First, as a cardiovascular physician I want to reinforce that no one should stop or alter their aspirin regimen before speaking with their doctor or health care provider. And second, I will help sort through the news and the research on this topic.

There are two main categories of patients who take a daily low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular (CV) event prevention: patients who have not yet had serious cardiovascular problems but may be at risk of having these problems AND patients who have already experienced serious cardiovascular problems like a heart attack or clot-related stroke. What the updated guidelines tell us is that certain individuals in the first category (have not yet had an event, often called primary prevention) may not need to continue taking aspirin due to the increased risks of bleeding outweighing the cardio-protection benefit. Whether or not you are one of these individuals in this category depends on your own personal risk factors, which is why it is important to consult your doctor who can help you understand the benefits and risks and what is best for your health.

For people in the secondary category - those who have already experienced a cardiovascular event - aspirin can be a lifesaver. Not only is it proven to help prevent another heart attack or clot-related stroke, aspirin is also one of the most extensively studied drugs in history. This is why aspirin remains the cornerstone preventative therapy for secondary prevention. In the United States, aspirin's professional label is approved for secondary prevention of a CV event.

Some of the media coverage around the new guidance was not clear on this crucial distinction. For those who have already experienced a heart attack, or clot-related stroke there is evidence that discontinuing an aspirin regimen without a doctor's guidance can increase the risk of another heart attack by 63 percent and a clot-related stroke due to a blood clot by 40 percent.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, affecting more than 92 million American adults and causing about 2,200 deaths per day. That's one life every forty seconds. Each year 790,000 Americans alone will suffer from a heart attack, while another 795,000 will have a stroke.

Many factors can contribute to a person's risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking - and almost half of Americans (47 percent) have at least one of these risk factors.

Clinical studies and cardiovascular professional guidelines have continued to support the lifesaving benefits of aspirin. Studies have found that an aspirin regimen under the direction of a doctor can help reduce the chances of a second heart attack by 31 percent and a second clot-related stroke by 22 percent.

Importantly, even though aspirin is the gold standard of preventative therapy for those who have experienced a heart attack, clot-related stroke, chronic stable and unstable angina, a stent placement (PCI) or open heart surgery (CABG), it may not be for everyone. Anyone who has questions about starting or continuing an aspirin regimen should talk to their doctor.

Aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, so patients should talk to their doctor before they begin an aspirin regimen. For more information on safe and responsible use of OTC medicines, visit www.KnowYourOTCs.org.

Disclosure: Dr. Gurbel is compensated by Bayer to advise on cardiovascular health issues.

Dr. Gurbel is the Director of Cardiovascular Research at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, MD and Director of the Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research and Drug Development. He is also Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.

"I figured if I was going to buy a house, I'd better do it sooner rather than later because prices just kept going up," explains Erin.

However, with only $7,000 in savings at the time, she felt she didn't have enough money for a down payment. But the timing became a dilemma for her. Should she wait to save more money for a house that would probably cost more in a year? Or, use all her savings to buy a house now - at the risk of leaving herself with no funds for a rainy day or future expenses?

The answer came when Erin visited the new home of a friend who had used a down payment assistance program to purchase her house. Her friend explained how down payment assistance programs give first-time homebuyers money to pay for a portion or all of their down payment, with some programs even helping with closing costs. 

Free money for eligible borrowers 

While there are more than 2,500 down payment assistance programs available throughout the country, Erin decided to apply for the same state-offered program her friend had used.

The program, called North Carolina 1st Home Advantage Down Payment, makes homeownership more affordable for state residents. It offers down payment assistance of up to 5 percent for FHA, VA and USDA loans, and up to 3 percent for a conventional loan. And because Erin had a decent credit score and met the program's income limit, she qualified.

Erin received down payment help in the form of a zero-percent, deferred second mortgage. As long as she doesn't sell or refinance the house for 15 years, her down payment assistance will be forgiven, meaning she won't have to pay it back.

Let the house hunting begin! 

