Category: Law

Categories
Law

Best Tips to Help You Become a Firefighter

Are you interested in becoming a firefighter? A career in firefighting is extremely competitive. Every year fire departments receive thousands of applications for a small number of available jobs. Read our practical tips to get the edge on how to effectively compete for these hard to get but rewarding jobs.

AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit

Best Tips For Becoming a Firefighter

Get Certified as an Emergency Medical Technician
Many fire departments require firefighters to have completed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and certification. Completing EMT training and certification will provide you with an advantage when applying for a firefighter job

Research On-line
Find fire department websites for your local area or other locations you are willing to consider. If a fire department does not have its own website, you will normally find information regarding fire services under the city/municipal/county website. Review the websites often to see when they will be hiring. You’ll also find information regarding specific requirements and qualifications as well as the recruitment process and any applications or documents you need to complete.

Search For Jobs Beyond Your Neighborhood
Everyone wants to work near their home. However because the number of new firefighting positions are few and far between, you shouldn’t focus on one specific fire department. Although many fire departments require that you live within a certain distance of the fire station, many allow you several years from the time you are hired to make the move. Remember that at the start of your career you need to be flexible and willing to compromise. After acquiring some experience you can always investigate a transfer to a department closer to home.

Consider Firefighter Positions Providing Lower Pay Levels
If you are new to firefighting, consider and search for positions offering lower pay grade levels. This will increase the number of jobs for which you can apply to.

Consider Becoming a State Firefighter
Consider wildland firefighting and other firefighting positions under state responsibility. You chances of finding a firefighting job are much greater as each summer there is a significant need for both new and experienced wildland firefighters in many states. Although some of these jobs (wildland firefighting) are seasonal they provide excellent work experience and advantage over inexperienced candidates when applying for a position with a local fire department.

Apply to Become a Volunteer Firefighter
Volunteer firefighters perform the same jobs as career firefighters. By becoming a volunteer firefighter you’ll acquire some great work experience as well as the required firefighter training. This will give you an advantage when applying for a permanent pay fire fighting job.

Consider a Position as a Federal Firefighter
Consider other types of firefighting careers such as working or the federal government. These include navy, army, or air force firefighter. The commitment to serving is looked upon positively by fire departments and will provide you with an advantage when applying to a local fire department. You’ll also acquire the skills and training needed for a career in firefighting with a local department.

Complete Job Applications Carefully
Make sure you complete all firefighter job applications carefully and you submit all required documents and information. You may not get a second chance.

Categories
Law

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks normal tissues as if they were invading antibodies. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes inflammation of the tissues around the joints and other organs of the body. The hands and feet are the most affected areas of rheumatoid arthritis although it can also affect any joint lined by a membrane. Rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systematic illness and sometimes called rheumatoid disease.

xeljanz study reveals serious safety concern

Rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself over a period of a few months. However, for some, the disease appears overnight. Accelerated onset of rheumatoid arthritis does not mean the individual is at greater risk of the progression of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis can lasts for years without symptoms. But rheumatoid arthritis is an illness that progresses and has the potential to cause joint destrution and functional disability. Usually, patients suffer cycles from severe to light symptoms. In terms of statistics, rheumatoid arthritis is three times more common in women than in men. It also besets people of all races equally. Rheumatoid arthritis can begin at any age but most often start in the early forties.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis? The truth is, its cause is still unknown. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected but none has been proven to be the cause. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis has been the focus of different research activities. There are some scientists who believe that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically inherited while others believe that certain factors in the environment might elicit the immune system to attack the body’s own tissue components. This attack results to the inflammation in various organs such as lungs or eyes.

Researchers have also found that environmental factors may also play a role in the cause of rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, scientists reported that smoking tobacco increases risk in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis depend on the degree of tissue inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is said to be active if the body tissues are inflammed. When the tissue inflammation subsides, rheumatoid arthritis is said to be in remission. Remissions may happen spontaneously or with treatment and can last for weeks, months, even years. During active rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms are felt. Symptoms may include fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, and muscles and joint aches. Muscles and joint stiffness are usually felt during mornings and after a period of inactivity. During relapses (from inactivity to activity) of rheumatoid arthritis, joints become red, swollen, painful, and tender. This happens because the tissue lining of the joints become inflamed which results in the excess production of joint fluids.

