Downing of US drone in Russian jet encounter prompts counterclaims of violations in the sky

A U.S. surveillance drone flies over the USS Coronado in the Pacific Ocean during an April 2021 drill. U.S. Navy/Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe

Ashley S. Deeks, University of Virginia

The details are disputed, but either way the result was the same: On March 14, 2023, a U.S. drone crashed into the Black Sea after an encounter with Russian aircraft.

According to the U.S. version of events, the unarmed MQ-9 surveillance drone was flying in international airspace when two Russian fighter jets dumped fuel on the drone before colliding with it in violation of international law.

The Russian Defense Ministry denied that its aircraft made contact with the U.S. drone. Instead, Russia asserted that the drone was flying in the direction of Russia’s borders with its transponder off, suggesting that Russia found the flight suspicious. In addition, Russia said, the U.S. drone violated the “temporary boundaries” that Russia had established for its operations against Ukraine and crashed on its own.

In light of Russia’s past misrepresentations about its military activities during its invasion of Ukraine, I view Russia’s assertions with skepticism. Moreover, as someone who studies international law and formerly served in the U.S. State Department as a lawyer advising on issues related to armed conflict, I see this episode as highlighting the right of countries to operate aircraft and drones in international airspace – even for the purposes of spying on another state.

Showing ‘due regard’

If the U.S. characterization of the facts is correct, then Russia did indeed violate international law by interfering with the U.S. drone.

Under Article 87 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Seas, the high seas – basically, waters that are not any country’s territorial sea or exclusive economic zone – are open to all states. And the right of a country to operate on the high seas includes the freedom of overflight.

The convention also states that the freedoms “shall be exercised by all states with due regard for the interests of other states in their exercise of the freedom of the high seas.”

The United States is not a party to the convention, which was signed in 1982 and currently has 168 parties, including Russia. Nevertheless, the U.S. recognizes many of its provisions as customary law; indeed, a key U.S. naval handbook recognizes that “the aircraft of all states are free to operate in international airspace without interference by other states.”

As such, Russia violated international law when it failed to act with “due regard” for the U.S. right to engage in freedom of overflight. In fact, based on the U.S. account, Russia directly interfered with that right. And it is presumably on this basis that the State Department spokesman called the drone’s downing a “brazen violation of international law.”

Any Russian concerns that the U.S. drone may have been spying on its military operations would not alter this conclusion. Freedom of overflight in international airspace includes the act of monitoring activities inside another state’s territory, as long as the monitoring occurs from within international airspace.

So it would not matter from the perspective of international law whether the United States was using the MQ-9 to spy on military activities inside Russia or Russian-controlled Crimea.

Aircraft in conflict zones

Russia appears to be taking the position that it was entitled to set up boundaries for its “special military operation” in Ukraine and that the United States disregarded those boundaries.

Russia may be referring here to a “maritime exclusion zone” that Russia set up in February 2022 to prohibit navigation in the northwest portion of the Black Sea.

In general, the United States considers such zones to be lawful if their purpose is to direct neutral ships and aircraft away from conflict areas – they can play an important role in reducing the risk that such vessels are mistakenly attacked. The United States itself established a “maritime safety zone” in the Mediterranean Sea in 2003 in connection with its invasion of Iraq.

However, neutral ships and aircraft do not become lawful targets merely because they enter such zones. Russia would only have had a reasonable claim to use force against, or interfere with, the U.S. drone if it posed an imminent threat of an armed attack or was otherwise a legitimate military target during an armed conflict. For this to be the case, the U.S. drone would have had to be taking direct part in hostilities, and it is known that the MQ-9 was unarmed.

On solid ground in the skies

Assuming the U.S. account is correct, it would not be the first time that a country has interfered with a U.S. surveillance aircraft in an unsafe manner and effectively downed it.

In 2001, a Chinese fighter jet bumped into a U.S. signals intelligence aircraft that was operating 70 miles from China’s Hainan Island. The U.S. aircraft was damaged in a way that forced it to make an emergency landing on Hainan, while the Chinese fighter jet itself crashed. At the time, the United States asserted that international law, including the “due regard” principle, permitted the United States to conduct surveillance flights in China’s exclusive economic zone, which the U.S. considered to be international airspace. China didn’t and detained the 24 U.S. crew members, demanding an apology from Washington. Since then, China has intercepted Australian and Canadian aircraft that were engaged in routine surveillance in international airspace, prompting complaints similar to those the United States is making now.

In both the China case and the recent Black Sea incident, the United States has taken a consistent, widely shared position on the use of international airspace. As such, I believe it is on solid ground in objecting to Russia’s actions as unlawful.

Ashley S. Deeks, Professor of Scholarly Research in Law, University of Virginia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

What exactly is the internet?

What exactly is the internet? A computer scientist explains what it is and how it came to be

The internet is used for a lot more than just surfing the web. Jonathan Kirn/The Image Bank via Getty Images

Fred Martin, UMass Lowell

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

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What exactly is the internet? Nora, age 8, Akron, Ohio

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The internet is a global collection of computers that know how to send messages to one another. Practically everything connected to the internet is indeed a computer – or has one “baked inside” of it.

In the early 1960s, computers were used only for special purposes, like scientific research. There weren’t a lot of them because they were large and expensive. One computer and its attached accessories could easily fill a room. To exchange data, people would plan time to work together, and one computer would connect to another with a telephone call.

The U.S. government wanted a network that would allow computers to communicate automatically and even if some telephone lines were cut off. Suppose you wanted to send a message from Computer A to Computer B in each of three different types of networks. The first is a network with one central computer connected to all the others as spokes. The second is a network of several of these hub-and-spoke networks with their hubs connected. The third is a network where every computer is connected to several others, forming a kind of mesh. Which do you think would be most reliable if some computers and links were damaged?

To get a message from A to B, which type of network is most likely to keep working if some of the lines are cut? Txelu Balboa via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

The first network is vulnerable, because if the central computer is lost, then none of the computers can communicate. The second network is vulnerable because if any of the hub computers are lost, the path between A and B is cut. But in the third network, many individual computers and links could be lost and there would still be a path to connect A and B. So the third network would be the most reliable.

