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(NewsUSA) - La enfermedad cardíaca es la principal causa de muerte en los Estados Unidos. Una de cada cinco muertes se debe a una enfermedad cardíaca, a pesar de que la enfermedad se puede prevenir en gran medida.

Mantener su corazón saludable comienza con llevar un estilo de vida saludable para el corazón. Pero primero, debe ser inteligente con su corazón. Saber qué causa la enfermedad cardíaca, qué le pone en riesgo, y cómo puede reducir esos riesgos puede ayudarle a tomar decisiones informadas para proteger su corazón y mantenerlo fuerte.

¿Quiere poner a prueba su conocimiento? Responda a este breve cuestionario sobre el corazón:

Cuestionario sobre el corazón

1. ¿Verdadero o Falso? La presión arterial alta también se conoce como hipertensión y ocurre cuando su presión arterial es constantemente de 130/80 mm Hg o superior.
2. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Su índice de masa corporal, o IMC, muestra si su peso está en un rango saludable para su altura y es una medida de su riesgo futuro de enfermedad cardíaca.
3. ¿Verdadero o Falso? El colesterol ayuda a producir hormonas, vitamina D, y sustancias que ayudan a digerir los alimentos. Su cuerpo lo necesita para una buena salud, pero en las cantidades adecuadas.
4. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Comer muchas verduras, frutas, y granos integrales, consumir productos lácteos sin grasa o bajos en grasa, y limitar los alimentos con alto contenido de grasas saturadas o bebidas azucaradas son parte de una dieta saludable para el corazón.
5. ¿Verdadero o Falso? No dormir lo suficiente o tener un sueño de mala calidad de manera regular aumenta el riesgo de tener presión arterial alta, enfermedad cardíaca, y otras afecciones médicas.
6. ¿Verdadero o Falso? Para fortalecer su corazón, los adultos deben aspirar a realizar al menos 150 minutos de actividad aeróbica de intensidad moderada, como caminar a paso ligero, cada semana.

Clave de respuestas: todas las respuestas son Verdaderas.

¿Como le fue en el cuestionario? Conocer sus propios factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardíaca puede ayudarle a guiar sus elecciones de estilo de vida, así que hable con su proveedor de atención médica para asegurarse de que está bien de salud. Igual de importante: conozca sus números. Su peso, el tamaño de su cintura, su presión arterial, su colesterol, y sus niveles de azúcar en la sangre afectan su corazón. Si no están donde deberían estar, comprométase a comenzar a mejorarlos.

Agregar más actividad física a su día, comer una dieta saludable para el corazón, controlar el estrés, dormir lo suficiente, y no fumar puede ponerle en el camino hacia una mejor salud del corazón.

Obtenga más información sobre la prevención de la enfermedad cardíaca de The Heart Truth® en www.hearttruth.gov (en inglés) y descargue la hoja informativa Heart Smart Basics para mejorar su conocimiento sobre la salud del corazón.

(NewsUSA) - Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in five deaths is due to heart disease, even though the disease is largely preventable.

Keeping your heart healthy starts with living a heart-healthy lifestyle. But first, you need to get smart about your heart. Knowing what causes heart disease, what puts you at risk for it, and how you can reduce those risks can help you make informed decisions to protect your heart and keep it strong.

Want to test your knowledge? Take this short Heart Smart Quiz:

Heart Smart Quiz

1. True or False? High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and occurs when your blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher.

2. True or False? Your body mass index, or BMI, shows if your weight is in a healthy range for your height and is one measure of your future risk for heart disease.

3. True or False? Cholesterol helps make hormones, vitamin D, and substances to help you digest foods. Your body needs it for good health, but in the right amounts.

4. True or False? Eating lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, using fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and limiting foods high in saturated fat or sugar-sweetened beverages are all part of a heart-healthy diet.

5. True or False? Not getting enough sleep or getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions.

6. True or False? To strengthen their heart, adults should aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking each week.

Answer Key: All answers are True.

How did you do? Knowing your own risk factors for heart disease can help guide your lifestyle choices, so talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re clear. Just as important: know your numbers. Your weight, waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels all affect your heart. If they aren’t where they should be, make a pledge to begin improving them.

Adding more physical activity to your day, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing stress, getting enough quality sleep, and not smoking can put you on the path to better heart health.

