. It can be rubbed directly onto a swollen area of the body and will help reduce the inflammation.

It’s common knowledge that marijuana increases one’s appetite, which is why many people choose to use it or were prescribed it by a doctor. Patients who are suffering from AIDS or cancer have been known to use marijuana to help them consume food without feeling nauseous. Chemotherapy can cause someone to feel unwell and make it difficult for them to eat properly. AIDS patients also have trouble getting their appetite up. The human body needs sustenance at all times, even when suffering from a condition that makes someone feel like they aren’t hungry.

Producing The Healthiest Cannabis

Those who use marijuana are commonly interested in consuming the best quality product available. This means they want to be sure what they are putting in their body contains no harsh chemicals or pollutants that could cause unnecessary damage to their bodies. The only way to truly ensure this is to grow the plant yourself. Cannabis seeds can be bought from dispensaries or ordered from the internet.

After procuring (preferably feminized) seeds from a well known supplier of marijuana seeds, one needs to weigh their options for growing. Hydroponic systems produce healthy plants much quicker than a soil medium will, and they also make it easier to control the nutrients the plant is getting. The most important aspect of growing cannabis is providing the plant with the proper nutrition it needs to produce healthy flowers. �The nutrients a plant will need should be researched on the internet before one begins growing. Different strains of marijuana will require drastically different nutrient regimens. Plants that are improperly cared for will not produce the flower a patient is looking for.

The law for producing marijuana varies greatly from state to state and even from county to county, which is why it’s important to find out the legal restrictions in your area before beginning to grow. There’s no reason to pay for expensive medications with adverse side effects when a naturally growing plant can resolve your medical issues.

Triple Benefits: Spices Enhance Flavor, Promote Health, Reduce Pain

Nov 26, 2015

2162

By adding bold spices and�natural herbs�to your diet, you can not only add flavor to food, but reap substantial health benefits. Consider some “prescriptions” for replacing common drug therapies with natural nutrition. Of course, we always recommend checking with a medical professional�before throwing away those pill bottles, but these substitutions have been found to be effective. At the very least, you’ll be eating more naturally, and your food will taste better.

Spice History

Ancient peoples might have known the medicinal properties of exotic spices, or they may have just liked the taste. It is a fact, though, that caravans carried spices like cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, cloves and black pepper from one side of the ancient world to the other. In a book entitled “Cumin, Camels, and Caravans, a Spice Odyssey,” Gary Paul Nabhan chronicles trade history throughout Arabia, China and India. He also ties in the culinary use of peppers, herbs and spices in the Western Hemisphere, from South America to the American Southwest, to ancient spice trade�roots.

It makes for fascinating reading; old traditions have now been reinforced through scientific research. It turns out that those “C” spices, including cinnamon, cloves, cumin, cardamom, cayenne, chili (peppers), coriander,�curry, along with others like turmeric�add a lot more than flavor to food. The more colorful the spice, the better. Choose foods made interesting with saffron, green�chilis, crushed red�peppers and exotic peppercorn blends. Ginger�packs a wallop in terms of health and well-being, as does garlic. And don’t forget mustard.

Learn to season or garnish food with green. Be liberal in your use of sage, basil, rosemary, thyme;�parsley, cilantro and mint are good for both mind and body. Lavender, a member of the mint family, is known for its calming abilities and is a mainstay of modern aromatherapy. It curbs agitation related to dementia, fights depression,�alleviates�insomnia, relieves exhaustion and reduces�headache pain.

The Power of Spice

As counterintuitive as it may seem, spicy foods can be good for you! Capsaicin,�the active ingredient in spicy peppers, aids�digestion, lowers blood pressure, boosts metabolism, reduces mood swings and may help curb hunger.

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is a strong antioxidant, has been shown to reduce growth of cancer cells, is instrumental in regulating insulin levels and triglycerides, and helps fight or regulate autoimmune system disorders. As it reduces inflammation, it can also be used as a natural pain reliever.�A diet rich with cinnamon, curry, and cumin may relieve chronic arthritis pain.