Once Erin knew she was eligible for help with her down payment, she earnestly began her home search. She found a historical 3-bedroom, 1-bath home that was built in 1925. The price of the home was $152,000. She used conventional financing with private mortgage insurance because she was putting less than 20 percent down. With her 3-percent down payment assistance ($4,560), Erin successfully purchased her home in 2016.

"And, I didn't have to use all my savings!" says Erin. Plus, she's built up equity over the last two years due to home values going up.

Aside from the financial perks of owning her own home, Erin enjoys other benefits. "I've got so much more space for the money than when I was renting," says Erin. "And I like being a permanent part of the neighborhood and getting to know my neighbors."

For more homebuyer resources, visit readynest.com.

To find down payment assistance programs in your area, visit downpaymentresource.com/

The project involves the creation of a wind power farm and the installation of up to 52 wind turbines to produce green energy.

During the 15-day, pre-sale period, 10 percent of the Renewable Energy Tokens (RETs) will be sold at a 50-percent discount via a cryptocurrency system. The discount will not be available after the pre-sale period. "Ownership of one RET is equivalent to owning one asset in Eco Smart Energies," according to a company press release.

"These turbines are capable of producing mechanical energy that can be transformed into electrical energy, using wind energy converters linked to power distributors," according to a company white paper.

Cryptocurrency, an internet-based system for financial transactions, has the advantages of minimal processing fees, decentralization, and blockchain to confirm and provide security. The exchanges are quick and can be conducted on a global scale, which makes life easier for investors. According to a recent opinion piece on the Bloomberg website by former risk manager Aaron Brown, cryptocurrency is not without risk, but neither is investing, and "there are plausible scenarios in which crypto grows to become a significant part of the economy."

Investors are seeing the potential of green energy companies and the convenience of cryptocurrency. Wind energy is one of the most strongly recommended alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, and Eco Smart gets investors involved in the environmental angle with an application that will allow the token owners not only to send or receive tokens, but also to view how much wind power is being produced from the turbines. "The token holders can also actively participate in issues that are related to the future of the wind farm," according to the company.

Visit renbdo.io for more information about how cryptocurrency will shape the future and for investment opportunities.

Many misconceptions persist about sun protection and skin cancer, especially among people of color.

"The misperception that people of color don't need sunscreen is one we need to change because we do burn and we are susceptible to skin cancer just like everyone else," says Lavdena Orr, MD, a chief medical officer with AmeriHealth Caritas, a health care organization dedicated to the care of those most in need.

"Ultraviolet rays don't discriminate against skin type, so avoiding sunburn is the primary way to reduce one's risk of developing melanoma or any other type of skin cancer."

Although overall rates of melanoma may be higher among whites, African-Americans are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage when the cancer is more severe and the prognosis is less favorable, according to a 2016 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Ginette A. Okoye, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and chair of the department of dermatology at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., adds that in people of color, skin cancer may be more likely to develop in less obvious areas, such as the feet or nails.

"In some cases, excessive sun exposure is not necessarily the trigger for this type of cancer in skin of color," according to Dr. Okoye. However, she notes that individuals with darker skin are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency because "the pigment in our skin filters out sunlight which we need to produce vitamin D in the skin."

Therefore, she recommends vitamin D supplements if needed and a vitamin D-rich diet, including salmon, tuna, and mackerel.

In addition, Dr. Okoye reminds her patients of all ethnicities to pay attention to three areas:

- Face: Wear sunscreen daily, or use hats or visors to help protect facial skin from direct sun exposure.

- Left side: The left arm, as well as the left side of the face, get a lot of sun exposure while driving. Add some sunscreen or a light, long-sleeved shirt if you have a long summer drive ahead.

- Cuts and scrapes: Areas of any sort of skin trauma need extra protection to reduce the risk of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.

For more information, visit amerihealthcaritas.com.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends these basic tips for sun protection:

- Clothing: Look to long sleeves, wraps, and sarongs to shield your skin.

- Accessories: Hats and sunglasses can keep your face, neck, and ears safe and comfortable in the sun. Umbrellas work, too.