Learn more about heart disease prevention from The Heart Truth® at www.hearttruth.gov and download the Heart Smart Basics fact sheet to improve your knowledge about heart health.

(NewsUSA) - New and emerging technology is changing how wars are fought, even the nature of war, and the United States needs to embrace these changes, according to a new report from the Special Competitive Studies Project, a bipartisan nonprofit with the goal of strengthening American competitiveness in technology such as artificial intelligence.

Technology including cyber warfare, constant data collection, and artificial intelligence is changing traditional ideas of frontlines and battlefields and bringing global conflicts closer to home. For example, China and Russia have leveraged technology in the form of cyberattacks, theft of intellectual property, sabotage, and disinformation to wage a persistent, but often invisible conflict with the United States.

In addition to cyberattacks and intellectual property theft that costs the United States hundreds of billions of dollars annually, this “persistent conflict” could ultimately include micro-targeting of leaders, diplomats, warfighters, and their families with smear campaigns, psychological pressure or, even biological warfare, the report notes. Additionally, anything that relies on computer systems and the internet could be vulnerable. However, there are no international guidelines or conventions to restrict technology attacks. 

An example of the new style of warfare is on display in Ukraine, the report observes. The Ukrainian government works with civilians to track Russian forces on messaging services and apps, uses AI to identify soldiers, raises money with Internet-based, non-fungible tokens and connects to the Internet via the Elon Musk-developed satellite service Starlink. 

To help combat the use of technology in a “technology war,” the United States must step up and counter these tech tactics, the report says.

The report recommends 10 initiatives as part of a plan to “offset” high-tech threats. These initiatives include pursuing software advantages in every aspect of military activities and capabilities, and creating human-machine collaborations. 

“‘Offset’ means that we will never try to match our opponents or our competitors tank for tank, plane for plane, person for person,” says Robert O. Work, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense and board member of the Special Competitive Studies Project. “So, what we do is we seek ways in which to ‘offset’ our potential adversary's advantages.”

This year’s military and defense budget has the largest budget request ever made for technology research and development and calls for more government partnership with private sector tech companies to support American troops and prepare them for the new generation of technology-focused war and peacekeeping.

Visit scsp.ai to learn more.

(NewsUSA) - La Oficina del Defensor de Inmigrantes Detenidos (OIDO) es un recurso para defensores, representantes legales y familiares de personas detenidas para presentar quejas sobre mala conducta o malas condiciones de vida en la detención y custodia de inmigrantes de EE. UU.

El formulario de admisión de la Oficina, Formulario DHS 405, permite que las personas que han sido detenidas, o sus representantes, presenten reclamaciones confidenciales sobre el trato y las condiciones en los centros de detención de inmigrantes. Esto incluye cuestiones como la mala conducta del personal, tratamiento médico inadecuado, baños o áreas de descanso en mal estado, falta de acceso a un abogado o problemas de seguridad que podrían causar daño a los detenidos.

Creada por el Congreso en 2019, OIDO es una oficina independiente dentro del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) de los EE. UU., separada del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) y la Protección de Aduanas y Fronteras (CBP). La Oficina está a cargo de investigar las quejas sobre el trato y las condiciones en los centros de detención de los EE. UU. que alojan a las personas bajo custodia federal de inmigración. OIDO también brinda supervisión para garantizar que los centros de detención cumplan con la ley y los estándares para la detención de inmigrantes.

“Nuestra misión consiste en evaluar las quejas individuales, realizar inspecciones anunciadas y no anunciadas, revisar los contratos de detención y realizar estudios y encuestas sobre las tendencias en la detención de inmigrantes para informar al Secretario del DHS, ICE, CBP y el Congreso”, señaló David, el Defensor del Pueblo interino de Inmigrantes Detenidos, David Gersten. “Nuestro singular rol distingue a OIDO como un conducto importante y objetivo de información sobre la detención de inmigrantes para los legisladores y el público”.

Un objetivo clave para OIDO es la accesibilidad, y esto incluye traducir la información y los recursos, incluidos los formularios de quejas, a varios idiomas y hacer que esos recursos estén fácilmente disponibles para los detenidos en los centros y para el público en Internet.

