Posts Tagged ‘disease’

Can Sunblocks And Sunscreen Lotions Cause Skin Cancer?

For many years, we have known two things to be true. First, the sun is bad for you, and therefore, exposure should be limited. Most people don’t know this, but the sun has three types of “rays,” not just two. The first is ultraviolet C light, also known as UVC. This ray usually does not reach our planet’s surface and this is good because it is believed only brief exposure to UVC rays is fatal. Next is ultraviolet B, also known as UVB rays. These have long been considered the “tanning rays.” They are strongest during the summer months when the Earth’s orbit is closest to the Sun. UVB rays are what produce a “sun tan.”

For many years, most sunblocks and sunscreens only attempted to block UVB rays because science was unaware of the effects of UVA rays (the third type of sun ray) on the body. UVA was believed to be the safe ray back in the 1980s, which spawned the increase and fame of the non-natural sun bed industry – some dermatologists even backed this artificial tanning! But, science now believes UVA rays actually do more harm than UVB rays! UVA rays are not dependant on how far the Earth is from the Sun – so the effects are the same all year round. What’s more, UVA penetrate light clothing and car windshields… even a lot of hats. Over-exposure to the sun has been associated to early aging and even deadly skin cancer.

This brings us to the second so called truth which is limit exposure to the harmful rays of the sun by using high SPF sunscreens and sunblocks. For years, the sunblock industry has been booming with the promise their products protect you from the sun’s aging and cancerous rays. But, research now says these “truths” may not be so “true.” For example, there is no consensus whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer. According to the Environmental Working Groups’ (ewg.org) finding, “The Food and Drug Administration’s 2007 draft sunscreen safety regulations say: FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer.” (FDA 2007). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) agrees. The IARC recommends clothing, hats and shade as primary barriers to UV radiation and writes “sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun” (IARC 2001a). Even worse, there is evidence emerging that sunscreen may actually increase the risk of skin cancer!

In 2007, the FDA published draft regulations that would prohibit manufacturers from labeling sunscreens over 50 SPF. The FDA stated that anything over 50 SPF was “inherently misleading.” Even an SPF of 50 can be misleading because of the way most people use sunscreen. Researchers speculate the cause or causes may be lack of UVA protection by most sunscreen for over 30 years, improper usage, staying in the sun longer with sunscreens and some of the ingredients. One big problem is the SPF (sun protection factor) myth.

In the real world when it actually comes to sun protection factors, tests show people apply only one-half to one fifth of the amount used when testing the sunscreen. A person using one-fourth the amount of sunscreen with an SPF of thirty only actually gets an SPF of 2.3. The same person using a sunscreen with SPF one hundred ends up with only SPF 3.2.

Oxybenzone, a common ingredient in sunscreens. It is a known hormone disruptor. Retinyl palmitate (a form of Vitamin A also commonly used in sunscreens) may increase the risk of skin cancer. According to Environmental Working Groups, “The publicly available data from FDA’s new study suggest that when used in sun-exposed skin care products, retinyl palmitate and related chemicals may increase skin damage and elevate skin cancer risk instead of protecting the skin.”

Nearly one in eight sunscreens does not block UVA rays. Many carry the seal of “The Skin Cancer Foundation.” According to the Environmental Working Groups, “The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) lends its logo to hundreds of sun protection products. SCF approval is easy, just document that your product has an SPF of at least 15 and provide results of basic tests (for SPF, skin reactions and water and sweat resistance, if such claims are made). Also, according to Environmental Working Groups, 41% of all sunscreens contain retinyl palmitate. All of this may be surprising but what’s even more shocking is that the FDA first issued draft sunscreen regulations in 1978 and last updated the draft in 2007. The regulations are still not final, despite multiple announcements of impending completion. Until the agency formally issues its rules, companies are not required to verify their sunscreens work, including testing for SPF levels, checking waterproof claims or providing UVA protection.

This can all be confusing. If you are, then you are not alone. Here’s something that will make the most of the confusion Disappear. Since sunscreens are probably not as safe as once thought, the best thing to do is stay out of the sun during its peak hours (10:00am – 2:00pm) and whenever possible, wear protective clothing instead of chemicals. Don’t forget, some sun is absolutely necessary for Vitamin D production and proper health. The amount of sun you should get depends on your skin type but you should NEVER burn. Just following some of these simple steps will help avoid damage.

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Child Asthma: Why Is It Difficult to Deal With?

