The sun gives off 3 types of UV rays:

1. UV-A rays (long-wave uv): UV-A rays penetrate the skin deeply, affect connective tissue, and cause the skin to sag and wrinkle, and UV-A rays may help cause skin cancer.
2. UV-B rays (sunburn uv): UV-B rays affect the top layer skin and cause sunburn, skin cancer and cataract. UV-B rays are more prevalent at midday.
3. UV-C rays (short-wave uv): UV-C rays are extremely dangerous but do not reach the earth’s surface due to absorption in the atmosphere.

How UV radiation causes skin cancer?

1. At any rate, UV-A rays are believed to increase the effects of UV-B rays, which are the primary cancer causing rays.
2. UV-A causes damage to DNA in dermis and UV-B in epidermis.
3. This causes mutation in a tumor supressor gene (p53) which is protective gene that normally limits the growth of tumors.
4. Hence, a normal skin cell may begin to grow in the uncontrolled, disorderly way of cancer cells.
5. The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal.

Protective measures:

“People don’t get checked enough. What scares me is that a lot of people with skin cancer came in for something different and I just happened to see the tumor.” - Dr. Quang Le

The incidence of skin cancer is relatively very high in Australia and New Zealand and among fair skinned people. But, no matter where you live, and what color you are, you need to take the following steps to protect yourself from the sun:

1. Sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from both UV-A and UV-B radiation, and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. This means that it will take 15 times longer before you will burn compared to time of sun exposure that would burn you. Children should use a higher SPF such as 30 or 45 (a sun block).

2. Clothing: Choose fabrics with a tight weave, and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Wherever the ozone layer is thinner than usual, even more protection is required. In Australia, because of a thin ozone layer due especially to the Earth’s rotation, schoolchildren are allowed outside for recess only if they wear a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves.

3. Time: Sun exposure can be reduced by changing patterns of outdoor activities to reduce time of exposure to high-intensity UV radiation. Stay out of the sun altogether between the hours of 10 A.M. and 3 P.M. It is believed that this action will reduce annual exposure to the sun’s rays by as much as 60%.

4. Sunglasses: Wear sunglasses that have been treated to absorb both UV-A and UV-B radiation. Otherwise, darkened sunglasses can expose the eyes to more damage than usual because the pupils dilate in the shade. For this reason, do not let children wear “fun” sunglasses outside in the sun.

5. Avoid tanning: Avoid tanning machines unless prescribed by a physician for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Although most tanning devices use only high levels of UV-A radiation, the deep layers of the skin become more vulnerable to UV-B radiation upon later exposure to the sun.

Hence, children should be encouraged to use sunscreen, wear appropriate clothing and avoid both the strongest midday sun levels and indoor tanning.

Read details about the types of skin cancer

Any disease that affects the normal functioning of blood vessels  vascular – arteries, veins) and the heart (cardio) are categorized under cardiovascular diseases. May be you have already come across a quote: “As the arteries grow hard, Heart grows soft”. The key cause of majority of the cases of Cardiovascular disease is deposition of fat on the inner lining of arteries (atheroma) leading to hardening of the arteries. Due to atheroma deposition smooth muscle cells migrate from the muscular layer of the vessel and cover the fatty streak. When the muscle cells continue to divide, benign smooth muscle tumors, called atheromas, are present (i.e. atherosclerosis). The presence of plaque can interfere with circulation.

Angina, heart attack (Myocardial Infarction), aneurysm, hypertension, stroke, atherosclerosis, Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) are some of the common cardiovascular diseases. Genetic factors that predispose an individual to cardiovascular disease include family history of heart attack under age 55, male gender, and ethnicity. However, people with one or more of these risk factors need not despair. It only means that they need to pay particular attention to the following guidelines for heart-healthy lifestyle.

The Don’ts

Over 1000 people stop smoking everyday by dying

Smoking / Tobacco

Smoking or using tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is recognized as a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. When a person smokes, the drug nicotine, present in cigarette smoke, enters the bloodstream. Nicotine causes the arterioles to constrict and the blood pressure to rise. Restricted blood flow and cold hands are associated with smoking in most people. Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide, and hemoglobin combines preferentially and non-reversibly with carbonmonoxide. Therefore, the presence of carbon monoxide lowers the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and the heart must pump harder to propel the blood through the lungs. Smoking also damages the arterial wall and accelerates the formation of atherosclerosis and plaque.