Hot potatoes

An American engineer named Paul Baran worked on this problem at a company called the Rand Corp. In 1962, he published a new idea for computer networks, which he called “hot potato networking.”

In Baran’s idea, a message would be broken up into lots of little pieces – the potatoes. When Computer A wanted to sent its message to Computer B, it would individually send the little potatoes to a neighbor computer. That computer would pass it along in the right direction as soon as it could. To make sure messages were delivered quickly, the message pieces were treated as if they were hot, so you didn’t want them in your hands for too long.

The messages included a sequence number so when they arrived at Computer B, the final destination computer, that machine would know how to put them in the proper order to receive the full message.

Baran’s idea got implemented as the ARPANET. This network was the immediate predecessor to today’s internet.

Instead of hot potatoes, the system got a more formal name, which we still use: “packet switched networking.” The potato got renamed as a packet – a small piece of the full message.

Vinton Cerf, an American computer scientist, is known as one of the fathers of the internet. He contributed many essential ideas, including that the receiving computer could ask the sending computer for a packet that went missing – which they sometimes do. This has the name Transmission Control Protocol, or TCP.

A web of pages

Another important contributor was Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist. Berners-Lee was working at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. He wanted to create a system for his colleagues to better share their research results with one another.

Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in the early 1990s. CERN, CC BY-NC

Around 1990, Berners-Lee came up with the idea that a computer could host a collection of “pages,” each of which had text, images and links to other pages. He created an easy way for links to specify any computer – the concept of the URL, or Uniform Resource Locator.

Berners-Lee named the system the World Wide Web. He wrote the code for the first web browser, to view web pages, and web server, to deliver them. If you see a URL that includes “www” – that’s from the original name.

Berners-Lee may have been planning to use the web particularly to share text, images and files. But the earlier work on the internet made the web suitable for video and sound, too. YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are built using the same rules, or protocols, developed by Cerf and Berners-Lee.

Internet of Things

In the past 20 years, computers have become even more powerful and inexpensive. Now, a computer chip that can connect directly to the internet sells for US$5 – a lot less than today’s laptops and cellphones (about $300) or yesterday’s room-size computers ($1 million or more!).

Many newer appliances like this smart refrigerator are connected to the internet. Paul Stefaan Mooij/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

This lower cost has led to millions upon millions of devices connected to the internet. These devices include sensors. A smart thermostat monitors your house using a temperature sensor. A security camera keeps an eye on your front porch using an array of tiny light sensors.

These devices also include actuators – mechanisms that control activity in the physical world. For example, a smart thermostat can turn on and off the heating and cooling systems in your house.

Together, all these smart devices are called the Internet of Things, or IoT. The internet includes not only computers and phones, but all these IoT devices. You may have a smart refrigerator that has a camera inside of it. When it notices you’re out of milk, it will send a message to your cellphone, reminding you to buy more.

Just about everything is connected to the internet now.

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Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

Fred Martin, Professor of Computer Science, UMass Lowell

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

US regulators avoided a banking crisis by swift action following SVB’s collapse

US regulators avoided a banking crisis by swift action following SVB’s collapse – but the cracks it exposed continue to weaken the global financial system’s foundation

The cracks in the financial system are growing. John Sommer/E+ via Getty Images

D. Brian Blank, Mississippi State University and Brandy Hadley, Appalachian State University

U.S. regulators’ swift reaction to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and two other lenders partially restored calm to markets, but concerns remain over the stability of the global financial system.

The government on March 16, 2023, orchestrated a US$30 billion rescue of First Republic Bank by the nation’s largest financial institutions after the California lender’s shares plunged. Meanwhile in Europe, Credit Suisse borrowed about $54 billion from Switzerland’s central bank after investors, spooked by the U.S. bank failures, feared the Swiss lender would run out of money over its own financial woes.

To better understand what U.S. regulators did, the impact of their decisions and what problems remain, The Conversation turned to two finance scholars, Brian Blank of Mississippi State and Brandy Hadley of Appalachian State.

What did US regulators do?

The program introduced by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve on March 12, 2023, essentially amounts to life insurance for U.S. banks.

The biggest concern from the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank on March 10, as well as Signature Bank two days later, was the tens of billions of dollars in deposits that would otherwise go uninsured. While the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000, anything above that is at risk of loss in the event of a bank failure.

So the FDIC agreed to provide a backstop for all SVB and Signature depositors no matter how much they had deposited. And the Fed created a new lending facility to protect other small- to medium-size banks from the same issues that caused bank runs at SVB and Signature.

Notably, this protection for depositors does not extend to management, lenders or investors, including many institutional investors, pensions and large index funds. In addition, the program will be funded by an FDIC fund that comes from a tax on member banks. Taxpayer dollars aren’t at stake, Congress approval wasn’t required and, most importantly, only customers’ claims are protected. This is why the Biden administration insists this is not a bailout – even though some critics call it that.

Nonetheless, the government did intervene to stop the fallout from failing banks, even if done differently than in the past.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank touched off anxiety about the entire banking sector. AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy

Why did the government act so quickly?

When the bank run on SVB’s deposits began on March 8, the lender initially sought to find a buyer. When that failed, regulators stepped in quickly to limit the risk to the financial system.

This was particularly important given that banks rely heavily on trust, and a loss of depositor faith in other mid-size banks could be extremely harmful.

But besides posing a systemic financial risk as the 16th-largest U.S. lender, the failure of SVB also threatened the health of the tech sector.

Close to half of U.S. startups backed by venture capital firms, including tens of thousands of technology and health care companies, were customers at SVB. The bank’s failure would have made it hard for many of them to pay their workers or take out loans that keep businesses running.

What are the problems of this approach?

One concern is something economists call moral hazard.

U.S. regulators were basically doing what governments have done to prevent banking crises since at least the 19th century: provide liquidity. That is, according to the academic theory established by Economist magazine founder Walter Bagehot in 1873, central banks should lend freely to lenders during a financial crisis to prevent a panic and restore confidence in the system.

But doing this could create a moral hazard by potentially encouraging risky behavior by banks, which may come to believe they will always be bailed out. This dilemma highlights the challenge of balancing the need for financial stability with the desire to avoid creating perverse incentives.

With the SVB rescue, regulators likely hope to avoid this by focusing protection efforts on depositors – not equity or debt investors.