- Timing: Try to avoid excessive sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when ultraviolet rays are the strongest.

- Sunscreen: When you are outdoors, use sunscreen. And reapply every two hours if you are swimming or sweating heavily.

UP Faith and Family (UPFF), the streaming service developed by UPtv, offers commercial-free, family-friendly entertainment, including the popular series Heartland, which airs its 200th episode this season.

Heartland, a multi-generational family drama set on a horse ranch in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, is in its 12th season, and remains popular with viewers who value the family bonding time as much as the program itself.

"From day one, I've felt such a strong connection with all of the actors," says actress Amber Marshall, who plays lead character Amy Fleming.

"I think that makes our show special, because when people watch Heartland, they can see that we genuinely love one another, and I think that's important."

Heartland is filmed and produced in Alberta, Canada, and the stunning scenery adds to the show's appeal.

Viewers of all ages and demographics can relate to the family drama, love, and fun, not to mention the beautiful horses. Longtime fans have followed the characters and their stories for years. Storylines include the relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and brothers and sisters, as well as interactions between humans and horses that create moving and powerful plot twists.

Even after 12 seasons, Heartland remains consistent in its goal of providing programming that parents need not fear will be inappropriate for children.

"We need shows that have good wholesome values, and a show [where] people can sit down with their families and feel good about it," Ms. Marshall adds.

In honor of the 200th episode, UPFF will present Heartland: Through the Years, a special program featuring behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the principal actors, producers, horse trainers, and other members of the crew.

UPFF is available anytime for uplifting entertainment suitable for all ages, including kids' programs, documentaries, and reality series. Families can download the app or visit Upfaithandfamily.com for more information about subscriptions and a 14-day free trial.

The SVOD service is available on all major mobile and streaming platforms, including iOS/iPadOS, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Roku, Fire TV and Xbox. It is also distributed by many partners, including Amazon Prime Channels, Xfinity, Dish, Sling, Cox and The Roku Channel.

This year, Cooper Tires is encouraging drivers to mark Labor Day weekend (and the first of every month) as a tire check safety moment, to make a habit of checking tires, especially as seasons change.

"Just as we regularly take a moment to check our smoke detector batteries when we change our clocks in the fall and spring, we need to designate a moment to check tire safety as well," says Jessica Egerton, Director of Brand Development at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.

Checking the overall condition of your tires is easy and important for your safety on the road. Your tires are the only parts of your vehicle to come into contact with, and keep you connected to, the road.

The recommended tread depth is more than 2/32 of an inch deep. Do your tires meet this minimum, or are they too worn? Would you know if they are? An easy and quick way to tell is to stick a penny into the tread with Lincoln's head facing down. If the tread covers the top of his head, you're good to go. If not, time to replace the tire.

Ensuring your tires have the recommended tread depth can help in a variety of ways, including maintaining traction on the road, keeping control of the car, and preventing hydroplaning or sliding.

Don't be under-pressured, either.

Tires not inflated to the recommended level of pressure can lead to tire failure, uneven wear and cause your car to use more gas.

Try this 10-minute safety check from Cooper Tires:

* Check the tread. Use the U.S. penny/Lincoln's head method. Insert the penny into the tire tread, with Lincoln's head down and facing you. If the top of his head is visible at any point around the tire, there is too little tread, and it's time to replace the tire!

* Check the pressure. Look on the vehicle doorjamb, glove compartment, fuel door or owner's manual to find the recommended pressure for your tires. Press a tire gauge on the valve stem. Too low? Add air. Too high? Push down on the metal stem in the center of the valve to release some air. When you reach the recommended pressure, replace that valve cap. Also, don't check pressure right after driving. Wait at least three hours until the tires are cool.

* Check your look. Inspect your tires for cuts, bulges, cracks, splits or punctures. When in doubt, ask a tire professional for an inspection.

Visit coopertires.com for more information about tire safety and more details on how to take make your tire safety check moment a regular habit.