38 million people in the U.S. that has migraines or study published in a 2016 issue of Brain shows that green LED lighting reduced pain intensity by 20 percent. In the study, “Migraine photophobia originating in cone-driven retinal pathways,” researchers at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center set out to test whether or not colors can affect photophobia and migraine intensity. Photophobia is sensitivity to light and can be associated with pain and migraine exacerbation. Findings in a previous study fueled the motivation for this study. In the earlier study, the researchers found that blind participants experienced increased migraine pain when exposed to blue light.

Sixty-nine participants with migraines were part of the most recent study. Researchers studied the effects that exposure to white, blue, green, amber, and red low-intensity light had on their pain. Blue and red light were the worst—increasing pain by 18-19 percent. White and amber increased pain by 15 percent. Green was the only color that reduced pain.

Another green-light study found that exposure to low-intensity light from green LEDs reduced chronic pain and migraine severity. In this study, eight participants with fibromyalgia or migraines were given a green LED strip light, and five were given a white strip. Participants were asked to use their strips nightly for one to two hours for 10 weeks. Participants with green LEDs reported a 40-50 percent drop in pain.

The study was so successful for some that they asked to keep their green LED strip lights; they continue to use them in addition to or in place of medicine. In a study was published in a 2017 issue of Pain. The University of Arizona study, “Long-lasting antinociceptive (pain blocking) effects of green light in acute and chronic pain in rats,” found that rats experienced an increased tolerance for thermal and tactile testing methods. These tests measured how long it took for the rats to withdraw their paw when exposed to heat or pricked with a filament. Testing was completed under green or white light. The researchers found that after eight hours of green LED light exposure for five days it took much longer for rats to withdraw their paws. Effects of the green LEDs lasted for four days.

Rajesh Khanna, UA associate professor of pharmacology and senior author of the study, reports that, “While the pain-relieving qualities of green LED are clear, exactly how it works remains a puzzle. Early studies show that green light is increasing the levels of circulating endogenous opioids, which may explain the pain-relieving effects.”  In a UA article, “(Exogenous) Opioids, while having many benefits for managing pain, come with serious side effects.” These medications can also be addictive.

Researchers in this study are not advising people to stop their medications without speaking with a professional. However, it is possible, as in Lesneski’s case, that green LED lighting could eliminate the need for them in the future. “We need safer, effective and affordable approaches, used in conjunction with our current tools, to manage chronic pain,” Ibrahim said.

Twas the Day before Christmas….a true story December 24, 2009 Garland, Texas As the temperature dropped, it had started to snow, The 100 Amp. Federal, just decided to Blow!……….. It arced and it sparked, sent my wife in a Panic, I felt like the captain, of the famous Titanic…. Kids coming for christmas, lots of food to prepare, No lights in the kitchen, on the brink of despair…. Her I-Phone still up, she went to the net, She Googled some words, and found the Best Bet…. We called and Nick answered, He got someone going, Jeremy from Mesquite, and soon—Power Flowing!!!! Mrs. Overbey and I sincerely thank the Family at ElectricMan for being there and saving our Christmas! God Bless and Merry Christmas, Val & Susan Overbey

Thank you Val & Susan!  It was a pleasure to do business with you!

It’s cold throughout MD, VA, and DC now, but the weather will soon start to change. Before you know it, it’ll become warmer, which means you should begin thinking about attic fan installation. An attic fan is a ventilation fan that regulates the heat level of a building’s attic by exhausting hot air. It is similar to a kitchen fan but located in the attic of a home. An attic fan is usually connected to a switch or string that you can access from the top floor of your home. You may be surprised to learn about all the benefits of installing an attic fan in your home.

Attic fans are key to maintaining an energy-efficient home. Your air conditioning unit will have to work overtime if you allow rising heat to stay in your home instead of routing it up and out. This ultimately reduces the unit’s efficiency. An attic fan is an excellent home cooling option that also keeps your energy bill down in hot summer months.

An attic fan helps reduce the humidity, or overall moisture level, in a house. Daily household activities—showering and cooking, for example—create moisture that rises and can build up in the attic if the space isn’t properly ventilated. If you don’t take any action and allow this moisture to sit in the attic for an extended period, it will eventually create mold in the insulation and possibly even in the wood structure of the attic. This moisture can be especially damaging during the wintertime (now!) when cold turns it to ice or frost. The expansion of ice and frost can seriously damage your roof.

