Are you planning a ‘staycation’ to avoid the cost of rising fuel prices? You can enjoy everything the area has to offer and still make a difference in preserving its natural resources, thanks to conservation programs developed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Southwest Flrodia offers many ways to enjoy some time off close to home without sacrificing the environment.

To help improve air quality, The Clean Air Campaign is asking people to look at alternatives to driving alone during the warmer months that make up smog season.  In metro Atlanta, half of all smog-forming emissions come from the tailpipes of cars, so keeping your car off the road on your way to and from work makes a positive impact.  Some commute options aside from the solo drive are:

Hepatitis is a general term meaning inflammation of the liver, which is typically caused by infection. Hepatitis can also be caused by overexposure to alcohol, certain medications, chemicals, poisons and other toxins, or by other diseases. Inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is referred to as hepatitis C.

If the inflammation is not reversed, it becomes chronic and can cause chronic liver disease that can be serious or even fatal. At lease 75 percent of people infected with hepatitis C develop chronic hepatitis C. If the disease progresses to the point at which the liver begins to fail, also referred to as end-stage liver disease, the only treatment is liver transplantation.