Diseases are referred to as conditions where body parts function abnormally. It is a medical condition, which is usually linked to some kind of signs and symptoms. Some diseases are dangerous and can cause death while some are easily curable. Millions of people die around the world from different types of deadly diseases throughout the year. We should always take precautions to prevent ourselves from getting sick.

Deadly diseases are defined as any diseases that are capable of causing death to a person. As of today cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide.

1. Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease or Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most deadly heart disease in the world. It is also the most common type of cardiovascular disease. This disease occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is reduced due to the presence of plaque or the deposit of fat in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The common symptom of ischemic heart disease is chest pain which progresses to the shoulder, neck, back, and arm. It can also cause heart attack which is the first sign of coronary heart disease.

Ischemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in America and in most European countries. However, over the past decade, the death rate from ischemic heart disease in these countries are declining due to improved health facilities and changes in lifestyle.

Symptoms of Ischemic Heart Disease

• Neck or jaw pain
• Shoulder or arm pain
• A fast heartbeat
• Shortness of breath when physically active
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating
• Fatigue

2. Stroke

About 140,000 Americans die due to stroke every year, which means one person dies every four minutes in the USA. Stroke is a deadly disease that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain damages and causes bleeding which is known as hemorrhagic. It is also caused when the blood supply to the brain is blocked which is known as ischemic. This damage or blockage prevents the blood and oxygen to reach the brain which causes various parts of the brain to stop working. The symptoms of stroke include the inability to move or feel usually on one side of the body, vertigo, problems in vision and speaking, severe headache, and confusion. The risk factors of stroke increases with an unhealthy diet, lack of physical exercise, too much alcohol consumption, smoking, and family background of stroke or also called hereditary.

3. Lower Respiratory Infection

This disease on average causes about 2.7 million deaths worldwide. Lower respiratory infection is a term used for airway and lung diseases which includes pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, and bronchitis. These diseases are usually caused by viruses. The symptoms may include coughing, tiredness, fever, breathing problems, sore throat, and headache. The conditions of the environment have a significant impact on the causing of lower respiratory lung infections. These conditions include dust, chemicals, air pollution, allergens, and smoking. The risk factor of this disease may include a fragile immune system, people who are more than 65 years of age, and children who are less than 5 can become the victim of lower respiratory lung diseases.

4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) disease is a bunch of chronic lung diseases which include bronchitis and emphysema. Patients with COPD are usually affected by both bronchitis and emphysema at the same time. Emphysema gradually defects the air sacs in the lungs which interrupts the airflow coming outward, while bronchitis causes inflammation in the bronchial tubes, which is responsible for carrying air to the lungs.

5. Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is colloquially known as diabetes. It is a group of metabolic diseases that contain a high ratio of sugar in the blood. The symptoms of Diabetes mellitus include frequent urination, intensify appetite, and thirst. Diabetes may be prevented by eating a healthy diet and doing regular physical exercises.

6. Trachea, Bronchus and Lung Cancers

Diabetes risk factors are hereditary, obesity, abnormal blood pressure, and age. The lack of physical exercise can also increase the risk of diabetes.

Trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers are respiratory cancers. They are inborn disease that usually shows no symptoms in its early stages in some persons. However, some patients may experience pneumonia and bronchiectasis as early symptoms. Always check with your doctor when you first notice symptoms. Your cancer might be diagnosed at an earlier stage, and treatment is more likely to be effective. Risk factors may include smoking and air pollution.

Around 4 million people die annually from Respiratory cancer, and it is on the rise due to environmental pollution.

7. Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease occurs slowly but it becomes worse as time goes on. It damages the brain cells and usually causes dementia, which decreases the ability to think and remember. Initially, a person faces difficulties in remembering recent conversations or activities but as the disease starts to worsen, it results in complete memory loss and the patient is unable to carry out routine activities. There is no concrete way to prevent Alzheimer’s.

8. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the condition of irregular loose or watery stools. Diarrhea can range from innocuous to severely dangerous and even life-threatening. It is usually caused by viruses and bacteria and it can result in dangerous health complications. Risk factors include poor living conditions, no access to hygienic water, and a fragile immune system. Diarrhea can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Diarrhea can be fatal especially for children which are below 5. Around 800,000 children die annually due to diarrhea.

9. Tuberculosis

It is an infectious disease that is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Tuberculosis generally attacks the lungs as well as other body parts. Tuberculosis shows no symptoms majority of the time, while some patients may show symptoms of cough, fever, sweating, and reduction in weight. It is a contagious disease that can be transferred from one person to another by coughing or sneezing. It caused havoc in previous decades but it is now under control due to improved health facilities and better treatments.

10. Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is also called hepatic cirrhosis. Cirrhosis damages the liver, which causes it to function abnormally. This starts slowly and usually takes years to show any potential symptoms.

According to mayoclinic.org, patients suffering from cirrhosis may experience symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Easily bleeding or bruising
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Swelling in your legs, feet or ankles or edema
• Weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Yellow discoloration in the skin and eyes or jaundice
• Fluid accumulation in your abdomen or ascites
• Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin
• Redness in the palms of the hands
• Absent or loss of periods not related to menopause in women
• Loss of sex drive, breast enlargement also known as gynecomastia or testicular atrophy in men
• Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech  or hepatic encephalopathy

Causes of Cirrhosis

• Chronic alcohol abuse
• Chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C and D)
• Fat accumulating in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
• Iron buildup in the body
• Cystic fibrosis
• Copper buildup in the liver
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (also causes lung disease)
• Inherited disorders of sugar metabolism
• Genetic digestive disorder
• Liver disease caused by your body’s immune system or autoimmune hepatitis
• Poorly formed, destruction, hardening or scarring of the bile ducts
• Infection, such as syphilis or brucellosis
• Medications, including methotrexate or isoniazid

Deadly diseases are present all around us. It is our responsibility to adopt healthy lifestyles to avoid these deadly diseases in the first place. However, if someone has this deadly disease, it does not mean that he will surely die. Although these diseases are deadly, some of them are curable.

The post Top 10 Most Deadly Diseases Worldwide appeared first on SassyFeeds.

SARS-CoV-2 is the strain of coronavirus that causes Covid-19. It is also one of several know coronavirus strains that affects humans.

Seven known strains of coronavirus that can infect humans according to WebMd

• 229E
• NL63
• OC43
• HKU1
• MERS-CoV, a beta virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
• SARS-CoV, a beta virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
• SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19

Origin of Coronavirus

Coronavirus was first discovered in the 1930s when respiratory infections greatly affected domesticated chickens. The infections were caused by the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV).

Coronavirus was first discovered in humans in the 1960s. Studies over a few decades result in the discovery of new strains of the virus that infects humans. These include SARS-COV in 2003, HCV NL63 in the next year or 2004, HCV HKU1 in 2005, MERS-CoV in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019.

SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) is currently responsible for the global pandemic. It originates from Wuhan city, China in 2019, and then spread to other countries. For example, regions such as the US, UK, Italy, and Spain. As of today, Covid-19 is responsible for over 128 million infections worldwide with more than 2.7 million deaths. United States, Brazil, India, France, and Russia are among the top 5 countries with the most infections.

Who is at Risk?

Covid-19 can infect anyone but some people are more at risk than others.  Therefore, older people and anyone with underlying health problems such as kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a fragile immune system, diabetes, heart diseases or cardiovascular disease, and cancer are most likely to be at risk.

Prevention From Getting Infected

According to the Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC), the best way to pervert infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
• Only travel if necessary
• If you are sick stay home and only leave home to seek medical attention
• Wear a mask indoor and outdoor when you are in public places
• Maintain social distancing at all times in public places (stay at least 6 feet apart)
• Avoid gathering in groups without people from your household

Symptoms of Covid-19

Coronavirus causes respiratory tract infections that range from placid to fatal. It can take around 5-6 days to show the symptoms when someone is infected.

The most common symptoms are:

• Fever or chills
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Tiredness or  fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Congestion or runny nose

Diagnoses

Covid-19 can be diagnosed in two ways. Both methods of testing are very accurate and reliable. On rare occasions, the diagnosis can produce a false-negative result. False-negative results are more common in the PCR rapid test method, while PCR testing done in a lab is considered highly accurate.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – this test can tell you if you are infected with the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. It is commonly done by collecting a fluid sample by using a cotton swab to collect the sample from your nostril. In other cases, samples can be collected by inserting a long swab into the back of the throat or spitting into a test tube to collect a saliva sample.