Another problem is that the rescue treats the symptoms more than the root causes.

The source of SVB’s downfall was that it invested a significant chunk of its assets in Treasury securities that lost value as the Fed hiked rates in 2022. SVB sold $21 billion worth of these bonds at a loss of $1.8 billion in order to cover customer deposit withdrawals. This then prompted a stampede of clients to yank their mostly uninsured deposits.

But despite the depositor protection offered by the new program, many more banks still face asset-liability mismatches – that is, short-term deposits being invested in longer-term securities – that will not go away as a result of the program. Banks reported $620 billion of these unrealized losses as of December 2022.

Some other banks – such as Signature and Silvergate Capital, which also recently failed – are similar to SVB, with concentrated business in risky sectors like venture capital, technology or cryptocurrencies.

How big of a concern is the root of the problem?

The good news is that few banks are likely to have the same combination of unrealized losses, concentrated deposits and default risk that are likely to result in withdrawals as fast as what happened at SVB and Signature.

Critically, large and mid-size banks are sufficiently regulated, diversified, hedged and capitalized to prevent similar problems, especially given the very different balance sheet compositions and asset liability management strategies.

But the risks are big, as the Fed’s aggressive campaign to raise interest rates could potentially make things worse. Inflation remains elevated, which would normally lead the U.S. central bank to continue to drive up rates. The nascent concern about stabilizing the financial sector at the same time as taming inflation means the Fed has its work cut out for it.

So is the financial system safe?

Unfortunately, not yet.

While the crisis has been averted for now by limiting the risk of another bank run, the financial system – as well as the modestly strong U.S. economy – is showing cracks and fragility.

The recent troubles at Credit Suisse are a stark reminder of how quickly things can spiral out of control.

Credit Suisse shares have been under pressure for several years because of its own unique problems, including scandals and a closely knit customer base that makes it more vulnerable to contagion. But the recent U.S. bank failures are causing broader panic among banks globally, which prompted the Swiss National Bank – Switzerland’s equivalent of the Fed – to provide Credit Suisse a huge lifeline.

There’s no reason to think that the financial system is in serious trouble – for now – but the risks of more jitters have increased, putting more pressure on central banks, including the Fed, to roll back their inflation-fighting plans. Of course, doing so can unleash other risks – such as prices once again spiraling out of control.

All told, it’s a challenging balancing act, requiring careful precision and swift action to avoid a painful fall.

D. Brian Blank, Assistant Professor of Finance, Mississippi State University and Brandy Hadley, Associate Professor of Finance and the David A. Thompson Distinguished Scholar in Applied Investments, Appalachian State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Wake Up Refreshed

Simple ways to begin your morning

Ready, set, go. Just as you would set off at the starting line of a race, this hectic pace is how mornings begin for many men and women.

Instead of waking with dread to face another hectic morning, consider these tips for a healthier way to ease into your daily rituals. While these activities may require you to allow extra time, you may be pleased with the productive results.

Meditate. A practice that has been around for thousands of years may still be one of the best stress busters for hurried mornings. To start, find a place in your home that is free of noise and distraction. Practice sitting still, with eyes closed, and focus only on your breathing. Using deep, controlled breaths, try to steer your thoughts away from negative and stress-inducing thoughts.

Stretch. While the most health-conscious person may opt for a morning sweat-a-thon, working in some stretches can also be beneficial. When you awake, think about oft-used muscles and extend each one for 15-30 seconds.

Activate. Give your brain some fuel in the morning while also doing something nice for your mind. For example, journaling is a gentle way to ease into your morning and get your brain firing. If you can’t think of a topic, simply write down a few affirmations for the day, revisit a pleasant memory from your past or scribble down a goal for the week. Journaling can be an uplifting way to engage the mind and express gratitude for the day ahead.

Find more tips for starting your day on the right foot at eLivingToday.com.

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eLivingToday.com

3 Ingredients to A Successful Business

BURTON CAMPERS

     RVs. Recreation Vehicles. To some it is a luxury and to others it is a home. This is something Burton Campers has always understood about customer service. In business for almost 50 years, and happily serving Shelby County for more than 40 years. They started as an RV dealership in Jasper and then a few years later moved their operation to Calera right off of Interstate 65. 

     You can’t miss the big blue building with a gigantic billboard right off exit 231. Now, Burton Campers is an exclusive Jayco dealer where they once sold several other brands. Over the years the one thing that hasn't wavered, is the quality that is Jayco. RVs have come a long way in the last 40 years. From small pop-up style campers to fully loaded camping homes. Standard options on an RV today were a luxury several years ago. At the campsite, you no longer have to miss the big game. Take the day to go fishing and then you come back to your RV to sit in your electric recliner chair with heated seats and watch your favorite football team on your smart tv with your family. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Burton Campers has been riding the wave of camping for a long time. 

     They have seen years of recession as well as the years of huge progress. When Covid hit, jobs were lost, money was tight, and everyone thought the first to go would be luxury purchases including RVs. What we didn’t expect is the RV market to burst wide open. People who had never considered buying before were now waiting in line at the door for their new RV. What changed the market for camping? In the midst of the pandemic, everyone was worried about traveling for work and vacation. We were all locked in our homes for months, years for some, only able to leave for work and essential errands. But people had lives they wanted to live and vacations they didn't want to cancel. Traveling became a dangerous game. 

    One contaminated hotel room led to weeks in bed and confinement and exposure to loved ones. It wasn’t long before people were looking for options to keep some normalcy in their lives and everyone realized that RVs were the answer they were looking for. You could travel with the safety and peace of mind that you were limiting your exposure to the public. The calls started pouring in, RV dealerships started filling up and inventory slowly started to dwindle. That trip to the beach was enjoyed from the RV park instead of the condo. Careers that involve traveling could still go to work. Before we knew it, everyone was running out of inventory. We had wait lists of customers expecting their camper to come in any day. Some even waited months for the perfect RV because options were far and few in between. At one point, Burton Campers had a total of 15 RVs to choose from on their lot. How did they stay in business with so little inventory and such a high demand? 