Multiple joints are usually inflamed in symmetrical pattern and the joints of both hands and wrists are often affected. Simple tasks such as turning the door knob and opening the jars can be painful. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the joint responsible for the tightening of vocal cords to change the tone of the voice although rarely. But when this happens, it can cause hoarseness of the voice.

As mentioned before, rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic disease which can affect organs and areas of the body other than the joints. Sjorgen’s syndrome is the inflammation of the glands of the eyes and mouth which causes dryness. Rheumatoid inflammation of the lung lining can cause chest pains because the lung tissue itself is inflamed and nodules of inflammation also develop within the lungs. Rheumatoid arthritis can also reduce the number of red blood cells which can result to anemia and white blood cells which can result to increase risk of infections. A rare, serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis is blood vessel inflammation which can impair blood supply to tissues and lead to death of tissues.

A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other related diseases. The rheumatologist reviews the history of symptoms, examines the joints, and the other parts of the body for the inflammation. The diagnosis is usually based on the pattern of symptoms, the distribution of the inflamed joints, and the blood and x-rays obtained.

Until now, there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Reducing joint inflammation and pain, maximizing joint function, and preventing joint destruction is the current goal in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Early medical intervention has been found to improve outcomes in treatment. Optimal treatment includes combination of medications, joint strengthening exercises, joint protection, and patient education. Treatment is customized according to many factors such as disease activity, types of joints involved, general health, age, and occupation. But treatment is most successful when there is close cooperation between the doctor and the patient.

Categories
Law

What Is Sleep Apnea and Its Treatment?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder which is characterized by abnormal pauses in the breathing pattern, or instances of abnormally low breathing during sleep. Each pause between successive breaths is called an “apnea” – a word derived from the Greek word “apnoia” which means “without breath”. In case of normal breathing, the frequency of pauses is constant and regular. When the normal breathing pattern changes due to various reasons, and the intervals between successive pauses start becoming irregular, it leads to sleep apnea disorder. Each irregular pause of breath is referred to as “hypopnea.” So, in case of normal breathing, each interval or pause is termed as an “apnea”, while in case of abnormal breathing it is termed as “hypopnea.”

philips cpap lawsuit

Symptoms of sleep apnea

Individuals suffering from the disorder often do not know they have it. Certain symptoms can ascertain whether the individual is suffering from the disorder. The major symptoms include:

Insomnia
Restless sleeping patterns
Choking or gasping during sleep
Night sweats
Feeling excessively sleepy during the day
Snoring frequently and loudly
Trouble in breathing during sleep
Other symptoms indicating a possible disorder are:

Fatigue
Morning headaches
Loss of memory
Difficulty in learning new things
Irritability
Inability to concentrate for long
Depressions
Mood swings and/or personality changes
Dry throat when awaking
Frequent urination during the night
Causes of sleep apnea

The disorder generally occurs due to a fat buildup, or a loss of the muscle tone, especially during old age. In this particular disorder, the tracheal muscles (“trachea” is the windpipe), the soft palate muscles at the base of the tongue, and the uvula (“uvula” is the triangular shaped small fleshy tissue hanging from the center in the back of the throat) relax to a considerable extent and collapse during the breathing activity. In simple terms, the windpipe becomes taut, or the layers of the windpipe adhere which restricts the flow of air into the lungs. The disorder can also occur due to a malfunction of neurons controlling the breathing process during sleep. This sleep disorder can be diagnosed by an overnight polysomnogram test – a sleep test which is extensively used to detect sleeping disorders and related problems.