An attic fan helps combat moisture and transfers it out of the attic before it can cause serious damage to insulation, wood structure, and roofing materials. Now is the perfect time for attic fan installation—it will help prevent ice or frost from forming and damaging your roof, and you’ll need an attic fan for the warmer months anyways. Contact Kolb Electric for attic fan installation.

Here’s a question: are you currently leaving the windows of your home closed? Doing so could trap gas from your furnace or oil heater in your house. These combustion gases can be removed with the help of an attic fan.

This really is the perfect time to schedule attic fan installation. We’ve been serving Baltimore and Bethesda, MD as well as Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC since 1925. You can count on our experienced electricians to get the job done right the first time. Call us or contact us online for installation.

Plan on hanging a lot of lights or putting on a display this holiday season? If so, you need to make sure your electrical panel can handle the electrical load! So before you start plugging in all of those fancy lights and fun electronics, read along with the team at Kolb Electric to find out if you need to be making a call for an electrician in Columbia.

Looking for help with a heavy-up panel upgrade, or need some other professional electric services? Contact Kolb Electric online today!

A heavy-up, also known as a panel upgrade, is simply an increase in the amount of amperage coming into your home. Your home essentially is capped at a certain allowed amperage for safety reasons. Your amperage limit directly relates to the electrical needs of your home.

On whether or not you need one, it depends on a few things. Heavy-ups are most commonly needed when a home’s demand for safe electricity exceeds its capacity, or if you just haven’t had one in a long time. As your electrical needs evolve (which they do very rapidly in modern homes), through getting more appliances, electronics, and entertainment tools, your need rises as well.

Put simply, people just need more power during the holidays. We find that more and more folks call in for an electrician in Columbia most often late November through the end of the year. Usually people start plugging up those light strands, and all of those nice decorations, only to find that they keep tripping breakers, or experience electrical complications. A heavy-up is the answer to this issue, as it ensures you have an adequate and safe supply of power going forward.

Signs that it’s time for an upgrade:

Suspect you might need to be looking into an upgrade? If you’re not sure, our team can help! The certified electricians at Kolb are always happy to help, and with our years of experience and top-class tech, we can help you determine if it is indeed time for a panel upgrade. Contact an electrician in Columbia today by calling 877-287-1179, or reach us any time online!

As the top Frisco electrician provider in North Texas, we want you to enjoy your home as much as possible, without costly or dangerous electrical problems. Electrical issues or repairs can zap your time, patience, wallet and, in some cases, your health.

ElectricMan is committed to helping you make the most out of your electrical system, appliances and usage, which is why your top Frisco electrician is giving homeowners some tips on how to take good care of your electrical systems and how to get the most out of your home.

 #1 Turn off the lights and lower your bill.

Electric bills these days can give you headaches in and of themselves. However, there are a few things you can do to lower your bills and still enjoy your electricity. Turning off the lights when you’re not in a room; consider installing a motion sensor switch for the outdoor lights you may forget to turn off.  Unplugging an appliance that you’re not using, or even installing alternative power sources like wind turbines and solar panels can significantly reduce your power consumption without infringing on your everyday usage. You can also use indoor generators to power your home without needing to be connected to the power grid.

#2 Keep up with electrical maintenance in your home.

Doing regular electrical maintenance in your home every two years can mean the difference between a happy, powered home and a mess of molten wire and old circuit breakers that don’t work. Hire your local electrician to come take a look at the entire electrical system in your home, and act upon his recommendations as soon as possible to give your home’s electrical wiring a long life.

#3 Take care of your smoke detectors and your smoke detectors will take care of you.

Smoke detectors are an invaluable and potentially life-saving part of any home. Keeping them in good working order and supplied with fresh batteries might just save your life. Be sure to swap the batteries of your smoke detectors every year (coinciding with the time changes is a good way to remember), and change out detectors every five to seven years.

#4 Protect your home with the right equipment.

Another important aspect of being safe and secure in your home to ensure your home is properly equipped with surge protectors, AFCI breakers and GFCI outlets wherever they are needed. These pieces of equipment not only can protect and preserve valuable appliances or expensive wiring, but they can keep you out of harm’s way in case of an electrical emergency in your home.

#5 Hire a professional for electrical remodeling jobs.

Whether you love hanging lamps or dimmer lights, homeowners who are fond of ambient lighting and are in need of some remodeling should always remember to call their top Frisco electrician to carry out the lighting installation. Installing lighting is a very intricate process that can get difficult and dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.