(Feature Impact) For decades, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States, and heart failure directly accounts for about 8.5% of all heart disease deaths. In fact, more than 7.7 million Americans older than 20 are currently living with heart failure, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

That number is expected to exceed 8 million – about 3% of the population – by 2030, based on findings from the Heart Failure Society of America.

Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This can occur as the heart becomes weak or stiff over time, making it more difficult to circulate blood effectively. In turn, the body may not get enough oxygen.

Despite the name of the condition, the heart does not stop working when heart failure occurs. Instead, the heart is not keeping up with the body’s demands and requires ongoing medical care.
Heart failure often develops gradually and is commonly linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or previous heart damage, and is the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults, according to the Heart Failure Society of America.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure

In many people, heart failure does not begin with a dramatic warning. It starts with symptoms that people may dismiss as stress, aging or being out of shape.

Common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath during activities
• Trouble breathing when lying down
• Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs or abdomen
• Sudden weight gain from fluid buildup
• Feeling fatigued or weak

Symptoms can vary between males and females. Women are more likely to experience nausea, heart palpitations, digestive changes, sweating and generalized discomfort while men more commonly experience shortness of breath, chest pressure or swelling in the lower body. However, there can be significant overlap in symptoms between sexes.

Heart failure doesn’t always present with “classic” symptoms, so nonspecific changes can easily be mistaken for other conditions. Any new or unexplained change in breathing, swelling, energy levels or daily function should be evaluated by a health care professional.

How Heart Failure is Diagnosed

Diagnosis typically begins with a medical history review and physical exam. Health care providers may listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope to detect abnormal rhythms or signs of fluid in the lungs.

Additional testing helps confirm findings. An echocardiogram shows how well the heart is pumping while an electrocardiogram measures heart rhythm. Blood tests, stress tests and imaging may also be used to evaluate heart function.

Routine medical checkups can also help detect changes in heart health early. This is especially important for people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease.

Because heart failure develops gradually, awareness is one of the most important tools for early detection. To learn more about heart failure, visit hfsa.org.

Treating and Managing Heart Failure

Although heart failure is a long-term condition, it can be managed with the right care. Treatment typically combines medical care with individually tailored lifestyle adjustments.

Common approaches include:

• Medications to help the heart pump more effectively, reduce fluid buildup and manage related conditions such as high blood pressure
  
• Lifestyle changes which can include eating a balanced, lower-sodium diet; staying physically active; maintaining a healthy weight; and avoiding smoking
• Medical procedures such as coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery may be necessary to improve blood flow
• Implanted devices like a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator can help regulate heart rhythm and support heart function
• Advanced treatment options for more severe cases may require a heart transplant

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
Esperion

(Feature Impact) Summer is peak snake season, so if you’ve recently gotten jump-scared while gardening or walking up your porch steps, you’re not alone. Typically, snakes aren’t slithering around looking for someone to bite – they’re often searching for food, water and shelter, and the vast majority (97% in the U.S.) aren’t venomous. Even if the risks of any real danger are low, though, you probably have no desire to share your shelter or yard with any slithering housemates.

Check out these snake prevention tips to reduce the possibility of unwanted reptilian encounters on your property.

Tidy Up Your Yard

If there’s one thing snakes love, it’s overgrown vegetation. Tall grass, piles of leaves and unkempt landscaping offer cool, sheltered hiding places for snakes and other pests. By keeping your lawn mowed, shrubs trimmed and garden weeded, you immediately make your yard less attractive to snakes and other pests.

Seal Exterior Cracks and Gaps

Seeing a snake outside your home is one thing but inside is a whole new level of startling. Conduct a thorough inspection of your house’s foundation to look for holes or cracks where uninvited guests may be able to infiltrate. Batten down the hatches by sealing these up and installing sturdy mesh over other openings like vents and crawl spaces.

Control Rodent Populations

Households with a mice or rat problem are also susceptible to predators that like to eat rodents. Addressing the first issue removes a major food source for snakes around your property and makes them less likely to hang around.

Don’t Leave Food Around

Speaking of food sources, if you have bird feeders or have other animals you feed outdoors, store your supplies in sealed containers. When you host outdoor gatherings, clean up promptly so crumbs and spills don’t attract insects and rodents (and in turn, snakes). Promptly gather any fallen fruit from trees on your property as well.

Practice Snake Safety

It never hurts to exercise a little extra caution when you’re spending time in places where you might encounter snakes. Stay alert when pulling equipment out of sheds, going elbow-deep in garden weeds, walking around in the dark or moving piles of wood, rocks or debris. Educate family members, especially kids, on what to do if they see a snake: stay calm, don’t provoke it, give it space and tell someone.