Asthma is a very serious and common ailment, one that has an effect on thousands of people worldwide. A lot of persons are not aware of this, but children are also susceptible to asthma. Child asthma is very common, and can actually be even more serious than asthma in adults. Child asthma makes it difficult for your child to breathe and results in swelling and inflammation in the airways that lead to the lungs.

Symptoms

If you think that your child may have asthma, there are many symptoms that you are going to want to watch out for. Wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing – all of these are symptoms which are generally spotted in children who have developed the disease.

Even if your child only has several asthma attacks, you will still need to deal with the asthma. Many parents make the mistake of thinking that just because the child’s asthma might not be serious that they do not still have to manage it properly. After all if the swelling and irritation in your child’s airways is not controlled, asthma would end up reducing your child’s quality of life, prevent your child from exercising, and more.

Child asthma will be especially difficult to deal with because children are not able to take all the same medications and medicines which adults can. Therefore, it is harder for them to manage their asthma and to deal with this. To get a full idea of what treatments you can use for your child’s asthma, you should speak to your doctor. Not only will they be able to offer you tips and ideas on your child asthma and on what you can do to help the situation but also they can speak to your child and help them to feel more comfortable.

Speak to your Child

Asthma in children can definitely be very difficult to deal with, particularly when it is your own child and you should see them go through it. Having an asthma attack can be incredibly frightening to a child and thus if you have a child that has asthma, you should make sure that you inform them of what asthma is and that you take the proper steps to ensure that they do not have an attack.

More than anything, you need to ensure that you do not let the asthma destroy your child’s life. You want them to have a fun and enjoyable childhood, and they can, even with asthma, as long as you help them.

There are various ways on how to prevent your child suffers from asthma. One of the best ways is to install humidifier cool mist or Desert Spring humidifier in your home. These humidifiers are useful for humidifying the air in your room or home so both of you and your child can breathe the fresh and healthy air.

Can you join the military if you have crohn’s disease?

Question: Can you join the military if you have crohn’s disease?
i plan on joining the army, and i have chrones but i’ve been off all meds and diets for the past year. no flair ups as well in over a year. all i’ve been taking is vitamens. i read the “Standards of Medical Fitness”
and it did state that it is a disqualifier, however when i tried to join the marines two years ago my recuriter said that the medical examanier told him i would need to be off medications for atleast one year. just curious if anyone was able to get it waivered?

Answer:

Answer by Edward N
If you’re serious about joining, I would go to MEPS and go through the physical. A doctor will then ask you a series of questions. Just be open and honest. The fact that you’ve been off meds for a year is a good sign, and there’s a good chance you will get cleared. I don’t think there is a specific question about Crohn’s disease in the physical questionnaire, just something more general about digestional problems. Just check the box, and when they ask you disclose everything. Tell them you’ve been off medication and don’t think it will be a problem. There’s a good chance you may not even need a waiver.

I used to get migraines, but they have been gone for 3 years without meds. I disclosed it at MEPS and I didn’t need any further waiver or discussion about it. Just be honest, then even if you have problems in Basic Training, its not your fault at all.

Remedies For Ringing In The Ears

One of the most vexing issues we can face is surely ringing in the ears. If you suffer with tinnitus you probably already know how exasperating it is. The word tinnitus is in actual fact the latin word for ringing. Most tinnitus sufferers experience the difficulty occassionally, it doesn’t affect them 24 / 7. But unfortunately some sufferers have a constant ringing in the ears. It can have a very big effect on our lives. Every day tasks become a pain, as we focus on the discomfort due to tinnitus. The ringing in your ears requires significant attention, to avoid any long term damage to the ear itself.

What Remedies Can Cure Ringing In The Ears?

If you go to your local doctor, they will likely suggest going thru with some type of surgery. However, there are too many risks concerned. So consider surgery as a last option. But do understand that though surgery may eliminate the ringing in your ears, you will suffer massive hearing difficulties to the point where the subject may have to wear an hearing aid.

Another cure for you to think about is hypnosis. There’s not a massive amount of folks that use this method to cure their ringing in the ears, but from my research, the tinnitus sufferers who have used it have gotten terribly good results. Hypnosis is basically a program that teaches you to listen to certain sounds, that may train your hearing to ignore the ringing or buzzing in your ears.

Almost always, tinnitus is triggered and irritated by both stress and so, hypnosis can be used as a treatment option by helping sufferers conquer their stress patterns.