    Customer service. RVs are for everyone, from camping in, to living in, to vacationing in. They will help you find the perfect RV no matter your needs without the pressure. Take a stroll around their lot and see for yourself the Burton Campers difference. Everyday Burton Campers goes the extra mile for their customers, even the ones who don’t buy. And it starts with great leadership. Mickey Price has been the sales manager at Burton Campers for 15 years. 

    They have some customers who are buying their sixth RV from them because they treat them like family and friends. Mickey takes extra care in remembering everyone who sits in his office whether they are looking to buy, consign or just visit. Yes, you read that correctly, just visit. Some customers feel so much like family they regularly stop in for a visit with Mickey and he takes the time with each and every person that sits in front of him. “We just believe in doing the right thing,” Mickey always says. Jody Garner, the general manager, regularly meets with staff to form solutions and work with team members one on one. 

     He has worked in our PDI department, service department, parts department and now regularly in our sales department. He wanted to learn what it was like to do each job, so he could better help Burton Campers and its employees succeed. He enjoys meeting new customers and helping in any way that he can. This past year, in October 2022, Burton Campers ran in a charity run for Magic Moments and Jody was there right alongside other employees running to the finish line. But great leadership doesn’t end there. Burton Campers is a family owned and operated business. 

     The owner, Lisa Burton, and her daughter, Laurie Garner, are there every day working alongside other employees making sure everyone is working cohesively. It is not unusual to see Lisa or Laurie pass through the sales office to check on things or to visit. No one tenses up and mutters, “the boss is coming!” when they are on their way. It’s an environment where everyone feels like family. Several of their employees have been with Burton Campers so long because of this. One employee, Carol Moore, has been with Burton Campers for 35 years as a sales associate and plans to retire with the company. The finance manager, Loray Lamar, has been with them for 16 years. If you bring your RV in for service, you probably know Lyle Thomas, the long-standing service manager that has been with the company almost as long as it has been open in Calera. 

     It speaks volumes for a company to have so many long-standing employees. It's what sets them apart from other RV dealerships. The secret is in the sauce. Burton Campers is an example of if you take care of your employees, your employees will take care of you. And that is exactly what they have done. Excellent customer service, happy employees and great leadership is the Burton Campers formula to a successful business that will withstand through the eb and flow of any market. And now Burton Campers sits with over 150 campers on their lot ready to take on the next year. 

 Written By Alexis Haynes

Protecting Children in a Digital Age

Keeping a watchful eye on your kids requires an increasing level of tech savvy many parents find intimidating. Not only are your kids vulnerable to bad actors online, but your family’s personal information could be at risk, as well.

Learn how to protect your children and family in this digital age with these tips:

Elementary-Age Children

• Encourage open communication. Have conversations about what your kids see and do online and talk with them about potential dangers. Avoid lecturing in favor of an open exchange of information.

• Make their inherent interest in privacy work in your favor. Kids in this age group, particularly toward the middle school years, understand the concept of privacy and value it immensely. Use that context to help them understand what goes online is there to stay. Talk about what kinds of information should always be kept private, including identifying details like addresses and social security numbers.

• Stay on alert. Not all apps are completely safe (even the ones you can access from trusted stores) and not all filters are foolproof. Keep close tabs on what your kids are downloading by reading comments and reviews, and regularly monitoring what kind of content they see.

Middle School and High School Kids

• Continue talking about privacy. You can never have too many conversations about privacy. What seems like harmless sharing on social media can be quite revealing. For example, frequent posts about visits to a favorite store or restaurant can allow a predator to begin tracking behavior patterns that make your child a target. It’s also important for kids to understand how their privacy settings work. For example, settings that allow exposure to friends of friends make their visibility to strangers much broader than they may realize.

• Help manage their online reputation. Behaviors that once resulted in a day or two of hallway chatter can now live forever. Documenting mischief online is only fun until it spills over into real life and everyone sees those mistakes in full color – including prospective future employers.

• Be clear about your position on bullying. From the safe distance of a screen, it’s easier for kids (and adults) to say things they’d never say in person. Teach your kids to handle problems constructively offline and avoid engaging in attacks on others through social media, email and other platforms.

College Students

• Reinforce the risks. Once they’re on their own, kids may feel more liberated to make their own choices online. However, college students are easy prey for identity theft and worse. Remind them what’s at stake if they fail to protect their identity and private information, like where they live and what they do on a regular basis.

• Teach smart practices. With all the independence that comes with college life, this is an ideal time for your student to take personal responsibility for his or her online security, including learning about virus protection, updating software, avoiding scams and backing up data.

If you’re looking for more practical advice for everyday family matters, visit eLivingtoday.com.

 

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Family Features

Top 5 Smartphone Features You Can’t Live Without

     Smartphones are our lifeline – we use them to connect us to just about everything and everyone in our world. Americans check their phones an average of 344 times a day — once every four minutes — according to a 2022 Review.org survey. But when was the last time you upgraded your phone? If it’s been more than two years, you may be missing out on some of the latest tech upgrades. Here are five must-have features to consider when shopping for a new smartphone: 

    Battery Life: When it comes to battery life, you may not realize what you’ve been missing out on until you start using your new phone.

      

    A decade ago, smartphone battery capacity ranged from 1560mAh to 3200mAh, according to findings from Android Authority. Today, that capacity typically ranges from 4000mAh to 5000mAh, with some batteries as large as 6000mAh. And, the latest development of USB-C ports has allowed for faster charging capabilities, charging a near dead phone in just 30 minutes. Look for phones with fast charging technology, from 15W to 20W, and wireless charging options. Phone Storage: Storage matters, especially if you’re a business owner, gaming enthusiast or social media influencer. 

     

     Read-Only Memory (ROM), the internal main storage on your phone, allows you to store media, files and games, and ranges anywhere from 64GB to 128GB, even 256GB and higher in some of the latest models. Random Access Memory (RAM) is used for short-term data like apps, photos and videos. The more RAM you have, the more multitasking you can do. When purchasing a new phone, look for at least 6GB to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM. 

    Camera: Phones have nearly replaced traditional cameras, with 90% of people using only their smartphones to take photos versus digital cameras, according to 3D Insider. If you’re an avid photo taker, make sure your new phone features editing software, a variety of camera lenses, like ultra-wide and telephoto, and special functions like night mode to optimize lighting. 