The price you pay for ignoring the Statutory warning “Smoking is injurious to health” is unimaginably immense. Read the reasons why smoking is regarded as a costly choice.

Drug Abuse and Alcoholism

Stimulants, such as cocaine and amphetamines, can cause an irregular heartbeat and lead to heart attacks in people who are using drugs even for the first time. Intravenous drug use may also result in a cerebral blood clot, stroke and infections of heart valve.

Too much alcohol can destroy just about every organ in the body, the heart included. But investigators have discovered that people who take an occasional drink have a 20% lower risk of heart disease than do teetotalers (mild consumption of alcohol increases HDL or good cholesterol level in the body). 2 to 4 drinks a week is the recommended limit for men; 1 to 3 drinks is the recommendation for women.

Weight Gain

Hypertension also occurs more often in persons who are more than 20% above the recommended weight for their height (calculate your BMI). Because more tissue requires servicing, the heart must send extra blood out under greater pressure in those who are overweight. It may be very difficult to lose weight once it is gained, and therefore weight control should be a lifelong endeavor. Even a slight decrease in weight can bring a reduction in hypertension. A 4 – 5 kilogram weight loss doubles the chance that blood pressure can be normalized without drugs. Avoid sedentary lifestyle.

The Do’s

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they’ll ease
Your will they’ll mend
And charge you not a shilling.

Healthy Diet

It was once thought that a low-salt diet could protect against cardiovascular disease, and that still may be true in certain persons. Theoretically, hypertension occurs because the more salty the blood, the greater the osmotic pressure and the higher the water content. Adults should eat no more than 6 g (about a teaspoon) of salt a day (lower for children).

However, in recent years, the emphasis has switched to a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol as protective against cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is ferried in the blood by two types of plasma lipoproteins, called LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). LDL (called bad lipoprotein) takes cholesterol from the liver to the tissues, and HDL (called good lipoprotein) transports cholesterol out of the tissues to the liver. When the LDL level in the blood is abnormally high or the HDL level is abnormally low, cholesterol accumulates in arterial walls. This leads to atherosclerosis.

Avoid high intake of saturated fats (red meat, dairy products, coconut oil) and trans fats (deep-fried fast foods, bakery products, margarine, crackers – Look at the label for the term “partially hydrogenated” to avoid trans fat). Embrace omega-3 fatty acids (Polyunsaturated fatty acid – PUFA) abundant in fishes and are present in smaller amounts in flaxseed oil (Fab Falxseed Mask for Skincare), walnut oil, soybean oil and canola oil.

Evidences suggest a role for antioxidant vitamins (A, E, and C) in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals that may damage HDL cholesterol through oxidation or damage the lining of an artery, leading to a blood clot that can block the vessel. Nutritionists believe that consuming at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day may protect against cardiovascular disease as they have antioxidant values.

Exercise

People who exercise are less apt to have cardiovascular disease. One study found that moderately active men who spent an average of 48 minutes a day on a leisure-time activity such as gardening, bowling, or dancing had 1/3 fewer heart attacks than their peers who spent an average of only 16 minutes each day on such activities. Exercise helps keep weight under control, may help minimize stress, and reduces hypertension. The heart beats faster when exercising, but exercise slowly increases the heart’s capacity. This means that the heart can beat more slowly when we are at rest and still do the same amount of work. A physician recommends that his cardiovascular patients walk for one hour, three times a week. In addition, they are to practice meditation and yoga-like stretching and breathing exercises to reduce stress.

You cannot store up the benefits of physical activity. You need to do it regularly.

Regular Health Screenings

A rigid artery of smaller diameter contributes to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Regular blood pressure screening should be carried out since childhood.

It is recommended that everyone know his or her blood cholesterol level. Individuals with a high blood cholesterol level (240mg/100 ml) should be further tested to determine their LDL cholesterol level. The LDL cholesterol level, together with other risk factors such as age, family history, general health, and whether the patient smokes, determine who needs dietary therapy to lower their LDL. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are reserved for high risk patients.

Also, screening for Diabetes and Kidney disease is important as they are quiet important contributors of cardiovascular disease.

