Princess Health and Don't get burned, bitten or bamboozled this summer; here are safety tips for dealing with the sun, insects and sales pitches.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Don't get burned, bitten or bamboozled this summer; here are safety tips for dealing with the sun, insects and sales pitches.Princessiccia

cancer children children's health insects public safety safety skin cancer skin care sunscreen

Gusty 12:35 Add Comment

By Molly Burchett
Kentucky Health News

Summer is finally here, and after one of the coldest Kentucky springs, who doesn't want to be outside swimming, skiing, fishing, barbecuing or soaking up rays on the beach? While summer may bring much-anticipated fun in the sun, it's important to take some  safety precautions to make sure you and your family are not getting too much of a good thing.

Sunscreen can protect you from cancer, but don't spray it

The sun is bad for your skin, and exposure to its harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can increase your risk for skin cancer, which is the most common cancer in the U.S., says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's critical to protect yourself and your children from sun damage because just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles the odds of developing skin cancer later in life, says the Mayo Clinic.

Fortunately, it�s never too late or too early to lessen your risk of sun damage by using sunscreen, and the Environmental Working Group has recently released its 2013 Guide to Sunscreens, which rates more than 1,400 sunscreens, lip balms, and SPF moisturizers and cosmetics for safety and effectiveness.

This year, EWG says 184 sunscreens, 25 percent of those on the market, met its criteria of offering adequate UV protection and posing few safety concerns. You can click here to view that product list, or here to check out the EWG findings for moisturizers, lip balm and makeup.

EWG also created a somewhat surprising list of things NOT to bring on vacation because they are unsafe or do not provide adequate UV protection:

• Spray sunscreen: These sprays may pose serious inhalation risks, and they make it too easy to not apply enough sunscreen or to miss a spot.
• High-SPF sunscreens: These products may tempt people to stay in the sun too long, which can increase the risk of other kinds of skin damage, and EWG recommends that consumers avoid products labeled higher than SPF 50.
• Oxybenzone: Used in half of sunscreen products, this chemical penetrates the skin and can adversely impact health in several ways; in the body, it acts like the female hormone estrogen and can cause allregic reactions.
• Loose powder sunscreen: Tiny zinc particles in these products can also end up in your lungs when you breathe them in during application, which irritates the lungs.
• Retinyl palmitate: Some sunscreens contain this chemical, which is a form of vitamin A, but when applied to sun-exposed skin, it may speed development of skin tumors and lesions.
• Combined sunscreen/bug repellents: Studies show this combination leads to increased skin absorption of the repellent ingredients.
• Sunscreen towelettes: Whether they really work is unknown.
• Tanning oils: They are simply a bad idea and can ultimately lead to behavior that increases risk of developing skin cancer.

So, check the ingredients for your sunscreen, avoid high-SPF's or sprays and make it a habit to wear sunscreen during sports or whenever you're outside. Be sure to reapply often to ensure UV protection, particularly if you get wet or sweaty. Click here to read EWG's "Nine Surprising Facts about Sunscreen."

Hats and clothing: Choose the right kind

Children are more vulnerable to sun damage, so in addition to actual sunscreen, the best sun protections for them are a hat and shirt (which also protect adults). The CDC recommends avoiding straw hats that let sun through the holes, and to wear a hat with UV protection or a wide brim to shield the face, head, ear and neck. If you do chose to wear a baseball cap, protect your ears and neck with clothing, sunscreen (with at least SPF 15) or spend lots of time in shade.

Wear clothing to protect exposed skin. The CDC says loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric offer the best UV protection. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors, and a wet t-shirt offers much less UV protection that a dry one.

Sunburn treatment: People with fair skin or light-colored hair are more likely to be sunburned. If you get sunburned, remember that "The skin heals but is forever damaged," writes University of Kentucky nursing Professor Mollie Aheshire. "The more frequent and more severe the burns, the more damage there is," along with risk for cancer and premature aging. "If a sunburn is blistering and covers a large portion of your body; is accompanied by a high fever, extreme pain, confusion, nausea or chills; or does not respond to at-home treatment within a few days . . . see a health-care provider." Mild sunburns can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, cold compresses and moisturizing creams � aloe vera or hydrocortisone lotions. "If blisters form, do not break them," Aheshire writes. "Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Treat peeling skin gently. Stay out of the sun until redness and pain resolve." (Read more)

Sunglasses: Not just to help you see now, but to keep you seeing longer

Besides being dangerous for your skin, UV rays are dangerous to your eyes and can cause vision disorders, premature aging of the eyes or even blindness. It is important to wear sunglasses to protect eyes from sun damage, although a new survey from the American Optometric Association shows that only 40 percent of consumers cite this protection as the primary reason for wearing sunglasses, says a Kentucky Optometric Association press release.