OIDO ha establecido una presencia persistente dentro de los entornos de detención y custodia. Los administradores de casos y los investigadores de supervisión de detención que entienden los asuntos de detención y pueden recomendar soluciones a las quejas sobre el trato de los detenidos y las condiciones de las instalaciones visitan las instalaciones de detención con regularidad. Al tener esta supervisión independiente constantemente presente en los centros de ICE y CBP, OIDO puede ser proactivo y oportuno para ayudar a resolver las cuestiones de detención.

“El personal de OIDO está capacitado y encarna la pasión por la inmigración, el cuidado y la custodia en detención civil y la protección de los derechos de las personas en detención migratoria”, señaló Gersten. “Estamos comprometidos a servir como un recurso confiable y neutral para la comunidad de detenidos y sus defensores mientras trabajamos conjuntamente para crear un sistema de detención de inmigrantes más seguro y humano”.

OIDO ha completado numerosas observaciones e inspecciones de sitios y centros de detención en los EE. UU., fortaleciendo sus capacidades y perspectiva de campo, difundiendo la conciencia pública sobre su propósito y sus actividades, y construyendo una red cooperativa de partes interesadas.

Si bien el cargo de OIDO es amplio, no tiene la autoridad para manejar asuntos relacionados con la liberación, la supervisión comunitaria, las alternativas a la detención, el estado migratorio o las solicitudes de asilo. Los resultados de una inspección de OIDO no afectan el estado del caso de inmigración de un detenido, ya sea positiva o negativamente.

El proceso de quejas de OIDO tampoco pretende sustituir o reemplazar los procesos de quejas existentes que se utilizan en los centros de detención; más bien, se considera una línea adicional de apoyo para hacer avanzar una queja hacia la resolución y está diseñado para complementar las funciones de supervisión existentes dentro del DHS. 

Si bien los funcionarios de OIDO cumplen su función de independencia y neutralidad, también reconocen los beneficios de colaborar con ICE y CBP para garantizar que sus recomendaciones para mejorar las condiciones de los centros de detención se implementen según lo previsto por el Congreso. OIDO tiene miembros del equipo que trabajan con el Centro de Admisión Conjunta de CBP para de revisar las quejas presentadas con respecto a esa agencia con el fin de garantizar la capacidad de respuesta y la imparcialidad. OIDO también coordina con la Oficina de Derechos Civiles y Libertades Civiles del DHS, la Oficina del Inspector General y el componente de las Oficinas de Responsabilidad Profesional para facilitar el manejo adecuado de los asuntos dentro de sus respectivas áreas de responsabilidad.

Mirando hacia el futuro, la visión de OIDO es crear conciencia y mejorar su rol como una entidad accesible y receptiva que brinda reparación a las personas en detención de inmigración. Esto incluye construir y fortalecer las relaciones con las agencias componentes del DHS, así como con los socios externos, aprovechar la información y la experiencia para informar a los tomadores de decisiones y al público, contratar personal de supervisión adicional, y crear una cultura laboral basada en la confianza, la transparencia y el impacto.

“Nuestro objetivo para 2023 es construir sobre el crecimiento organizacional sustancial que experimentamos en 2022, mientras cumplimos nuestro rol como un organismo de control objetivo, independiente e intermediario para las quejas presentadas por los detenidos de inmigración”, expresó Gersten.

Para obtener más información sobre OIDO o presentar una queja, visite DHS.gov/OIDO.

(NewsUSA) - The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) is a resource for advocates, legal representatives, and family members of detained individuals to file complaints about misconduct or poor living conditions in U.S. immigration detention and custody.

The Office’s intake form, DHS Form 405, enables individuals who have been detained---or their representatives---to submit confidential claims about treatment and conditions in immigration detention facilities. This includes issues such as staff misconduct, inadequate medical treatment, poorly maintained bathrooms or rest areas, lack of access to counsel, or safety issues that could result in harm to detainees.

Created by Congress in 2019, OIDO is an independent office within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—separate from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Office is charged with investigating complaints about treatment and conditions in U.S. detention facilities that hold individuals in federal immigration custody. OIDO also provides oversight to ensure facilities comply with the law and standards for immigration detention.

