Current Events in April 2017

Flamaglo Foods is recalling Yoso brand Soygo fermented cultured soy products.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The following products, sold in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, Canada, are being recalled:

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but throw them away or return them to the store where purchased.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 509 model year 2017 Ford F-450 and F-550 Superduty vehicles.

Operating the vehicle at highway speeds may cause the driveline to vibrate and fracture the driveline components or the transmission.

If the driveline or transmission fractures, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft and two center bearing brackets, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable.

Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 6, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford recall number 17S08.

Sun safety is a key component of any day of fun in the sun involving kids, and sunscreen can help protect children’s skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, it’s important to make sure the sunscreen you plan on tossing into your beach bag is safe.

To help parents sidestep sunscreens that may not be entirely kid-safe, Healthy Child released a list of the 13 sunscreens with the worst EWG (Environmental Working Group) ratings for 2016.

Three potential hazards

The kids’ and baby sunscreens on EWG’s list have potentially harmful chemicals, including oxybenzone (a hormone disrupter) and retinyl palmitate (a chemical that may speed the development of skin damage on sun-exposed skin).

Several formulas come in an aerosol spray, which may provide inadequate skin coverage and introduce potentially hazardous chemicals into your little one’s lungs. Additionally, the sunscreens have SPFs of 50 or above.

While you might think high SPF formulas offer added sun protection, the EWG contends that the opposite is true. High SPFs can suppress the skin reddening and pain or sunburns, raise the risk of other kinds of skin damage, and “give people a false sense of security and beguile them to stay in the sun too long,” according to the group.

13 worst-scoring sunscreens

The following products earned the worst EWG sunscreen ratings:

• Banana Boat Kids Max Protect & Play Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100
• Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Stick, SPF 55
• Coppertone Sunscreen Continuous Spray, Kids, SPF 70
• Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion Kids, SPF 70+
• Coppertone Foaming Lotion Sunscreen Kids Wacky Foam, SPF 70+
• Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70+
• CVS Baby Sunstick Sunscreen, SPF 55
• CVS Kids Wet & Dry Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70+
• Equate Kids Sunscreen Stick, SPF 55
• Hampton Sun Continuous Mist Sunscreen For Kids, SPF 70
• Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70+
• Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Sunscreen Stick, SPF 70+
• Up & Up Kids Sunscreen Stick, SPF 55

Most people know that their risk of cardiovascular disease increases as they age, but several recent studies have shown that biological signs can also serve as an indicator. We recently reported how graying hair in men could point to an increased risk of heart disease, and now researchers are stating that the same could be true of hot flashes.

Researchers working with the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) have found that frequent and severe hot flashes may indicate vascular dysfunction – a leading cause of heart disease – in younger midlife women.

"Hot flashes are not just a nuisance. They have been linked to cardiovascular, bone, and brain health. In this study, physiologically measured hot flashes appear linked to cardiovascular changes occurring early during the menopause transition," said Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, executive director of NAMS.

Greater cardiovascular risk

The study tested 272 non-smoking women between the ages of 40 and 60 to investigate the relationship between hot flashes and function of cells lining the blood vessels (endothelial cell function). The researchers found that hot flashes only seemed to affect blood vessel dilation in younger participants (40-54). This indicates that early occurring hot flashes may be the most relevant to heart disease.

The findings could have a significant impact on women’s health. Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death among women, and more than 70% of all women report experiences of hot flashes, with one-third describing them as “frequent” or “severe.”

“Among younger midlife women, frequent hot flashes were associated with poorer endothelial function and may provide information about women’s vascular status beyond cardiovascular disease risk factors,” the researchers said.

The full study has been published in Menopause.

Consumers rely on federal agencies and organizations to give them reliable information on the problems they face every day, but too often scammers will try to abuse that trust by impersonating an official or faking an affiliation. That appears to be the case with a Florida man who allegedly falsely claimed to work with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Legitimate FTC officials have filed a complaint against Daniel Croft, charging that he misled consumers by claiming to be affiliated with the agency and offering unnecessary tech support services. Croft allegedly told his victims that the FTC had hired companies like PC Guru Tech Support and Elite Tech Support to remove malicious software and malware installed on consumers’ computers by companies that were supposedly shut down by the agency.