If you’re experiencing recurring snake sightings or issues on your property, it might be worth calling a professional. A wildlife removal or pest control specialist can look around your home and give you more specialized guidance on how to keep your spaces safe and snake-free. Visit eLivingtoday.com for additional home and garden guidance.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:

eLivingtoday.com

(Feature Impact) Real-world connection has become increasingly rare and if you’ve felt the effects, you’re not alone. After years of digital-first habits becoming the new norm, many people are looking to rediscover face-to-face social interaction – “IRL,” in real life, not from behind a screen.

With many Americans now spending less time together than ever before as in-person contact continues to decline, according to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Teremana Tequila is inviting people back to something simple: the table. Rooted in the philosophy of Mana – the brand’s guiding core philosophy and belief that good energy is contagious and the best moments in life happen when people come together – its “Share the Table, Share the Mana” initiative and partnership with Timeleft, a global app that matches strangers into small groups for real-life meetups, is a call for real-world connection.

A gradual rebalancing is underway, according to Teremana. In a world where people are more digitally connected yet more personally disconnected, sometimes all it takes is one small gesture, like pulling up a chair and sharing a table to unlock something transformative.

Activity-Based Communities

According to the American Psychiatric Association, 1 in 3 American adults went at least a week in 2024 without feeling genuinely connected. In response, many people are shifting toward connection rooted in shared activities rather than conversation alone. Consider Eventbrite’s 2026 Social Trends Report, which found 58% of people now prefer events where socializing isn’t the primary focus, signaling a growing appetite for in-person gatherings built around common interests and experiences.

Recurring events – such as weekly trivia nights or monthly potlucks – reflect this shift toward activity-based connection. With a built-in rhythm and shared interest, they reduce the pressure of constant planning and allow relationships to develop more naturally over time. Whether it’s a standing “taco Tuesday” or “trivia Thursday,” these gatherings create structure that makes it easier for people to simply show up and enjoy the moment together.

This shift is also extending beyond traditional community spaces into experiences that transform everyday environments into opportunities for connection.

Third Spaces, Reimagined

Building on its spirit of good energy and shared moments, Teremana Tequila’s “Share the Table, Share the Mana” campaign kicked off with a series of out-of-home billboards across the country, but took a surprising turn when what appeared to be a standard billboard concealed a hidden bartender, drinks and an open invitation to share the table – turning a street corner into an unplanned gathering space for strangers. More experiential moments like this are on the way.

While digital tools remain central to how people connect, they’re increasingly being used to facilitate in-person moments – helping organize meetups, dinners, and shared experiences in the real world.

For example, by partnering withTimeleft, a global app that matches strangers into small groups for real-life meetups, Teremana’s idea is becoming a nationwide movement. Every Thursday from now through August, the Share the Table series will bring curated groups of people together at bars and restaurants across 13 U.S. cities, creating a consistent space for the kind of unscripted human connection no screen can replicate.

The nationwide initiative offers a key to unlocking something much bigger than one-off moments as an investment in infrastructure for connection, providing strangers opportunities to match with groups of people with similar interests and compatibilities.

Neighborhoods as a Nexus for Connection

By meeting and greeting neighbors and attending local events, the reliance on digital tools can be reversed. Proximity lowers barriers like time and distance, increasing the likelihood of repeated encounters for after-work drinks or dinner parties that allow for relaxed, low-pressure socializing.

For an easy way to break the ice with those near you, sharing a drink, or the mana, lets you open up your home in a low-stress setting without the pressure of cooking for a crowd. These simple at-home cocktail recipes for a Cucumber Serrano Margarita or Mana Paloma make hosting a breeze – and will leave neighbors thinking you’re a natural bartender.

To discover more ways the philosophy of Mana can revitalize human connection, visit Timeleft.com.

Cucumber Serrano Margarita

• 2          ounces Teremana Blanco or Reposado
  
• 1          ounce fresh cucumber juice
  
• 3/4       ounce fresh lime juice
  
• 1/2       ounce agave nectar
  
• 3          thin slices serrano pepper, divided
  
•             ice
  
•             cucumber slice, for garnish
  
•             salt, for rim
  
•             tajin, for rim

1. In cocktail shaker, combine tequila, cucumber juice, lime juice, agave nectar and two slices serrano pepper; shake with ice. Strain over fresh ice into rocks glass.
2. Garnish with cucumber slice and remaining serrano pepper slice. Rim half of glass with salt and tajin.

Mana Paloma

•             Ice
  
• 2          ounces Teremana Blanco
  
• 1          ounce grapefruit juice
  
• 3/4       ounce lime juice
  
• 1/2       ounce simple syrup
  
• club soda
  
• 1          pinch salt
  
•             lime wheel or grapefruit peel, for garnish

1. In highball glass over ice, combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, club soda and salt. Gently stir, garnish with lime wheel or grapefruit peel and serve.

SOURCE:

Teremana Tequila