What is referred Otalgia?
Otalgia is not always associated with ear disease. Referred otalgia is the earache arising due to disease of structures other than the ears which have common nerve connections.

Causes of Earache:

Local causes: Causes within the ear

External ear:

1. Furuncle: Staphylococcal infection of hair follicles. It is an extremely painful condition and pain occurs even while chewing and on movement of pinna.

2. Impacted wax: Ear wax that gets impacted due to poor hygiene can cause pressure and irritation of nerves causing earache.

3. Otitis externa: Infection of external ear cavity predisposed by ear picking, furuncle, mositure trapped in the ear canal (swimming, bathing) foreign bodies, etc.

4. Otomycosis: Fungal infection of the external ear caused by asperigillus and candida species of fungi. It causes extreme itching of the ear and foul smelling watery discharge from the ear.

5. Myringitis bullosa: It is characterized by formation of fluid filled bullae in external ear and eardrum. It follows infuenza epidemics.

6. Herpes zoster infection: Virus which also causes Chicken pox

7. Cancers

Middle Ear:

1. Acute otitis media: Acute infection of middle ear cavity caused by streptococcus, hemophilus and other organisms and may lead to the perforation of eardrum (tympanic membrane) resulting in hearing loss.

2. Eustachian tube obstruction: due to common cold, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, etc. The ventilating tube between ear and nose becomes obstructed causing pain.

3. Mastoiditis: Inflammation of mastoid air cells present in the bony structure immediately behind the pinna.

4. Aero-otitis media: a painful type of hearing loss that can result from an inability to equalize the air pressure in the middle-ear cavity when a sudden change in altitude occurs, as may happen in a rapid descent in a poorly pressurized aircraft

5. Cancers of the middle ear

Referred Causes (Causes outside the ear)

1. Dental: caries, absess, impacted molar tooth, malocclusion of teeth

2. Oral cavity: ulcers, cancers over tongue, cheek, gingiva

3. Jaw joint disorders: osteoarthritis, bruxism (developmental disorder in children where they grind teeth during sleep), dislocation

4. Neuralgias or pain arising from nerve

5. Pharynx: tonsillitis, abscess, ulcers

6. Spinal causes: Injuries to upper spine, tuberculosis causing caries spine, cervical spondiolysis

7. Others: Cancers of base of tongue, larynx, epiglottis and esophagus.

Psychogenic Causes:

Which occurs due to functional cause without any anatomical pathology.

Treatment: Underlying cause must be managed before proceeding to the specific treatment.

(Disclaimer: Although research shows that these following foods can help fight asthma, do not replace your prescribed medication with these foods. Always follow instructions from your practitioner).

Red Grapes

Researchers suggest that grapes, including grape products like wine, can help alleviate respiratory problems associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder such as coughing and wheezing. This is because red grape skins are not only high in fiber but also high in resveratrol –two agents that work to reduce inflammation in the lungs and removes mucus and phlegm from airways. Other foods that are both high in fiber and resveratrol include apples, kiwi and peanut butter.

Chili Peppers

Chili peppers of all varieties can help asthma suffers in more ways than one. The first is because chili peppers contain capsaicin. This is what gives peppers it’s heat. But capsaicin also works to block “substance P,” a neuropeptide that is typically associated with inflammation— the same kind of inflammation that occurs within one’s breathing tubes. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin is contains and thus the more inflammation-fighting power it possesses. Aim to add habañeros, cayenne pepper and jalapeños into your next meal to reap the most benefits. In addition, chili peppers are high in vitamin A which is needed to keep all of your epithelial tissues healthy, including the respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts.

Coffee

Lastly, if you are suffering from a severe asthma attack and do not have your medication on hand, a steaming cup of black coffee might just be able to save your life. This is because according to studies when coffee is consumed and digested it creates small amounts of theophylline—a chemical that is often used in most asthma medications to soothe wheezing and breathing complications. Although the asthma fighting benefits of coffee is only temporary, studies also show that regular coffee drinkers are able to control their asthma more than non-coffee drinkers. Not a fan of coffee? A strong tea may just be able to do the trick as well.

Foods to avoid: dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter which cause mucus to form in the body.

By-line:

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online college. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.