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15 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | December 2015 | Four Seasons Needs You! We have had a very successful year developing our abilities and resources for responding to any major emergency or disaster. We have participated in an disaster forum, this year's "Great Shakeout," the car show, and now we are putting together a recruiting program to increase involvement in the street captains. Please consider becoming a street captain for your block, or area. We are still very short in the area west of Four Seasons Blvd along Stephenson Lane and the various cul-de-sacs, and now in the area north of Faldo and west of Four Seasons Blvd. December's Tip: This is typically a month for travel. In addition, the Holiday Season tends to show a spike in crime. So, please ensure that you notify the Gatehouse/Security when you will be away from home for any extended period, so that the roaming patrol can keep a mindful eye on your property. Also, please ensure that your gates and doors are locked at night, or when you are away for the day. If you park a vehicle in your driveway, please take the time and effort to remove garage door openers and gate transponders at night, and don't leave valuables in sight in your vehicle here or while shopping. And lastly, inspect your fire extinguishers (you do have them, don't you?) for acceptable levels of charge. Don't let a cooking disaster turn into a holiday nightmare! As a reminder, we want to continue to encourage all residents to be active members of Neighborhood Watch. This is a totally voluntary organization and does not have any official standing with our home owners association or its committees, but that doesn't in any way reflect negatively on its importance. We are our neighbor's neighbor, and as a senior community, there is an additional need to be mindful and supportive of each other's welfare and safety. Everyone should have the roving patrol number set-up for speed-dial. On behalf of the Emergency Preparedness Committee and all of our street captains, we would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season. See you next year! Emergency Preparedness Committee Health Matters Inland Empire Hospice soon to be… Question: What is GERD? GERD or Gastro esophageal reflux is spreading frequently throughout the world. The major cause behind most of the diseases is poor eating habits. Esophagus is a vital part of body that channels the consumed food from mouth to stomach with a small valve termed as sphincter to allow the unidirectional flow of food stuffs. However, in some cases due to the weakening of muscles, the sphincter does not function properly and some of the acidic contents spill back from stomach to the esophagus. Since the esophagus does not have any protective lining the acid reflux strongly irritates the esophagus. This causes a burning sensation in the throat and the chest which is termed as GERD. Some of the symptoms of GERD include: Heartburn (the acid reflux results in a burning and irritating sensation in the throat and the chest), bleeding and inflammation in the esophagus, Dysphasia, gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers in the esophageal region; Odynophagia, Anemia (this reflux results in the deficiency of iron); Chest pain and choking, Barrett's esophagus (this symptom is observed in the later stages of the disease which is also considered as precursor to cancer. So, if left ignored in the initial stages, GERD can also lead to cancer after some time); Pulmonary Fibrosis, Respiratory complications (there might be problem in breathing due to GERD), vomiting, unexplained weight loss and fever; and Hiatus hernia (this is a kind of heart burn that is very rarely seen in as a GERD symptom). In this problem the muscles of the stomach move upwards through a distended hiatus. This is a serious problem and needs an immediate medical attention. It is very necessary to consult a doctor if the problem persists. Many people do not go for medical treatment and ignore the problem considering it as a normal acidity problem. They take antacids and get relieved for some time. But after some days the problem occurs again. So, proper diagnosis and medical attention is very necessary to cure the disease. Many remedies are available today that not only treat the problem but also eradicate the causes of the disease. So, a complete cure for GERD is available if diagnosed at an early stage. Surgery is also done in some cases when GERD has progressed to advanced stage. Remember there are always good chances to completely treat any problem in its early stage. For any questions or a needs assessment visit please contact Jennifer Trebler at (951) 663-1060.

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