To help reduce the risks of harmful UV exposure on the eyes, children and adults should start wearing protective sunglasses as as early as possible, and parents should ensure that babies are protected by sunglasses too, says the release. When choosing sunglasses or protective contact lenses, make sure that they block more than 95 percent of UV-A and more than 99 percent of UV-B radiation, says the KOA, and sunglasses should have a frame that fits close to the eyes so the UV rays can't sneak around the sides.

Insect repellent: Bugs can bug you, but don't over-react to them

Although nothing can ruin a relaxing summer picnic faster than bugs, take precautions to ensure you're using the right type of bug repellent-- one that's been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency -- and that you're using it wisely.

Not only are bugs annoying, they can also carry dangerous diseases, and for the safe and effective use bug repellents, always read the product label before using the product, EPA says. It says to follow these bug-repellent safety tips:

• Repellents should be applied only to exposed skin and/or clothing. Do not use them under clothing.
• Store insect repellents safely out of the reach of children.
• Do not apply near eyes and mouth, and be use sparingly around the ears.
• When using sprays, spray on the hands first and then apply to the face, not directly to the face.
• Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
• Do not spray in enclosed areas and avoid spraying near food.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin and clothes with soap and water.
• Do not use any product on pets or other animals
• Most insect repellents do not work on lice or fleas. 
• Click here to search for a repellent that's right for you.

Beware if you want to use a wearable repellent that's not sticky and has to be continuously resprayed, such as Off!'s clip-on mosquito repellent. It works once the cloud of mosquito protection is built around the wearer, says Brighid Moret of The Washington Times, but it's not a good option for an active or young child. The manufacturer warns on the label that a chemical on the product's enclosed disk is harmful if swallowed, directly inhaled or absorbed through the skin, and young children should not wear it.

Whether you're going on vacation or a "stay-cation," these tips can help protect you and your family from the sun and bugs in order to safely make the most of your summer. Click here for more sun safety tips from EWG.

Princess Health and How To Increase Your Fruit And Vegetable Intake?. Princessiccia

Princess Health and How To Increase Your Fruit And Vegetable Intake?. Princessiccia

Gusty 07:38 Add Comment

How to get easily even more than your recommended  '5-a-day'?

Is this term familiar to you? I'm sure it is, we can see now on the packages of fruits, vegetables, and unfortunately even on processed food such as commercial fruit juices.

Few facts:

1. The human body needs plenty of plant based food.

2. Scientists still haven't found the 'secret' of plant foods, they only agree on the fact that people eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, or exclusively a plant based diet, are much healthier, have more energy and less health problems.

3. During the last century, the food industry started to rocket, more and more processed, unhealthy (but very tasty and addictive) 'food-like-products' appeared in stores, and people started to eat less and less real food, fruits, vegetables.

4. About 10 years ago even the World Health Organization realized, that the number of diseases increased despite of the modern medical technologies. Most people eat very little, or no fruit and veg at all. So they started the '5-a-day' campaign, mainly to get people eat more of the healthy food.

5. Unfortunately, the food industry managed to label their not-so-healthy products with '1 of your 5 a day' claim, even though the processed food will never actually meet the requirement.

The most important fact: We need much more than 5 portions of fruit and veg a day!

How to make sure you have at least 5 portions of fruit and veg easily, and achieve a better overall health?

The answer: fruit/veg smoothies! They are so tasty, and healthy at the same time!

If you start your day with a tasty fruit+veg smoothie, you can actually kick-start your day having all the 5 portions to breakfast! And believe me: once you start eating more fruit and veg, your body will start to crave more fruit and veg. Isn't it amazing?

Since I started to have a smoothie for breakfast, incredible changes started in my body: I have more energy, my skin looks better, my hair is shiny and has volume, my eyes are glowing, and I know it benefits many of the invisible parts of my body as well.

What do my smoothies contain? 

Only fruit + veg (optional: raw, cold pressed hemp protein powder)

What's the trick?

I always add two big handfuls of raw spinach to my smoothies. Unbelievably enough you won't taste the spinach at all! It will color your smoothie green of course, so adding it to the smoothie you will always get a green looking smoothie regardless of the fruits added.

Step 1: Buy a high speed blender.

Step 2: Always have at hand one of the base fruits: banana, apple, pear, mango or peach. These will give the creamy texture to the smoothie.

Step 3: Add any other fruits you prefer.

Step 4: Add the spinach (or experiment with other green leafy vegetables)

Step 5: Always have agave nectar at hand, in case you feel the need for some extra sweetness.

Enjoy!

