Dr. John's Health Matters
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The articles posted here are from various sources who are duly acknowledged. I would appreciate being immediately notified, if any copywritten material needs to be removed. This blog is not intended to replace the qualified advice of a licensed health practitioner. Readers should exercise their own judgment. Enjoy, subscribe, participate and tell others :)
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Posts tagged "sun"
Tuesday, Sep 1st, 2009 ↓Daylight-saving Time Leads To Less Sleep, More Injuries On The Job, Study Finds →
Sept 1, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Every March, most Americans welcome the switch to daylight saving time because of the longer days, but also dread losing an hour of sleep after they move their clocks forward. Now a new study shows that losing just an hour of sleep could pose some dangerous consequences for those in hazardous work environments.
The findings are reported in the September issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology, which is published by the American Psychological Association.
“One hour of lost sleep may not seem like a lot. But our findings suggest it could have an impact on people’s ability to stay alert on the job and prevent serious injuries.” said the article’s lead author, Christopher Barnes, PhD. Barnes and co-author David Wagner, PhD, were both doctoral students in organizational behavior at Michigan State University when they conducted this research.
For full article, see link above.
Tags: daylight savings sun sleep day danger hazard work environment injury alert risk
Most parents ignorant of children's eye protection →
Aug 19, 2009 (Presstv.com)—The latest findings show 75 percent of parents are risking their children’s eyesight by exposing them to sun without appropriate protection.
Experts from the College of Optometrists ran a poll of 2,000 people to find out the level of parents’ concern over the harm sun can do to children.
The researchers said 75 percent of parents had told them their children do not always wear glasses with UV protection.
The shocking number comes alongside of poll results saying 76 percent of the participating parents apply sun cream to their children to protect them.
Sun exposure can damage the skin and cause dryness, wrinkles, rashes and blisters. Doctors suggest individuals stay out of the sun as much as possible and use sunscreen on all areas exposed to the sun.
Researchers say prolonged sun exposure in childhood and early in life can cause gene mutations later in life that are linked to the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma.
The survey shows 29 percent of parents never buy sunglasses for their youngsters and if they do, only 25 percent buy a trustworthy brand and 46 percent put the price before the level of protection.
Tags: child children kid eyesight exposure sun eye protection sunlight uv ray sunscreen sunblock damage skin wrinkle rash blister skin cancer melanoma sunglasses
Sun Exposure May Trigger Certain Autoimmune Diseases In Women →
July 30, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight may be associated with the development of certain autoimmune diseases, particularly in women, according to a study by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health.
“This study found that women who lived in areas with higher levels of UV exposure when they developed an autoimmune muscle disease called myositis were more likely to develop the form known as dermatomyositis, which weakens the muscles and causes distinctive rashes, instead of the form called polymyositis that does not have a rash,” said Frederick W. Miller, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Environmental Autoimmunity Group, Program of Clinical Research, at NIEHS. “Although we have not shown a direct cause and effect link between UV exposure and this particular autoimmune disease, this study confirms the association between UV levels and the frequency of dermatomyositis that we found in a previous investigation,” said Miller.
For full article see link above.
Tags: sun exposure UV ray ultraviolet risk autoimmune muscle disease myositis dermatomyositis weakness rash women woman
How Safe and Effective Are Sunscreens? →
July 2, 2009 (Therapytimes.com) — Sunscreens are improving, but three of five brand-name products either don’t protect the skin from sun damage sufficiently, contain hazardous chemicals, or both, according to a report by the watchdog organization Environmental Working Group (EWG).
“I’d give the industry a C minus,” says Jane Houlihan, EWG’s senior vice president for research. “They have moved from a D to a C-minus in my book.”
Overall, however, she says the industry is “not doing enough to protect consumers from UVA radiation.”
For full article see link above.
Smog Stresses Your Skin Cells →
June 29, 2009 (mercola.com)—Research suggests that ozone, a key component of smog, puts stress on human skin cells. Cars and factories emit pollutants into the air that combine with the sun’s rays to form photochemical smog. Ozone in the lower atmosphere contributes to the smog that’s visible to the eye. Researchers exposed human skin cells to the smog-related ozone in the laboratory, and found that it turned on cellular machinery that normally responds to stress, suggesting ozone may be toxic to human skin. Smog breaks down into free radicals when zapped by the sun. These free radicals bounce around destructively inside cells. Free radical damage has been implicated in diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Sources: 
Live Science June 25, 2009
Protect Yourself from Too Much Sun →
June 22, 2009 (Naturalnews.com) —How exciting it is as summer season approaches. The days are warm and flowers and trees are in full bloom. We venture outdoors for family outings and create great memories we may look upon during the cold winter months that lay ahead. If there is anything that can put a damper on a beautiful summer, it is getting sunburned. Everyone has experienced it at one time or another in their life. The flaming red and sometimes blistering skin can create excruciating pain. Over the past decade or two, tanned skin has become so popular. You don’t dare venture to the beach glowing white. That being said, there are many dangers involved with tanning. Skin cancer is a very real result of being in the sun too long.
Here are some helpful tips when going about your summer days. Be sure to wear a natural sun block when going outdoors. There are wonderful products available today which are made from 100% natural ingredients. Included in the list of natural ingredients might be wild pansy and green tea. Read the label carefully before purchasing a sunscreen to insure that it is all natural. Be sure you lather your children as well as yourself and reapply the lotion about every hour and a half. This is especially important after swimming. Stay in the shade as much as possible. Use protective gear like hats and sunglasses. Studies show that our eyes can be damaged by the sun and cause cataracts as we age. Even on cloudy days, there is still a chance of getting burned. Avoid being outside between the hours of 10:00 and 3:00. This is when the sun is at its strongest.
Just in case you do get too much sun this summer, you may want to try these natural remedies. You’ll be surprised at how well they work. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar or the juice of a lemon mixed with water and mist your skin. This is especially helpful as the mist hits your skin and you don’t have to rub it in causing more pain. Be careful not to get it in your eyes. Continue misting as much as you desire for relief. Another remedy would be to apply the gel from an aloe plant. It contains many of the proteins and minerals that your skin loses when you burn. Another way to overcome the pain from a sun burn is to use tea. The tannic acid in the tea helps take the sting out of the burn. Sitting in a bath of cool water with 3 or 4 tea bags will be soothing. Stay hydrated. This cannot be expressed enough. The more water you drink the faster you will heal.
For full article see link above.
Wear Sunscreen for Lifelong Benefits →
June 5, 2009 (HealthDay News) — Most people, especially children, love to be out in the summer sun, but parents should remember that no tan is a good tan.
“Remember that if you form a tan, you will have ultraviolet radiation damage,” Dr. Alfred Lane, a pediatrician and researcher at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, said in a news release from the northern California facility. “Unfortunately, the body really doesn’t forget this damage. It accumulates from childhood through adolescence and adulthood, and this can lead to skin cancer.”
For full article see link above.
