Realty Rave for July 2015

David Burke Tel: 760-250-2570 July 2015 Hi David Welcome to this month's edition of the RealtyRave newsletter. We hope that you find it filled with interesting and useful information! Please think of me with any real estate related questions you may have - now and in the future. It would be my pleasure to be of assistance to you. The single highest and best compliment a Real Estate Professional can receive is a referral to friends, family or colleagues. As appropriate, please feel free to forward this Newsletter and/or my contact information. Thank you! David Burke HEALTH AND SAFETY The Causes of Dry Eye Go Beyond the Obvious (BPT) - Burning or stinging feeling in your eyes? Do they feel dry and uncomfortable? You may not be alone. Studies suggest that, in the United States, up to 7.8% of women aged 50 or older and 4.34% of men over the age of 50, experience symptoms of dry eye, a progressive eye disease. The symptoms of dry eye vary in severity, but are most commonly described as dryness and overall eye discomfort, and may also include sti nging, burning, a gritty feeling or episodes of blurred vision. “A healthy ocular surface is a critical factor in eye health,” says Marguerite McDonald, MD, of Ophthalmic Consultants, Long Island, New York. “When that surface becomes irritated or damaged, it activates an inflammatory response that results in the common symptoms of this disease. It’s really not something to be ignored.” Age is recognized as one of the various risk factors of dry eye, but it’s not the only factor when you consider that dry eye is one of the most common reasons why patients visit their eye doctors. Risk Factors for Dry Eye Video displays, including computer screens and other devices, are part of everyday life for many people. But lengthy exposure to these devices may increase the risk of dry eye. For example, continuous work in front of a video display, such as a computer screen, decreases the frequency of blinking and contributes to dryness on the surface of the eye. “People who spend a lot of time looking at a computer, tablet or smart phone may experience discomfort as a result of this activity and should consider talking to an eye care professional if symptoms continue or worsen,” McDonald says. As greater numbers of young people choose to use contact lenses to correct vision, the prevalence of dry eye in younger populations may become similar to what’s currently observed in older populations. Symptoms of dry eye are also common after laser surgery to correct vision impairments, with nearly half of people who had either PRK or LASIK vision surgery reporting symptoms of eye dryness for three months or more, according to a survey. Certain medications, including antihistamines, benzodiazepine and antidepressants, have all been associated with dry eye. Diagnosis and Treatment So what should you do if you’re experiencing these symptoms? An eye care professional can appropriately diagnose dry eye through a comprehensive eye exam, including testing of the ocular surface and tear quality assessment. Talk to your eye care doctor for more information about the underlying causes of dry eye, as well as the signs and symptoms. HELPFUL HINTS Tips to prevent prescription drug abuse at home (BPT) - More than 6 million Americans abuse prescription drugs, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and much of the abuse begins at home. In fact, more than 70 percent of those who illegally use prescription pain relievers obtained them through friends or family, including raiding the home medicine cabinet. However, a recent study from the University of Michigan found only 19 percent of parents are concerned about the misuse of narcotic pain medications in their own families, showing that many do not recognize the severity of the problem. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids (narcotic pain medications). When used along with other prescription medications such as benzodiazepines and muscle relaxers, they deliver a cocaine-like high. Study data shows that abuse accounts for 84 percent of patient-related prescription-drug fraud. About half of all overdose deaths include opioids along with at least one other medication, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate. Narcotic pain killers can be essential in the treatment of a variety of serious medical conditions; unfortunately they also can ruin lives when used improperly. Properly storing and disposing of these and all other medications can help reduce the risk of abuse. By following some simple do’s and don’ts you can reduce the risk of drug fraud and abuse in your home. Do: Keep drugs out of reach. Be sure to store your medications in a locked area out of children’s reach. Ask your pharmacist if he or she can provide medication bottles with child-resistant caps. Keep track of your treatments: Keep a list of the medications in your home, especially those prone to abuse. Periodically count the medications remaining in the container, and make sure that it’s the correct amount according