     Network: How you stay connected is an important decision. The latest deals can help you select a phone and wireless provider. For example, Samsung just unveiled its latest Galaxy S23 lineup, and T-Mobile is the only provider that can light up 5G standalone three-carrier aggregation, unleashing faster speeds and better responsiveness for some of the newest 5G smartphones – 16% faster speeds on average than phones without it. And switching to what studies have shown is America's largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network comes with perks. 

    New customers can get $200 off via a virtual prepaid card (allow 8 weeks) for each line they switch to T-Mobile ­– that’s $800 off for a family of four. And paired with T-Mobile’s offer to save $800 on the new Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup via bill credits when they choose the Magenta Max plan, that family gets four new phones and saves a total of $4000. To learn more about Samsung’s latest Galaxy S23 Series lineup, visit www.t-mobile.com/cell-phones/brand/samsung. 

     Security: Gone are the days of remembering a PIN or typing in a password to safely access your phone’s data. Biometric security features like fingerprint, facial or voice recognition are crucial for keeping your private data secure. Most new smartphones feature in-display fingerprint screening and facial recognition, and more institutions like online banking apps are using this method now over passwords. Other important deciding factors include overall phone display, size and water resistance. Priorities may vary from person to person, but selecting what’s important for your new smartphone is something only you can determine.

River Cruises Offer Exploration, Comfort

Travel for pure enjoyment is on the rise, so this may be your year to plan the ultimate dream vacation.

According to Sports and Leisure Research, 80% of people surveyed believe a vacation does wonders for mental health and travel is a top spending priority in the coming year. The survey indicated travelers want to immerse themselves in unique experiences, including new cultures, foods and people.

For those who delight in exploring entire regions, one downfall can be the burden of packing and unpacking at each new destination. Taking your accommodations with you is a practical alternative for curious travelers.

River voyages, for example, allow travelers to unpack once and visit multiple destinations in one seamless journey, from major European cities to quaint towns and villages. These destination-focused journeys offer experienced travelers the opportunity to explore science, history and cuisine with culturally enriching itineraries on the world’s great waterways.

If an intimate, relaxed journey is your ideal getaway, you may want to consider the revolutionary Viking Longships. These state-of-the-art river ships are engineered with guests’ comfort and exploration in mind.

Sailing Europe’s storied rivers, the award-winning fleet of identical longships showcase innovative engineering, streamlined Scandinavian design and understated elegance. River ships are also small enough – hosting 190 guests – to dock in the heart of popular destinations, making it easy to explore.

The voyages range from 8-23 days with itineraries featuring Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers.

Known as travel experiences for “The Thinking Person,” each Viking journey includes a shore excursion in every port and an onboard and onshore enrichment program that provides deep immersion in the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and carefully selected guest lecturers. Enjoy shore excursions that provide historical tours and visits to unique haunts where you can experience some of the local culture, regional foods and everyday life.

On a Viking Longship, you can expect to relax in spacious public areas, including wide-open sun decks with ever-changing views. The ships feature spacious staterooms in a variety of categories, including true two-room suites with full-size verandas.

Additional ship highlights include al fresco dining on an indoor-outdoor terrace and onboard amenities including a restaurant, bar, lounge and library. Inclusive fares that cover your port taxes and fees also mean you can enjoy beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner; specialty coffees, teas; bottled water; ground transfers; and more.

Chart your next adventure at viking.com.

 

SOURCE:
Viking River Cruises

Dishing Out the Facts on Good Fats

For those seeking to be more health-conscious, the idea of eating nutritiously seems simple. However, understanding what’s truly “good for you” can sometimes be confusing.

In honor of National Nutrition Month and Healthy Fats Day in March, Avocados From Mexico is sharing how avocados – a super good food and source of good fats and several vitamins – make everything better. Avocados From Mexico conducted a survey and found that while 76% of respondents believe fat is an essential component of a healthy diet, less than one-third are confident they know why it’s important to have “good fats” in their diets.

For starters, according to the survey, nearly half of Americans didn’t realize foods with good fats, like avocados, can help with weight management. However, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in avocados can lower the risk of becoming overweight, according to research published in “Nutrients.”

“Most people are aware of the Mediterranean Diet, but nearly half (40%) of survey respondents didn’t realize that this eating pattern does not limit fat coming from plantsources like avocados,” said nutrition expert and registered dietitianBarbara Ruhs. “These types of unsaturated good fats are also recommended by the American Heart Association for heart health. Eating avocados in place of foods containing saturated fat is an easy and delicious way to approach healthy eating.”

Virtually the only fresh fruit with good fats, avocados can help people meet both good fat and fruit and vegetable recommendations in the same bite with approximately 6 grams of good fats per serving (one-third of a medium avocado). They are nutrient-dense, making avocados a superfood with super benefits. Avocados are also free of cholesterol and sodium and have nearly 20 vitamins and minerals.

Another finding from the survey is that while people believe fat is essential to a healthy diet, one-third of survey respondents believe saturated and trans fats are associated with health benefits, indicating confusion about the various types of fats. Many Americans need to balance their overall fat intake by reducing “bad” or saturated fat intake and increasing “good” or unsaturated (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) fat intake. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats can help reduce LDL, or bad cholesterol levels.

Dietary fat helps the body absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are fat soluble, which means they can only be absorbed by the body with the help of fats. Per one-third of a medium avocado (50 grams), avocados contribute 6 grams of unsaturated fats, which are known to be essential for normal growth and development of the central nervous system and brain.

Make good fats a part of your next trip to the grocery store with this avocado-inspired Harvest Bowl Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette certified by the American Heart Association.

To find more nutritional facts and figures, along with recipes featuring the superfood, visit AvocadosFromMexico.com.

Harvest Bowl Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Servings: 8

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 Avocado From Mexico, diced
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 2 tablespoons shallots, minced
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 tablespoons water

Salad:

• 2 Avocados From Mexico, diced
• 2 sweet potatoes, roasted and diced
• 2 cups quinoa, cooked
• 2 cups arugula
• 2 cups kale
• 1 cup Brussels sprouts petals, roasted
• 2 Honeycrisp apples, diced
• 2 tablespoons roasted pecans, unsalted
• 2 tablespoons roasted pepitas, unsalted
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries

1. To make balsamic vinaigrette: In food processor, process avocado, avocado oil, shallots, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, honey and water to smooth consistency. Set aside.
2. To make salad: In large bowl, combine avocados, sweet potatoes, quinoa, arugula, kale, Brussels sprouts petals, apples, pecans, pepitas and dried cranberries. Pour balsamic vinaigrette over salad mixture.
3. Toss salad to coat. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Nutritional information per serving: 390 calories; 16 g total fat; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g cholesterol; 370 mg sodium; 55 g total carbohydrates; 11 g dietary fiber; 12 g sugar; 15 g protein.