Cinnamon: Second in popularity only to pepper, cinnamon was once almost a panacea for multiple ailments. Modern research suggests a bit of caution, but the probable benefits are still extensive.
Ginger: A natural antidote for nausea, including motion sickness, ginger also offers protection against gastric ulcers and can be the “go-to” supplement for controlling�osteoarthritis pain, chronic headaches or�menstrual cramps. It’s available fresh, powdered or�candied. Make your own ginger ale by adding seltzer water to ginger syrup.
Saffron: Its antidepressant effects may outpace drugs like Prozac, according to researchers. Saffron is expensive, but even small amounts increase blood flow to the brain; benefits might include slowing development of degenerative eye problems.
Rosemary and Sage: Both are associated with wisdom and memory, and both can be beneficial in preventing or controlling dementia�and Alzheimer’s. Use them in conjunction with parsley and thyme for flavorful recipes.

One thing is certain: Adding spice to your diet cannot hurt! Adjusting your diet to include these spicy natural ingredients is an effective and sensible way to encourage life-long wellness.

Shocking Facts about Step therapy!

Nov 25, 2015

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Step therapy use is increasing steadily

Step therapy is the practice used by health insurance companies to control cost in health care system. Recent studies have shown that, nearly 67% of insurers were using step therapy. If this practice continues, patients will not be able to get an effective treatments originally prescribed by doctors.

Commercial insurers are using step therapy

Recent studies have shown that, the US has spend $3 trillion annually on health care process. As a result, commercial insurers are using step therapy to force people into taking older, less expensive drugs that are often associated with more side effects or lower safety profiles in order to save money.

This approach used by health insurance companies, can delay access to appropriate treatments which are originally prescribed by doctors. It can also cause side-effects and life-threatening risks from inappropriate medicine.

Contrary to belief, Step therapy does not save money

Contrary to belief, Step therapy does not save money though. This kind of treatment approach may in fact be cheaper on the short term, but it is much more expensive on the long run.

Insurers assume step therapy controls cost

Insurers assume step therapy controls cost by cutting on immediate expenses, but several studies demonstrated that the use of older, less safe medication often ends in an increase in hospital admissions and emergency room visits.

Will incur higher health costs in later stages of your treatment

Also you will incur higher health costs in later stages of your treatment, as a condition that is not properly treated in its initial stages,is doomed to worsen itself incurring into higher costs later.

Step therapy poses a serious risk to your health:

Step therapy poses a serious risk to your health, as older drugs are many times associated with serious or life-threatening risks that were eliminated by novel, more technologically advanced drugs. This is particularly true for cancer chemotherapy, as cheaper drugs cause side effects that are often much more severe and debilitating, and that could even be the cause of new cancers to occur within 10 or more years from their assumption.

Also, effective treatment is delayed, as even if your doctors knows well what the best treatment option for your specific condition is, your health plan cannot provide it until you take all the other obligatory steps. Many drugs actually exacerbate symptoms and cause them to worsen, keeping many people from getting any effective treatment at all as their compliance (willingness to take the drugs) is significantly reduced, especially in elderly populations and psychiatric patients.

Step therapy can mean a delay in much-needed treatment:

Step therapy can mean a delay in much-needed treatment that in several conditions may even endanger a patient’s life. Patients are often required by their plans to stay on a given medication for too long before making a switch,and the delay to use drugs originally prescribed can be very risky or harmful if patient’s condition is not promptly treated.

Many other countries employ pharmacoeconomy strategies that aim at reducing the overall burden of medications and drug usage, but the actual step therapy or “fail first” therapy as many call them, is just a monstrosity. Several European nations would consider this kind of approach as unethical, as it doesn’t just put a patient’s life to risk, but it simply makes thoroughly clear that what really matters for insurance companies isn’t the safety or the quality of life of other human beings, but only the amount of money they can make every year.

Bio:

Martin is a freelancer, who enjoys writing articles about Step Therapy and it’s impacts on patients. He helps creating awareness to patients in order to prevent them from receiving ineffective treatment.

Men Don’t Count Calories: Painlessly Simple Ways to Eat Less and Still Feel Satisfied

Nov 21, 2015

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Calorie counting is not a favorite activity for most men, even those who are desperate to shed a few pounds. If you don’t like the idea of starving yourself and feeling hungry all the time just to lower your weight, don’t worry�there are many ways that you can cut your calorie intake without noticing it. Here are a few great ideas to get you started.

Snack on Healthy Food

There’s nothing wrong with snacking�as long as you’re snacking on the right things. Keep some nuts nearby and you can dip into them whenever you feel the urge rather than reaching for the cookie tin.

Start the Day with Protein and Fat

If you want to start your day off well, make sure you get a good amount of protein and fat in your breakfast by eating something like scrambled eggs. These will keep you fuller for longer, helping you to avoid the temptation to snack sooner. Don’t be scared of fat�it’s not all bad and it can be a great way to help control your appetite.