Effects of sleep apnea

Even though the sleep disorder might appear to be a common and not-so-serious, it can lead to some serious health problems. If left untreated, the disorder can result in:

Depression
Sexual dysfunction
Hypertension
High blood pressure
Irregular heart beats
Coronary Heart Disease
Chronic Heart Failure
Worsening of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Types of sleep apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Central sleep apnea (CSA)
Mixed sleep apnea (MSA)
Even though all the three types of sleeping disorders differ as far as their causes and treatment is concerned, one aspect remain common – some parts of the respiratory system narrow down and impair the percentage of oxygen reaching the subject’s lungs.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

This is a highly common form of the disorder found in majority of the individuals suffering from sleeping disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea is a physical disorder. This form of disorder is typically characterized by individuals who have:

More weight (overweight)
Small jaw line
A small air passage in the trachea (windpipe)
Large tongue
Tonsils
The main cause of OSA is the same as stated above for sleep apnea. The condition can further worsen if the subject consumes alcohol, ingests tranquilizers and sleeping pills.

Central sleep apnea (CSA)

This is a comparatively rare form of the sleeping disorder in which the tracheal muscles do not sag to much extent, and the air passage remains large enough so that enough air can pass through. However, in this particular disorder the diaphragm and the chest muscles temporarily fail to function effectively, which results in reduced oxygen levels in the blood. The decreased oxygen level affects normal metabolic working of the body, and the brain too receives less oxygen so the subject suffers from memory loss, slow learning, sluggish reflexes, and inability to concentrate for long.

Mixed sleep apnea (MSA)

In very rare cases, some individuals experience both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea simultaneously. In such cases, both the sleep disorders manifest themselves by interspersing with each other, and the individual may experience the effects of either of the disorders at one particular instance, or a combined effect of both. The pathological or psychological effects of this disorder cannot be predetermined or ascertained since many factors affect its manifestation.

Sleep apnea treatment

The treatment for the sleep disorder varies in accordance to the level to which the individual is suffering from it. Generally, the treatment can be administered in the form of therapies and surgeries depending upon how much the disorder is affecting the individual. The treatment consists of:

Therapies

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

This therapy is generally used if the individual has moderate to severe sleep disorder. The therapy consists of a machine which delivers air (oxygen) through a mask placed over the nose while asleep. The air pressure remains greater than that of the surrounding air, and is just strong enough to keep the air passages open.

Adjustable airway pressure devices

In this therapy, a special type of air pressure device automatically adjusts the air pressure and oxygen levels while asleep. The basic functioning of the device is similar to that used for CPAP therapy, however it is a more advanced model and supports bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP). The device provides more pressure while inhaling and reduces the pressure while exhaling.

Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)

This airflow device learns and understands the normal breathing pattern, and subsequently stores the information in a built-in computer. While asleep, the machine regulates the air pressure to normalize the breathing pattern, and prevents any pauses in the breathing activity. ASV is more successful than CPAP while treating central sleep apnea in some individuals.

Oral appliances

This therapy involves wearing an oral appliance specially designed to keep the throat “open”. Oral appliances are easier to use. Some appliances are specially designed to keep the throat open by bringing the jaw forward, which can at times even relieve snoring as well as prevent mild obstructive sleep apnea.

Surgery

The main objective of sleep apnea related surgery is to remove any excess tissues from the nose or the throat which may be causing the blockage of the air passage. The surgical options include:

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

During this surgical procedure, excessive tissue is removed from the rear of your mouth, and from the top of the throat. At times, the tonsils and adenoids are also removed. This type of surgery can be successful in preventing snoring, however, from clinical findings it is observed to be less successful in treating sleep apnea, since the tissues farther down the trachea (windpipe) may still block the air passage. UPPP procedure is generally performed in a hospital, and requires administration of general anesthesia.

Maxillomandibularadvancement

In this procedure, the jaw is moved forward from the remaining facial bones. This enlarges the space behind the tongue and the soft palate, reducing the air obstruction. This procedure may require the services of an oral surgeon and/or an orthodontist, and may be combined with other surgical procedures to improve the likelihood of success.

Tracheostomy

This is a critical surgery, and it is only recommended when other treatments fail and the subject has severe or life-threatening sleep apnea disorder. In this procedure, an opening is made in the neck and a metal or plastic tube is inserted into the trachea through which we breathe. The opening is covered during the day, and at night, it is uncovered to allow air into the lungs. The tube helps to bypass the blocked air passage.

