Fwd: BioMed Today E-Newsletter - June 2011

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From: gplevents@...To: badillo9@...Sent: 6/30/2011 4:28:10 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: BioMed Today E-Newsletter - June 2011

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June 2011

Message from Dr. Shaw

Summer Sickness & Safety

The summer months bring a multitude of new activities and outdoor adventures. Along with exploring the great outdoors often come risks and dangers that remind us to respect Mother Nature.

Many times, people do not recognize the effects summer heat and overall outdoor exposure can have until it is too late and they are suffering from overexposure or irritation.

Whether it is heat stroke or cramps, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sun exposure, or insect stings, summer conditions greatly enhance the likelihood of Mother Nature getting the best of us.

Nearly every summer record temperatures and heat waves affect much of the United States. Staying hydrated, limiting sun exposure, knowing signs of heat-related illness, and being aware of your proximity to stinging insects can help avoid ailments and health problems which can be dangerous and sometimes deadly.

Avoiding a health predicament entirely is much easier than treating symptoms. However, if an outdoor emergency arises, it is imperative to be prepared. With regard to insect stings, severe anaphylactic reactions can be fatal. If allergic to stinger venom, it is critical to carry an emergency epinephrine kit, also known as an Epi-pen. Ensure that friends know how to inject the shot and help inform others by wearing a medical emergency I.D. tag.

When dealing with sun exposure, prevention is a major factor. Shielding the skin from harmful rays can help dramatically. A wide brim hat, loose and light colored clothing, and applying SPF 15 or greater sunscreen are effective methods to avoid sunburn.

New Beginnings Nutritionals offers specialized, high quality sunscreens which do not contain harsh chemicals and fillers used in many lotions currently on the market. Read more about NBN sunscreens, take advantage of the 40% OFF SALE, and enjoy your summertime wholeheartedly, knowing you are protected from the sun's rays.

Shaw, Ph.D.

Featured Topic

Summer Ailments and Heat-Related Illness

Excessive exposure to sun and hot temperatures can often take a toll on our bodies and can lead people to experience heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat stroke/sun stroke, and dehydration. While the body’s cooling mechanism goes into overdrive to regulate temperature, it is often not enough to protect us from the dangers of extreme heat. In cooling itself, the body transports blood to the skin’s surface, often causing redness and lessening of blood flow to vital organs. This can cause fatigue, headache, nausea, and dizziness. In addition to high temperature, high humidity affects the ability for sweat to evaporate, thus the body has trouble cooling itself. It is important to recognize the differences in heat-related illnesses so that appropriate action can be taken to remedy symptoms.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body becomes depleted of salt and water through excessive perspiration. Brain function and circulation can be affected by drastic loss of fluids. Individuals suffering from heart problems or people on low-sodium diets could be especially prone. Heat cramps occur with fluid deficiency and can accompany heat exhaustion. It occurs when essential nutrients such as potassium and magnesium are lost during strenuous activity or exertion.

Heat stroke, also known as sunstroke, occurs when the body experiences prolonged and intense heat exposure and the body loses its cooling function. This happens when the body temperature reaches 104 F (40 C) or more. Heat stroke is by far the most vital heat-related ailment and should be taken very seriously. Signs of heat stroke can include flushed skin, lack of perspiration, rapid breathing, headache, muscle weakness, and neurological symptoms. If heat cramps or heat exhaustion have escalated into heat stroke, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Other Irking Irritations of Summer

Along with the heat, there are other irritants which often make their mark during the summertime. Our skin is susceptible to irritation during the summer in ways beyond just getting sunburned. Heat rash plagues many people in the summer months because of intense heat and skin not having ample breathability. Also known as ‘Prickly Heat’ for its stinging sensation, it is a stinging or itching sensation caused by blocked sweat glands which cause sweat to collect and erupt in fluid-filled papules or red, itchy rash. To aid heat rash, keep cool when possible, wear loose-fit clothing, shower often, and apply calamine cream to ease the itch.

Diving into cool water can be refreshing, but suffering from Swimmer’s Ear is no day at the beach. It is an itchy infection that can cause discomfort and discharge in the ear. It is caused by submerging the ears in pool or sea water, followed by increasing inner-ear temperature through sun exposure. A wise tip to avoid Swimmer’s Ear is to keep water out of the ears by using earplugs. If symptoms do arise, avoid prodding the inner ear with a cotton swab, and if the infection does not dissipate, a general practitioner can supply eardrops or an anti-inflammatory spray.

