For July topics we’ll look at summer safety and wellness. We often call winter the cold and flu season, so we could call summer the poison ivy, sunburn, and blister season. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for drownings and water sport accidents.
Where I live, we just saw the first day of summer come and go. It was the longest day of the year and so far one of our hottest. Summer activities are in full swing. Many of the patients I see now are either just coming back from a vacation or getting ready to leave. I envy them because I am staying home since my husband is recovering from a broken ankle that dashed our plans for a summer trip.
For July topics we’ll look at summer safety and wellness. We often call winter the cold and flu season, so we could call summer the poison ivy, sunburn, and blister season. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for drownings and water sport accidents.
Here in the United States we have our most important holiday of the year-Independence Day, or commonly called the 4th of July. On this day in 1776, the North American colonies of England declared political independence, and the rest, as they say, is history. Much has happened in the 243 years since, and the United Kingdom is now an ally; an American citizen, Meghan Markle, recently married into the British royal family. Friendship is worth pursuing between people and countries.
Lady Liberty lifting her torch in New York harbor
Here are links to July’s Timely Topics, or just search for what interests you
I appreciate all of you who follow this blog; there are numerous other blogs to choose from so I am honored you chose to spend some time here. A special welcome to all my new followers from this past month.
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Get active
Summer is the perfect time to start or increase physical activity. I’ve been using a fitness app on my phone, Aaptiv. Consider trying it. I’d appreciate you using this affiliate link through which you can help fund this blog. Thanks and enjoy.
Where I live, the school year has ended and summer vacation has started, although summer will not officially arrive for a few more weeks, at least on this side of the equator. The swimming pool in my neighborhood is open, and the days are definitely longer and warmer.
Don’t let water related illness spoil your summer fun.
photo from stock photo site- Lightstock.com- affiliate link
For June topics we’ll look at summer safety and wellness. We often call winter the cold and flu season, so we could call summer the poison ivy, sunburn, and blister season.
Here in the United States we have several important observances in June. One we share with Europe is June 6, known as D-Day. This was the day in 1944 when Allied troops invaded France to free the country of Nazi occupation and ultimately to end World War II. Every year since we honor the bravery of those who gave their lives that day for the cause of freedom.
We also honor freedom by remembering those who suffered in slavery for too long and the day their emancipation was finally achieved-Juneteenth.
We honor our flag on June 14th, calling it appropriately Flag Day. There is a famous story about our flag, and its connection to our national anthem; we’ll look at that story.
And let’s not forget the day we honor dads, Fathers Day, the 3rd Sunday in June. Many men “father” us in multiple ways, whether our biological father, or an uncle, brother, teacher, coach, or friend. We thank them and make them feel special this day.
Thanks Dads for all you do for us.
Here are links to get you started enjoying the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.”
I appreciate all of you who follow this blog; there are numerous other blogs to choose from so I am honored you chose to spend some time here. A special welcome to all my new followers from this past month.
To start following Watercress Words , use this form to get an email notification of new posts . Please find and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn, links are on the left side bar here and the Home page. Thanks so much.
My Reader Rewards Club is a great way to earn free books and Bibles for yourself, friends, and family! Your journey to earning free faith-based products starts HERE. (When you sign up through these links, I can earn free books too.)
As a member, you’ll have access to inspiring literature, Bibles, special promotional offers, and much more. Earning points is easy—you’ll receive 25 points just for signing up!
Use these links to share the heart of health wherever you connect.
Medications, both prescription and over the counter, can relieve symptoms, hasten healing, and save lives. Even so, adverse reactions are always a risk with any drug. Some of these adverse reactions can involve the skin.
In a previous post I told you how smoking and sunlight affect our skin- premature aging, dryness, and increased risk of skin cancer. Here is a link for you to review or read if you missed it.
In this post I’ll talk about ways medications can adversely affect skin health.