Mandar Majmudar is a professional content writer who has worked extensively in the BPO and KPO segments since last many years. He has undertaken many site projects involving the designing and content writing aspects. He has trained professional content and technical writers for MNCs, and small to medium business entrepreneurships. He specializes in creating concept based web contents – the client provides a concept, and he works out different types of content formats to promote the concept on the internet.

Categories
Law

What Are Surgical Staples and How Are They Used?

There are several different ways of accomplishing wound closure. Adhesives, skin closure tapes, staples and sutures (for example, Covidien or Ethicon sutures) are all ways of repairing lacerations and surgical incisions. Surgical staples and clips are a faster way to close skin wounds, and are more consistent and accurate than hand suturing.

ethicon lawsuit staples

Originally, the first surgical staples were composed of stainless steel. Staple cartridges were reloadable with titanium staples. Today, surgical staplers (like Autosuture or Ethicon staplers) can be made of disposable plastic, or are made of stainless steel and are reusable. The surgical staples are made of either titanium or stainless steel and generally came in disposable cartridges.

As with any wound closure product, sometimes staples produce an inflammatory tissue reaction or an allergic reaction.

Titanium produces less of a reaction than stainless steel. However, patients with nickel allergies should consult with their physicians, as titanium staples contain a certain amount of nickel and could produce a reaction.

Bioabsorbable, synthetic staples based on polyglycolic acid are also on the market. Similar to synthetic absorbable sutures like Vicryl, an Ethicon suture, it is hoped these will cause less tissue reaction. They are also used where permanent staples would not be desirable, for instance, cystotomy repair.

Internal and external wounds can be closed using staples. Normally, a disposable stapler is used to apply skin staples and is removed with a staple remover. Depending on the tissue and the anatomical location to be stapled, the staple line may be straight, circular, or curved. Surgeons prefer using staples in bowel and lung surgery as they are less likely to leak air, blood, or bowel contents. Intestinal staplers are advantageous because they compress wound edges, closing off blood vessels during the stapling process.

Removing staples is done with a staple remover and is a simple procedure. The physician cleans the area, and gently removes each staple by applying pressure to the staple remover so that it bends the staple, straightening out the ends and backing them out of the skin. A tugging or pinching sensation is normally felt but the process is relatively painless.

Categories
Law

Stay Away From Low Iron Baby Formula

New parents are always worried about their children and what they need to do to meet their baby’s needs. After being totally joyous they often become very concerned about their baby’s nutrition and wonder whether they are feeding their little one just the right way. The following tips will help determine whether you are doing everything you can to feed your baby correctly, and whether its right or not to give your baby low iron baby formula, or high iron baby formula.

o If you can you want to only breast feed your baby. The AAP recommends that you breast feed for the first six months of your baby’s life.
o When you do use a formula you want to try the iron fortified infant formula first as per your doctor’s instructions.

elecare baby formula recall lawsuit

Many parents who experience baby stomach problems think that the cause is the formula. They may struggle to find the right formula, but the answer is not to go look for low iron baby formula. A lack of iron can cause many other problems for a baby.

There seems to be an “old wives tale” that goes around that says that iron rich infant formula causes constipation. Mothers assume that because they had such a hard time with the iron supplements, the babies will too. Some paediatricians who don’t know what to do with colicky parents fall prey to the low iron formulas.

Research has shown that babies need about 1 mg of iron per every kilogram of weight. When they go on low iron formulas they don’t get this needed iron. Babies need iron for brain development, and a lack of iron in developing stages has long lasting effects.

Standard infant formulas have the right amount of iron and not any extra iron. Low iron formula puts babies at risk of having iron deficiency and so parents should stay away from this choice.