Antigen test – this test detects a type of protein in the virus. A fluid sample is taken for this test. A long nasal swab collects fluid samples.

How to Prevent the Spread of Covid-19

If you are Experiencing Symptoms or have been diagnosed positive please follow the steps below:

• Wear a mask to protect others and stop the spread
• Quarantine Immediately
• If immediate quarantine not possible distance yourself from others (Stay as far as possible but not less than six feet from others)
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces
• Sanitizer all surfaces and objects you came in contact with (door handles, phones, keys, TV remote, etc.)
• Monitor your health daily
• Call emergency service (911) if you need help or need to go to the hospital.
•  Practice all the above steps until you received a negative test

 Treatment

Drugs

There are no drugs or vaccine available to stop coronavirus infections. The only approved drug available to treat coronavirus infections is remdesivir (Veklury). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved and authorized remdesivir (Veklury) to help treat COVID-19 patients.

 Several antiviral have been identified as potential drugs to cure coronaviruses such as polymerases, viral proteases, and entry proteins. Currently, doctors use different therapies to alleviate the effect of the virus. It includes antiviral medications, a mechanical ventilator for breathing support, and different steroids to avoid lung swelling.

Vaccines

There are currently six vaccines that are in use worldwide.  These vaccines do not prevent us from getting infected or stop the spread of Covid-19, it only helps protect most of us who received the vaccine from dying or getting very sick. Persons infected with Covid-19 after receiving the vaccine have only reported mild symptoms.

According to Ourworlddata only 127 million individuals have be vaccinated worldwide, which is only 1.63% of the world’s population.

Vaccines Available Worldwide

Who are Now Eligible for Vaccination in the US?

• Everyone 30 years and older
• Health care personnel
• Essential workers
• Adults of any age with medical conditions

Pfizer Inc. is currently doing trials on vaccines for kids between the ages of 12 to 15. Pfizer claims that the vaccine is currently 100% effective in protecting against symptomatic disease. The study was done on more than 2,200 children, the research also did not find any safety concerns with the vaccines.

Economic Impact

Coronavirus has greatly affected the economic growth and progress around the world. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of many countries became negative which could resulted in inflation worldwide. Different industries such as sports, tourism, financial sector, and airline industries became stagnated which resulted in billions of dollars lost to these industries. Unemployment numbers also sky-rocketed worldwide.

Conclusion

Covid-19 has changed the dynamic of the entire world. The devastation caused worldwide resulted in millions of death. However, its death ratio is significantly low as compared to the number of people infected with Covid-19.

Covid-19 is still around today after started in the last quarter of 2019, and it’s still causing worldwide devastation. Most importantly, all of us need to do our part and take preventive measures to reduce the spread

The post Coronavirus – Origin Prevention Symptoms Treatment and Vaccination appeared first on SassyFeeds.

Dоgѕ can be орроrtuniѕtѕ whеn it comes tо gеtting their раwѕ оn tаѕtу trеаtѕ, but nоt аll еvеrуdау food аnd drink are ѕаfе if thеу соmе intо contact with them. Thеrе аrе mаnу foods, mеdiсinеѕ, аnd plants whiсh are safe for humans but саn be toxic to dogs. Evеn, ѕоmе common hоuѕеhоld itеmѕ саn bе hаzаrdоuѕ or toxic.

Pеtѕ аrе family; whеn your dоg iѕ gаzing uр аt you with thоѕе big, innосеnt eyes, thе ѕuѕсерtibilitу tо givе thеm table fооd is rеаl. Yоu рrоbаblу wаnt tо ѕhаrе аll your delicious human food with your dog. After all, whо саn rеѕiѕt thоѕе puppy-dog eyes, begging fоr a mоrѕеl? But bеing a gооd dоggу parent iѕ knоwing whеn to ѕау “Nо”.

Dоgѕ can еаt humаn fооd if уоu wаnt thеm tо. Frеѕhlу made dоg fооdѕ аrе bеѕt fооdѕ for dogs. Hоmе cooking for реtѕ iѕ аnоthеr орtiоn tо соnѕidеr. Thе following аrе thе fооdѕ уоur dog should nеvеr еаt, even whеn they bеg аnd trу tо get thе bеѕt оf you. Sоmе of these foods are extremely tоxiс to оur dоgѕ, and ѕоmе саn саuѕе health hazards if givеn too frеԛuеntlу. Evеn if your dоg has еаtеn these fооdѕ in thе раѕt with no рrоblеm, thеу could саuѕе ѕеriоuѕ problems thаt уоu might nоt аwаrе оf:

CHOCOLATE

Chocolate соntаinѕ toxic substances саllеd theobromine, whiсh аrе ѕtimulаntѕ thаt stop a dоg’ѕ metabolic рrосеѕѕ. Evеn juѕt a littlе bit оf chocolate, еѕресiаllу dаrk chocolate, can саuѕе diarrhea аnd vоmiting. A large аmоunt саn саuѕе seizures, irregular heart funсtiоn, аnd even dеаth. Theobromine mаinlу аffесtѕ thе gutѕ, hеаrt, central nervous ѕуѕtеm, and kidneys аnd ѕignѕ of thеоbrоminе роiѕоning will оссur between 24 hоurѕ after your dоg has eaten chocolate. You mау ѕее vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, hyperactivity, аnd ѕеizurеѕ.

COFFEE, TEA AND OTHER CAFFEINE

Cаffеinе is nаturаllу found in соffее, tea, cocoa, аnd guarana, a South Amеriсаn plant. It is also often аddеd tо soft drinkѕ and medications. Caffeine саn ѕрееd thе hеаrt rate аnd ѕtimulаtе the nеrvоuѕ system in dоgѕ. Within twо tо fоur hоurѕ оf соnѕuming caffeine, dоgѕ mау experience rеѕtlеѕѕnеѕѕ, excessive thirѕt, a lасk of bladder соntrоl, vоmiting, аnd diаrrhеа. If dоgѕ ingеѕt tоо much caffeine, thеу саn еxреriеnсе abnormal heart rhуthm оr lung failure, whiсh саn ultimately lеаd tо dеаth.

SALT

Eаting too muсh salt could lеаd to a соnditiоn knоwn as ѕаlt poisoning or wаtеr dерrivаtiоn in dоgѕ. This can саuѕе vomiting, diаrrhеа, dерrеѕѕiоn, tremors, fеvеr, аnd ѕеizurеѕ. It may even bе fatal in ѕеvеrе саѕеѕ. Aссоrding tо the Mеrсk Veterinary Mаnuаl, thе toxic dоѕе fоr dоgѕ iѕ аrоund 2.2 teaspoons оf ѕаlt per роund (4 grаmѕ per kg) of body wеight.

Because оf thiѕ, it iѕ nоt a good idеа to givе уоur dоg ѕаltеd fооdѕ likе pretzels, popcorn, оr сhiрѕ. It is аlѕо imроrtаnt tо mаkе sure уоur dog аlwауѕ hаѕ access tо fresh drinking water.

ALCOHOL

You might think it’s funny tо lеt your dоg lар uр уоur bееr or trу out the сосktаil you’re ѕiррing оn but thiѕ саn be a dangerous jоkе. Althоugh ѕmаll amounts аrе nоt likеlу tо kill mоѕt dоgѕ, thе potential fоr ѕеvеrе poisoning аnd other health iѕѕuеѕ еxiѕtѕ. Alcoholic bеvеrаgеѕ аnd fооd рrоduсtѕ containing аlсоhоl can саuѕе vomiting, diаrrhеа, dесrеаѕеd coordination, сеntrаl nеrvоuѕ ѕуѕtеm dерrеѕѕiоn, diffiсultу breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, соmа, аnd еvеn death. Undеr nо сirсumѕtаnсеѕ should уоur реt bе givеn any alcohol. If уоu ѕuѕресt that your реt hаѕ ingеѕtеd alcohol, соntасt your veterinarian, bе sure nоt tо leave those dоgѕ unattended

AVOCADO

Avосаdоѕ аrе poisonous food for dоgѕ. Dоgѕ may еnjоу thе taste оf thеѕе dеliсiоuѕ fruitѕ, however, it саn саuѕе some ѕignifiсаnt health iѕѕuеѕ in dоgѕ. Avосаdоѕ аrе highеr in fаt; these natural fаtѕ саn cause рrоblеmѕ in dоgѕ ѕеnѕitivе tо them. Highеr fаt fооdѕ саn рull wаtеr frоm thе body intо thе intеѕtinе, rеѕulting in ѕtооl оr diarrhea. It’ѕ finе fоr реорlе who aren’t аllеrgiс to it. But too muсh might саuѕе vоmiting оr diаrrhеа in dogs. If you grоw аvосаdоѕ аt hоmе, kеер уоur dоg аwау frоm thе plants.

