Vonnies Health Spot

PRACTICE SUN SAFETY FOR LIFETIME PROTECTION

The Skin Cancer Foundation, www.skincancer.org, recently released tips on ways to protect yourself and your family. Remember too that sun not only causes cancer, but it is also the No. 1 skin-aging element in our environment; and none of us want to walk around with wrinkled, leathery skin, do we?


DID YOU KNOW ... ?

• Year-round sun protection is important?

• The sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation can penetrate many types of clothes?

• It can also go through automobile and residential windows?

• It can damage your eyes, contributing to cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid cancers?

• When you're on snow or ice, your face and eyes are at almost twice the risk of UV damage because of reflected glare?


THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE PROTECTION

• Protect yourself and your family all year round, not just in the summer.

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Do not allow yourself or loved ones to get sunburned. Sunburn is actually radiation burn.

• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to ALL EXPOSED AREAS (and don't forget your feet and between your toes, if you wear sandals) 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.

• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.

• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.

• See your doctor every year for a professional skin exam.


PRODUCTS TO HELP PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Recently, to combat these hidden dangers, The Skin Cancer Foundation expanded its Seal of Recommendation program. For more than two decades, the Foundation has granted the Seal to products containing SPF 15+ sunscreen that meet the highest standards for safety and effectiveness. Now, in recognition of the need for extra forms of sun protection, several other types of products have been awarded the Seal as well, including ...

• A UV- protective automobile window film

• A UV-protective residential window film

• A UV-blocking face mask

• A UV-blocking deck and patio awning

• A laundry product that can be added to detergent to increase UV protection in clothing

• Sunglasses that protect against UV and high-energy visible light

More than 200 products in the U.S. and some 20 abroad currently have qualified for the Seal. For a list of these products, call 1-800SKIN-490, or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
The Skin Cancer Foundation
245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1403
New York, NY 10016

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

FOLK REMEDIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO WORK

HONEY
One simple folk remedy that seems to actually work better than over-the-counter medicines is honey for coughs. In January 2008, the Food and Drug Administration said that over-the-counter cough medications posed unacceptable risks to children under the age of two, so the news about honey is welcome news indeed. Three years before, the American College of Chest physicians declared that over-the-counter cough remedies were largely ineffective for people of any age.

In a 2007 study published by the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 105 children ages two to 18 who suffered from upper-respiratory infections received no treatment, honey, or a honey-flavored OTC cough suppressant. Parents then rated their children’s cough symptoms and quality of sleep. Those treated with honey did best. The researchers said that honey might soothe irritated membranes in the back of the throat, and has well-established antioxidant and antiviral effects.

The dosage given by the researchers was ½ teaspoon for children two to five years old, 1 teaspoon to children six to 11, and 2 teaspoons to those ages 12 to 18. The higher amount is a reasonable dose for adults as well. A smaller dose might be appropriate for babies between one and two years of age, but absolutely DO NOT give honey to infants under one year of age. It can cause infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal ailment.

CRANBERRIES
While skeptics have long maintained that the benefits of drinking cranberry juice have more to do with the bladder-flushing effects of water in the juice or the inhospitably acidic urine created by juices such as cranberry juice, than with the actual components of the berry itself, research has shown otherwise.

In a series of lab tests, an Israeli team found that it kept infectious bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. Juice from blueberries, which are closely related to cranberries, also worked. But several other fruit juices, such as grapefruit, mango, orange, and pineapple had no such effect. A 2008 analysis of 10 such studies comparing cranberry products with a placebo, other juices, or water found that a daily dose of cranberry juice or capsules significantly reduced bladder infections, especially in women who suffer from them frequently.

It’s still not clear whether the juice, tablets, or capsules are the most effective or what the optimal dose might be, but drinking cranberry juice as soon as symptoms appear — burning sensation on urination, difficulty urinating, a sense of bladder fullness, ongoing discomfort — may clear up an early infection. If symptoms worsen, however, or last for more than a day or two, see your doctor.

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

ASPIRIN AT BEDTIME LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

A daily aspirin can help control pre-hypertension, but only if it is taken at bedtime, a Spanish study shows.

Why aspirin should do its good work for blood pressure at night but not in the daytime is not clear, said Dr. Ramon C. Hermida, who is director of bioengineering and chronobiology at the University of Vigo. Research indicates that it can slow the production of hormones and other substances in the body that cause clotting, many of which are produced while the body is at rest.

An aspirin taken every morning didn’t lower the blood pressure of pre-hypertensive people, but the evening regimen did, Hermida reported Wednesday at the American Society of Hypertension annual meeting, in New Orleans.

Pre-hypertension, defined as blood pressure just below the 140/90 level, is a known warning sign of future risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. The new report is the first study to show the drug’s benefit — although only when taken at night.

A previous study by Hermida, showed the same beneficial effect of bedtime aspirin for people with moderately high blood pressure. The three-month study included 244 adults diagnosed with pre-hypertension. A third of them were advised to follow general rules of hygiene and diet designed to reduce blood pressure, another third were told to take a 100-milligram aspirin tablet every night at bedtime, and the final third were told to take the same aspirin dose on awakening.

Researchers monitored blood pressure levels at 20-minute intervals from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and at 30-minute intervals at night before the trial began and three months later.

Systolic blood pressure (the higher number in the 140/90 reading) dropped 5.4 points and diastolic pressure by 3.4 points for those taking aspirin before bedtime. No drop in blood pressure was found in those taking morning aspirin or following the general guidelines.