Categories
Law

How To Overcome Shy Bladder Syndrome – Take Control of Your Unconscious Mind

A disorder developed in the mind, and demonstrated in the body; this is Shy Bladder Syndrome. The classification of a psychogenic condition (such as SBS) is that a physical outcome is rooted in a psychological cause. As I’m sure you know, the mind is an extremely formidable device of which we only possess partial control over. Leading the ‘conscious mind’ is most definitely within our reach, but the ‘subconscious mind’ proves to be a far trickier phenomena to even grasp; let alone control.

elmiron lawsuit criteria

It is no wonder General practitioner success rates in treating Shy Bladder Syndrome are generally small; they’re conditioned to care for the physical not the psychological. Going to your GP is really important to ensure your inability to go to the bathroom isn’t attributable to medical causes, nonetheless it would be rather irrational to expect a GP to be able to take care of an issue outside the realm of their skills. A baker will bake, a carpenter will carve. If you want assistance with a physical condition you visit a GP, if you would like help with a subconscious condition you see someone trained in that area. This is precisely why hypnotherapy boasts such high success rates in treating Shy Bladder Syndrome; it re-trains the ‘unconscious mind’.

I’m going to take the illustration of one of my former clients to explain the way the ‘unconscious mind’ runs the rule over the bladder. For the sake of privacy, we’ll name him John. You may well find that you can relate to his experience.

Shy Bladder Syndrome had been a heavy burden in John’s life for as long as he could remember. He’s thirty four now. He recalls an situation which occurred during his early teens at school as the cause of his disorder. His efforts to urinate at a public urinal were affected by a number of older lads entering his personal space and teasing him. John literally froze up. From then on he was just not able to ‘go’, no matter how much he advised himself to relax and stay calm.

I’m very proud that I had been able to aid John overcome his issue, but let’s look at the course of action that developed in John’s mind and body in further depth:

To start with, it’s critical to recognize the 2 forces that direct human behaviour. These are pleasure and pain. When the traumatic occurrence of getting harassed took place, John’s ‘unconscious mind’ registered all the sensory information of the environment and associated pain to what he observed, heard, smelt, and so on. From that day, any time that environment was recreated, his ‘unconscious mind’ said that this scenario was going to be painful. As a consequence, the situation was perceived by his mind as hazardous and should be steered clear of no matter what. There was no way the mind was going to allow the body place itself in a vulnerable and open situation. Consequently, his ‘unconscious mind’ overrode any messages of encouragement to loosen up and keep calm he transmitted to his ‘conscious mind’.

Shy Bladder Syndrome is effectively a defense procedure employed by the ‘unconscious mind’ to be certain you steer clear of painful predicaments. On one hand we can be glad that it is looking out for our well being, even when we aren’t conscious of it. However, the ease in which routines are picked up is extremely troubling for Paruretics, because without the proper resources, they’re tough to break.

Categories
Law

How to Choose the Best Baby Formula

As every health professional and the World Health Organisation will tell you, the best type of baby milk is breast milk. However, for various reasons, breastfeeding is not always possible. The mother or baby may be ill after the birth, or perhaps the baby had to be in an incubator for a while and could not feed. Maybe the mother didn’t manage to breastfeed, or her work situation didn’t allow it.

elecare lawsuit

Whatever the reason, there is a solution for babies who are not able to breastfeed – and that is baby formula. There is a whole variety of baby formulas on the market – from soy baby formula to organic baby formula, manufactured by various different companies. If you have decided to bottle-feed your baby, the question is which is the best infant formula for you?

The Best Brew – Milk or Soy Baby Formula?

Generally, baby formula is divided into two main types – milk-based and soy formula. Although one should not give a baby actual cow’s milk until the age of a year, the milk in formula has been broken down and modified so that the baby can digest it easily. Over the years, scientists have done whatever they can to develop a baby formula that resembles the nutrients in breast milk as far as possible. Therefore, formula for babies contains various minerals and nutrients that your baby needs. In the case of milk formula, these nutrients have been taken from cow’s milk and specifically adapted to suit your baby’s immature digestion.

If there is a history of milk allergies in your family, you may need a lactose free baby formula. The most common of these is soy formula, which is based on soya and contains many added vitamins and nutrients. As cow’s milk formula is generally considered to be preferable, if you think that using it could be a potential problem you should consult closely with your healthcare professional to make sure that you are giving your baby the most suitable formula that you can.