 

SOURCE:
Avocados From Mexico

10 Affordable Ideas to Boost Curb Appeal

Your home’s first big impression is its curb appeal, so if your place is in need of some sprucing up, you may wonder how you can make some updates without breaking the bank.

These 10 ideas are easy on budgets, but they can also make a big impact on your home’s exterior image.

1. Paint your front door. As long as your front door is in good condition, there’s no need to replace it completely. A fresh coat of paint can instantly update your home’s facade. Go bold or stick with a classic hue – it’s all up to you.
2. Dress up the windows. Add character and charm by enhancing your front windows. You might add wooden shutters, window box planters or both. Also look at the trim around the windows. If it’s chipped and peeling, adding a fresh coat of paint doesn’t just look nice, it can protect your windows from damage, too.
3. Clean up flower beds. An unkempt flower bed can drag down an otherwise stunning home. Keep beds tidy and vegetation trimmed, even during the offseason. Watch for weeds and replenish mulch or rock ground cover as needed to keep the beds looking healthy and inviting.
4. Install new lighting. Replacing outdated light fixtures can give your exterior an instant upgrade. There’s no right or wrong style; just choose a color and look that matches the rest of your design.
5. Replace worn welcome mats. A cheerful mat at your front door can be an inviting sight for visitors, but those mats inevitably wear with time, and what was once bright and charming becomes dingy and dull. A new mat can help bring back that cheery entry you once cherished.
6. Pressure wash the drive and walk. Over time, driveways and sidewalks collect an incredible amount of grime. Pressure washing not only eliminates the filth, but the clean surfaces also add to your home’s visual appeal.
7. Add new vegetation. Landscaping is a relatively inexpensive way to introduce more personality to a yard. Aim for a mix of pretty and practical, such as some low flowering bushes and some trees or bushes that offer privacy and shade.
8. Keep up with basic maintenance. When your home is in poor repair, it shows. Pay attention to bent or rusting gutters, imperfections in the roof and other maintenance matters that aren’t just aesthetic; left unrepaired, they can also result in major damage.
9. Pay attention to details. Functional items like the mailbox might not seem like much of a design element, but these small details can be a big distraction if they’re not in good condition. Update or replace as needed to keep your aesthetic in sync.
10. Add seasonal decor. There’s no need to go all out for every occasion, but some timely decorations that celebrate the holiday or season can make your entry fun and festive. Coordinate wreaths, planters, signs and other accent pieces for a cohesive look that says, “come on in.”

Find more affordable ideas for upgrading your home and garden at eLivingtoday.com.

 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:
Family Features

Finding joy in the darkness: A teenage cancer patient's story of hope, family and an amazing trip

Emma Frommeyer is a typical teenager in so many ways. She loves music, makeup and hanging out with friends. She's also an incredibly smart honor roll student, however, there is one thing that sets her apart from most teenagers ... Emma has a brain tumor and is fighting for her life. "She called me one day to come get her from school, which is not her," said Emma's mother, Dacia Wood. "Three hours later doctors told us she had a tumor. Tears were running down my face, but she laughed and said, 'I knew it.'" Nine days after her 13th birthday, Emma was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer (group 3 medulloblastoma). Since then, her life has revolved around hospitals, going through radiation, and a lot of therapy, but Emma has faced these challenges with grace and joy. She had successful surgery to resect the tumor, then went to inpatient rehab to build her strength and endurance. She is currently going through a year of IV chemotherapy. "We always say that I was probably the best one (in her family) to get cancer," said Emma. "I made it good. The only time it was sad was when I would get emotional or upset about it. Other than that, it was a fun time. It's brought me closer to my family, especially my mom and my aunt. We're always together and we laugh a lot." If ever there was proof of every storm cloud having a silver lining, Emma's fight is it. She has spent these last few years battling through adversity, all the while remaining positive and optimistic. And this has allowed her to build an unbreakable connection with her mother. The time spent traveling to and from the hospital for treatment provided opportunities for the two of them to talk, laugh and sometimes cry. These regular trips, however, came with a financial cost as gas prices hit record highs. This is where the Bear Fund became an invaluable part of team Emma. "It was 50 miles one way, back and forth each time, and she had 30 visits," said Wood. "That's 100 miles. And gas, of course, is expensive. The Bear Fund stepped in by providing gas cards, which was a huge help. We wanted to focus on Emma's treatment, so not having to worry about gas to get her to her appointments was a big deal for us." The Bear Fund was founded by Heather and Nick Baker after their youngest child, Barrett ("Bear"), was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer. During that time, the couple saw first-hand the economic challenges some families on the hospital floors were facing. They decided they wanted to help, so they established The Bear Fund, in partnership with the Cancer Support Community, to provide financial support and navigation services to families with children diagnosed with cancer. "We walked by rooms to see children having to go through treatment or recover from surgery alone, and we realized there's got to be something we can do to help," said Heather Baker. "Parents shouldn't have to worry about missing work, or the cost to find childcare for their other children, so they can be with their kids during treatment. We wanted to do what we could with the help of amazing donors to make this tough journey just a little bit easier." Among the Bear Fund's many partners is California-based Mercury Insurance, and their philanthropic initiative, Mercury Cares. The company was introduced to Emma and her incredible story through the Bear Fund and the Cancer Support Community and decided to give Emma an experience to remember. "Mercury Cares partners with like-minded organizations that are committed to providing valuable services to the customers and communities we help protect," said Erik Thompson, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Mercury Insurance. "We were struck by Emma's courage and the unwavering support she received from her family, so we wanted to give them something so they could step away from being Emma the cancer patient. We wanted her to enjoy an experience as Emma, the 13-year-old girl who loves her family." Since her diagnosis, Emma hasn't had the opportunity to do the things many 13-year-olds are able to do. To remedy that, Mercury Cares gifted Emma and her family the trip of a lifetime, sending the entire family to Southern California, away from hospitals and treatments, so they could spend time together creating memories. "Mercury showed how much they care when they gifted a dream trip to Los Angeles so Emma could see one of her favorite music artists and enjoy some beach time with her family," said Tara Conner, Emma's aunt. "She'd never seen the ocean, and we are so thankful for the joy that it's brought." Emma's story is captured in a series of videos, allowing everyone to get to know this amazing young woman and watch her journey, as she shares her story to inspire and empower others. "I always wanted to have a close relationship with my family, so when I finally got that, I was really happy," said Emma.