to the prescribed dosage. Dispose properly: If specific disposal instructions are provided on the label, follow them. Otherwise, remove the medication from its original container or vial, mix them with an undesirable substance such as used coffee grounds, kitty litter or saw dust, and place them in a sealable bag that can be thrown in the trash. Don’t: Make it easy: Don’t store narcotics or potentially addictive drugs in a medicine cabinet. If that is the only option, add a lock to the cabinet and hide the key. Save for “next time”: Once your condition has been treated and your prescription regimen is complete, properly dispose of the drugs. Never keep extra medication for potential use in the future. Share your medication: The drug and dosage were selected specifically for the person the medication was prescribed for and could lead to dangerous drug interactions and serious side effects if used by someone else. By following these simple steps, you can help protect your family and friends against the nation’s costly problem of prescription-drug fraud and abuse. RECIPE OF THE MONTH Ginger Glazed Mahi-Mahi Makes 4 servings and ready in 30mins! Ingredients: 3 tablespoons honey 3 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root 1 clove garlic, crushed or to taste 2 teaspoons olive oil 4 (6 ounce) Mahi-Mahi fillets salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Directions: In a shallow glass dish, stir together the honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, ginger, garlic and olive oil. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, and place them into the dish. If the fillets have skin on them, place them skin side down. Cover, and refrigerate for 20 minutes to marinate. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove fish from the dish, and reserve marinade. Fry fish for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, turning only once, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fillets to a serving platter and keep warm. Pour reserved marinade into the skillet, and heat over medium heat until the mixture reduces to a glaze consistently. Spoon glaze over fish, and serve immediately.      View my website  Email me  View Featured Listings  Property Search   Compliments of: David Burke Realty Executives Desert Lifestyles 78065 Main St. Suite 101 La Quinta, CA 92253 Tel: 760-250-2570 Cell: 760-250-2570 Fax: 800-774-5902 David@LaQuintaRE.com e-Pro Household Tips Flattened Shag Carpeting Raise flattened spots in your carpeting where heavy furniture has stood by using a steam iron. Hold over the spot and build up a good steam. Then brush up the carpet   Candle Drippings For spilled wax on carpet, use a brown paper bag as a blotter and run a hot iron over it, which will absorb the wax   Dog Stains Blot up excess moisture with paper towel. Pour club soda on the spot and continue blotting. Lay a towel over the spot and set a heavy object on top in order to absorb all the moisture   Rug Care When washing and drying foam-backed throw rugs, never wash in hot water, and use the "air only" dryer setting to dry. Heat will ruin foam.   Crayon Marks on Floors Use silver polish to remove crayon marks from vinyl tile or linoleum   Spilled Nail Polish Allow to almost dry, then peel off of waxed floors or tile. Tar Spots  Use paste wax to remove tar from floors. Works on shoes too.   Dusting Floors Stretch a nylon stocking over the dust mop and discard when used.   Varnished Floors Use cold tea to clean woodwork and varnished floors. DID YOU KNOW? Did you know everyday is a holiday somewhere in the world Did you know the coins thrown into the Trevi fountain in Italy are collected for charity Did you know French fries are originally from Belgium Did you know enamel is the hardest substance in your body Did you know there are 31,557,600 seconds in a year Did you know there are 22 stars in the Paramount studios logo Did you know in a deck of cards the king of harts is the only king without a mustache Did you know black on yellow are the 2 colors with the strongest impact Did you know the safest car color is white Did you know the most commonly forgotten item for travelers is their toothbrush Did you know Coca Cola launched its 3rd product Sprite in 1961 Did you know apples are more effective at waking you up in the morning than coffee Did you know room temperature is defined as between 20 to 25?C (68 to 77?F) Did you know an octopus pupil is rectangular About Us Whether you are looking to buy or sell, we are here to assist you in accomplishing your real estate dreams. Burke and Associates has been awarded the "Top Listing Agent, 2011, and 2012" by Keller Williams Realty. Call today and let us put our tools, techniques and skills to work for you! Also, be sure to ask us about our monthly specials for our new construction developments! P.S. Referrals are the highest compliment a sales professional can receive from a client. Please pass my name around to your friends, family, and acquaintances so that I can provide them with the best real estate experience possible!