Southern CA: Drought Tolerant
I think my neighbors did a really nice job getting rid of their lawn. The ground cover is kurapia and the added beds with succulents. Zone 10a.
u/mettaCA — 6 hours ago
A single dose of a gene-editing drug reduced LDL by 62% for 18 months in a trial of 35 participants
I wonder when this will become as widespread as statins
NYT gift article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/health/cholesterol-ldl-gene-therapy.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.lFA.qxy1.ebcHUSL5izLH&smid=nytcore-ios-share
NEJM study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2601283
u/_mangotango — 1 month ago
"Cardiac Colonoscopy"—AI-enabled CCTA
"Cardiac Colonoscopy"—AI-enabled CCTA
"Cardiac Colonoscopy" is a modern, preventive cardiology concept referring to AI-enabled Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA). Just as a colonoscopy prevents colon cancer by visualizing the colon before symptoms occur, an AI-CCTA visualizes your heart arteries to detect soft, hidden plaque before a heart attack strikes.
Traditional cardiology testing—like standard EKGs, stress tests, and even basic Calcium Scoring (CAC)—often misses vulnerable "soft" plaque because it primarily detects hardened blockages. AI-CCTA bypasses this by delivering a highly detailed, 3D map of your coronary arteries.
- Visualizes Soft Plaque: Identifies non-calcified, early-stage plaque that traditional stress tests completely miss.
- AI Plaque Analysis: Advanced AI software automatically measures total plaque burden, composition (calcified vs. non-calcified), and stenosis.
- Hemodynamic Assessment (CT-FFR): AI models calculate blood flow through the arteries (Fractional Flow Reserve) to determine exactly if a blockage is physiologically restricting blood to the heart muscle.
What the Procedure Involves
- Preparation: You will fast for a few hours before the scan and may be given a beta-blocker to lower your heart rate to ensure clear images.
- The Scan: You lie flat on a table that slides into a CT scanner. An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted to administer a contrast dye. The scan takes only a few minutes.
- AI Analysis: The raw CT images are processed by AI algorithms, which reconstruct a precise, readable model of your cardiovascular plumbing for your cardiologist.
Insurance & Accessibility
AI-enhanced plaque analysis and CT-FFR have increasingly gained formal Medicare and insurance coverage when medically necessary. Local diagnostic imaging centers equipped with advanced CT scanners (like those offering HeartFlow or similar AI analysis platforms) can perform this.
AI-enabled CCTA is widely covered by insurance, but usually only when performed as a diagnostic test for symptomatic patients, not as a purely preventive screening.
Major commercial payors—including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana—alongside Medicare, provide comprehensive coverage for the AI plaque analysis component. This momentum accelerated significantly following the activation of a permanent Category I CPT reimbursement code (75577) for AI-driven coronary plaque analysis.
The "Cardiac Colonoscopy" nickname can be misleading financially; unlike a traditional colonoscopy, which must be covered 100% with zero out-of-pocket costs as an ACA-mandated preventive screening, an AI-CCTA is subject to standard deductibles, co-pays, and strict medical necessity criteria.
- Identify Necessary Clinical Criteria
Insurers do not approve AI-CCTA as a standard routine check-up for asymptomatic individuals. To secure coverage, a physician generally must document that you meet the following baseline conditions:
- Presenting Symptoms: You must have acute or stable chest pain, unexplained shortness of breath, or atypical cardiac symptoms.
- Risk Tier: You are classified as having an intermediate risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
- Inconclusive Prior Tests: You have had an ambiguous standard EKG, stress test, or basic calcium score, necessitating more advanced imaging.
- Base Study Findings: For advanced AI blood-flow modeling (like CT-FFR), the initial CCTA scan must show mild-to-moderate arterial narrowing (typically between 40% and 90% stenosis).
- Verify Out-of-Pocket Cost Exceptions
If your doctor orders the scan purely for screening because you are asymptomatic but have a heavy family history of heart disease, expect potential out-of-pocket costs.