In reality, PC Guru and Elite Tech Support were operated by Croft, and the FTC charges that consumers who turned to them were sold unnecessary tech support services. Claims about the companies that were “shut down” by the FTC were also patently false, the agency said.

Croft contacted his victims via email and used fake FTC press releases and the names of FTC staff to convince consumers into contacting him. Those who complied received pitches on the companies’ tech support services, but those who resisted were subjected to scare tactics by Croft, who claimed that the consumers’ computers were sending out information to hackers, the FTC said.

The FTC charges Croft with violating the FTC Act and the CAN SPAM Act, which cover deceptive marketing tactics and sets standards for unsolicited commercial email and other communications. A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction against Croft and the companies, which requires them to turn over any documents and records while the FTC investigates the illegal activity. 

Walmart is wading deeper into online competition with Amazon by offering discounts on more than ten thousand items if consumers order them online and pick them up at a Walmart store.

The number of items will expand to one million by the end of June, the retailer said.

Surveys have suggested that consumers like the convenience of ordering something online, then driving to a nearby store to find it waiting for them. It works especially well for big box retailers, saving consumers the hassle of wandering the aisles to find the item, or asking a store associate to help them find it, then waiting in a checkout line.

Walmart CEO Marc Lore says the new system will take advantage of supply chain efficiencies, and the company will pass some of the savings on to consumers. The discounts will start April 19.

More options

"We’re creating price transparency to empower customers to shop smarter and choose what’s best for them," Lore said in a statement. "Now, they can either pick up and save even more money, or ship two-day for free to home, without paying for a membership."

Lore said the discounts are possible because the system will remove the "last mile" delivery costs. In addition, Lore says Walmart cuts costs when it delivers goods from its fulfillment centers directly to stores.

Items eligible for the discount will be flagged that way on the store's website. Walmart lists these examples as typical discounts:

• Britax B-SAFE 35 Infant Car Seat, Slate Strie – $140.65 after a $7.40 discount.

• LEGO City Great Vehicles Ferry, 60119 – $21.44 after a $2.55 discount.

• Coleman 150 qt Heritage XP Marine Cooler – $107.03 after a $4.46 discount.

• VIZIO SmartCast M-Series 70" Class 4K Ultra HDTV (M70-D3) – $1,648 after a $50 discount.

Free two-day delivery

The pickup discounts follow Walmart's move in January to offer free two-day shipping on more than two million items without requiring customers to sign-up for a membership, a shot at Amazon's Prime membership program.

If the item you purchase is not among the two million covered by the new program, Walmart says it will provide free shipping if the order totals $35, down from $50. Items shipped for pick-up at stores have no price threshold.

Have an old or outgrown car seat lying around? From April 17 to 30, Target will take it off your hands in exchange for a coupon for 20% off any new car seat in stores or online.

For its car seat trade-in event, Target has partnered with recycler TerraCycle -- a company that will see to it that the old car seats get upcycled into new products. Through the partnership, Target believes it will "keep more than 700,000 pounds of car seat materials out of landfills.”

“In honor of Earth Month, we wanted to make it easy for guests to do something positive for the planet and their communities,” Jennifer Silberman, Target’s chief sustainability officer said in a statement.

“We love this opportunity to give families an environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted car seats and get the new ones they need just in time for spring.”

The recycling initiative encourages consumers to upgrade car seats to the appropriate size for their child to meet safety standards. The 20% off coupon for a new car seat will be valid through May 31. 

Additional recycling programs

Target isn’t the only retailer TerraCycle has teamed up with during Earth Month 2017. Earlier this month, we reported on a toy recycling program from Tom’s of Maine in partnership with TerraCycle, launched in an effort to keep broken toys from ending up in landfills.

To participate in the “Less Waste Challenge,” families can fill a box with broken or unwanted toys, print out a free shipping label, and send the box to TerraCycle.  