“There is some evidence that taking a variety of medications, including those for hypertension, at night is associated with greater blood pressure reduction than taking them in the morning,” said Dr. Suzanne Oparil, president of the American Society for Hypertension. “I don’t think we know why.”

It’s possible that there might be better absorption of the medication by the gastrointestinal tract at night, said Oparil, who is a professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“It’s all a little bit speculative about why, but I think the observation is solid,” she said.

In a statement, Hermida said the new findings “show us that we cannot underestimate the impact of the body’s circadian rhythms.”

“The beneficial effects of time-dependent administration of aspirin have until now been largely unknown in people with pre-hypertension,” he said. “Personalizing treatment according to one’s own rhythms gives us a new option to optimize blood pressure control and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease down the line.”

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

MYTHS AND TRUTHS OF CARING FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH

We’re bombarded daily with scientific press releases telling us how to attain longevity and maintain health, but after awhile we become resistant to every new piece of info that comes out of those hallowed laboratories. Why? Information overload. Also it may be that using the term information is a little too generous. A lot of what we read or hear may be only partial reports. We also have to remember that the pressure on the media to report something “new” is relentless. So they grab at any report or release that may be of benefit, even if the results may not be conclusive or experiments yet have to be repeated with results replicated. Johns Hopkins came out recently with this health tips list that is a good reminder of what has been proven to work and not work. Take a look. Myths are dispelled and truths reinforced. And you might find something you didn’t already know.

• Relax. The rumor that olive oil turns into “bad” trans fat when used in cooking just isn’t true. However, do not cook with flax oil. It forms toxins when subjected to heat.
• A vitamin that works! Niacin — also known as Vitamin B3 — lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increases “good” HDL cholesterol.
• Doctors find it’s best to take certain blood pressure pills first thing in the morning after getting up because people are most active during the day and blood pressure tends to climb as the day goes on.
• You’ve heard that a drink a day may be good for your heart. But did you know that studies in people over 65 show moderate alcohol consumption may also reduce the risk of dementia? (But keep in mind that heavy drinking increases health risks for both heart and mind.)
• A team of Harvard and Spanish researchers reports that red wine protects people against the common cold.
• And have a piece of dark chocolate with your Merlot! Researchers have found that chocolate contains flavonoids — just like green tea and red wine. As a bonus, dark chocolate may also lower your blood pressure!
• In clinical trials St. John’s Wort, the so-called “happiness herb,” was NOT shown to be effective for treating more severe depression.
• Hiccups are usually minor and short-lived, if a little embarrassing and inconvenient. But, hiccups are no laughing matter and can be associated with an underlying medical condition. If you’re having them too often or if they last more than a few minutes, tell your doctor.
• Several studies suggest that coffee has anti-cancer properties. A Japanese study concluded that coffee drinkers were 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer than non-drinkers. It’s also been linked to reduced colon cancer risk.
• Did you know that caffeine can linger in the body for up to 12 hours? Avoiding caffeinated coffee, tea and soft drinks after lunch may help you sleep better.
• To date, researchers have found just one sure way to increase biological life span — eat fewer calories.
• Trans fats — the kind found in cookies, many margarines and fast food — really are the chief villains of the fat world. Trans fats raise “bad” cholesterol, lower “good” cholesterol, damage the inner linings of blood vessels and are linked to diabetes.
• Recent studies report that for many heart attack sufferers, sudden and excessive sweating is the standout symptom and the one most likely to cause them to seek help.
• Still have sunscreen left over from last summer? It’s probably good to use. The FDA requires all sunscreen products be manufactured to last for three years.
• Tea companies assure us that decaf tea is just as rich in beneficial f1avonoids as regular tea. Not true. The decaffeination process reduces the flavonoid content drastically.
• Macular degeneration is the main cause of severe vision loss in older people. Here are six prevention tips: (1) Don’t smoke, (2) Wear sunglasses, (3) Eat kale and spinach, (4) Exercise, (5) Eat fish and nuts, and (6) Keep your weight down to avoid diabetes.
• Potassium can blunt sodium’s tendency to increase blood pressure. But you don’t have to go overboard with supplements; fruits and vegetables supply plenty of this mineral.
• You can skip the marathon. Studies show brisk walking (3–4 miles per hour) for about half an hour a day reduces heart disease and stroke rates in women as much as vigorous exercise.
• Vitamin D does much more than strengthen your bones. It may protect against colon cancer, autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and heart disease.
• Early treatment of Bell’s palsy with a steroid anti-inflammatory like prednisone increases the chances of a full recovery.
• The worst sleeping position for snorers is on the back, try sleeping on your stomach to cut snoring volume and frequency. Caveat: Do this only if you don’t have back trouble, for which stomach sleeping is usually not recommended.
• Aspirin and ibuprofen are not so good together. Ibuprofen seems to cancel out aspirin’s ability to protect the heart.
• The risk of obesity jumps almost 25 percent with each two-hour increase in daily television watching.
• Feel younger than you are? You should. Researchers calculate that 70-year-olds today are equivalent, health-wise, to 65-year-olds who lived 30 years ago.
• Chelation therapy is hot. Direct mail offers claim it’s sort of a Liquid-Plumr for the arteries. Trouble is, the claims don’t pan out — and chelation can have serious side effects, such as kidney failure and convulsions.

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.