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Almost 10 years ago, my father had to have a very serious heart operation that required an extended hospital stay. There were complications, and he has had a number of side effects since then.

One of the worst problems he has had as a result of the surgery is an acid reflux cough. We are not completely sure if it was because of the surgery, but he had never had a problem with acid reflux before. My family and I believe they are at least related.

Essentially, while my father was sleeping, trying to recover from this very serious trauma to his body, he would wake up suddenly with a coughing jag that would cause him to get sick. It was an acid reflux cough, and it got to the point where he could not get through a single night without waking up with the problem.

At first, we thought he could take some antacids before he went to bed and that might do the trick, but that only worked for a while, and pretty soon, he was up again almost every night coughing.

We then tried to make sure that he ate very early in the evening, typically around 5 p.m., so that his food would have plenty of time to digest. This actually did work, but he was starving by the time he went to bed and would often wake up with a headache the next morning.

Besides that, because of the acid reflux cough he was experiencing, my father was becoming irritable, having difficulty concentrating during the day and having difficulty recovering from his surgery, because he could not get the one thing he needed most — rest.

The worst side effect of all of the acid reflux cough was depression. My father became fully disabled after the surgery, which was a hard enough blow. With the seeming inability to go to sleep at night without a host of problems, however, he started to succumb to a feeling of hopelessness, and he became quite despondent.

We told his doctor what was going on, and he was placed on a prescription acid reflux reducer, and after a few weeks, the problem went away. He was in much better spirits and he was finally able to get the rest he need to finish recovering from his heart surgery.

An acid reflux cough is something that many people have experienced on occasion, and for many of us, it is typically something that goes away fairly quickly with a few antacids. For those people that suffer from a chronic reflux cough, however, it is a serious matter, and if left untreated can cause a lot of other health problems.

When we think of home decorating, furnishings, wall colors and a generally well-coordinated décor come immediately to mind. Artwork is also an important element of any home decorating scheme. Have you considered abstract metal wall art? Large, open wall spaces can be an intimidating challenge to the home decorator. A single painting can easily become lost on a large wall. This is where abstract metal wall art can, quite literally, shine.

Large pieces can span large spaces with colorful and intriguing visual interest, while not overwhelming the space or your décor. Smaller pieces can add both originality and zip to an entryway, kitchen or bedroom, staving off visual boredom that might occur by sticking with one form of wall art, such as the one dimensional types – paintings, photos and the like. Let’s take a look at some of the unusual themes and designs that are readily available.

Visiting some of your local art galleries can turn up some exciting prospects. Another way to shop is online. If you’re unfamiliar with the variety of abstract metal wall art available, you’re in for an eye-opening treat! Do some ‘window shopping’ with Google’s image search, which, BTW, has been recently enhanced, displaying dozens of pages of results on just one web page, making for the fastest window shopping in town! A general search on this search gives you a feel for the variety of abstract metal wall art that’s out there, so you can quickly zero in on themes, colors and subject matter that is suited to your taste, wall space and home décor. For example, sunbursts, fish and trees are popular themes. That said, there are as many variations on these common themes as there are, well, fish in the sea. These metal wall art pieces are original, reflecting a myriad of artistic expressions on the subject.

Clocks are also plentiful in the abstract metal wall art market. Instead of the same-old, same-old conventional clock hanging in your den or kitchen, explore the possibilities of metal wall art for a truly unique timepiece.

Stained glass effects also figure prominently in this artistic venue of home decorating. You’ll find designs in which the metal has painted accents which help form pictures. Still others simulate paintings, with square or rectangular pieces, filled with detailed images constructed of metal. Scroll work is another popular element, which lends a Baroque touch to your art work.

Maybe you’ve got a wine cellar. How about an metal wall art piece in the shape of a wine bottle? Now there’s a conversation piece! If quilts are your thing, you’ll find lots of this type of artwork. Perhaps such a piece can find a home with you, making a sensational display of your beloved hobby.

There are metal wall art pieces intended for both indoor and outdoor use. You can see that there are some interesting and original ways to enhance your home décor. Before you hire an interior decorator out of sheer exasperation and lack of inspiration, take a look at some of the hundreds of thousands of abstract metal wall art, just waiting for that perfect place in your home!

Getting into high heels for the first time and looking the part isn’t something that can come easily to most women. If the first time you put them on is an evening you expect to look good sashaying forth fashionably on the dance floor at an office party, you could find yourself in a bit of a spot trying  for success pulling it off like an old hand (an old foot?). But heels don’t need to be such a challenge; if you know how to go about them.

For your first time in heels, you need to plan ahead for the event and know what to shop for. Your wobbly sense of balance on heels for the first time is best helped by shoes that offer you plenty of ankle support. The ankles are usually the wobbliest part of the balance when they are perched high up on heels. What you need is a pair of shoes that gives you a pretty well-wrapped ankle – to offer strength and support when the wobbles seem to get out of control. Lots of strong straps around the ankles should be what you need to look for. While this does protect you in the event, you couldn’t possibly want to take a risk trying out your new high-heeled skills for the first time, out on an important date. What you need is to put them on in test drive mode – to rehearse as it were; and the best place to do that would be at the supermarket. You have plenty of shelves and your cart to use as grab handles should your heels try to give way. Starting out on anything, baby steps are what everyone tells you need to take. Baby steps are supposed to  help you find your balance before you can actually soar.

It’s not infrequently that you see women on the street with high heels shoes on taking this advice rather too literally: you’ll see them moving forward in scared little baby steps. The “baby steps”advice is meant for how high the heels should probably be when you first try them on. Once you do have a pair on, you’ll need to consider a bolder stride. The more steps you take with your high heels on, the more likely you’ll be to trip. Walking in high heels is an act of active faith in yourself; you’re supposed to more or less stride.  Now when your heels are high, your hips try reflexively to even the balance out, pushing themselves forward. Your whole posture changes in a way you might not even realize; to balance out the way your heels try to take you forward, try consciously changing the way you stand so that you lay yourself back a little bit. And you could do that even as you walk. You could also adopt a slightly wider stance for a little more balance. Your walk needs to be striding and sashaying; that’s what brings to life out in you.

For the safest first-time experience with high heel shoes, try to go no higher than 3 1/2 inches; you’ll often get the same styles as in is the more vertiginous shoes. If you don’t wish to compromise on your health, how about trying a pair that achieve the height you are after through a bit of a platform? I love the $160 Charles David and Daniback Paley wedge heels that are strong, give you the comfort of cork, and depend on the platform style to raise your heel. That’s always best for balance for a first-timer. Genuine strappy high heels that keep your ankles braced with beautiful straps for extra safety in a pair of true high heels, you’ll find in the $400 Tibi Flavias. They are black, they show off a lot of your ankles and your toes, and the wide ankle straps keep you safe and well-supported. For super-stylish high heels that are cheaper, extremely well-made and and sexier than anything you’ve seen, try the $185 Report Signature Randolphs. The beautiful leather and the stitching are quite out of this world; and the conical wineglass-like heel has attitude.

Life doesn’t get any better when you have ways to ensconce your toes in some truly beautiful leather that has craftsmanship and attitude. And if you can do that without sacrificing on your safety, that’s all for the better.