TerraCycle has also partnered with snack pouch manufacturer GoGo squeeZ on an initiative to keep plastic pouches and caps out of landfills. Instead of tossing those plastic pouches, consumers can send their cleaned-out pouches to TerraCycle at no cost.

The packaging will be recycled into new products, such as plastic paving stones and park benches. What's more, consumers who mail in their used pouches can earn points redeemable for charitable gifts or a donation of $0.02 to put toward the organization of their choice.

Central Smith Creamery of Selwyn, Ontario, Canada, is recalling Wholesome Farms brand Sundae Cup products.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The following products, sold in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, possibly distributed in other provinces and territories, are being recalled:

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but throw them away or return them to the store where purchased.

Consumers seeking more information may call Ian Scates of Central Smith Creamery at 1-800-461-1464.

Lakeside Foods of Manitowoc, Wis., is recalling 1,568 packages of Season's Choice Brand Frozen Peas.

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The company says it is unaware of any illnesses associated with the product.

The following product, distributed in poly bags to only Aldi Stores in Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Wisconsin and sold at retail stores in those states, is being recalled:

Season's Choice Sweet Peas, Net Weight 16 oz (1 LB) 454 g UPC code 041498164294
Code:

• DC27063 PLAA6206 BEST BY 09 2018
• DC27063 BNAD7266 BEST BY 09 2018
• DC37063 BNAD7266 BEST BY 09 2018
• DC47063 BNAD7266 BEST BY 09 2018
• DC57063 BNAD7266 BEST BY 09 2018
• DC57063 BNAF6236 BEST BY 09 2018
• DC57063 BNAF6236 BEST BY 09 2018

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should discard it immediately or return it to their local store for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-466-3834, Monday-Friday 8 AM – 3PM.

When Allergan Pharmaceuticals pledged last September to hold its annual price increases to single digits, there was a slight hope that other drug companies would follow suit, but a recent Public Citizen survey finds the response has been underwhelming.

Just three of the world's top 28 pharmaceutical corporations have agreed to match Allergan’s pledge, the survey found. AbbVie, Novo Nordisk, and Valeant told the consumer group they will follow Allergan's lead, but other drug companies either dodged the question, didn't respond, or refused to take the pledge. 

“Asking for a limit of single-digit increases is a really modest request that still enables corporations to reap substantial and excessive profits,” said Peter Maybarduk, director of Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines Program. “By and large, Big Pharma won’t commit even to that. Our survey results highlight how the pharmaceutical industry will not self-regulate and our elected officials need to step in with reforms that protect consumers.”

Public Citizen sent letters to the companies, but only 13 replied. Novo Nordisk and AbbVie didn't respond but issued public statements saying they would hold future price increases to less than 10 percent. Valeant said by phone that it would do likewise, Public Citizen said.

Jaw-dropping

Pharmaceutical companies traditionally increase their prices every year. In January 2017, median prices for prescription medications increased 8.9 percent on average – about four times the overall inflation rate.

Some spikes were jaw-dropping:

• Kaleo increased the price of Evzio, an anti-overdose device that is key to responding to the opioid epidemic, from $575 to $4,500 over three years, even though the device administers an old and inexpensive chemical;
• Mylan raised the price of the EpiPen, a lifesaving device containing a century-old medication for people with severe allergies, from $103.50 in 2009 to $608.61 per package in 2016; and
• Turing Pharmaceuticals (of Martin Shkreli fame) raised the price of its 60-plus-year-old treatment for toxoplasmosis by 5,445 percent in 2015, from $13.50 to $750 per pill.

“Corporations abuse their monopoly power to charge people as much as we will pay to care for our loved ones,” Maybarduk said. “As a result, people are splitting pills, skipping much-needed medications and being forced to choose whether to buy groceries or pick up their prescriptions. It’s a painful and untenable reality that must change.”

Promises, promises

Drug prices are a sore point with consumers -- as evidenced by a survey last November that found voters were more concerned with drug prices than with Obamacare -- and politicians ranging from all points on the political spectrum are constantly promising to do something but never quite seem to do so.

