Green energy, environmental toxins, climate change are among today's ...

FILE - In this April 27, 2011 file photo, residents survey the destruction after a tornado hit Pratt City, Ala., just north of downtown Birmingham, Ala. The American dream can keep you up at night. From worries about mold to the increased potential for damage from extreme weather, owning a home in the 21st century presents a host of challenges that go far beyond fears of falling property values. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, file)

The American dream can keep you up at night.

Beyond anxiety that your biggest investment may be losing value while you sleep, owning a home presents a host of challenges previous generations never pondered. From a rising potential for extreme weather to fears about toxic building materials, there's plenty to disturb the modern homeowner's rest.

"When you add in the economic dimension of homeownership, there are certainly more things to worry about today than at really any time in the post-Depression era," said Robert Hartwig III, president of the Insurance Information Institute. "If there were an index of uncertainty associated with homeownership, for people who have owned their homes for the last number of years, I would say it is at an apex."

RISING STORM THREATS

Few homebuyers would imagine when they're signing a mortgage that climate change might threaten their personal castle.

But the increasing frequency and ferocity of storms and floods makes that a growing possibility. In the 1990s, there was an annual average of 46 federally declared disasters. That rose to 56 in the next decade. Last year, there were 81 disasters declared, and so far this year, 46.

As Allstate CEO Thomas Wilson made clear recently, insurance companies expect even more severe weather to come. "We are acting and running our homeowners' business as if that is a permanent change, as opposed to an anomaly," he said.

Insurance companies paid out record amounts for claims related to storms and tornadoes in each of the last three years, and 2011 is expected to bring another high. Claims in the last three months alone are forecast to top $15 billion, more than twice the amount in the same period last year.

Higher claims mean higher premiums. Homeowners insurance rates rose between 4 percent and 5 percent in 2010, estimates Hartwig. That's compared with a more typical 2.2 percent in 2009.

As storm risks push rates higher, homeowners must make sure they understand their policies. They need to be aware of what coverage they carry, and any limitations, before it's time to make a claim. For instance, most lenders require insurance coverage for the amount of the mortgage, but that may not be enough to meet the expense of replacing a home and its contents.

Information on shingles or herpes zoster

The correct name for shingles is Herpes zoster. Shingles is caused by a virus called varicella zoster. This is the same strain that causes chickenpox. Both these viruses belong to the herpes family. Some types of dermatitis are also included in this family. Anyone who has had chickenpox at some time during their life can consider themselves at risk of contracting shingles.

Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains in the nerve cells of the body. It lays dormant until a reactivation results in shingles. It is believed to be triggered by stress or a weakened immune system. Stress does not cause the shingles but weakens the immune system allowing the virus to flare up.

The first signs are pain, itching or tingling of the skin which then develops into a painful rash which blisters. Shingles causes more pain but less itching than chickenpox. It can be quite debilitating but is treatable. Symptoms include high fever and/or chills, headaches and an upset stomach. The pain may continue for some months or even years in some people even after the rash has disappeared. Such a condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia. Shingles can affect any part of the body but is most common on the buttocks and trunk.

The rash is made up of tiny blister-like spots that are fluid-filled. The spots are normally concentrated in one spot, forming a strip along an area of the involved nerve. The blisters burst and crusts form on the top. It may take three to four weeks before healing is complete.

To relieve the pain, apply an ice pack or very cold cloth to the affected area. Applying calamine lotion will help relieve the burning and itching. Cool water will also help relieve the pain. Prescription drugs may be given for pain relief and to shorten the duration of the condition. Topical antibiotics (ointments) may be applied directly to the skin to prevent infection through the blisters. Such ointments may also speed up the healing process. Herbal remedies and essential oils may be helpful. Herbal teas can reduce fever and chills. Mint and camomile (chamomile) are good ones to try.

Like chickenpox, shingles can leave scars. These may look like skin discolouration or the red stage of a bruise.

There is a vaccine currently in production in Australia which is expected to halve the rate of shingles and decrease the incidence of side effects. During 2008, Zostavax was available but because of production difficulties in the United States it is not easily obtainable. It has been recommended by Australian authorities that the vaccine should be administered free to those over 60.

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