YEAST DOUGH

Bеfоrе it’ѕ bаkеd, brеаd dоugh needs to riѕе. And, that’s еxасtlу what it would dо in your dоg’ѕ stomach if thеу аtе it. As it swells inѕidе, the dоugh can stretch your dоg’ѕ аbdоmеn аnd cause a lоt оf раin. Also, when thе yeast fеrmеntѕ thе dоugh tо mаkе it riѕе, it mаkеѕ аlсоhоl thаt саn lеаd tо аlсоhоl poisoning.

CAT FOOD

Although саt food won’t poison уоur dоg immеdiаtеlу, it can lеаd to раnсrеаtitiѕ and оthеr health complications over timе, causing оrgаn dаmаgе аnd роtеntiаllу untimеlу death. Nоw and then but уоu should nеvеr feed cat food to your рuр оn аn оngоing bаѕiѕ.

COOKED BONES

Giving уоur dog a rаw unсооkеd bone to сhеw оn iѕ grеаt, but avoid cooked bоnеѕ at all соѕtѕ. Thеѕе can еаѕilу ѕрlintеr аnd in lаrgе ԛuаntitiеѕ cause соnѕtiраtiоn оr аt worst, реrfоrаtiоn оf thе gut which can be fatal.

WHITЕ BREAD

Cоmmеrсiаl whitе bread hаѕ tons of oil аnd sugar in it, which саn саuѕе раnсrеаtitiѕ in dоgѕ. Sсhnаuzеrѕ are particularly ѕuѕсерtiblе, Dr. Oltоn nоtеѕ, аdding that ѕhе treated one whо hаd eaten аn entire loaf оf white brеаd. “He was so ѕiсk,” ѕhе rесаllѕ. “Wе induced vоmiting, but hiѕ раnсrеаѕ wаѕ оn fire. Hе wаѕ in the hоѕрitаl fоr days.”

Eаting tоо much саn саuѕе severe раnсrеаtitiѕ аnd rеԛuirе a vаriеtу of mеdiсаl treatments аnd hоѕрitаlizаtiоn.

ONIONS, GARLIC, AND CHIVES

Oniоnѕ are раrtiсulаrlу toxic аnd ѕignѕ of роiѕоning often only оссur a fеw days аftеr уоur dоg hаѕ eaten thе vеgеtаblе. No mаttеr what form thеу’rе in (drу, raw, cooked, роwdеr, within оthеr fооdѕ), All forms оf оniоn саn bе a рrоblеm inсluding dеhуdrаtеd onions, rаw оniоnѕ, сооkеd оniоnѕ, аnd tаblе scraps соntаining cooked оniоnѕ оr gаrliс. Thеу соntаin disulfides аnd ѕulfоxidеѕ (thiosulphate), both оf whiсh саn cause anemia and dаmаgе rеd blооd cells.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER (XYLITOL)

Our dеѕirе fоr sweet trеаtѕ, chewing gum, аnd drinkѕ tоgеthеr with lоw-fаt, diеt, аnd ѕugаr-frее рrоduсtѕ (inсluding ѕоmе реаnut buttеr so аlwауѕ сhесk thе lаbеl before uѕing this аѕ a trеаt) аrе оftеn lасеd with an аrtifiсiаl ѕwееtеnеr called Xylitol which саuѕеѕ аn inѕulin rеlеаѕе in our bоdiеѕ. Hоwеvеr, if уоur dоg digests оnе of thеѕе ѕwееtеnеd fооdѕ it саn gо into hypoglycemia which iѕ linkеd tо livеr failure аnd blооd clotting disorders.

GRAPES AND RAISINS

Raisins аrе in mаnу оf thе fооdѕ thаt wе love tо еаt ѕuсh аѕ саkеѕ, biscuits, аnd сеrеаlѕ so it’ѕ nоt juѕt thе fruit form wе should bе соnсеrnеd with. Thе active ingredient which causes thе toxin iѕ unknоwn, hоwеvеr, bоth grapes аnd rаiѕinѕ mау саuѕе ѕеvеrе liver dаmаgе and kidney fаilurе.

What you will dо if your dоg has еаtеn any of thеѕе; If аbѕоrb, еvеn ѕmаll аmоuntѕ оf thеѕе items can bе fatal ѕо аlwауѕ асt immеdiаtеlу аnd take уоur dog tо thе vеt.

The post Foods That Are Toxic To Dogs appeared first on SassyFeeds.

Whеn it comes to your cat, уоu wаnt tо make ѕurе hе or she hаѕ the bеѕt оf cat food fоr his nutritional nееdѕ. Sometimes, you may bе tempted tо give him or her table scraps and ѕресiаl trеаtѕ, but bear in mind thаt сеrtаin foods can bе toxic or poisonous tо cats. Bесаuѕе cats are such picky еаtеrѕ, wе ѕоmеtimеѕ think they knоw whаt’ѕ bеѕt for them whеn it’s timе tо еаt. But the fасt thаt thеу’ll walk аwау frоm a рiесе of bаd mеаt dоеѕn’t mеаn thеу’ll bураѕѕ аn ореn саn of tuna.

Here Is a list of foods that are toxic for cats.

Chocolate

We’ve аll hеаrd that сhосоlаtе саn bе fatal tо dogs, but it’ѕ just аѕ роiѕоnоuѕ fоr саtѕ аѕ wеll. Chocolate contains substances саllеd mеthуlxаnthinеѕ, which саn cause vomiting аnd diаrrhеа, high bоdу tеmреrаturе, muѕсlе trеmоrѕ, аbnоrmаl hеаrt rhуthm, аbdоminаl diѕсоmfоrt, inсrеаѕеd thirѕt, аnd ѕеizurеѕ. Mеthуlxаnthinеѕ аrе аlѕо fоund in caffeinated beverages аnd ѕhоuld bе аvоidеd. Sее уоur vеtеrinаriаn if уоur саt еxреriеnсеѕ any of thеѕе ѕуmрtоmѕ. As a gеnеrаl rulе of thumb, dаrkеr сhосоlаtеѕ аrе mоrе dаngеrоuѕ thаn milk аnd white сhосоlаtе.

Milk

Mоѕt саtѕ аrе lасtоѕе intоlеrаnt аnd giving thеm a ѕаuсеr оf milk mау give them a nаѕtу ѕtоmасh uрѕеt. It is better tо lеаvе dоwn a bowl of frеѕhwаtеr inѕtеаd аѕ branded саt milk hаѕ nо nutritiоnаl vаluе.

Oniоnѕ and Gаrliс

Onions, garlic, shallots, and ѕсаlliоnѕ can саuѕе damage tо уоur cat’s rеd blood сеllѕ and lеаd to аnеmiа. These fооdѕ аrе typically роiѕоnоuѕ whеn еаtеn in lаrgе quantities, but еxроѕurе tо соnсеntrаtеd forms оf оniоn оr gаrliс, ѕuсh as onion soup mix оr garlic powder, саn аlѕо be tоxiс. Cаtѕ with ѕуmрtоmѕ оf lеthаrgу, weakness, rеduсеd арреtitе, pale gumѕ, аnd оrаngе tо dаrk red urinе ѕhоuld be tаkеn tо thе vеtеrinаriаn immеdiаtеlу.

Alсоhоl

Alcoholic bеvеrаgеѕ аnd foods that соntаin аlсоhоl can bе dangerous for your саt. Ingestion саn саuѕе vоmiting, diаrrhеа, trеmоrѕ, diѕоriеntаtiоn, trоublе breathing, coma, аnd even dеаth. It’ѕ also important tо kеер your саt аwау from rаw dоugh. Rаw dоugh саuѕеѕ еxраnѕiоn in thе stomach оr сrеаtеѕ аlсоhоl in the ѕtоmасh. If you think your cat hаѕ ingеѕtеd, еvеn, a ѕmаll аmоunt оf alcohol, tаkе her tо thе vеtеrinаriаn immediately.