• While still a candidate, Donald Trump promised to bring down drug prices. “I’m going to bring down drug prices. I don’t like what’s happened with drug prices,” Trump said, according to Time Magazine, 
• Way back in 2015, Sen. Bernie Sanders called for action, saying Americans "should not have to live in fear that they will go bankrupt if they get sick."
• Last August, Hillary Clinton proposed a plan that would require drug companies "to explain significant price increases, and prove that any additional costs are linked to additional patient benefits and better value."

The election, of course, is over and drug prices are higher than ever. 

Latest attempt

The latest attempt to legislate a solution comes from U.S. Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and 14 other Senate Democrats who in March introduced the “Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act,” which would curb the monopoly abuses of pharmaceutical corporations that keep prices high by penalizing companies that boost prices.

The bill also would allow Medicare to negotiate prices for seniors, reduce monopoly marketing periods, and require transparency from the pharmaceutical industry. U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bills are not given much chance of passage in the GOP-controlled Congress. 

Wells Fargo is "clawing back" $75 million in salary paid to its former CEO and another top executive after a board investigation into the bank's unauthorized accounts scandal.

At least, that was the headline on the report.

But if you look a little deeper into the lengthy document, you learn some interesting things about how the bank operated and what led it to start opening bank and credit card accounts in customers' names, whether they wanted them or not.

The report found the problem centered on Wells Fargo's community bank division, described as having a long history of strong performance as a self-identified sales organization, with a decentralized corporate structure, guided by its Vision & Values statement.

"While there is nothing necessarily pernicious about sales goals, a sales-oriented culture or a decentralized corporate structure, these same cultural and structural characteristics unfortunately coalesced and failed dramatically here," the investigators concluded.

'Run it like you own it'

The report found Wells Fargo gave mangers a strong hand, with a commonly repeated slogan, "run it like you own it." It seems that the managers did just that, and didn't like to have their wisdom questioned once a decision had been made.

The investigators said the community bank division's senior leadership "distorted" the sales model and performance management system, fostering an atmosphere that prompted low quality sales and improper and unethical behavior.

The report says community bank senior leaders set "increasingly high and unrealistic" sales goals, and were reportedly challenged on it by regional managers. Despite that, the goals got even higher, and so did firings and resignations when the goals could not be met. At the same time, the report found that the quality of the new accounts continued to decline.

Misguided effort

At some point Wells Fargo realized there could be a problem and began to take steps to address it. But the investigators maintain that the steps were misguided and ineffective. They fired the offending employees without considering the underlying causes.

In a particularly damning statement, the investigators said Carrie Tolstedt, head of the community bank division, and her senior staff "paid insufficient regard to the substantial risk to Wells Fargo’s brand and reputation from improper and unethical sales practices," even as they overlooked financial or other harm to customers.

Then, a flawed sales model got even more flawed. The report says supervisors placed intense pressure on employees to increase sales, even to the point of calling them several times each day to demand a progress report.

Pressure to sell unnecessary products

"Certain managers also explicitly encouraged their subordinates to sell unnecessary products to their customers in an effort to meet the Community Bank’s sales goals," the authors write.

The report goes on to document what has been widely reported here and elsewhere -- that over the years Wells Fargo created millions of accounts for customers who never authorized them.

It also outlines remedial steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. The community bank division at Wells Fargo is now highly centralized -- not decentralized as it was in the past. Supervisors don't run it like they own it.

Now, when an account is opened, an automated email is sent to the customer to confirm the account was properly authorized.

Travelers who visit Hawaii love the beaches and numerous tourist attractions, but consumers would do well to be mindful of what they eat and which areas they visit. The Hawaii State Department of Health has confirmed nine cases of rat lungworm disease that have surfaced in the state – six in Maui and three on the Big Island.

The disease, which is caused by a parasite known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, affects the brain and spinal cord of consumers who catch it. This can lead to serious medical complications like eosinophilic meningitis, coma, and nervous system damage. In rare cases, the disease can even result in death, though mild symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting can develop in other patients until the parasite runs its course.

