By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
6 things you need to do before you die
c31309e23488ec8b52711ee428798bc5392e78be1be08f0035f73c2ff9a35012
Residents of Hawaii received an emergency text alert Saturday that warned of an inbound missile ready to strike, leading people to ponder imminent death. Heres a look at six things you can do to prepare for death, which will happen, eventually. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News special workflow
Published: Jan 20, 2018, 3:59 PM
Residents of Hawaii received a massive emergency text alert on Saturday that warned of an inbound missile ready to strike the island.

Locals only had 15 minutes to find shelter, according to NPR. It took another 15 minutes or so for Hawaiians to find out the warning was a mistake.

Many people later shared with news media how it felt to think their lives would soon come to an end during those minutes of uncertainty.

If it were real, how many of those people had their personal affairs in order?

According to a 2016 Gallup poll, 44 percent of Americans say they have a will that describes how they want their property and money handled after their death. That's lower than in 2005 (51 percent) and 1990 (48 percent).

The poll found 68 percent of people 65 and older have a will, compared with 14 percent of those who are younger than 30.

Heres a look at six things you can do to prepare for death, which will happen you just don't know when:

Review beneficiary forms

According to Forbes, its important to review your retirement accounts to make sure your funds will go to the right person. Make sure you name both a primary and an alternate beneficiary in case of any hiccups. It's also important to figure out how much money or possessions to share with family and friends once you're gone.

Draft a will

Put together a will that explains where your property will go after you die, according to Legal Zoom. Make sure you name an executor or someone who can handle the distribution of the property you will leave behind.

Be specific

When writing your will, make sure youre specific and detailed about what you have and how you will divide your possessions. If you are using a will to pass on your house, for instance, include the full address when identifying the property, according to Time.

Transfer power of attorney

According to WebMD, if you are sick or terminally ill, you should transfer power of attorney, or the authority to manage your affairs if you become unable to do so, to someone you trust.

Gather important documents

Secure your property deeds, vehicle titles and official certificates and put them in a safe place to make sure your loved ones can find them once you pass away, according to Legal Zoom.

Finally, keep a master file

Everything your friends and family need before you die should be kept in one master file. This includes your will, birth certificate, drivers license and any other legal documents youve used in your life, according to LifeHacker.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.