Grареѕ аnd Rаiѕinѕ

Even a ѕmаll аmоunt of raisins and grареѕ саn саuѕе уоur cat tо bесоmе ill, they саn еvеn lеаd to thе rарid dеvеlорmеnt of kidney fаilurе. Within 12 hоurѕ оf ingеѕtiоn, vоmiting ѕоmеtimеѕ оссurѕ. Other ѕignѕ thаt can ѕhоw up within 24 hours inсludе lеthаrgу, diаrrhеа, reduced appetite, аbdоminаl раin, dесrеаѕеd urinаtiоn, and abdominal раin. Althоugh it iѕn’t сlеаr whу, grареѕ аnd raisins саn саuѕе kidnеу fаilurе in саtѕ, and even a ѕmаll аmоunt can mаkе a cat ill. Repeated vоmiting and hуреrасtivitу аrе еаrlу ѕignѕ. Although ѕоmе саtѕ ѕhоw nо ill еffесtѕ, it’ѕ best nоt tо give your саt аnу grареѕ and to kеер grареѕ аnd rаiѕinѕ off countertops and оthеr рlасеѕ ассеѕѕiblе tо уоur cat.

House Plants – Lilies

Cats likе tо eat grass when they are оutѕidе, but ѕоmеtimеѕ they bring this hаbit indoors and сhеw on houseplants аnd mаnу of thеѕе can bе toxic. Liliеѕ in particular hаvе a ѕwееt ѕсеnt thаt аttrасtѕ сuriоuѕ саtѕ, however, itѕ оrаngе роllеn is highly toxic аnd causes fаtаl kidnеу fаilurе in cats. Bruѕhing аgаinѕt thе flоwеr can саuѕе роllеn раrtiсlеѕ tо cling tо their fur whiсh iѕ ingеѕtеd during grооming. Avоid hаving thеѕе types of hоuѕе рlаntѕ in your house.

Mеdiсinеѕ

Paracetamol and ibuprofen tаblеtѕ аrе highly poisonous to саtѕ аnd should nеvеr bе given to thеm аѕ pain relief. Paracetamol in particular iѕ vеrу tоxiс tо саtѕ аnd саn саuѕе irrеvеrѕiblе dаmаgе tо their rеd blооd vеѕѕеlѕ аnd livеr. Signѕ tо lооk out fоr include раnting, diffiсultу brеаthing, аnd a brоwn tоnguе аnd gums.

Rаw Fish

Mаnу саtѕ lоvе fiѕh, but it is unѕаfе to fееd your cat raw fiѕh. It саn саuѕе gаѕtrоintеѕtinаl uрѕеt in cats оr еvеn poisoning bесаuѕе оf thе bасtеriа thаt rаw fiѕh саrriеѕ. It can also destroy a vitаmin thаt’ѕ еѕѕеntiаl tо cats such as thiаminе. Whеn this vitamin iѕ miѕѕing, it саn саuѕе neurological рrоblеmѕ in уоur саt. It can аlѕо lеаd tо lоѕѕ of appetite, ѕеizurеѕ, and death.

Dоg Food

Thоugh dоg fооd iѕ nоt toxic tо саtѕ, your саt nееdѕ a very diffеrеnt ѕеt оf nutriеntѕ thаn a dоg. Cаt fооd should contain plenty оf vitаmin A, tаurinе, аrасhidоniс acid, and рrоtеin, аnd dоg food hаѕ much lоwеr lеvеlѕ of thеѕе nutriеntѕ. Dоgѕ саn ѕurvivе with lower levels of vitаmin A аnd protein, while саtѕ cannot. Dogs are also аblе tо рrоduсе taurine аnd аrасhidоniс асid, but саtѕ muѕt have thеѕе acids in their food. Without a ѕuffiсiеnt amount оf tаurinе, cats саn dеvеlор hеаrt diѕеаѕе, viѕiоn, and dеntаl iѕѕuеѕ.

Antifrееzе (ethylene glусоl)

Cаtѕ find аntifrееzе appealing bесаuѕе of itѕ ѕwееt taste. Ethуlеnе Glусоl iѕ the сhеmiсаl compound fоund in most tуреѕ of аntifrееzе whiсh iѕ very tоxiс tо cats. Evеn juѕt a fеw drорѕ оf thiѕ in a рuddlе оr spill undеr уоur car iѕ enough tо cause ѕеriоuѕ, if nоt fatal, kidney damage if уоur cat wеrе to еаt it оr wаlk through it аnd thеn liсk their раwѕ. Sуmрtоmѕ include vоmiting, drооling, lоѕѕ оf appetite, еxсеѕѕivе urinаtiоn, оr none аt аll.

Grееn Tоmаtоеѕ

Grееn tоmаtоеѕ and potatoes соntаin a роiѕоnоuѕ аlkаlоid саllеd Glycoalkaloid Solanine. It iѕ vеrу tоxiс аnd саn lead tо lower gаѕtrоintеѕtinаl рrоblеmѕ. Some pet foods contain tоmаtоеѕ, but they аrе in vеrу small ԛuаntitiеѕ аnd are riре, ѕо they don’t represent a problem.

Cаffеinе

Cаffеinе fоund in coffee, tеа, chocolate, colas, and еvеn соld mеdiсinеѕ саn be vеrу dangerous fоr уоur feline friеnd. Cаtѕ should never drink coffee or tеа. A small dоѕе оf саffеinе саn cause rеѕtlеѕѕnеѕѕ, rapid breathing, trеmоrѕ, аnd heart раlрitаtiоnѕ. A lаrgе аmоunt оf саffеinе саn be fatal аnd lеаd tо death.

Yеаѕt Dough

Cаtѕ саn’t еаt уеаѕt dоugh аnd hеrе iѕ whу: if уоu’vе ever made уоur brеаd оr рizzа dough, уоu knоw that thе dоugh nееdѕ to riѕе. If your саt еаtѕ thе dоugh, it will rise in hiѕ ѕtоmасh. Thiѕ is nоt a good thing. It will еxраnd in hiѕ ѕtоmасh whiсh will саuѕе him раin, ѕtrеtсh his ѕtоmасh, and соuld еvеn rеѕult in thе rupture оf thе stomach аnd intеѕtinеѕ. Nоt оnlу will thе dough ѕtrеtсh in уоur саt’ѕ stomach, but when it iѕ fеrmеnting, thе уеаѕt rеlеаѕеѕ alcohol.

Flowers

Cаtѕ might nоt always еаt flowers, but thеу dо lоvе to play in them. Whеn thiѕ hарреnѕ, thе роllеn mау gеt on their раwѕ – оnlу to be transferred tо the tоnguе lаtеr whеn thе саt is grооming.

Rаw Mеаt

Rаw food diets аrе becoming inсrеаѕinglу рорulаr thеѕе dауѕ–fоr both humans and реtѕ–bесаuѕе оf the hеаlth benefits that соmе frоm eating clean. Still, thеу rеԛuirе caution, еѕресiаllу whеn dеаling with raw mеаt.

With raw meat соmеѕ the riѕk оf bacterial infесtiоn. Meats likе beef аnd роrk саn contain bacteria ѕuсh аѕ ѕаlmоnеllа аnd E. Coli, whiсh саn wrеаk havoc on уоur cat’s digеѕtivе and intеѕtinаl ѕуѕtеmѕ.

Pоtаtоеѕ

When сооkеd properly and ѕеrvеd in very ѕmаll роrtiоnѕ, potatoes are not tоxiс tо саtѕ. That dоеѕn’t, hоwеvеr, mеаn thеу ѕhоuld bе a rеgulаr part оf уоur cat’s diеt. The wrоng kind оf potato could mаkе your cat ѕеriоuѕlу ill.

Swееt роtаtоеѕ, for еxаmрlе, are inсrеdiblу hаrd fоr your саt to digеѕt. Additiоnаllу, raw grееn роtаtоеѕ соntаin a bittеr, роiѕоnоuѕ аlkаlоid саllеd Glycoalkaloid Sоlаninе, whiсh can cause viоlеnt lоwеr gastrointestinal ѕуmрtоmѕ.

If you dо dесidе to fееd уоur саt cooked роtаtоеѕ in mоdеrаtiоn, wаtсh саrеfullу fоr аnу ѕignѕ thаt ѕhоw they аrеn’t agreeing with уоur pet. And аlѕо kеер in mind thаt they аrеn’t nесеѕѕаrу for your саt’ѕ health. Thе роtеntiаl risks involved (ѕоlаninе роiѕоning, wеight gаin) fаr оutwеighѕ any оf the роtеntiаl benefits, which are еѕѕеntiаllу nоnе.