“The investigation is fluid and the cluster of cases, though not all confirmed, are very concerning,” said Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo, per CNN.

Causing internal harm

Though state officials are not certain how each affected consumer developed the disease, they do note that “people can acquire the parasite by consuming raw or undercooked snails and slugs.” While that seems like a specific circumstance, consumers should keep in mind that they can accidentally consume these products by eating poorly washed lettuce or other raw produce that was in contact with snails or slugs.

University of Florida assistant professor Heather Stockdale Walden explains that the parasite can usually be found in rats, a creature in which it can fully mature and thrive. However, when consumed by humans, the parasite is not able to fully grow into adulthood and can cause many health issues before it eventually dies and is passed from the body.

“What happens is that the parasite gets into humans – humans are not the host that it can complete its life cycle in, as opposed to being in a rat – so when it gets in a human, it can get lost, and it will go to the brain, and it’ll stay there,” she says.

“[The parasite] can also move to the eye, and you can get ocular Angiostrongylus. . . if the parasite goes to the eye, sometimes you can surgically remove it,” she adds.

How to prevent infection

Unfortunately, the detection rate for the parasite is fairly low due to the fact that there are no readily available blood tests for it. Officials note that approximately 80% of Hawaii’s snails are carriers of the parasite, which perhaps explains why the state usually sees 1-9 cases of the disease per year.

To prevent infections, consumers are advised to ensure that all of their food is properly cooked and cleaned prior to consumption.

“[Make] sure that the foods you eat are cooked properly, your vegetables are washed – that would help you prevent infection,” said Walden. “It’s important to appropriately store, inspect, and wash produce, especially leafy greens,” added Okubo. She also advises that young children be watched when playing outside to make sure they don’t put a snail or slug in their mouth.

The health department further recommends that consumers avoid handling snails and slugs with their bare hands and that all snails, prawns, crabs, and frogs be boiled for 3-5 minutes before being eaten. Consumers should also be sure to check rainwater catchment tanks to ensure that no snails or slugs have gained access.

Any consumer who suspects they have contracted the parasite should speak to their healthcare provider for treatment.

Do you know how to manage your high cholesterol? Unfortunately, a new report from the American Heart Association (AHA) says chances are good that you probably don’t.

A recent survey conducted by the organization found that many U.S. consumers know that it’s necessary to manage the condition, but they don’t necessarily know how to do it. This is dangerous, the researchers say, because of how closely high cholesterol is tied to more serious conditions like heart disease and stroke.

"We wanted to get a sense of what people know about their cholesterol risk and its connection to heart disease and stroke, as well as how people engage with their healthcare providers to manage their risks," explains Dr. Mary Ann Bauman. "We found even among those people at the highest risk for heart disease and stroke, overall knowledge was lacking and there was a major disconnect between perceptions about cholesterol and the significance of its health impact."

Facing uncertainty

The survey questioned approximately 800 people across the U.S. who were known to have a history of cardiovascular disease or had been identified as having one major cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

The findings showed that almost half of participants (47%) with a known risk factor for heart disease or stroke had not had their cholesterol checked within the past year. Even worse, 21% of respondents who knew they had high cholesterol had not had it checked in over a year.

Other findings showed that the majority of respondents with high cholesterol were aware of how important it was to manage the condition, but reported “being confused, discouraged and uncertain about their ability to do so.”

Discuss treatment options

The findings could mean big trouble for millions of Americans. The researchers estimate that 94.6 million, or 40% of the adult U.S. population, have cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL; approximately 12% have even higher numbers over 240 mg/dL.

“Research suggests even modestly elevated cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease later in life, but these survey results show an alarming lack of communication between healthcare providers and those most at risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Bauman.

Bauman and her colleagues point out that there is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all approach to treating high cholesterol. They say it is up to consumers to become informed on how they can manage their condition and health care providers to go through each treatment option.