The correct order for an easy-blending is:

Add some water first (usually 1/2-1 cup), then the soft fruits, then the hard fruits. Pulse these until they get almost creamy, then add the leafy greens and blend the whole thing on high for about 30 seconds.

And finally here are three of my favorite smoothies:

1./

1 banana

1 cup raspberry

2 big handful spinach

1 cup water

You can choose any other berries, strawberries, blackberries, or blueberries.

You can also double the portion, if you are very hungry.

2./

2 pear

1 cup blueberry

2 handful spinach

1 cup water

3./ 

1 mango

1 cup strawberries

2 handful spinach

1 cup water

You can add less or more water, depending how creamy you like your smoothie.

You can add raw protein powder to any of these in case you feel the need. 

As I said, your body will reward your choice in many ways. And you will soon notice the changes in your habits too!

Don't forget the exercise though in the meantime. Join one of our ZUMBA classes in Dublin 2, Dublin 6 or Dublin 8. For details, CLICK HERE

Princess Health and U of L's Trover medical campus ranked among best for rural medicine education and addresing rural physician shortage.Princessiccia

Princess Health and U of L's Trover medical campus ranked among best for rural medicine education and addresing rural physician shortage.Princessiccia

medical education physician recruitment physicians rural health rural medicine rural-urban disparities University of Louisville

Gusty 12:54 Add Comment

The University of Louisville School of Medicine Trover Rural Campus in Madisonville was rated third best in the nation for preparing medical students to practice in rural areas, which is critical to the state since most of Kentucky's rural counties are considered to be short of health professionals.

�From the president and the deans to the individual faculty and staff, our team has proven the value of a collaboration of a rural campus and an urban university. The beneficiaries are our students and the rural Kentucky communities who receive these new doctors who are well prepared to care for them,� Dr. Bill Crump, right, associate dean for the Trover campus, said in a UofL press release.
  
The study by researchers at the University of Colorado, which will be published in Academic Medicine in August, ranked 35 programs across the nation and found that 62 percent of Trover graduates practice medicine in rural areas, says the release.

�This national recognition is the fulfillment of Dr. Loman Trover�s vision outlined almost 60 years ago of providing first class medical education in a small town with the goal of producing more physicians for rural Kentucky, and is a testament to the strong support we�ve had from the Louisville Campus over the past 15 years,� said Crump.

Nationally, there is a physician shortage in rural areas because only 3 percent of medical students report want to practice rural medicine, while 16 percent of Americans live in rural areas. This problem is especially large in Kentucky, says the release, since a majority of the state's 59 counties classified as rural are considered to be short of medical professionals..

�Our Trover campus is vital to fulfilling this mission and especially critical now because our state faces such a significant shortage of physicians, especially in rural areas. Dr. Crump�s leadership of the program is one of the reasons for its success. We view the program as a model that has the potential to be implemented in other areas of Kentucky,� said School of Medicine Dean Dr. Toni Ganzel.

Princess Health and At least one in eight teens, and perhaps one in five, have a mental-health issue; ADHD tops, substance abuse also high.Princessiccia

Princess Health and At least one in eight teens, and perhaps one in five, have a mental-health issue; ADHD tops, substance abuse also high.Princessiccia

ADHD alcohol abuse Centers for Disease Control children children's health depression drug abuse drugs mental health mental illness substance abuse

Gusty 11:55 Add Comment

The most comprehensive report yet on mental disorders in children shows attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed problem in those aged 3-17, and the most common health issues for teenagers include addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

An estimated 13 to 20 percent of U.S. children experience a mental disorder in a given year, says a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and children are increasingly suffering from and being hospitalized for mood disorders like depression; that hospitalization rate has increased 80 percent from 1997 to 2010, says the report. And, while 3.5 percent of children under 18 have behavioral problems, almost 7 percent of them are diagnosed with ADHD.

About 4.7 percent of teens, or 1.7 million children aged 12�17, have disorders involving abuse and dependence upon alcohol, drugs or tobacco, says the report. Alarmingly, two-thirds of teenagers had an illicit drug use disorder, one million teenagers abused drugs or alcohol, and more than 695,000 were addicted to tobacco.

�This first report of its kind documents that millions of children are living with depression, substance use disorders, ADHD and other mental health conditions,� CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said. �No parent, grandparent, teacher or friend wants to see a child struggle with these issues. It concerns us all. We are working to both increase our understanding of these disorders and help scale up programs and strategies to prevent mental illness so that our children grow to lead productive, healthy lives.�

Princess Health and Knox County converting ambulance tax, taking 3/8 of health tax and asking library for same in order to save hospital.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Knox County converting ambulance tax, taking 3/8 of health tax and asking library for same in order to save hospital.Princessiccia

county health departments critical access hospitals health departments hospitals rural health taxes

Gusty 13:55 Add Comment

The Knox County Fiscal Court and the Knox County Board of Health reached a deal Monday to aid its debt-laden county hospital's recovery from bankruptcy by diverting, at least temporarily, 37.5 percent of local health tax revenue to the hospital, asking the local library to do likewise and converting an ambulance tax into a hospital tax.