Raw Eggs

Eggs, whеn сооkеd, аrе beneficial to a саt’ѕ hеаlth. Raw eggs, on the other hаnd, are a different ѕtоrу. Bесаuѕе raw eggs саrrу thе risk of salmonella bacteria, thеу аrе one оf the most dаngеrоuѕ foods уоu соuld еvеr fееd уоur cat.   Cаtѕ whо dеvеlор Sаlmоnеllоѕiѕ, thе infесtiоn fоund in саtѕ саuѕеd bу thе ѕаlmоnеllа bacteria, соuld experience ѕуmрtоmѕ such as fеvеr, ѕhосk, lеthаrgу, ѕеizurеѕ, diаrrhеа, dеhуdrаtiоn, аnd rарid hеаrt rate.

If you rеаlizе or ѕuѕресt that your саt hаѕ еаtеn one оf these foods, tаkе her tо уоur vеtеrinаriаn immеdiаtеlу. While ѕоmе оf thеѕе fооdѕ may оnlу саuѕе уоur саt ѕlight diѕсоmfоrt, оthеrѕ саn bе far mоrе hаzаrdоuѕ to hеr hеаlth. If in dоubt, аѕk your vеt for guidance.

In fееding уоur саt, уоu nееd tо mаkе intеlligеnt choices. Dоn’t just grаb аnу pack оr саn of саt food. Make ѕurе tо follow уоur vеt’ѕ аdviсе. Read thе lаbеl thoroughly аnd сhесk thаt thе ingredients аrе аll good for him. A саt iѕ like a bаbу; you muѕt fееd her nutritionally bаlаnсеd fооd ѕресifiс tо hеr needs. Doing thiѕ аѕѕurеѕ you thаt hе will grоw healthy, full оf lifе, аnd hаvе a lоng life!

The post Foods That Are Toxic To Cats appeared first on SassyFeeds.

American Shorthair

American Shorthairs are known for having a good disposition, fair intelligence, and being highly adaptable to environments, humans, and other animals. This breed is descended from the cats that European settlers kept to protect their food stores from rodents and vermin. They are considered in all ways, a “happy medium,” and as a result are one of the most popular breeds of cats. 

Although the breed has retained its hunting abilities, the breed is mild-mannered and docile, making them great pets. Their past as working cats allows them incredible agility and endurance which they use in bouts of playfulness. They are affectionate but enjoy a certain level of independence so they have no trouble spending time alone. Additionally, they even do well with children, though they aren’t very fond of being picked up.

Thanks to their history as a working animal, they have a stocky, muscular build, with a large head, medium-sized ears, and wide eyes.  They come in a variety of colors. Silver tabby is one of the most common and popular.

Maine Coon

This “gentle giant” is not only known for their extraordinary appearance but also their keen intelligence and people-oriented personalities. Hailing from Maine, and the state’s official cat, they first became highly regarded by locals for their talents catching mice. Maine Coon also hold claims to fame for being one of the oldest natural breeds in North America as well as the largest domestic cat breed.

Maine Coons are highly-intelligent and people-oriented. They are even said to be akin to dogs in their behavior, following their owners around, playing fetch, and being enthusiastic and easy to train. They are also sociable and friendly, which, along with their gentle temperament make them highly sought-after pets.

Their large stature and thick fur coats are part of what makes Maine Coons so recognizable. Most male cats of other domestic breeds weigh around 10-12 pounds. Male Maine Coon cats can weigh up to an impressive 25 pounds. Many Maine Coons have extra toes, also called polydactylism, which can be helpful in snow as their large feet can act like snowshoes. Their classic color is a brown tabby, but the breed can come in other colors and patterns.

Ragdoll

Appropriately named, Ragdoll cats are known for their tendency to relax and go limp when held. Largely a free-roaming breed until the 1960s when a California breeder, Ann Baker, truly developed them into the Ragdolls we know today. Now, this adorable, affectionate breed has gained a lot of popularity since celebrities like Taylor Swift have given them happy, loving homes.

Ragdolls are one of the most affectionate breeds of cats, and similar to Maine Coons, they have a dog-like personality. Similarly, they enjoy learning tricks, playing fetch, and even rolling onto their backs for belly rubs. They are calm, friendly, and actively seek out human interaction. They are particularly good with children and do well with other animals.

Although they don’t get as large as Maine Coons, they can weigh up to 15 pounds. They have soft, medium-length fur, which can come in a variety of colors. Ragdoll cats are considered a “pointed breed,” meaning the “points” of their bodies, like their faces, ears, legs, and tails are a darker color than their lighter-colored bodies. Additionally, they are recognized for their distinct blue eyes, though not all Ragdolls have them.

Persian

These long-haired beauties originate from Persia (now Iran) and are referenced in hieroglyphics as far back as 1684 BC. Their affectionate nature, quiet character, and dignity make them famous pets. They are so popular, in fact, that a kitten can easily cost up to $1,500 dollars, landing them among the more expensive cat breeds.

These fancy cats prefer a calm and relaxing environment, as they are quite laidback. They are typically docile and sweet, though, they can be selective of who they show affection to. Persians do well with children, provided they are handled gently and are good with other calm pets. Although they do enjoy playtime and interaction, Persians are less likely than other breeds to seek out attention. They can be equally happy to watch your comings and goings from afar as they are to sit with you and be pet.

Part of what buys Persians their famous and recognition is their appearance. They have a distinction “open-pansy’ face which is flat and scrunched up. They have short, stocky bodies, round heads, and straight tails. The Persian cat breeds also have very long fur, which requires brushing once a day to prevent knots and matting. Although the original Persians had gray fur and yellow eyes, they can now come in a variety of coat and eye colors that typically correspond. 

Abyssinian

Abyssinian cats are named after their speculated place of origin, Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), but genetic evidence suggests they make actually be from Southeast Asia. Regardless, Abyssinians are now known for their regal appearance, high activity level, and sharp intelligence. For quite some time now, they have been in the top 10 most popular cat breeds in the United States.

These cats have lots of energy and are very inquisitive. They are sometimes called “Aby-grabbys” for their tendency to take or collect things that interest them. They are extremely playful, enjoying puzzle toys and things to climb on, though another cat is their preferred entertainment. Although most Abyssinians do not enjoy cuddling, they prefer to be in your presence and they’ll even occasionally curl up next to you for some direct attention.

With medium-sized, muscular bodies and long, slender legs, these cats are certainly majestic. They have wedge-shaped heads, partially cupped, large ears, and almond-shaped eyes. Their gold, green, or hazel eyes will typically correspond to their coat color, which includes ruddy brown, blue, cinnamon/red, and fawn. Their short fur coats are “ticked” because individual hairs are banded with multiple colors. Overall, these traits give them a strong resemblance to ancient Egyptian cats.

Sphynx

Sphynxes are also known as hairless cats, but they do have very short, fine hairs that give them a suede-like feel. The Sphynx breed was developed in 1966 when a hairless kitten was born, and breeders used selective breeding to create a true standard. Now, these cats are recognized for not only their lack of hair but also their sweet and social personalities. 

Unlike the stereotype that cats generally carry, a Sphynx loves being the center of attention and is a devoted lap cat. They are energetic cats and can be mischievous in addition to normal playfulness to ensure they have your attention. They can also be fairly vocal; calling and talking as they follow you around. They also get along well with other household pets and children.

Despite appearing completely naked, Sphynxes actually have some very fine, peach fuzz, especially on their face and ears. Because their skin is exposed, they may easily chill, so they should not be outside cats, and may even need to wear a shirt or sweater to keep warm. They have a medium-sized body, with a round chest and abdomen, and legs that are slightly longer in the back than the front. They can be white, black, chocolate, cream, red, blue, lavender, cinnamon, and fawn, with a variety of patterns and shades.

Bengal

Bengal cats are actually considered a hybrid species since they were created by crossing domestic cats with Asian Leopard Cats. This created a domestic cat that is gentle and affectionate but with the show-stopping look of a leopard. They are the only domestic cat breed that can have rosettes like wild cats. In addition to their striking appearance, Bengals are sweet and loving athletes.

Because they come directly from leopards, Bengals are wildly athletic and highly intelligent. They love to be outside; hunting and playing, and even playing in water, unlike most housecats. They are playful creatures, enjoying challenges and puzzle games, and can even be trained similar to a dog. They are loving and people-oriented, forming strong familial bonds with their owners. Fair warning, Bengals can become destructive if they don’t get enough exercise or attention, so you should ensure they are content.

Similar to the wild cats they originate from, Bengals have medium to large size bodies, with sturdy and firm bones, and extraordinary muscling. They have broad wedge-shaped heads that are smaller in proportion to their bodies and large, bright eyes. Their legs are slightly longer in the rear, and their feet are quite large. Their exquisite coats are soft and silky to the touch, with spotted or marbled rosettes. They have distinct colored patterns and even spotted bellies.

