The Basics of Roofing 101

How to Manage CAD (Coronary Artery Disease)

Health care professionals have been raising awareness of CAD for years now and how patients can prevent and manage this disease that effects millions of people every year that also leads to heart attacks.  If you are a medical professional consider taking an ACLS course, especially if you work in areas like Emergency Department, ICU, or PACU.  This course helps in increasing the knowledge of heart arrhythmias and how to intervene with the appropriate treatments.

CAD effects the vessels of the heart.  It damages the vessels and causes blockages to occur that restricts blood flow to the muscle of the heart, leading to heart attack or even death.  Diet, Exercise and Medications can help in managing CAD.  Although the ACLS course does not include CAD in it’s algorithms, it certainly includes heart attacks and how to intervene quickly and provide the appropriate treatments.  Diet is important in preventing or helping the disease.  Low fat and increase in vegetables are highly recommended.  Also, eliminate saturated fats.  These types of fats are very harmful for your vessels.

Exercise helps strengthen the heart’s muscle.  It is recommended to perform at least 30 minutes a day three times a week.  The ACLS course is approved by the American Heart Association and most medical professionals should consider taking this course and the certification is valid for 2 years.  Exercise also helps with the cholesterol portion to help keep the vessels from clogging with plaque.

It is important to keep follow up appointments with your primary care doctor for recommendations in medications that may be needed to help with CAD.  Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor are all medications that may be needed to help with CAD in preventing plaque from building up inside the vessels.  The ACLS course will teach you how to recognize heart related problems and how you should follow the algorithm for each particular arrhythmia.  Medications will not cure CAD, but will help in prevention.  Blood work will also need to be done on a regular basis to help regulate medicine and monitor cholesterol levels.

Roof leaks are a big problem for homeowners. If left unattended to they many cause huge problems in the near future. I wanted to take a minute and try to explain some of the few leaks that you may be experiencing. Be sure to contact your Atlanta roofing contractor.

Valleys are where two roof planes intersect. This area is where a lot of rain may run down the roof in this area. Some roofers use roll roofing to seal this area, others use ice and water shield barrier and also lace the shingles together for extra protection. Sometimes the water will run under the shingles and cause leaks if not properly installed or if the leak barrier is worn down due to a lot of storm weather, sun, and humidity.

Step flashing may be causing a leak. The step flashing is located where a roof climbs along a vertical wall. If the flashing is not properly installed under the shingles and sealed with caulking it will cause leaks and begin to rust.

Shingles must be properly installed for they will have a lot of wear and tear on them thru the years. Shingles may become loose or even missing after a large rain or hail storm. This can cause leaking in that area.

Nail holes may be small but can cause a BIG leak. After several years, nails may become loose and after time rust. Some nails even pop out all together and leave these tiny holes. Over time the rain will start to make its way into the hole and cause problems.

Plumbing flashings are also known to leak after time. These plumbing flashings may need to be replaced. But some plumbing flashings may only need to be sealed.

Then there is Chimney leaks. These are prone to leak around flashing at the base of the chimney You may also need a new chimney cap . Chimney caps can become loose over time and rust causing leaks as well. Sometimes a ice and water shield barrier may need to be applied to the brick of the chimney to stop the leak. A roofing contractor can usually detect where the leak is coming in.

If a new roof has been installed and a leak becomes present, you should contact the roofing company that installed the roof and they should come out and inspect your roof for you. In come cases it may be detected that it is not something that was actually anything they could have done different so a service charge may apply. Always make sure to ask if there will be a service charge for a return visit. When a roof repair is completed and payment is made you should receive a warranty for the work preformed and if there is any issue with the same leak the roofing contractor should come back out free of charge in the warranty time frame you ahve been given.