The proposed agreement is "revenue neutral" and would not create any additional tax for Knox County residents while allowing the Knox County Hospital in Barbourville to stay open, writes Jeff Noble of The Times-Tribune in Corbin.

To save the hospital, the hospital board needs a tax of about 8 cents per $100 worth of property, County Judge-Executive J.M. Hall said. The deal would convert a 5-cent ambulance tax to a hospital tax, and the county health board has agreed to shift 1.5 cents of its 4-cent tax to the hospital. The library board is considering similar action, which would make up the total 8 cents, Hall told Noble.

Health Department Director Susan Liford said the two-year deal with the health board will begin in January 2014 and will be re-evaluated at the end of that period. The health department will be diverting $300,000 to $400,000 a year to the hospital, Noble reports.

"The board felt like we needed to help the hospital, and they were very adamant they did not want to put the health department in jeopardy and have no one here lose their jobs," Liford told Noble. "I think it�s the moral thing to do. And we need our hospital."

The hospital has a debt estimated at $23 million, though the Knox County Fiscal Court purchased it out of bankruptcy by in 2004 for just $7.2 million, according to documents analyzed by the Barbourville Mountain Advocate, Knox County's weekly newspaper. Last July, the fiscal court took over hospital operations of the hospital, borrowing $6 million to fund them, after the former owners filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (Mountain Advocate graphic; click on it for larger version)

Princess Health and UK HealthCare hosts 'Women, It's About You' conference June 1.Princessiccia

Princess Health and UK HealthCare hosts 'Women, It's About You' conference June 1.Princessiccia

conferences health education University of Kentucky women women's health

Gusty 13:10 Add Comment

On June 1 UK HealthCare will present its fifth annual "Women, It�s About You" conference, which is designed to educate women with the most up-to-date information about health topics ranging from mammograms to nutrition to financial abuse.

This year's conference will feature 15 presentations on the following women's health topics:

Menopause, presented by Dr. Kathy Dillon 

Memory and aging, presented by Dr. Gregory Jicha 

Women's heart health, presented by Dr. Susan Smyth 

Eye health, presented by Dr. Eric Higgins 

Physical fitness, presented by Richard Watson 

Gynecologic cancer, presented by Dr. Lauren Baldwin 

Financial abuse of women, presented by Susan Lawrence 

Weight loss, presented by Dr. Stephanie Rose 

Skin care and cosmetic procedures, presented by Dr. Amit Patel 

Stroke, presented by Lisa Bellamy 

Diabetes, presented by Sheri Legg and Beth Holden 

Nutrition, presented by Rachel Miller 

Mammography, presented by Dr. Margaret Szabunio

Pelvic Prolapse, presented by Drs. Rudy Tovar and Mark Hoffman.

Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of health screenings, including blood pressure and stroke-risk assessment, says a UK HealthCare press release. The event, which will take place at the Embassy Suites hotel on Newtown Pike in north Lexington, costs $10 and also includes a continental breakfast, a luncheon with entertainment, giveaways and an exhibitor fair. Click here for more information or to register by the Friday, May 17 deadline.

Princess Health and Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky seeks nominations for its board of directors and Community Advisory Committee.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky seeks nominations for its board of directors and Community Advisory Committee.Princessiccia

Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky philanthropy

Gusty 11:58 Add Comment

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is accepting nominations for qualified persons to join its board of directors and Community Advisory Committee.

The 15 directors are responsible for preserving the foundation�s endowment and upholding its charitable mission of addressing the unmet health care needs of Kentuckians. Nominations are being accepted for three seats, including one to be selected by the directors and one by the governor.

The third seat will represent Supreme Court District 6: Bath, Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Fleming, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties. This director will be chosen by a Community Advisory Committee subcommittee, comprising five members who help run organizations addressing the unmet health care needs of Kentuckians.

The foundation is also accepting Community Advisory Committee nominations in anticipation of electing two new committee members. The 31 members provide advice and recommendations to the board, serve as community liaisons, serve on foundation committees, take part in the annual policy forum and appoint or nominate directors.

Please complete the nomination form and attach a resume or bio. Self-nominations are allowed.  The deadline for receipt of nominations is July 15. Mail to Mary Jo Dike, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, 1640 Lyndon Farm Court, Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40223, or email to mdike@healthy-ky.org. For more information call 502-326-2583 (toll-free 1-877-326-2584).