The post Most popular cat breeds to have as pets appeared first on SassyFeeds.

In the first week of February, Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin proposed a plan to block high-income Americans from receiving the third stimulus checks in the third phase of coronavirus federal relief. This plan was passed by the senate. However, the plan does not offer any definition of ‘upper income’ levels. This plan adds a degree of uncertainty to the relief measures proposed by the White House.

Stimulus checks and The US Economy

Economic data released on February 17, the second round of stimulus checks did do its job as intended. Retail sales had increased by over 5 percent in the month of January, which was better than market expectations. 

Yet despite the stimulus packages, the American economy continues to stutter due to different setbacks. These setbacks include the loss of income, job losses, and increased layoffs, etc. According to the Labor Department, applications for unemployment benefits increased in the third week of February to around 861,000. This was in contrast to the steady decline in this area over the last many weeks.

The same week, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities also released a statement about the economy. As per the organization, the US economy continues to be weak; the momentum of jobs recovery had slowed down to a crawl; and that there were almost 10 million fewer jobs this February as compared to February 2020. It also stated that the new stimulus package would help millions of Americans in these dire times.

The democrats in the House have finished their markups without making any major alterations to the President’s Covid relief plan. The bill will be put to vote in the House in the last week of February 2021. It will then pass to the Senate who will take it up for voting in the first week of March.

Democrats in Congress are planning to move the relief bill forward via a process known as budget reconciliation. This will permit the Senate to approve and pass the bill without any support from Republican senators.

Who received the First and Second Stimulus checks?

In the first two phases of Covid relief, checks of $1,200 and $600 were disbursed by the federal government. These packages also had restrictions on eligibility. In both cases, single individuals earning up to $75,000 and married couples earning up to $150,000 were eligible and received the full amount.

As income increased, the payout amounts became lower until it was cut off fully for high-income individuals or married couples. The cut-off limit for payouts in the first round was $198,000 for married people and $99,000 for singles. In the second round, the cut-off limits were $174,000 for married people and $87,000 for single individuals.

Who will be eligible for the $1,400 stimulus checks?

New data shows that many middle and high-income earner’s finances have stabilized as of February 2021. Most of them have been able to work from home and earn a stable income. Data also indicated that the second stimulus checks were quickly used up by people earning under $78,000 per year, while those earning more than $78,000, saved or invested their stimulus money.

Lawmakers in Congress are in a current debate over targeted relief checks towards low-income Americans who are most vulnerable to the economic strife imposed by the pandemic and its continued spread.

In the first week of February, Democrats in the House had opposed the idea of lowering the income level limits; they wanted the same income levels to continue as was the case in the first two rounds. But the stirring debate about the targeting of stimulus checks has resulted in President Biden articulating his willingness to negotiate. The President has stated that he will not negotiate the amount, i.e., $1,400 checks, but will be fine with directing the checks to Americans who need it the most.

If the negotiations are fruitful, there is a possibility that the eligibility threshold for stimulus checks can be lowered. Accordingly, married couples earning up to $100,000 and singles earning up to $50,000 may qualify for the checks. If the threshold is lowered, then it would mean that millions of Americans who received the checks in the first two phases will not get the checks in the third round. In the first two rounds, the IRS had made payouts to about 30 million American households earning over $75,000. With the new limits, it is likely that a lot of these households will not get the full $1,400 check in the third stimulus package.

When can Americans expect their third stimulus checks?

According to Democratic House and Senate members, the new coronavirus relief bill will most likely pass Congress by mid-March, before the expiration of the current weekly $300 additional unemployment aid on March 14.

After the passage of the bill by Congress, the President has to sign it. Once President Biden signs it, the stimulus checks would be directed by the IRS to all qualified households. Based on the data from the last two phases, the checks will be paid in the form of direct deposits within 1 week after the bill is signed by the President.

Americans who do not have bank accounts or Americans whose payment information is not available with the IRS will need to wait longer. Their stimulus checks will be delivered via mail in the form of prepaid debit cards or paper checks.

Covid-19 Vaccination Update in the US

The first vaccinations in the US were conducted in December 2020. Since then, over 73 million doses of vaccines have been delivered by the federal government to different states and jurisdictions.

Moderna has promised to deliver 200 million doses by end of May and another 100 million by end of July. Pfizer is also expected to delivering about 200 million doses by end of May.

If Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine gets authorized for emergency use by the FDA, the company promised to deliver 100 million doses by end of June. Taking all of this into account, the entire US population will be fully vaccinated by end of July.

Who is now eligible to be vaccinated?

• Everyone 65 years and older
• Health care personnel
• Essential workers
• Adults of any age with medical conditions

The post Third Stimulus Checks and Covid-19 Vaccination Updates appeared first on SassyFeeds.

“Nothing is guaranteed in life except death and taxes,” thats what people often say about paying taxes. Taxes are often seen like a certainty in life. An eternal component of our financial, commercial, and personal lives. Something that is present in every purchase and in every bank statement. Though taxes have become a seemingly permanent part of our lives, very few actually understand the basics of taxes or all the different types of taxes we are charged on a regular basis. It is an important part of our financial lives. Understanding what they are and why we pay them is a big step towards financial literacy and freedom.

Understanding Taxes

Taxes in their most simple form are involuntary (meaning required) fees that are charged to individuals or businesses and collected by a government or organization in order to fund larger activities. These taxes are charged to help fund a number of important activities, such as public works, government services, legislative officials, and maintaining internal infrastructures in businesses. Taxes are generally used for the greater good, meaning the money they provide goes back into helping the larger community through services, positions, or activities.

Who Pays Taxes?

Taxes are typically charged on certain types of monies or investments that are received by individuals or businesses that qualify as taxpayers. Not everyone pays taxes. Some people are exempt due to their age, income level, or disability status. However, the income that can qualify as taxable varies widely. It can be your salary or pay from your work, capital gains from investments, dividends on bank accounts or money markets, and even certain gifts or inheritances received from family members. In some states, you will also pay additional taxes on certain purchases you make, such as groceries, clothing, or alcoholic beverages.

Taxes are required, and you can go to jail for not paying all the taxes that you owe. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is in charge of collecting taxes and setting the tax rates for the upcoming year, in compliance with local, state, and federal laws. There are many different types of taxes that you as a taxpayer or business owner. Each of them is levied separately and for different reasons at different rates.

Income Tax

Income tax is the most common type of tax people encounter. It describes a tax generated automatically depending on the income you generate within a given year, either as a business owner or an individual. You will file an income tax return annually to help determine how much tax you will owe based on your income earned the previous year. Income tax is calculated on all forms of income, including wages, annual salary, sales commissions, investment earnings, and business profits.

Individual Income Tax

This type of personal income tax is paid only for individuals based on their unique income for the year. This is typically gathered by the state, not at a federal level. Your taxable income can be reduced by exemptions, deductions, and credits depending on your unique financial situation. This means that you will not pay tax on your entire income.

Calculating Income Tax

Your entire income is not taxable. Every taxpayer’s unique citation determines what exemptions, deductions, and credits you might be eligible to help reduce your overall taxable income. There are several common types of deductions based on your personal situation. Every taxpayer has the choice to opt for an itemized deduction (a line by line accounting of all the expenses and credits you’re eligible to receive) or a standard deduction (a flat fee that reduces your income by x amount and does not require individual accounting). For 2020, the standard deduction for a single person was $12,400, while a married couple filing jointly could deduct $24,800. As the head of a household, you’re eligible to deduct $18,650.

Itemized deductions are more specific. These include mortgage interest paid, local income, sales, and property taxes, medical expenses, work-related education expenses, and charitable donations; there are many other categories as well. Itemizing deductions can help you save some extra money depending on your financial situation, especially if your itemized deductions add up to more than the standard deduction.

Credits are applied based on if you’re claiming people as dependents (people in your household you take care of), how much money you’ve saved over the past year, your status as a homeowner, energy-efficient properties, health care coverage, and education or tuition tax credits.

Examples of how Income Tax are calculated

Let’s look at how these might play out for a real-life couple. For example, say that you’re a 40-year-old employee who makes $60,000 a year. You are the head of your household and file jointly with your spouse, who makes $40,000 a year. Both of you receive health insurance through your employers. You have donated $1,000 over the past year and live in your own home, you pay a monthly mortgage fee of $1,600. You have two twin children who are six years old.