- Cash-Pay Rates: Advanced imaging facilities often offer a cash-pay rate for the base CCTA scan (ranging from $400 to $1,200).
- AI Add-On Fees: The proprietary AI software analysis (such as Cleerly or HeartFlow) may carry a separate, non-covered vendor fee if insurance denies the primary claim.
- Review Local Reimbursement Averages
When a procedure is covered under the new CPT code 75577, Medicare's national average reimbursement rates can serve as a benchmark for commercial cost structures:
- Hospital Outpatient Setting: ~ $951
- Independent Imaging Center / Physician Office: ~ $1,012
u/mettaCA — 2 months ago
Fat Free Cheeses
It is tough to find cheese that has no saturated fat that is not bad to eat. Ingredients matter, even within a brand.
There is a brand LifeWise that makes Jalapeno Jack, Swiss, Mozzarella and Cheddar.
- LifeWise Fat Free Mozzarella. Yuka score: 30/100 Poor. Sodium phosphate. High sodium.
- LifeWise Fat Free Jalapeno Jack. Yuka score: 30/100 Poor. Sodium phosphate. High sodium.
- LifeWise Fat Free Swiss Cheese. Yuka score: 36/100 Poor. Sodium phosphate. High sodium.
Kraft makes some shredded non fat cheeses.
- Kraft Fat Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Contains Titanium Dioxide - Titanium dioxide in cheese is primarily used as a whitening agent, and while considered safe by the U.S. FDA, it is controversial due to potential health risks and a 2022 ban in the EU. It is added purely for aesthetics, with no nutritional value, and some studies suggest it may cause potential DNA damage or inflammation, leading to, at minimum, advice to avoid it. Yuka scored it poor 27/100.
- Kraft Fat Free Mozzarella Shredded Natural Cheese 7oz Bag. This is the only cheese Fat Free Cheese that I have found that Yuka rates as good 51/100. It is high in sodium.
Skinny Cheese by Red Apple Cheese https://www.redapplecheese.com/where-to-buy
It is not available near me. I have not tried it.
- Skinny Cheese Fat Free Swiss Cheese is rated good 54/100. A little high in sodium.
- Skinny Cheese Fat Free Sharp Cheddar is rated good 54/100.
President Fat Free Feta Crumbles - poor 39/100. Too much sodium.
Odyssey Fat Free Feta Cheese Crumbles - good 60/100. No additives. High sodium.
u/mettaCA — 2 months ago
▲ 32 r/SoCalGardening
Being that I live in a very high fire danger area in Southern California, I found out about these zones 0, 1 and 2 last year and I have been remodeling my garden ever since. I'm hardening my garden and home, hoping that I can continue to keep my home owners insurance. I'm not quite done but I have worked really hard to get my yard and home into what is recommended. For Zone 0, I have based it mostly on the science rather than what they are going to implement in a few months. I have garden gates and a shed that don't meet the original zone 0 discussion. With the new rules, I will probably still need to get rid of my shed because I don't have another location to put it on my lot that will look good.
The original rules for zone 0 that are currently in development, originally required all combustible materials, including plants, to be removed within 5 feet of the home. The more recent meeting about zone 0 had much more relaxed rules, which surprised me because the studies show how important the 5' clearance was. But people got upset about it so the new proposed rules are much less stringent. The official rules for zone 0 should come out in a few months. Here is some of the information that I found while redoing my yard.
Creating Zone 1 and Zone 2 are already law and the rules for Zone 0 will come out in a few months.