A Hoppy Easter Cake

(Culinary.net) Warmer days at the start of spring mean Easter is almost here, and the big bunny himself will be hopping around in no time delivering goodies.

This Easter, celebrate with your loved ones with a delicious and colorful Easter Bunny Butt Cake. It can bring smiles and laughter while putting everyone in a light, joyful mood.

This cake is fun and bright with a fluffy, moist interior. Complete with chocolate candy eggs, shredded coconut and chocolate chips for little bunny toes, this recipe goes all out to paint a picture of the Easter bunny.

Start by combining whole eggs, egg whites, cream of coconut, crushed pineapple, coconut extract and vanilla extract.

In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Then add butter gradually, 6 tablespoons at a time, for a total of 12 tablespoons.

Add dry mixture to a mixing bowl then add egg mixture half at a time. Beat until cake batter is formed.

Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake 18-20 minutes. The remaining batter goes into an oven-safe bowl to bake for 1 hour, 40 minutes.

The buttercream frosting is made with powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla extract and coconut extract.

Assemble the cake using pretzel sticks to blend it together to make the bunny butt shape. Frost the cake and spread shredded coconut over it to create a textured appearance. Stick chocolate chips on the bunny’s feet to create toes. Place your favorite Easter or bunny candies around the cake for extra garnish.

This cake is worth every step. It’s delicious and as cute as can be, plus it’s perfect for dessert after a big Easter dinner.

Find more creative and scrumptious holiday recipes at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Easter Bunny Butt Cake

Servings: 10-12

•             Nonstick cooking spray
• 2          eggs, plus 4 egg whites, at room temperature
• 3/4       cup cream of coconut
• 1/2       cup crushed pineapple, drained
• 2          teaspoons coconut extract
• 1          teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4    cups flour
• 1          cup sugar
• 2          teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2       teaspoon salt
• 12        tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

Buttercream Frosting:

• 3          cups powdered sugar
• 2          sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 3          tablespoons milk
• 1          teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2       teaspoon coconut extract

• 4          thin pretzel sticks
• 1          bag (10 ounces) sweetened shredded coconut
• 8          drops green food coloring
• 2          large round chocolate candy melts
• 6          chocolate chips
• mini candy-coated chocolate eggs, for garnish

1. Heat oven to 325 F.
2. Line muffin pan with four paper liners. Spray oven-safe glass bowl with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In large bowl, whisk eggs, egg whites, cream of coconut, pineapple, coconut extract and vanilla extract until combined.
4. In food processor, pulse flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until combined. Add 6 tablespoons butter. Pulse until combined. Add remaining butter. Pulse until coarse meal forms.
5. In large mixing bowl, add coarse flour butter meal. Add half of egg mixture. Beat 1-2 minutes. Add remaining egg mixture; beat until combined.
6. Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until done. Cool completely.
7. Pour remaining batter into prepared oven-safe bowl. Bake 1 hour, 40 minutes, or until done. Cool completely.
8. To make buttercream frosting: In large bowl, add powdered sugar and butter; beat until fluffy. Add milk, vanilla extract and coconut extract; beat until creamy.
9. Turn bowl upside-down on cake stand until cake removes from bowl. If cake needs leveled, turn cake over and trim to flatten. Frost cake.
10. Remove wrappers from cupcakes. Using two pretzel sticks, press into base of cupcakes
11. and anchor to bottom rim of bowl cake to create bunny feet. Frost feet.
12. Take third cupcake and cut muffin top off. Cut muffin top in half. Using one pretzel stick, anchor one muffin top half at bottom of full cupcake to form toes. Repeat with second muffin top half for other foot. Frost toes.
13. Attach final cupcake with remaining pretzel stick to butt area of cake to make tail. Frost tail.
14. Apply 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut all over cake. Press chocolate candy melts into bottoms of bunny feet to resemble foot pads. Add chocolate chips to resemble pads for toes.
15. Place remaining coconut in plastic bag. Add green food coloring. Toss in bag until coconut is colored. Spread around base of cake for grass. Decorate grass with chocolate eggs.

Tips: Spoon flour into dry measuring cup and level off excess. Scooping directly from bag compacts flour, resulting in dry baked goods. Add 1 tablespoon additional milk if frosting is too stiff. Keep adding until desired consistency.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

What Women Need to Know About Stroke Risks

It may not be widely known that women face unique risk factors for stroke throughout their lifetime. Things like pregnancy, preeclampsia and chronic stress can increase the risk for high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke.

Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 1 in 5 women will have a stroke. However, a large majority of strokes can be prevented.

Caring for yourself by understanding your risk factors can help reduce your risk for stroke and provide a better quality of life. Start managing your stroke risk with these tips from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association:

Monitor Your Blood Pressure
The first step you can take in reducing your risk for stroke is knowing your blood pressure and keeping it in a healthy range. High blood pressure is the No. 1 preventable cause of stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

The best way to know your blood pressure is to have it measured at least once per year by a health care professional and regularly monitor it at home then discuss the numbers with a doctor. For most people, a normal blood pressure should be 120/80 mm HG or less.

In addition to properly monitoring blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, eating healthfully and reducing or eliminating alcohol and tobacco usage can help control blood pressure. If you do develop high blood pressure, work with a health care professional on a plan to help manage it.

Plan for Pregnancy
In the United States, high blood pressure during pregnancy is becoming more common, according to the CDC, and medical conditions including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and blood clots during pregnancy all increase stroke risk during and immediately following a pregnancy.