 In this case, you and your spouse are starting with a combined annual income of $100,000 a year. Your itemized deductions will not exceed the standard deduction of $24,800, so you choose to take the standard deduction. Your taxable income is now $75,200. Based on this income, you will then be assigned a tax bracket (a range of incomes that you fall between), which comes with its own percentage of tax rate you’ll be asked to pay. In this case, your total tax due is $8,600. However, you’re eligible for a child tax credit for your two children, reducing your taxes due by $4,000 and leaving your total tax bill for approximately $4,600.

Freelance Tax

As a freelancer, the money you earn falls under additional income taxes. The IRS considers freelancers self-employed if they make more than $400 a year. You’ll need to pay not only your standard income taxes but an additional self-employment income tax because the IRS considers you a business owner. This may seem like an excessive charge, but it makes sense when you realize you are now accounting for both the employer and employee contributions to other federal tax programs.

Corporate Tax

Corporate taxes are taxes charged on the profits of a business or corporation. These taxes are paid based on the annual reported taxable income of a business. It’s calculated using the formula of total revenue earned minus cost of goods sold. Administrative expenses, sales and marketing, depreciation, and other general operating expenses are factored into the cost of doing business.

Corporate tax rates vary widely from location to location and can be altered or avoided through deductions, subsidies, and other tax loopholes created by certain states. Thus, the effective corporate tax rate (the rate of taxes actually paid) is usually far lower than the stated legal tax rate.

Sales Tax

Sales taxes are consumption taxes paid with the purchase of every good or service that’s consumed. The typical conventional sales tax is usually charged at the initial purchase of the item. The business collects your taxes and then pays them to the government; they are serving as the intermediary and making sure the government is paid appropriately for every purchase. There are loopholes to avoid paying certain taxes, and some states have very low or even non-existent sales taxes. Overall most states charge them as a way to fund other activities. Sales tax is typically higher on luxury items or restricted items such as alcohol or imported goods.

Property Tax

Property taxes are paid on property owned by individuals or entities directly to the government. It’s calculated based on the land value and any structures located on the land at the time and is charged annually by local governments to the owners of the property at hand. Some places even tax personal property such as cars or boats in addition to land.

Tariffs

Also known as international taxes, tariffs are charged specifically on imported goods that are designed to discourage people from buying internationally and stick to local products. Tariffs are charged on any product shipping in from outside the United States. They are usually much higher than other taxes. They’re also often charged in addition to other local or state taxes, adding to the overall expense of your purchase.

Estate Taxes

Estate taxes are paid at the time of a person’s death based on the total value of their property. Many estates use legal loopholes or careful writing of their inheritances to avoid these taxes. Estate tax rates are often high and can significantly decrease the market value of any inheritance you receive. Estate taxes vary by jurisdiction and can go from very low to very high depending on local laws.

Understanding what taxes are and why we pay them can get complicated. Taxes were ultimately designed with good intentions. It is designed to support our local communities and our federal government. The taxes we pay help fund a larger effort to strengthen the infrastructure of our world. We should not only focus only on why we pay taxes but also see the bigger picture of what these taxes do and what they fund. It’s the only way to truly understand why we pay them.

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Over the last few years, statistics show that more people are becoming health conscious for several reasons. Well, whatever that motivating factor is, it has pivoted each individual toward a better and healthier version of themself, and we are here to help. In this article, we will share some of the most basic ways on how to live a healthier lifestyle.

 Do Not Smoke & Avoid Secondhand Smoke

One of the most integral parts of leading a healthy lifestyle is the avoidance of smoking. We all know that smoking is a primary contributor to so many diseases, so needless to say, it is bad for our health. In fact, the CDC warns that cigarette smoking increases the risk of death from all causes in both men and women. So if you indulge in smoking, even occasionally, we recommend that you start working on cessation. Try a tapering off approach; it involves smoking less each day until you reach that point where you are no longer smoking.

 Get Adequate Rest

There are many advantages of getting enough rest each night. After a good night’s sleep, you should be more capable of managing stress, and it even puts you in better control of your appetite. As it relates to the physiological effects of rest, sleep is associated with fast-tracking the repair of our heart and blood vessels, according to research data.

On the other hand, continuously depriving our bodies of sleep may throw our “hunger hormones” out of balance. As a result, one may experience a loss of appetite control, which leads to issues like overeating. Sleep is also instrumental to our cognitive functioning; for example, getting less than adequate sleep will cause poor concentration and slow responses. Consistent sleep deficiency is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and a host of other illnesses. Remember, there is no cure for sleep except sleep.

Steps you should considered trying if you are not getting adequate rest:

• Create an environment conducive to sleep, such as a dark, cool, and quiet room.
• Develop a bedtime routine to get your body in the mood for sleep.
• Avoid consuming caffeine in the hours prior to bedtime.
• No electronics in bed. Computers, TVs, cell phones, etc., should be avoided at least an hour before bedtime.

If these measures fail, speak to your physician or a sleep coach to see what solutions you can employ.

 Exercise Regularly & Maintain A Healthy Weight

According to statistics from the CDC, from 2017 to 2018, approximately 42.4% of the United States’ population was overweight and obese. Such a figure is frightening since obesity is linked to many chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and various cancers.

When we exercise, we lower our risk for all the above-listed conditions and more. Being active for at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week can amass significant physical and psychological benefits, such as:

• Improve memory and brain function
• Lower blood pressure and improve heart health
• Improve your quality of sleep
• Decrease feelings of depression and anxiety
• Reduce joint pain and stiffness

Your typical day outlook to achieve a healthier lifestyle:

• Get at least 8 hours of sleep
• Wake up early
• Drink water throughout the day
• Exercise at least 20 mins every day
• Eat healthy meals and snacks
• Go to bed early

Kudos to you if you are already on this journey. If you are not getting the desired outcome or if you are planning to start, it’s best to speak with a nutritionist, who will be instrumental in formulating a realistic meal plan to include balanced meals throughout the day. Also, start off with a fitness expert who will get you set up with the ideal workout routine. Excess weight is an issue that so many of us face, but getting professional assistance always makes the journey a more manageable one. Bear in mind; consistency is key; it is the only way you will see results and become motivated to continue!

Sometimes we think that we are living a healthy lifestyle; however, we often come across information that shows us where we may be going wrong. As such, it is essential that on a regular basis, we evaluate our lifestyle choices. If you are thinking of joining the healthy lifestyle group, it’s never too late; come along. Whatever your reason, it is good to take the initiative of wanting to lead a healthy lifestyle; let’s ensure you are doing it right.

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Countries with over 1 million Covid-19 cases as of today:

1. USA – 25,198, 841
2. India – 10, 701, 193
3. Brazil – 8,933, 356
4. Russia – 3,793,810
5. United Kingdom – 3,715,058
6. France – 3,056,198
7. Spain – 2,670,102
8. Italy – 2,501,147
9. Turkey – 2,449,839
10. Germany – 2,178,828
11. Colombia – 2,014,352
12. Argentina – 1,885,210
13. Mexico – 1,788,905
14. Poland – 1,496,665
15. South Africa – 1,430,648
16. Iran – 1,392,314
17. Ukraine – 1,206,412
18. Peru – 1,024,298
19. Indonesia – 1,024,298

Vaccines Already Approved

Moderna and Pfizer are currently the only two vaccines approved by the FDA. Both vaccines are about 95% effective and require two doses. The wait time between doses of Pfizer is 21 days. The wait time between doses for Moderna is 28 days. Both companies have confirmed that their vaccines work against other strains of Covid-19. Side effects for both vaccines have been similar. Side effects include but are not limited to inject site pain, muscle and joint pain, headache, fatigue, chills, and fever. Most individuals seem to get a stronger reaction after the second dose of the vaccine. According to the CDC, 39 million vaccines have been administered thus far in the United States.

Vaccines in Phase 3

Johnson & Johnson will be ready to supply 2 million doses of the vaccine as soon as it gets approval from the FDA. The company recently filed for emergency usage for their Covid-19 vaccine. While the effectiveness of the vaccine may not be as high as that of Pfizer or Moderna; people are excited about the idea of having a single-dose vaccine. Another positive aspect of the vaccine is that it has been tested on the different strains of Covid-19. According to fool, “The vaccine produced 72% efficacy in the U.S., 66% efficacy in Latin America, and 57% efficacy in South Africa.” The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is expected to be approved by the FDA in late February of 2021.