“Our mission involves assessing individual complaints, conducting announced and unannounced inspections, reviewing detention contracts, and carrying out studies and surveys on trends in immigration detention to report to the DHS Secretary, ICE, CBP, and Congress,” said acting Immigration Detention Ombudsman David Gersten. “Our unique role distinguishes OIDO as an important and objective conduit of information regarding immigration detention for policymakers and the public.”

A key objective for OIDO is accessibility, and this includes translating information and resources, including complaint forms, into multiple languages and making those resources readily available to detainees in facilities and the public online.

OIDO has established a persistent presence inside detention and custody settings. Case managers and detention oversight investigators who understand detention matters and can recommend solutions to complaints about detainee treatment and facility conditions regularly visit detention facilities. By having this independent oversight consistently present in ICE and CBP facilities, OIDO can be proactive and timely in helping to resolve detention issues.

“The staff of OIDO embody passion for and are trained in immigration, civil detention care and custody, and protecting the rights of individuals in immigration detention,” Gersten said. “We are committed to serving as a trusted and neutral resource for the community of detainees and their advocates as we collectively work to create a more safe and humane immigration detention system.”

OIDO has completed numerous observations and inspections of detention sites and facilities throughout the U.S., strengthening its capabilities and field perspective, spreading public awareness of its purpose and activities, and building a cooperative network of stakeholders.

While OIDO’s charge is broad, it does not have the authority to handle matters related to release, community supervision, alternatives to detention, immigration status, or claims for asylum. The results of an OIDO inspection do not affect the status of a detainee’s immigration case, either positively or negatively.

OIDO’s complaint process also is not meant to supersede or replace existing complaint processes used at detention facilities; rather, it is considered an additional line of support for advancing a complaint toward resolution and is designed to complement existing oversight functions within DHS.  

While OIDO officials fulfill their role of independence and neutrality, they also recognize the benefits of partnering with ICE and CBP to ensure its recommendations for improving detention facility conditions are implemented as Congress intended. OIDO has team members working with CBP’s Joint Intake Center to review complaints filed regarding that agency to ensure responsiveness and impartiality. OIDO also coordinates with the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Office of Inspector General, and component Offices of Professional Responsibility to facilitate appropriate handling of matters within their respective areas of responsibility.

Looking forward, OIDO’s vision is to build awareness of and enhance its role as an accessible and responsive entity providing redress to individuals in immigration detention. This includes building and strengthening relationships with DHS component agencies as well as external partners, leveraging information and expertise to inform decision makers and the public, hiring additional oversight staff, and creating a workforce culture built on trust, transparency, and impact.

“Our goal for 2023 is to build on the substantial organizational growth we experienced in 2022, while fulfilling our role as an objective, independent watchdog and intermediary for complaints filed by immigration detainees,” Gersten said.

To learn more about OIDO or file a complaint, visit DHS.gov/OIDO.

(NewsUSA) - See the Great Cities of Europe on a Mediterranean Cruise

The pandemic is over, COVID restrictions are gone and the cruise lines are back in business. So, there has never been a better time to book a Mediterranean cruise.

On a seven-day Mediterranean cruise you can visit Trevi Fountain in Rome, the lavender fields of Provence and Barcelona’s famous cathedrals, with side trips to the Italian riviera and a Spanish vineyard.

With the dollar nearly on par with the euro for the first time in decades and a new generation of cruise ships plying its waters, a Mediterranean cruise vacation has never been more attractive or affordable.

Convenient and Inclusive

On a cruise you unpack once — no lugging bags from hotel to hotel or bus to train. Plus, your meals, onboard activities and entertainment are included in the cruise fare.

A Different Country (Almost) Every Day

A typical seven-day Mediterranean cruise will stop at five or six ports in several countries. Costa Cruises offers shore excursions that immerse you in the culture and history of the most popular European destinations.

Amazing Value

With the euro and dollar nearly equal in value for the first time in 20 years, your vacation budget can go farther, giving you up to 20% more buying power.

Also, Costa Cruises makes it easy to recoup the value-added tax, or VAT, charged in European Union countries while you are on the ship, avoiding lines at the airport.

In terms of value, Costa Cruises’ offers in the Med are unparalleled. Savvy shoppers can find cruise fares of about $100 to $150 per person per day — some as low as $65 — often with deals where kids sail free or amenities and add-ons such as drink packages and onboard credits are included.