“Current guidelines call for lifestyle modifications as a first line treatment, but that’s often not enough. We also need to talk to patients about other risk factors, including genetics and family history, to determine the most effective course of treatment for each individual,” Bauman said.

The survey was conducted as a part of the American Heart Association’s Check.Change.Control.Cholesterol initiative, which seeks to increase public awareness and provide guideline-based best practices to health care providers and patients. More information can be found on the AHA site here.

Ford is rolling out what it says is the first pursuit-rated gas-electric hybrid police car. The Police Responder Hybrid Sedan is based on the Ford Fusion midsize sedan and is rated at 38 miles per gallon combined

Ford is hoping the car will give it an even bigger share of the police-car market. It currently sells about 63 percent of the police cars in the country and has been making specially equipped police cars since 1920.

Besides bigger engines and brakes, the police package generally includes such things as a heavy duty front seat, rear doors that only open from the outside, and vinyl seating that can be hosed down when necessary.

The Responder is equipped with a 2.0-liter gas engine paired with an electric motor and battery. Ford says it will save cities about $3,877 a year in fuel costs, based on gasoline priced at $2.50 a gallon.

Tough enough

While idling, the car's lithium-ion battery helps power the high electrical loads of a police vehicle, reducing engine run time and saving an estimated 0.27 gallons of fuel per hour. The new vehicle will be the first hybrid sedan with full pursuit capabilities. That means the car is certified by police agencies to be tough enough to handle police pursuits for longer periods at different speeds and over obstacles such as curbs and flooded intersections.

The Police Responder Hybrid Sedan uses an efficient Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor fed by an advanced lithium-ion battery. The hybrid is calibrated for law enforcement’s unique duty cycle and will run in battery-only mode up to 60 mph. The car automatically switches to maximum performance – with the engine and battery working at peak acceleration levels – when needed, the company said.

The new cruiser was shown yesterday at events in New York and Los Angeles. Both cities have been experimenting with hybrids.

“Patrol vehicles are a police officer’s office, and we expect them to not only be economically and environmentally efficient but also an effective tool for fighting crime in major metropolitan areas,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck in a Ford press release.

It turns out that finding a gray hair in the sink isn’t just a sign of an imminent mid-life crisis. Researchers from Cairo University in Egypt and the European Society of Cardiology have now linked graying hair to an increased risk of heart disease in men.

Dr. Irini Samuel explains that graying hair indicates more than simple aging – it shows that the body is at increased risk of atherosclerosis, a condition defined by the hardening and narrowing of arteries that interrupts blood flow and increases cardiovascular risks.

"Atherosclerosis and hair greying occur through similar biological pathways and the incidence of both increases with age. Our findings suggest that, irrespective of chronological age, hair greying indicates biological age and could be a warning sign of increased cardiovascular risk," she said.

Higher cardiovascular risks

The observational study included 545 adult male participants who underwent multi-slice computed tomography (CT) and coronary angiography tests. Participants were divided into one of five groups based on the presence or absence of coronary artery disease and the amount of gray/white hair they had.

Five distributions of hair color designated the hair color groupings. Group one had no gray or white hairs; group 2 had more naturally colored hair than gray/white hairs; group three had equal amounts of gray/white and natural hair; group 4 had more gray/white hair than natural hair; and group five had pure gray/white hair.

After collecting data and analyzing the results, the researchers found that participants in groups 3, 4, and 5 were more likely to have coronary artery disease, regardless of their chronological age. Further, the researchers said that higher proportions of gray/white hair correlated with higher coronary artery calcification.

Early intervention

The researchers make clear that age is an “unavoidable coronary risk factor,” but their findings suggest that graying hair could be an early indicator of advanced biological age. Through further study, they say that eventually medical professionals could use these physical signs to provide early intervention for cardiovascular disease.

"Further research is needed, in coordination with dermatologists, to learn more about the causative genetic and possible avoidable environmental factors that determine hair whitening. A larger study including men and women is required to confirm the association between hair greying and cardiovascular disease in patients without other known cardiovascular risk factors," said Samuel.

