Ask most people how to avoid skin cancer and they’ll reply, “Wear sunscreen.” The fact is, although the use of sunscreen is on the rise, so is skin cancer - it now accounts for nearly half of all cancer cases and is five times more prevalent than breast cancer. Startling? Indeed.
The reason? Sunscreen may not be all it has been promoted to be. A new report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that the majority of sunscreens lack protection from all forms of radiation, that many make false claims or most contain harmful chemicals. Of the 500 sunscreens tested by EWG, only 39 were recommended by EWG.
Yes, sunscreens can protect you from sunburns. But experts are uncertain as to the benefits of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer. Further, scientists are still debating whether UVA or UVB is the most dangerous form of radiation. Most experts believe that it is a combination of UVA and UVB rays that lead to increased melanoma risks.
If you occasionally experience heartburn, you’re not alone. About 60 million people have heartburn at least once a month. So what do you think triggers heartburn? Stress? Spicy, greasy foods? They certainly can. But there are other culprits you may not be aware of.
Peppermint is usually thought to soothe an upset stomach. But if you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peppermint can cause heartburn. Those with GERD experience heartburn more often than others because their stomach contents leak into and irritate the esophagus. The menthol of peppermint, which is known to soothe, can actually do its job too well - relaxing the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach. When that valve relaxes, stomach acids can enter the esophagus and lead to heartburn.
Blastomycosis - a fungal lung infection - can be difficult to diagnose. Some people experience no symptoms, others experience symptoms similar to a cold, the flu or pneumonia, while others may suffer from skin lesions. Also, it generally takes one to three months after exposure to the Blastomyces dermatitidis fungus for symptoms to appear. Further, while the fungus that causes Blastomycosis is most often found in moist, wooded areas with sandy soils or near bodies of water, people who garden and farm are often exposed to it as well. Anything that disturbs the soil or woods can release the fungal spores. Because it takes so long for symptoms to appear, it is difficult to determine the source of the exposure.
Most cases of Blastomycosis are found in the south-central and midwestern United States and Canada. While Blastomycosis is rate, in some cases it can lead to more serious lung and skin infections that become more difficult to cure if the infection is left untreated. Symptoms vary greatly depending on what organ systems become infected. Symptoms may include:
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Excessive fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Fever and sweating
- Joint stiffness and pain
- Muscle stiffness and pain
- Weight loss
- Skin lesions or rash that blister and ooze pus
Blastomycosis can be spread by direct contact with a rash or skin lesions caused by the infection.
In most cases, treatment with antifungals is effective in treating the infection. However, in some cases, the bladder, kidney, prostate and testes may be affected. If the infection is serious enough, a person may suffer scarring of the lungs, may become more susceptible to lung infection or be left with scars on the skin.
Those who are most at risk are people with weakened immune systems, those who have had an organ transplant and men.
If you do experience symptoms similar to those above, visit your physician. Chest x-rays, skin biopsies, sputum cultures or tissue biopsies will help your physician determine if you are indeed infected with Blastymycosis.
Why do we gain weight as we age? There are several reasons - and not all of them are fully understood. But researchers are studying several aging factors that affect weigh gain as we age:
- Slower metabolism
- Loss of muscle cells
- Muscle cells that don’t repair as easily
- Changes in hormone levels that account for the loss of muscle fiber
- Worn out muscle cells that don’t burn calories as effectively as they once did
Bottom line? Your weight may have stayed steady over the last 30 years, but the number of optimally functioning muscle cells has not. Chances are, the percentage of muscle in your body is lower at 60 than it was at 30. And that can lead to weight gain or even contribute to diabetes - lower muscle mass means your body has to work harder to regulate glucose metabolism.
Exercise is important at any age. And Baby Boomers are a growing market at the local gym. According to an International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) survey, gym membership among the 55-plus group in the United States jumped from 1.5 million in 1987 to 9.9 million in 2007.
Today, doctors and researchers are taking concussions in children more seriously. Researchers have found that young brains don’t recover from concussions as quickly as they originally thought. And they’ve found that children’s brains are also more susceptible to second-impact syndrome in which the brain can suffer grievous injury as a result of suffering another blow to the head shortly after a first blow.
The problem remains - kids are still returning to the playing field too quickly after experiencing a head injury. The causes are many - parents may not know any better, athletes may hide their symptoms, and coaches may not be aware of the seriousness of concussions.
According to a report in Time magazine, a study found that from 2005 to 2008, 41% of athletes with concussions returned to the field too soon - and that can make them vulnerable to second-impact syndrome. While the American Academy of Neurology recommends that an athlete whose initial concussion symptoms last longer than 15 minutes be benched until he or she is symptom-free for a week - the study found that 16% of high school football players who lost consciousness during a concussion returned to the field the same day.
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