Medications, both prescription and over the counter, can relieve symptoms, hasten healing, and save lives. Even so, adverse reactions are always a risk with any drug. Some of these adverse reactions can involve the skin.
So it is vital that patients and doctors avoid unnecessary or inappropriate use of medications.
Sun sensitivity due to medication
As mentioned in the previous post , some medications can make your skin more sensitive to sun exposure, called drug-induced photosensitivity.
Any drug can cause a reaction, even if you have taken it before without a problem. Some of the more common “skin reaction drugs” include
Anti-inflammatory medications, the NSAIDs
Psychiatric medications
Chemotherapy drugs
Blood pressure lowering meds
Antibiotics
Statins-cholesterol lowering drugs
Reactions can vary from scaly rashes, blisters, redness, dryness, itching, to severe eruptions all over the body that can be painful and occasionally life threatening.
This is what your skin looks like under a powerful microscope.
Melasma-drug induced skin color change
Melasma (muh-LAZ-muh) is a common skin problem. It causes brown to gray-brown patches, usually on the face. It is much more common in women, probably because it is triggered by female hormones, so it often starts in pregnancy. Women of color are also more susceptible.
Probably the most common drugs that cause a rash or other adverse effects are antibiotics, probably because they are used so often. A
Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, sulfa, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin can cause several skin reactions .
urticaria, also known as hives
photosensitivity, mentioned above
a scaley rash that may peel off
a measles-like rash, called morbiliform
blisters
So doctors prescribe antibiotics only for infections that are serious enough that the risk of adverse reaction is worth the possible benefit.
Colds, flu, and bronchitis are caused by viruses and don’t respond to antibiotics. Even sinus and ear infections don’t always need an antibiotic to resolve. Please don’t pressure your doctor for an antibiotic when you don’t need it. Read more about antibiotic misuse at my previous post
Please understand I am not saying we should never use these medications as sometimes they are the best choice for our overall health. You should be aware of the potential for reactions and report them promptly to your doctor if they occur.
If you are taking any of the drugs listed here,do not stop without talking to your doctor.
Coming soon-more skin care tips
In a future post I’ll look at common skin injuries and how to help injured skin heal.
Thanks for joining me to explore skin problems and the HEART of health. Even if it’s winter where you live, don’t forgo sunscreen; the sun doesn’t take a holiday from damaging skin.
You can buy products to maintain youthful skin, restore youthfulness to aged skin, remove blemishes, lighten/brighten/darken skin, minimize or eliminate wrinkles, and tighten sagging or puffy skin. But as effective as these are, they work better on skin that is already healthy.
Skin health and beauty- big business
Browse social media or news sites online and you notice skin health and appearance is a priority for most people. Sales for skin care and appearance products and services is a multi-billion dollar industry. If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen posts from friends who are involved in direct selling companies for skin care, maybe you are also.
(By way of disclosure, I am a consultant for a direct selling company offering skincare products and makeup but won’t discuss any of those products in this post. However there will be other affiliate links through which this blog can earn a commission if you make a purchase through them.)
As a family physician, I treat skin problems frequently. Some of these are primary skin problems, but some are the result of lifestyle habits, other medical conditions, and even medical treatments. While some of these may be unavoidable, others are preventable.
This post will look at two avoidable risks to skin health and appearance-smoking and ultraviolet light.
Skin Deep- cells and layers
First let’s take a deeper look at our skin, it’s more complex than you may realize. It has two layers-
the top layer, the epidermis
the lower layer, the dermis
The layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis), as well as an inset with a close-up view of the types of cells in the skin (squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes). Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Don Bliss (Illustrator) This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source and, where possible, the creator listed above.
Skin disease and trauma involve damage to one or both layers of the skin- the dermis or epidermis, or to the individual cells- squamous cells, basal cells, or the melanocytes-the cells with pigment that give our skin color.
Cancers can develop in any cell of the skin. Melanoma is cancer of the melanocytes.
