InfoTrak

3. Bill Westrom, consumer finance expert, co-author of “Master Your Debt: Slash Your Monthly Payments and Become Debt Free”

The typical American carries thousands of dollars of credit card debt, personal loans, car loans and student loans. Bill Westrom, consumer finance expert, and co-author of "Master Your Debt: Slash Your Monthly Payments and Become Debt Free", outlines several easy strategies to save money and retire debt as quickly as possible,

Growing companies are always on the lookout for talented people to hire. Jeff Korzenik, author of "Untapped Talent: How Second Chance Hiring Works for Your Business and the Community", says there's a massive pool of productive job seekers being overlooked by businesses. Who these people are may surprise you.

If you've ever wondered if an item can be recycled or if you should just toss it in the garbage can, you're not alone. Jennie Romer, Recycling Expert, author of "Can I Recycle This? A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics" outlines the most common items that consumers incorrectly believe can be recycled and why. She also explains why only 9% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled.

Many patients seek a second opinion before treatment for a complex medical condition.

Thomas Beckman, MD, Fellow in Advanced General Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, led a study at Mayo that found that only 12 percent of second opinions confirm that the original diagnosis was complete and correct. He explains what illnesses should merit the pursuit of a second opinion.

A significant number of Americans suffer from mental health issues, but one expert says that number skyrocketed during the pandemics and lockdowns. Christy Kane, PhD, Trauma Psychologist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and author of "Fractured Souls and Splintered Memories: Unlocking the 'Boxes' of Trauma." says data indicates that the need for mental health services for children increased by 98% in the past year. She also estimates that 90% of the overall population is struggling mentally to deal with changes connected to COVID-19.

Virtually every American can take simple steps to lower their carbon footprint by making changes in travel, commuting, investing, and even cooking. James Beard Award-winning author Paul Greenberg outlines how a "Climate Diet" can help the planet.

Experts predict that Social Security will start running out of funds in less than 15 years. But smart parents can help their kids retire with a healthy nest egg by setting up an investment fund today. Chris Carosa, Certified Trust & Fiduciary Advisor, author of "The Parent's Guide to Turning Your Teen into A Millionaire," explains that the strategy should yield $2 million or more of retirement savings.

From time to time, every one of us faces difficulties in life. How we deal with these situations makes all the difference. Katherine May, author of "Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times," explains how to deal with these periods she calls "wintering," and what nature can teach us about slowing down to cope with life's darkest moments.

More than 70,000 American lives were lost to drug overdoses in 2019, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the problem grew even worse during the pandemic. Daniel Hartung, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Professor in the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, led a study that found that 20% of pharmacies refuse to dispense a key medication, buprenorphine, to treat the addiction. He explains possible reasons behind the problem, and why the availability of this drug is so important in the battle against the opioid epidemic.

Tourniquets save lives, and while the increased use of tourniquets has raised survival rates and reduced the need for blood transfusions, there are still many situations where tourniquets could be used, but are not. Reynold Henry, MD, MPH, General Surgery Chief Resident at Los Angeles County and USC Medical Center, explains how you could save a life.