About 1 in 5 homes in California fall into this area. You can check to see if your property is in this area by checking out the map
Fire severity zone map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5065c998b4b0462f9ec3c6c226c610a9
Resources:
https://wildfireprepared.org/ Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
Fortified Home Certification: https://wildfireprepared.org/wp-content/uploads/WPH-How-To-Prepare-My-Home-Checklist.pdf
Evaluate Your Yard: https://www.defensiblespacescore.com
Ready For Wildfire Self Assessment: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/31e91d1ba02b4da0b6442d09f9a9824f
Defensible Space:
https://bof.fire.ca.gov/projects-and-programs/defensible-space-zones-0-1-and-2
Fire Smart Landscaping
https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/fire-smart-landscaping/
Home Hardening List: https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/hardening-your-home/
Exterior Covers Over Attic and Garage Vents: Holes need to be no more than 1/8" big to 1/16" big: https://www.wildfiredefensemesh.com/
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Listed Products Handbook
Products have been reviewed and verified by OSFM staff to comply with Chapter 7A of the California Building Code and have been listed by the Building Materials Listing (BML) Program.
https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-engineering-and-investigations/building-materials-listing
- https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace/
- https://bof.fire.ca.gov/projects-and-programs/defensible-space-zones-0-1-and-2
- https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/defensible-space/
- https://fire.lacounty.gov/fire-hazard-reduction-programs/
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California Laws
- AB 38 Fire safety: low-cost retrofits: regional capacity review: wildfire mitigation.
- AB 3074 Fire prevention: wildfire risk: defensible space: ember-resistant zones.
- AB 1572 Potable water: nonfunctional turf. (HOA related)
- Statewide Fines for Violating PRC § 4291 (Defensible Space Non-Compliance)
2020 - AB3074 - create Zone 0 in the existing defensible space PRC 4291 to address embers
2021 - Board of Forestry and Fire Protection updating the Fire Safe Regulations
2024 - SB 504 clarifies elements of Zone 0 (same standards for new and existing construction)
2025 - AB 1455 further clarifies Zone 0
2026 - Zone 0 implementation will be done in phases. Estimated implementation around July 7th, 2026.
Proposed from the meeting on April 23rd, 2026:
Los Angeles Times: What to know about california's new 'Zone Zero' fire-safety proposal
San Francisco Chrolicle: CA eases plan to ban most plants within 5' of Homes in Wildfire Zones
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Fire-Resistant Plants Approved for Use in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) in Los Angeles County, California https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMg_3e49491e-a699-434c-8217-c5416377cb99?rid=5a9bd96f-b757-45e6-aa65-4c5b9c83698c
CalScape Garden Planner - SGV Plant List
Finding Plants: I have not found that big stores like Home Depot and Lowe's have very many options. I did find Carpet of Stars at Home Depot. That is a good groundcover. Armstrong has a few more options, especially in the Spring. A lot of the plants I was looking for were not available until Spring/March. I found a good selection on High Country Gardens and Annie's Annuals & Perennials. But I also looked for plants that butterflies like in addition to plants that will work well in very high fire danger areas.
Some of the plants I used: Poquito™ Lavender Agastache (High Country Gardens), Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium) (High Country Gardens), New Vintage™ Red Yarrow (High Country Gardens), California Narrow Leaf Milkweed (High Country Gardens), Hot Lips Salvia (High Country Gardens), Yankee Point California Lilac (armstrong), Coastal Gem Grevillea (armstrong), Verbena Lilacina De La Mina (armstrong), Santa Barbara Daisy (armstrong), Lippia (ground cover),, Island Pink Yarrow (Plant-Material.com), Epilobium canum (zauschneria) 'Carman's Grey' (Plant-material.com), Blue eyed Grass, Firecracker Penstemon Richfield Strain, Ava Agastache, Blue Fortune Agasche, Dutch Iris - Blue Diamond, Allium - Aflatunense Purple Sensation (bulbs) (EasyToGrowBulbs), Bearded Iris (bulbs) (EasyToGrowBulbs), Narcissus - Paperwhite Nir (bulbs) (EasyToGrowBulbs), Delosperma alba (White Trailing Ice Plant) (I'm not listing where I got this last one because it turned out to be a terrible unethical company even when I confronted them about what they did), ...
Ground Cover: Silver Carpet Dymondia (ground cover) (armstrong), Carpet of Stars (ground cover) (Home Depot)
u/mettaCA — 2 months ago