Eat Whatever You Want at the Weekend

One day a week, cave into temptation and eat something that you wouldn’t eat during the week. Don’t go overboard, but don’t worry about it too much either�the occasional splurge will help you to control your diet during the week.

Burn Calories All Day Long

One way to ensure you’re burning off calories throughout the day is to get into the gym and lift some weights. As you build muscles, they will speed up your metabolism so you’ll continue to burn calories even when you’ve finished your workout.

Fill Up Before You Go Out

If you are going out to dinner, have a healthy protein-based snack before you go out. This will take the edge off your hunger so you will be less tempted to order a calorie-heavy meal later on.

Chew Your Food More

The more you chew your food, the more full you will feel. Chewing more is linked to the release of hormones that make you feel satisfied, so this is a simple way to avoid overeating.

Still Can’t Shift those Stubborn Pounds?

These tips will all help you to continue to enjoy your food while cutting back on your calories so you don’t even notice you are doing it. Of course, sometimes you may have stubborn fat deposits that won’t go whatever you do.

Once you have reached your weight goal, you could always consider plastic surgery to get the body you are aiming for. Speak to a specialist at a surgery like KR Plastic Surgery to find out how they can help�and consider it a reward for all your hard work.

You Don’t Need to Suffer

Don’t think that losing weight will always involve feeling hungry. As these tips show, there are many ways that you can continue to enjoy eating great food and drop the pounds without worrying about counting calories. So if you have been putting off your weight-loss goals because you don’t want to cut back on all that food, now is the time to get going.

Dr Kevin Rughe is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and specializes in aesthetic surgery. He always welcomes the opportunity to share his observations and research with a wider audience online. He has already written a number of informative articles that have appeared on relevant websites.

Enjoy the winter season without troublesome allergies

Nov 21, 2015

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�The winter season is approaching fast and with it comes allergy troubles. This season is marked with people packing an extra handkerchief and packets of throat lozenges.

Most of us consider that allergies are triggered commonly during the spring season, although many people experience bouts of allergic reactions in winter as well. Winter allergies are easily confused with the common cold and flu, but there is a difference that separates the two.

During winter, it’s hard to avoid harmless substances, which set off our allergies as the air becomes moist and the temperature drops and hence we end up sneezing and coughing, so how do you protect yourself from it?

Keeping yourself allergy-free during winter

When you stay in the house to protect yourself from the winter wind and biting cold, it becomes difficult to stop tiny allergens that can activate your allergies. The best way to prevent allergy during winter is to know the irritants that cause reactions in the first place, and then slowly build a lifestyle while trying to avoid those substances.

Here are five common allergy triggers during winter to watch out.

Christmas Trees. It’s a shame that our favorite Christmas decor is out there to give us allergies. Some of the allergens can attach to Christmas trees and make their way into your home. In fact, pine tree itself can cause an asthma attack, so you might reconsider putting up a real pine tree. The best course of action is to use a fake tree to prevent attacks, but sometimes even a fake tree can cause problems with asthma.

Decorations. Decorations kept in attics, garages and other form of storage can also cause allergic reactions. It’s not just the material in the decorations, but because this item collects a year’s worth of dust before we use them again. To prevent this from happening, you need to thoroughly clean and dust all decorations before using them. After Christmas, seal them in tight plastic bags for yearly storage. However, if the dust is a severe allergen for any of the family members, even these measures will not guarantee an allergy-free winter.

Wood Burning. Crackling wood is music to our ears, especially during winter. However, smoke allergies are something that open fires can cause. The smoke from burning wood and the release of chemicals from the burning wood can irritate airways and cause asthma.

Cold Weather. The cold air itself is an infamous asthma trigger. Cold air can gradually dry out the lungs and activate the receptors that cause asthma attacks. The best air for asthma is moist, warm air, but if you live in a place that has all four seasons, you may not be able to avoid this all the time.

Still, if you will be exposed to cold air for extended periods of time, it is helpful to have rescue inhalers and allergy pills within easy reach. You may get these medications through your local Chemmart Pharmacy. Allergy doesn’t mean you can’t frolic in the snow, but you do have to be careful and observe your health while you battle Old Man Winter.