(This photo is for illustration only and should not be used to diagnose a skin lesion. See a physician if you have a skin lesion that concerns you. )
a melanoma skin lesion-Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Unknown Photographer- This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source
Photoaging is premature aging of the skin caused by repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), primarily from the sun but also from artificial UV sources, such as tanning beds. Besides aging, excess sun exposure can cause
Burns
Rash due to increased sun sensitivity when taking certain medications
Cancers- skin cancers are the most common type of cancer.
In future posts, I’ll talk more about what hurts our skin, and what helps our skin.
As always, I appreciate your time and interest in exploring and sharing the HEART of health with me. And I would especially appreciate if you will share this post wherever you hang out.
As a physician, I tend to view experiences in medical terms and did on this cruise. I was impressed with the rules and procedures that were directed at keeping the guests and crew healthy and safe.
You’ve probably seen the movie, Titanic. I recently visited the Titanic museum in Branson, Missouri and it was a sobering experience. The loss of so many lives is staggering, especially since it could have been prevented with better preparation, including enough lifeboats for everyone on board.
The Titanic Museum
Earlier this summer I went on a cruise vacation which fared far better than the Titanic. This was the third cruise I have ever been on, but the last one was long ago enough that I had forgotten some of the details.
(This is not a sponsored post, however there are affiliate links not connected with the cruise line. Using them does not cost you extra and will help fund this blog. Thank you. )
As a physician, I tend to view experiences in medical terms and did on this cruise. I was impressed with the rules and procedures that were directed at keeping the guests and crew healthy and safe.
I’m not revealing the cruise line’s name, but it is one of the large well known ones, with a good reputation as far as I know. I can’t vouch that this cruise is typical of all cruise companies, so I offer these observations as things that you might want to evaluate if you ever go on a cruise.
Safety drill- lifeboats, jackets
Before the ship left the dock, we participated in a safety drill where we all had to assemble at our assigned stations where we would go in the case of an emergency. Once there, the crew took role by check our ID cards (more on this later) to make sure we were all there. We had life vests in our room and there would also be life vests at the stations in case we weren’t in our room at the time the alarm sounded. Unlike the Titanic, we were assured there was room on the lifeboats for everyone on board.
Security, photo id, room key
Upon checking in, they issued us a photo ID card that was also our room key and a charge card for onboard purchases. When we left the ship at the ports, we showed the card which was scanned, then showed it again to get back on the ship.
showing ID to return to the ship after a day in port
Children-arm bands
We weren’t travelling with children ourselves, but children wore armbands with identification in case of getting separated from their parents.
Food allergies and preferences.
Food is plentiful on a ship and a wide variety of choices. Some venues are buffets but in the sit down dining room the wait staff always inquired about food allergies and special diet needs before we ordered our meal.
Outside of every food venue there were containers and a crew member there to dispense it to you.
There were strict warning about what not to put into the toilets. As we heard at the introductory session, “If one toilet on a cruise ship backs up, they all back up.” Not a pleasant thought.
A daily newsletter with cruise information and schedule was delivered to our cabin every day. This note about health was posted daily-
Medical experts tell us that the best way to prevent colds, flu, or gastrointestinal illnesses-such as Norovirus-is to simply wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. After restroom breaks and again before eating.
Should you experience any symptoms of gastrointestinal illness (vomiting, diarrhea) do not go to the ship’s medical facility. Call the medical staff for a complimentary consultation and treatment. A member of the medical staff will see you in your stateroom.
Medical facility on board
If you do need to go the medical station , there is a doctor on duty 3 hours in the morning and afternoon. (On a previous cruise, I visited the medical station for a tour. It looked modern and well stocked.)
Smoking- designated areas only
Smoking is not allowed in any of the cabins or balconies, including electronic cigarettes. There were designated smoking areas outside and in the casino.
Here are some reminders on why it’s wise not to smoke-
If you wanted to exercise, there was ample opportunity.
Swimming and other water sports
A fully equipped gym
Rock climbing wall
Walking/jogging path outside.