The results of the study were presented at EuroPrevent 2017.

Millennials who are considering relocating to a new city might make a temporary -- or “vacation” move -- to the city in question before permanently putting down roots there. That’s a key takeaway from a new survey conducted by moving company Mayflower.

Findings from Mayflower’s poll of 1,000 Millennials revealed that two in five have moved to a new city without the intention of staying permanently. Upon arriving in their vacation city, 74% of respondents said they had a plan to leave within a certain timeframe.

"Millennials are a generation of what I call 'adventure movers,'” said Dr. Jeffrey Arnett, Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University. “Their motivations for moving are influenced by a sense of adventure, making these moves relatively short-term.”

Top reasons for moving

While 30% of respondents moved in search of a new lifestyle or experience, other “vacation movers” had more practical motives. The survey found that 40% moved to a new city to work at a new job and 26% moved to find a new job.

Twenty-somethings often feel that they have a great deal of freedom and instability, Arnett explained. “This flexibility allows millennials to make moves in search of new job opportunities or adventures, even if they don't plan to stay in the long run,” he said.

So, when do Millennials plan to firm up their plans and settle down? For 78% of Millennials surveyed, age 35 was the magic number. But one in four (27%) said they plan to have a permanent home before age 30.

Where Millennials are moving

Additional findings from the study suggested that where Millennials move could be based on where they were raised.

Young adults who grew up in urban areas tend to fly farther from the nest than their small town-bred counterparts. Thirty-one percent of Millennials raised in urban areas moved 200 to 499 miles from their last home; only 14% of rurally-raised Millennials ventured as far.

Major metropolitan areas continue to attract Millennials. The survey revealed that 69% of respondents were currently residing in a city or an inner suburb near the city. Top moving destinations for the demographic were San Francisco, Calif., followed closely by Los Angeles, Calif., and Washington, D.C.

When tax refunds and warmer temperatures converge, the possibilities are endless. With a little extra money, consumers can tackle a range of home improvement projects.

In its blog, real estate marketplace Trulia notes that many home projects can be accomplished for under $1,000. From sprucing up your home’s exterior to updating key elements of the home’s interior, here are a few projects that don’t come with an especially high price tag.

Revamp your ceiling

Consumers can use their tax refund check to improve their home’s existing ceilings. If your popcorn ceilings are an eyesore, consider hiring a professional to scrape them smooth.

To further enhance the look of your room, look for DIY projects like installing crown molding or box beams or adding a coat of fresh paint.

Boost curb appeal

Beyond looking lovely, homes with curb appeal may be worth more. Adding a new front door adds nearly 97% of the amount you spent to the value of your home, according to Remodeling magazine.

Adding a new mailbox, some flower boxes, new house numbers, outdoor lighting, and shrubs can also boost your home’s appeal, says Trulia. For another simple, cost effective improvement, repaint the trim around windows and other features.

Rejuvenate your baseboards

“The top of the baseboard where the molding meets the wall gets really dirty over time,”  Sarah Roussos-Karakaian, co-owner of Nestrs, a construction, design, and organizing company, told Trulia.

But caulking and giving your baseboards a fresh coat of paint can bring your walls back to life, she says. Do-it-yourselfers are likely to spend less on this project, since contractors and painters usually charge between $2.50 to $6 per linear foot depending on the size of the baseboards.

Upgrade your water heater

While it may not add instant aesthetic appeal like some of the aforementioned projects, using your tax refund to upgrade from a standard water heater to a tankless model (which heats the water only as needed) will save energy and money.

Add a new rug

Area rugs add comfort while bringing all the elements of a room together. Best of all, purchasing a new one won't take a huge bite out of your tax refund.

However, it's important to choose a rug that's the right size. Rugs that are too small may cost slightly less, but they won't do any favors for your space. 

To keep your room from looking out of scale, be sure to choose an appropriately sized rug. In smaller rooms, the outer edges of the rug should be around 6 inches from each wall. In larger rooms, the outer edges can be up to 18 inches from the walls.