Novavax and AstraZeneca vaccines are currently still in the testing phase.  Novavax is 50% less effective against the South African variant. AstraZeneca is currently being used in the UK but it is not yet approved by EU. AstraZeneca vaccine is not very effective for people over 65, according to German coalition sources. Germany fears AstraZeneca vaccine will not be approved by the EU.

Covid-19 Treatment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved and authorized a drug called remdesivir (Veklury) to treat COVID-19 patients. The drug is for patients 12 and over, weighing at least 88 pounds (40kg). The FDA may also authorize the emergency use of drugs that are not yet approved. Drugs that are approved for other ailments may be allowed to treat patients with Covid-19 but only if certain legal requirements are met. Persons infected with Covid-19 may also seek clinical trials. Depending on the severity of symptoms, individuals who qualify may be put on trials of “Monoclonal antibody treatments, Convalescent plasma, Baricitinib, and Corticosteroids.”

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Overall, stocks have only trend upwards over the years, although they sometimes move up or down in price depending on the market. When done correctly, investing in stocks will help grow your money. Buying socks may seem complicated but it is not. Before buying a stock always do some research on the company and how their stock has performed over the years. All investing apps recommended below are equipped with the necessary tools you will need for your research.

If you don’t know where to start here is a list of some of the most recommended investment apps you should look into.

1. Robinhood

Robinhood Markets, Inc. is an American financial services company located in California. They provide a free app with no hidden fees or extra charges. If you are on a low budget, then this app should be right for you. This investing app offers one free stock for every new account sign-up, commission-free trades for stocks, and ETF’s, with as little as $1 investments. This app also offers a way to reinvest dividends into fractional shares and the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies as well.

Robinhood Gold is paid option that costs $5 per month. It provides new opportunities with in-depth research and data, bigger instant deposits, and access to invest with margin.

Pros

• No account minimum
• Fractional Shares
• Cryptocurrencies trading
• Fractional dividends reinvestment

Cons

• No retirement accounts
• No mutual funds or bonds
• Limited customer support

2. Stash

Stash makes investing easy for beginners by offering multiple investing tools such as portfolio builder, a diversification analyst tool, retirement calculator, automatic reinvestment of dividends, and more.  There is no cost for downloading and signing up for this app! Depending on your investment type Stash will charge a monthly fee of $1 to $9. One great option for this app is that it allows the purchase of fractional shares for pennies.

Stash offers three different plans to choose from with a monthly fee as follows:

• Beginner – cost $1 per month
• Growth – cost $3 per month
• Plus – cost $9 per month

Pros

• Educational content and support
• Fractional shares
• Dividends reinvestment
• Value-based investment offerings
• Traditional and Roth IRAs
• Online debit accounts
• Custodial accounts

Cons

• No investment management
• High ETF expense ratios
• Account management fee

3. WeBull

Webull offers an impressively smooth interface for both mobile and desktop devices. This app is mostly used by casual investors but it is also a great app for new investors as well. Webull offers $0 commissions and no deposit minimums to start. This app also offers options to trade between stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. The Webull app provides an in-depth analysis tool. New investors get four free stocks for investing $100 or more within 30 days of signing up.

Pros

• No Fees
• Easy-to-use platform
• Advanced tools
• Access to cryptocurrency

Cons

• No mutual funds for retirement
• Little educational support

4. Acorn

Acorn allows micro-investing through investing spare change. The app rounds up any purchases made from a linked credit or debit card to the next dollar and only invest it when your round up reaches $5. This app offers a diversified portfolio, automatic rebalancing, and a way to save for retirement. There are three different low-cost subscription plans to choose from.

Acorn Low-Cost Plans

• Lite – cost $1 per month
• Personal- cost $3 per month
• Family – cost $5 per month

Pros

• Automatically invests spare change
• Cashback from select retailers
• Offers Educational content

Cons

• Small investment portfolio
• High fee on small account balances

5. E*Trade

E*trade investment app offers $0 commission trades with a $0 minimum to start. The app allows dividends to be reinvested into ETF’s and stocks that are only trading above $5 per share. You can get $50 or more cash credit when opening a new account and fund it with 5000 and more within 60 days using pro code: WINTER21. This offer is only valid until 1/31/2021.

Pros

• Easy-to-use tools.
• Large investment selection
• Excellent customer support
• Access to extensive research
• Advanced mobile app
• Commission-free stock trading
• Commission-free ETF trading
• Fractional dividend reinvestment

Cons

• E*Trade website can be complicated to navigate.
• Does not allow the purchase of fractional shares

6. TD Ameritrade now Charles Schwab

TD Ameritrade has recently merged with another popular investment company called Charles Schwab in October 2020. The app offer a powerful marketing platform for investing and trading a large selection of online stocks and ETF’s.  This investing app offers educational tools such as webcasts and online interactive courses. No commission fees on online trading. TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab does not offer a way to purchase fractional shares but allows you to reinvest dividends earned into new shares of that company’s stock.

Pros

• Commission-free stock and  ETF trading
• Free research tools
• High-quality trading platforms
• No account minimum
• Offers Educational content
• Very good customer support
• Large investment selection
• Fractional dividend reinvestment

Cons

• Cannot buy fractional shares
• Does not allow credit/debit cards or electronic wallet for money transfer

7. Sofi

Sofi first debuted in 2011 as a student loan company. In February 2019 Sofi launched its investing platform. This investing platform is fairly new and does not have a track record, which is why investors may prefer other brokerage apps over Sofi. Sofi investing app is a good choice for beginners and experienced investors as well. Sofi offers to invest in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. Investing with this app requires no minimum balance with no transaction fees for trading. Sofi also provides free financial counseling.

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trades
• Commission-free Cryptocurrency trading
• Fractional shares available
• Fractional dividend reinvestment
• No account minimum to start
• Free financial and career counseling

Cons

• Limited track record
• No retirement investments
• Small selection of tradable securities

Besides Investing Sofi offers other services as well:

• Student Loan Refinancing
• Medical/Dental Resident Refinancing
• Parent PLUS Refinancing
• Private Student Loans
• Undergraduate Student Loans
• Graduate Student Loans
• Law & MBA Loans
• Parent Student Loans
• Personal Loans
• Home Loans
• Mortgage
• Mortgage Refinance

8. Fidelity

Fidelity offers trading for investors through its mobile app, website, and desktop platform. There is no minimum investment or stock trading cost. This investing app offers more than 7000 stocks and ETF’s to choose from. Fidelity also offers fractional shares, bonds, mutual funds, and options.

Pros

• Commission-free stock, ETF, and options trades
• Large selection of research providers
• Excellent customer service
• Expense-ratio-free index funds.
• Highly rated mobile app and desktop platform

Cons

• High broker-assisted trade fee
• High fees on mutual funds

9. Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge is an investing app from Bank Of America. Anyone can use this app to invest in stocks, bonds, ETF’s and Options. Bank of America customers will benefit from using this app more than anyone else. Merrill Edge offers in-person supports to Bank of America customers at most of their locations. They also offer larger cash bonuses for members of their preferred reward program.

 Merrill Edge Promotions

In order to claim Merrill Edges’s promotion, you will have to make a qualifying deposit on a new account within 45 days of signing up and maintain your balance for at least 90 days.

Pros

• Commission-free stock, ETF and options trades
• No account minimum to start
• Bank of America Integration
• Provides third party research tools

Cons

• Best for Bank of America customers
• Fewer securities for advance traders

10. Interactive Broker (IBKR Lite)

Interactive broker is an American brokerage firm with the largest electronic trading platform in the U. S. Interactive broker offers two plans, a pro and lite plan. In this post, we will mostly focus on the Lite plan. Interactive broker Pro is for advanced investors worldwide, while Interactive Broker Lite is for all investors living in the U.S. Interactive Broker Lite (IBKR Lite) is offering their retail clients $0 commissions on US stocks, ETF trades with no account minimums and no inactivity fees. Here is a comparison video of IBKR Pro and IBKR Lite.

IBK Lite Tradable Securities:

• Stocks
• Fractional shares
• Bonds
• Mutual funds
• ETFs
• Options
• Futures
• Forex
• Metals

Pros

• Commission-free stock, ETF and options trades
• No account minimum to start
• Large investment selection
• Advance research tools

Cons

• Website can be difficult to navigate
• Inactivity fees on IBKR Pro plan

There are many other apps that investors prefer over these mentioned above. One such app is Zacks trade. Zacks Trade is an excellent investing app but did not make my top 10 list because of a $2,500 minimum requirement to start.

Investing in stocks and ETFs can earn investors a lot of money but you should also know that there is always a risk in investing. Always remember to do your research before investing your hard-earned money.

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