Managing conditions like high blood pressure before getting pregnant helps keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy and beyond. In addition, your health during and immediately after a pregnancy can shape the lifelong health of you and your child. If you’re planning to become pregnant or are currently pregnant, it’s important to regularly monitor your blood pressure.

Take Care of Your Mental Health
Some stress is unavoidable but constant stress is not healthy. Chronic or constant stress may lead to high blood pressure and other unhealthy behavior choices, which can increase risk for stroke.

Based on findings in a Stress in America 2020 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, the top sources of stress are money, work, family responsibilities and health concerns. Managing your stress and blood pressure can improve your overall health and well-being. Reclaim control of your schedule and build in time to invest in your health. Find 10 minutes every day to do something for you, like listening to music, meditating or going for a walk.

Learn the Warning Signs
A stroke can happen to anyone at any point in life. Immediate treatment may help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Learn how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T:

• Face drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
• Arm weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.”
• Time to call 911 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Talk to your doctor about ways to improve your well-being and help prevent stroke. Find more wellness tips at stroke.org.

 

 

SOURCE:
American Stroke Association

5 pasos para controlar adecuadamente la presión arterial

Casi la mitad de los adultos estadounidenses tienen presión arterial alta o hipertensión, según los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades. De ellos, alrededor del 75% no lo tienen bajo control, y es posible que muchos ni siquiera se den cuenta de que lo tienen a menos que experimenten otras complicaciones.

De hecho, la hipertensión es una de las principales causas y un factor de riesgo controlable de enfermedades cardíacas y accidentes cerebrovasculares, así como de otros problemas, como insuficiencia renal, pérdida de la visión y problemas sexuales. Sin embargo, la Asociación Americana del Corazón recomienda seguir estos sencillos pasos para ayudar a controlar sus niveles y manejar los riesgos.

1. Conozca sus números

En la mayoría de los casos, la presión arterial normal es de 120/80 mm HG o menos. Las lecturas consistentemente superiores a 130/80 se consideran presión arterial alta. Pida a un profesional de la salud que le mida la presión arterial al menos una vez al año y contrólela regularmente en su casa con un monitor validado y luego discuta las lecturas con su médico. Obtener lecturas precisas puede ayudar a garantizar el tratamiento más adecuado en caso de que surja algún problema.

2. Mantenga un peso saludable

Si tiene sobrepeso u obesidad, tiene un mayor riesgo de hipertensión. Perder solo el 3-5% de su peso corporal puede ayudar a mejorar sus números. Hay una gran cantidad de planes y programas disponibles que pueden ayudar con la pérdida de peso, y tomar medidas positivas con un amigo o familiar puede ayudar con la motivación.

3. Manténgase activo

Para maximizar los beneficios para la salud y ayudar a mantener la presión arterial en el rango normal, la Asociación Americana del Corazón recomienda que los adultos realicen al menos 150 minutos por semana de actividad moderada, 75 minutos de actividad intensa o una combinación de ambas. Pruebe actividades como caminar a paso ligero, nadar, montar en bicicleta o bailar. Por ejemplo, la campaña Get Down with Your Blood Pressure usa música y baile para ayudar a recordar los cuatro sencillos pasos para autocontrolarse la presión arterial:

• Tómelo: tome su dispositivo de autocontrol de la presión arterial (SMBP, por sus siglas en inglés)
• Deslícelo: deslice el brazalete SMBP hacia arriba de su brazo
• Envuélvalo: envuelva el brazalete cómodamente, pero no demasiado apretado
• Compruébelo: compruebe su presión arterial en el dispositivo

4. Aliméntese bien

Hacer cambios pequeños y simples en sus hábitos alimenticios puede ser de gran ayuda para que usted y su familia se mantengan saludables. Comer frutas y verduras, como mangos, aguacates y arándanos, puede reducir la presión arterial con el tiempo. Otras opciones inteligentes incluyen frutos secos y semillas, cereales integrales, proteínas magras y pescado.

5. Disminuya el consumo de alcohol y tabaco

Fumar agrava los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades cardíacas, como la presión arterial alta y la diabetes, y las sustancias químicas del humo del tabaco pueden dañar el corazón y los vasos sanguíneos. Asimismo, el consumo excesivo de alcohol (más de dos copas al día) se asocia con la hipertensión arterial. Limitar el consumo de alcohol y dejar de fumar, o evitar el humo de segunda mano, puede ayudar a reducir el riesgo.

Si desarrolla hipertensión, trabaje con un profesional de la salud para controlarla y visite heart.org/hbpcontrol para encontrar recursos locales para la presión arterial, videos de autocontrol paso a paso y más.

 

Control de su presión arterial en el hogar

Es importante saber cómo controlar correctamente su presión arterial, especialmente si su médico recomienda un autocontrol regular en casa.

• Quédese quieto. No fume, tome cafeína ni haga ejercicio durante los 30 minutos antes de medir su presión arterial. Vacíe su vejiga y tómese al menos 5 minutos de descanso tranquilo antes de medir.
• Siéntese correctamente. Siéntese con la espalda recta y apoyada. Mantenga los pies apoyados en el suelo y las piernas sin cruzar. Apoye su brazo sobre una superficie plana, como una mesa, con su bíceps al nivel del corazón. Coloque la parte inferior del brazalete directamente sobre el pliegue de su codo. Nunca tome medidas sobre las mangas u otra ropa.
• Mida a la misma hora todos los días. Para una mayor consistencia, tome lecturas a la misma hora todos los días, por ejemplo, a una hora determinada por la mañana y por la noche.
• Tome varias lecturas y registre los resultados. Cada vez que mida, tome 2-3 lecturas con aproximadamente 1 minuto de diferencia y registre los resultados para compartirlos con su médico.

Este proyecto cuenta con el apoyo de acuerdos cooperativos (CPIMP211227 y CPIMP211228) con la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías (OMH) del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS) de EE. UU., como parte de una asignación de asistencia financiera por un total de $14.6 millones de dólares en colaboración con la Administración de Recursos y Servicios de Salud (HRSA). El contenido no necesariamente representa las opiniones oficiales de la OMH, la OASH, el HHS ni del Gobierno de EE. UU., ni estos organismos respaldan dicho contenido. Para obtener mayor información, visita https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/.

 

SOURCE:
American Heart Association