15 Companies Vie to Open Marijuana Dispensary Locations in CT

Nov 20, 2015

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Connecticut is allowing three medical marijuana dispensaries to open in the state. There have been 15 applicants and 19 proposed sites submitted so far.

There are fifteen applicants that have applied to open up marijuana dispensary locations in Connecticut. The state is currently only allowing three of the fifteen applicants to open up one location each.

One of the applicants is an affiliate company of one of the state’s producers of medical marijuana. Currently, there are only 4 products allowed in the state.

The applicant, Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions LLC, has applied to open up a dispensary in one of two locations: Milford or New Haven. Prime locations where it’s currently hard to find a marijuana dispensary, Connecticut has a growing number of patients that are seeking marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The president of the company, Thomas Schultz, made a statement saying that “the company wants to bring its scientific workings closer to clinical applications.” A company that develops products for patients, a dispensary makes sense for the brand. Producers normally do not have direct contact with the patients that need their cannabis, and if approved, it would allow the company to gather feedback and scientific data.

There have been 19 total locations proposed for new dispensaries in the state.

According to current documentation, Connecticut has six current dispensaries and is attempting to add 3 new locations in the state. There have been no official statements made as to whether all three locations will be approved, or if only 1 or 2 locations will be allowed.

There is a demand to add new locations, and the deadline to submit applications ended on September 25^th.

All of the applicants along with their business addresses was released on Friday by the Department of Consumer Protection. The agency did not release any of the proposed locations as of yet.

Claudette Carveth, a spokesperson for consumer protection, reaffirms that the selection process will remain thorough in an attempt to protect the fairness of the process and the integrity of the agency. Carveth asserts that the agency will not release any further information until their review has been completed.

The six licensed dispensaries in the state can be found in: Bristol, Branford, Hartford, Bethel, Uncasville and South Windsor. New Haven County would be a smart choice for a new location as the only dispensary in the entire county is located in Branford. Fairfield County also has just one dispensary.

Other applicants include Angelo DeFazio, who is the current owner of one dispensary in Hartford and is attempting to expand his operation and
dispensary menu.

The Reality of Drug Dependency in Successful People

Life Style

Nov 20, 2015

2020

In decades past, most people looked at drug addiction as a poor people problem. It was seen as a moral failing, part and parcel with the behaviors that led the individual to be disadvantaged in the first place. The past decade has revealed that this is anything of the case. Drug dependency and addiction issues strike regardless of income and education, and headlines of people with money getting hooked on junk are striking a chord with many in the United States. With opiates, stimulants, and barbiturates (and many more) available on the street and from a doctor near you, it’s not surprise that these drugs have found their way into the lives of people of privilege. It should also come as no surprise that these drugs, which were designed to help people cope with pain and anxiety after all, should serve as a coping mechanism for people through the common struggles of life.

That said, illicit drug use easily slips out of hand. Even for people who are prescribed drugs like these by a doctor, it’s easy for them to take an inappropriate role in an individual life. People with money can get addicted just like people without it, and chances are you know someone struggling with these issues, if you aren’t yourself.

If you or a loved one should find yourself in a situation like this, what do you do? Most people who are struggling with drug dependency aren’t able to change the situation themselves. This is because they are highly involved in the mechanisms that brought about the dependency in the first place. Maybe they have strong social ties to the people that bring these drugs into their life. Maybe drugs serve as a last-ditch attempt to find stability in life, after all other methods have been attempted. Maybe the compulsion for a substance is simply too strong, the drug having long since become part of an individual’s metabolism. Giving up might mean painful withdrawal, public embarrassment, and loss of personal productivity.

Still, something’s gotta give. That’s why professional detoxification services exist. This Luxury Alcohol Rehab Center in Orange County is one of the best examples in the business. They provide a service that you can’t manage on your own. For one, they take you out of the situation you are currently occupying, which has for months or years contributed to the dependency you now experience. This can be done with surprising secrecy, preserving your reputation and minimizing social fallout.

Recovery options can be tailor made for your needs. Time involved, nutrition requirements, exercise, counseling, socialization, privacy, it can all be made to work for you at a facility like this, all for a lot less money than you are probably imagining. This is what it takes to kick a drug sometimes. If you or someone you care about are worried that drug addiction may be ruining your life, please consider this option. While it may seem radical, it’s actually compassionate and healthy. It can give life back to someone struggling with drug dependency.

Fascinating facts about eye colours

Life Style

Nov 15, 2015

1704

Infographic Source : Lasereyesurgeryhub

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