Hazards of Sun Exposure

Admin — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:28:27 -0400

Phototoxic effects are particularly pronounced if one is taking certain antibiotics such as sulfonamides, quinolones (cipro, floxin etc.), doxycycline, demeclocycline, birth control pills, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and many more.Prolonged sun exposure is dangerous. Sun accounts for over 90% of all skin cancers. Tan and sun burn are signs of injury to the skin. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to premature aging, pre-cancerous conditions such as Actinic keratosis besides Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma which are serious cancers.

Tan and sun burn are signs of injury to the skin. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to premature aging, pre-cancerous conditions such as Actinic keratosis besides Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma which are serious cancers. Other toxic effects of chronic sun exposure include immune system suppression, photoaging, fine wrinkling, yellowish discoloration, coarse leathery texture and mottled discoloration of the skin. Sun rays contain ultra violet (UV) rays A and B. Both UVA and UVB are known carcinogens. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can result in cataracts resulting in loss of vision. Tanning in suntan parlors for cosmetic purpose results in injury to the skin causing toxic effects similar to prolonged outdoor sun exposure.

Preventive measures should include, among others, avoidance of sunlight exposure during peak UVB radiation times i.e. 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Use of hats, shades, dark lenses for eye protection is necessary for everyone, especially for children. Ultraviolet radiation can penetrate thin light colored clothing especially when clothing is wet. Sunscreens and sunblocks are given a sun protection factor (SPF) rating, which is the ratio of the time needed for UVB radiation to cause minimal redness when using versus not using the sunscreen. In the laboratory, SPF of 15 screens 92% of UVB, and an SPF of 30 screens 96% of UVB. However most sunscreen users apply less than 50% of the amount of lotion needed for this protection, thus turning an SPF 30 product into an SPF 15 product. It is therefore best to use an SPF 30 sunscreen, preferably waterproof.

Persons with blonde or red hair, fair complexion and blue eyes, those with a family history of melanoma, and those who had three or more outdoor summer jobs as teenager are at increased risk and should seek medical assistance.

Influenza

Admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:20:09 -0400

The Flu or Influenza is a respiratory disease caused by Influenza viruses A and B. The flu outbreak is responsible for over 20,000 deaths and over 170,000 hospitalizations in the United States annually during each epidemic. Five pandemics of influenza have occurred in the last 100 years, the worst of those was the Spanish pandemic in 1918 and 1919 resulting in over 20 million deaths worldwide.

Flu or influenza is spread through droplets of moisture released into the air, when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, headache, exhaustion, loss of appetite, dry cough, aches and pains . Flu can be serious as it can lead to exacerbation of bronchial asthma, cause pneumonia and develop secondary bacterial pneumonias. Influenza vaccine developed annually is the best protection. The vaccine is available every year in the fall.

Influenza vaccine is recommended if you are over 65 years of age, have a chronic heart, lung or kidney disease. It is also recommended in persons who have cancer, are receiving chemotherapy, have diabetes, impaired liver or kidney function or sickle cell anemia or immune deficiency condition. Healthcare workers, who might contract and/or transmit infection and foreign travelers and anyone who wants to decrease his or her chances of getting flu should be vaccinated

If you are allergic to eggs, you should not take The influenza vaccine as the the vaccine is made from inactivated egg-grown virus. Two new drugs, Relenza and Tamiflu have been shown to decrease the symptoms and shorten the course of the illness. Relenza is inhaled while tamiflu is taken by mouth. Both medications have to be taken within 48 hours of illness to be effective.

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Hazards of Sun Exposure

Influenza