Costa Cruises has been sailing the Mediterranean for more than 70 years, and is the undisputed leader in the region, offering 195 cruises of three to 17 days through 2024. And Costa’s “Cruise Tours” and “Golf & Cruise” packages are easy to book online.

For an immersive, European experience of the Mediterranean on an Italian-style cruise, contact your travel professional, visit costacruises.com or call Costa Cruises North America at 1-800-GO-COSTA (800-462-6782).

(NewsUSA) - With food costs on the rise, many people are looking for meals and recipes that stretch their dollar. According to The Peanut Institute, peanuts and peanut butter are some of the most affordable, nutrient-dense sources of protein available.

A one-ounce serving of peanuts, which is approximately 35 nuts, costs about 15 cents, delivers seven grams of plant-based protein plus 19 vitamins and minerals, heart-healthy fats and fiber.

“Research has shown that substituting plant protein for animal-based protein can help add years to your life,” said Dr. Samara Sterling, a nutrition scientist and research director for The Peanut Institute. “Making smart food choices each and every day adds up to a healthy lifestyle that’s beneficial for you and your family.”

Since they’re packed with vitamins and minerals, peanuts and peanut butter deliver both short-term and long-term benefits that can have a positive impact on every stage of life.

• For children, healthy development of the brain, bones, muscles and immune system. Peanuts also contain arginine, which is an amino acid associated with higher growth velocity.

• In adults, healthy weight management by delivering greater hunger satisfaction. A recent study found that participants who snacked on peanuts and peanut butter tended to consume fewer calories than those who ate other nuts, including almonds. 

• In older adults, protection against certain cancers with antioxidants and phytosterols that have been shown to be beneficial against brain, skin, stomach, colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

• For everyone, keeping minds sharp during aging thanks to compounds that increase brain blood flow, protect against Alzheimer’s disease and even fight anxiety and depression. Niacin in particular is associated with a reduced rate of cognitive decline.

Peanuts and peanut butter are great any time of day.

Check out this quick and healthy PB&J smoothie for a protein-enhanced start to the day.

You need:

• 1 cup frozen berries
• 1 large banana
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of natural or heated peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon of chopped peanuts

For extra texture and fiber, add half a cup of frozen cauliflower. Another option: Add 2 tablespoons of ground flax or peanut powder.

Blend together the frozen blueberries, banana, milk, peanut butter and, if desired, cauliflower, peanut powder or flax until very smooth.

For tasty recipes and health and nutrition information, visit PeanutInstitute.com.

Nearly 90% of the 350,000 people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year will not survive.

(NewsUSA) - ​​​​​​There’s more to be sweet about in February then just Valentine’s Day. February is National Cherry Month, and you can find sweet, juicy Chilean cherries in your supermarket all month long.

Although cherries are available domestically in the United States in the summer, they bring a much-needed burst of color and flavor during the cold winter months. Winter cherries come from the Southern Hemisphere, primarily from Chile in South America!

Some people say that National Cherry Month was inspired by the legend of George Washington, whose birthday is a February holiday, and who chopped down a cherry tree as a youngster.

No matter the reason, it’s the perfect season to enjoy Chilean cherries. Treat your Valentine, or yourself, with delicious cherry-filled treats for Valentine’s Day, such as Chocolate Cherry Brownie Bites. Just get some Chilean Cherries, a box of brownie mix, and a cup of melted dark chocolate, and you are good to go. Add some sprinkles for an extra touch! You can find the full recipe at www.fruitsfromchile.com.

Chilean cherries don’t just taste great, they’re also great for you!

Cherries are rich in antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, which is important to maintaining a healthy immune system. They also contain vitamins A and K, along with potassium, magnesium, and even some of the recommended daily amount of calcium. Cherries are a tasty source of fiber, too.

A one-cup serving of cherries provides 25% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, according to the Chilean Cherry Committee. Cherry consumption also may help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Finally, cherries contain a healthy dose of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin.

Cherries from Chile is celebrating this month with a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles to catch some of music’s biggest superstars in the 2023 “We Can Survive” concert. Check out www.audacy.com/contests/cherries-from-chile by February 4 to enter. The prize package includes two concert tickets, access to a VIP party at the Hollywood Bowl, airfare for two, and spending money.

“Cherrish Every Moment with Cherries from Chile.”