A day at the pool can be a fun time, even for fungi on your feet. Warm, moist conditions are often a breeding ground for Athlete’s Foot. The itchy fungal infection leads to cracked, irritated skin between the toes and can spread to the sides and soles of the feet. To avoid Athlete’s Foot, dry your feet well after swimming or bathing and avoid shoes that cause sweating. To be on the safe side, use water shoes or flip-flops to avoid placing feet directly on wet, publicly trafficked surfaces.

A barbeque can be a fun way to celebrate summer, but food poisoning can ruin the fun in a hurry. Foods left unrefrigerated or meats that are not cooked to a safe internal temperature can harbor dangerous germs. When the body experiences food poisoning, excessive diarrhea and vomiting generally follow. This is the body’s way of flushing out the toxin, which can often lead to dehydration. To avoid becoming dehydrated, take frequent sips of water, anti-diarrheal medication, or seek help from a physician for rehydration fluids or medication.

Health Highlight with Dr. Jo

Hormones, Health and Mental Well-Being

Hormone balancing is basic to wellness and demands a holistic approach. Whether we are talking about sex hormones, cortisol, aldosterone, adrenalin or any of the others, imbalance can lead to a wide-range of physical and mental symptoms. To name a few, low mood, irritability, depression, low energy, loss of libido, sleep problems, blood sugar instability, hypertension, increased cardiovascular risk and osteoporosis can have an origin of hormone imbalance. Treating symptoms rather than addressing the core issue can result in one medication (or supplement) on top of another and never really resolve the problem. A thorough face-to-face intake, history and physical along with proper testing will provide a solid basis for decision-making. This is when the practioner asks, “Why is the body responding this way?" and "What is the mechanism behind this?†These questions will guide the diagnosis and appropriate therapy.

A simplistic example of this approach is dealing with the issue of obesity. Adipose tissue produces estrogen and cytokines. An obese post-menopausal female produces more estrogen than a woman who is still cycling. An obese male is also in a pro-estrogenic state. The hormone balance is “off†in both of these cases. In addition, the cytokines produced by adipose tissue create an on-going inflammatory environment that can present with the same symptoms as noted above. The holistic approach would address the dietary and weight issues as well as the hormones. Correcting the over-weight condition may lessen, if not resolve, the hormonal symptoms.

Jo , NMD, BSN

Naturopathic Physician

Arizona Naturopathic Health

AZnaturopathicdr.com

Watch Dr. 's video testimonial regarding the 2nd Annual IMMH conference.

July is UV Safety Awareness Month

Prolonged sun exposure not only causes damage to the skin, but it can also cause damage to your vision. Unprotected eyes are much more likely to develop the risk for cataracts. Take care of your skin and your eyes by avoiding sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

However, if exposed to the sun during this time, wear protective clothing, a wide-brim hat, and adequate SPF protective sunscreen, along with eyewear that blocks UV-A and UV-B rays.

Repel Insects Naturally

Keeping bugs away with a conventional insect spray can help, but many insect repellants leave skin and clothing oily and smelling like heavy chemicals. Some examples of natural ingredients which may already be in your cupboard and work to ward off summer insects include natural mint leaves and grinding it up into a paste, diluting with water and putting in a spray bottle for use as bug spray; chopped peppers also works when watered down in a spray. Pure vanilla extract can also be rubbed behind the ears, on the neck, and wrists to ward off pests. Cinnamon oil is very effective, but should not be applied in raw form to skin.

Rubbing a lavender flower behind the neck and ears helps keep the bugs away, and provides a pleasant fragrance. Catnip oil has ten times the effectiveness of DEET repellent. Celery extract keeps bugs away, and eating a diet rich in garlic also helps.

Upcoming Events

The 2nd Annual Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conference (IMMH) will be September 17-18, 2011.

Watch video testimonials from physicians and attendees of last year's conference.

Free Webinars

The next webinar topic is “Neuroactive Peptides from Common Foods which Contribute to Psychiatric Disorders" presented by Dr. Greenblatt on Tuesday, July 19, 2011.

Register for this webinar or view other upcoming webinars.

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