Classes in yoga, stretching, cycling, and dance.
Competitions in volleyball, table tennis, dodge ball, basketball
Ice skating
Dance venues
Miniature golf
beach theme mini golf
Spa services
In addition to the usual spa services like hair and face treatments, they offered
Massage
Acupuncture
Teeth whitening
Anti-aging treatments
“Detox”
Potential health risks
Were there any aspects to a cruise experience that might be detrimental to one’s health? Consider these things.
Sun
This ship sailed in a tropical climate so there was ample sun, both while on the ship and in the tropical ports. So obviously there was a risk of sunburn, dehydration, and long term development of skin cancer due to sun exposure. Sunscreen was a must if you stayed outside.
Noise
There were multiple musical venues on just about every deck, as well as the general noise generated by thousands of people. For people who have sensory issues to noise, sensitive ears, or hearing loss the noise level might be uncomfortable.
Motion
We were fortunate to have smooth sailing except for a few hours when the sea was rough, causing me to feel off balance but not seasick. If you are highly sensitive to motion, sail on a small ship, or hit rough seas, you may get seasick, which is not pleasant.
Addictions-food, alcohol, gambling, shopping
If you tend to be compulsive or addicted to activities like eating, drinking alcohol, gambling, or spending money, a cruise may not be the best place to vacation.
Food is abundant, delicious, varied, and “free”- meaning it’s all inclusive with the price you paid (although there were some special meal venues that cost extra.)
On the promenade there were food and shopping opportunities.
Alcohol is not included but is easily purchased in the dining venues as well as bars. (However, they strictly enforced not providing alcohol to minors.)
Gambling was available in the centrally located casino , open from morning until late night.
Shopping on the promenade and in the ports- clothes, jewelry, art, liquor, wine , souveniers, and who knows what else.
the art gallery, where they had auctions every day
There were so many activities offered it was impossible to try them all. And there were places where one could escape for some quiet time to read, play a game, or just sit and enjoy the view.
The chapel offered a peaceful quiet place or meditation.
Please share your cruise experiences, good or bad. If you’re going on one soon, let me know how it goes. I may share some of your insights in a future post.
Thanks for exploring the HEART of health on a cruise ship with me. Please share this post and follow Watercress Words.
Spring forward with some health tips for outdoor activity #daylightsavings#spring#allery#sunscreen
Remember it’s Spring forward to Daylight Savings Time
Most of the United States will change to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday March 11, 2018.
So you will either be going to bed an hour later than usual, or awakening an hour earlier.
Either way, your body will tell the difference until your sleep cycle adjusts; I know mine always does. WebMD offers these tips to make the change easier.
If getting a good night’s sleep is a persistent problem for you, check out the information I shared in this post.
With more hours of sunlight and warmer weather you may spend more time outdoors.While that may mean greater fitness from the physical activity, you will be at risk of several outdoor injuries. Be proactive and prevent warm weather ailments with these tips.
Protect yourself against mosquitoes and other insects.
Protect your skin with sunscreen while you’re outside.
(These are affiliate links placed here for your convenience. This blog can earn a commission from sales from these links. This does not imply endorsement of these products.)
Protecting your feet.
Whether walking, jogging, gardening, or sports, our feet can take a beating from outdoor activity.
You probably don’t worry much about blisters- until you get one. Then the pain can inhibit walking, or even wearing a shoe.
At worst, blisters can become chronic wounds, get infected, and threaten limbs in susceptible persons like those with diabetes or poor blood flow.
I wear Skechers shoes for walking.
Ways to prevent blisters include-
Proper fitting shoes, not too tight or too loose
Breaking shoes in before activity likely to cause a blister, like running, dancing, long walks, sports
Wearing absorbent cushioned socks, perhaps 2 pair together
Seasonal allergies, like other allergies, develop when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment that typically causes no problem in most people.
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warmest regards, Dr. Aletha
exploring the HEART of health
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