Once you have made your choice of formula, you should make sure that you buy the type that is most suitable for your baby’s age. Most formulas are sold according to stages. The first stage is usually for babies up to six months, the second stage is until a year, and the third stage is for babies over a year. In this way, the baby receives the right nutrients in accordance to their stage of development. Do your best to stick to the correct formula stage. If you switch too early, you may find that your baby will become constipated.

Other Factors For Feeding Baby

There are many companies on the market that sell baby formula, including Wyeth, Nestle, Similac, and more. Similac formula is one of the oldest, having been in existence since the 1920s, and other established companies have also been around some time. It is not always so easy to choose a brand of formula. Some of even the most famous companies are shrouded in controversy due to their excessive and often dishonest ways of marketing infants’ formula in developing countries. And in Israel, which is a developed country, a terrible tragedy occurred several years ago when a popular company sold formula that lacked Vitamin B1 due to an unknown production malfunction. As a result, several babies died from beriberi, while others were left permanently disabled.

Another factor to take into consideration is baby formula prices, which can be quite high, especially in the beginning when it is your baby’s sole source of food. Cheap baby formula might make things easier on your family’s budget, but the question is whether it is still good for your baby. On the other hand, if you find two formulas made by different companies with the same nutritional composition, but one is cheaper than the other, you would probably choose the one that is less expensive. At the same time, your decision cannot only be based on financial considerations.

Choosing the best formula for a baby is therefore not always such an easy decision. While you are still in hospital, you may receive a whole load of baby formula samples, which can confuse you even further. (This depends on where you live, though, as marketing newborn formula has become illegal in some countries.) You may choose to rely on your friends’ recommendations. However, the best way to handle the situation is to ask your healthcare professional for independent advice that is purely based on health issues and is untainted by any form of marketing bias.

Categories
Law

CPAP machines come in a variety of styles and configurations

If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and you want to stop the misery of your roommates or housemates due to your loud snoring and snoring, you’ve probably considered buying an CPAP machine. CPAP therapy using making use of CPAP devices is the most popular treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The components of the machine comprise the device which is typically what the dimensions of a shoebox and the tube with a flexible ring which connects the machine with the face mask then the mask that is put on the nose and mouth to aid in breathing. The machine operates by delivering a moderate amount of pressure in the air to prevent airways from collapsing and becoming blocked. The pressure level varies between patients which is typically determined by a doctor.

Philips CPAP Lawsuit

CPAP machines come in a variety of styles and configurations, settings, and functions. In general, you can pick from an automatic or regular machine. The main difference between both is the fact that a traditional CPAP machine continuously blows air to remove obstructions to the airway and it does this with a constant pressure throughout the night regardless of whether the patient is suffering from apnea or otherwise. However an automated CPAP machine can adjust how much air it’s blowing based on the individual’s needs.

Thus, an automatic machine is preferred due to its benefits , however it is priced at a cost. Additionally, an automated CPAP machine is thought to be flexible because the machine can operate in auto as well as constant. When an automated machine is used the pressure delivered is decreased by around 40 percent. Patients do not need to worry about maintaining the pressure of a particular area as their condition alters. Additionally, certain automated CPAP devices can detect the distinction between central apneas , hypopneas and obstructive hypopneas or apnea.

However, the decision to purchase the CPAP machine shouldn’t be solely based on the device and its capabilities. The most experienced respiratory therapists know it is crucial to think about the manufacturer or the name of the item. Of course, companies that are in business for a long time produce top-quality products that are more durable than other products and with an essentially lower risk of malfunction. Resmed is generally the most popular manufacturer, then followed by (in not in a any particular or particular) Respironics, Puritan Bennett, Sunrise Medical, Fisher and Paykel and Aieomed.

In addition to paying close focus on the machine, it is equally important to choose a mask that’s exactly to your needs. However good the machine you have but if you are wearing an improperly fitting mask you’ll experience issues and discomfort while you are undergoing CPAP therapy. Therefore, it is essential to try different masks, including nasal masks or full-face mask as well as nasal pillows.