Hypnosis is also good for overall well-being and can work alongside other tinnitus remedies to supply the most favorable results. this therapy has to be done many times to complete one whole course of the treatment. Otherwise, the hypnotherapy will not work.

You can also decide to cure your tinnitus in a 100% natural way. There’s a low cost program drifting around the Internet called “Stop The Ringing”. The better part is that you are not just getting a program, you’re getting an instant cure for tinnitus.

Life is Too Short to Try And ringing in the ears remedy On Your Own Through Trial And Error. Take Charge Over Your Tinnitus Right Now (cure ringing in the ears) And Follow a Proven Step-By-Step System!

Wearing A Wrist Brace Correctly

Whatever reason you’re wearing a wrist brace for, there are some general bits of advice you should follow in getting the maximum benefit out of them.

First, make sure your wrist brace is the right size; ones you can buy at the drug store are usually specified as child, small, medium, large and extra large. These are generally measured by the circumference of the wrist they’re designed to go around and have a palm rest and a forearm length based on the average sized individual with that sized wrist. For 95% of people in the world, those wrist brace sizes are the right size. In cases where they aren’t the right size, it’s usually that they’re too small when wrapped around the forearm.

Next, check that you are tightening them in a way that will not aggravate your injury. Wrist braces help you by preventing you from accidentally flexing your wrist in a manner that would worsen your injury. The kind of injury you suffer will determine how much you can be moving your wrist.

Wrist braces designed to combat tendonitis should be tightened so that they prevent lateral motion of the wrist; if you hold your hand out straight from your wrist, the plane defined by your thumb and pinkie should be the dimension that your wrist’s motion is constrained within.

If you are trying to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, you should prevent your wrist from bending downward at all or even upward by more than a few inches. You should also take care to have appropriate padding in your wrist brace when treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

Wrist braces that are made to confine the wrist for a sprain must totally confine it in both ways of movement and should cover more of the upper forearm also because that is where the ligaments that command the wrist movement run, and might look like Ace bandages more than traditional wrist brace.

Remaining comfortable in a wrist brace will require you to look for things on the inside surface such as seams or loose thread that might rub against and bother your skin. A good idea is to wrap the hand and wrist and lower forearm in a bit of gauze before putting on the wrist brace. This will serve almost as a sock would in a shoe; it will soak up sweat and will prevent the seams from the brace from bothering your skin. You can keep your wrist brace clean just by washing it twice a week and most can be put in the washer or drying without issue.

Do not tighten your wrist brace too much. It should fit snuggly however; it should not prevent the blood flow to the wrist or hand. Many people tend to pull the straps as tight as possible. Put it on, tighten it, and do things you usually do and loosen it if it needed. To remember how tight you should fasten the straps, you can use a sharpie marker to note how tight the straps should go once you have determined this.

Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for carpal tunnel sufferers. Please follow this link to find out more about having asore wrist.

Four Surprising Benefits of Drinking Tea

Tea is a beverage that is consumed by millions of people across all planets because it is known as one of nature’s greatest drugs. It comes from the dried out leaves, stalks, and stems of plants, and water is added to make it a beverage. It can be consumed as a hot or cold drink as well as plain of sweetened, depending on what you add to it. Some of the most mainstream varieties are green tea, chamomile, and white tea, but there are hundreds of other varieties. Here are four health benefits of tea to help motivate you to add it to your day.

Tea helps to fight cavities. Polyphenols in tea inhibit the growth of oral bacteria, which is a leading cause of tooth decay. It also has fluoride in it, which is a well known cavity fighter.

It helps your skin look great. Tea is packed with antioxidants. If you haven’t heard the buzz about antioxidants then you should know that these are essential to slow down aging. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, which are responsible for the degeneration of cells.

It can lower your cholesterol levels and reduce high blood pressure. Experts say that tea is a great way to reduce your chances of having a stroke or heart attack. You can reduce hypertension by up to 50% when you drink tea at least once per day. So one cup a day is enough to improve your overall heart health. Tea has also been shown to improve your mood and reduce stress. It is relaxing for the body and your brain. Drinking it is a great way to lower stress from our day to day living.

So those are only four out of many benefits to drinking tea. Try to drink one cup a day. Drink some first thing in the morning for a pick me up or sit down and night and enjoy it before you go to sleep. You’ll find that it not only satisfies your thirst, but it’s also great for your health.

The author of this article has been writing online for four years now. Not only does she enjoy writing about health and fitness, but she also helps families obtain affordable life insurance by providing free online life insurance quotes.