The summer period can be very enjoyable, but there are certain medical indications you must consider.
In general, on hot days, daily consumption of liquids (between 2.5 and 3 liters of liquids) is recommended without waiting for the thirst to set in. We must drink one glass of water (or its equivalent) every 15-20 minutes, and we must eat as many fresh fruit and vegetables we can (melon, watermelon, plums, cucumbers, tomatoes) as they contain a large quantity of water. It is good to know that a dose of yoghurt has the same hydration effect as a glass of water. We must not drink alcohol (including beer or wine) because it favors dehydration and diminishes the human organism’s capacity to fight the heat. It is mandatory to avoid beverages with high caffeine (coffee, tea, coke) or sugar (juices, fizzy drinks) content, due to their diuretic properties.
During the day we must take warm showers, without wiping the water away from our body and, if we have air conditioning in the room, the equipment must be adjusted so that the temperature should be 5 degrees lower than the environmental temperature. Moreover, outdoor activities which involve high energy consumption (sports, gardening, etc) must be avoided. Special attention must be paid to aged persons, children, persons with disabilities, who must be constantly provided with liquids, even when they do not request such liquids.
Enjoy the sun and stay protected!
Many people love sunbathing. Sun rays make us feel well and look well, on a short term. We often associate a nice tan with a good medical condition, but the color of the skin obtained by excessive sun or solar exposure is actually a sign of accelerating aging effects and of a high risk of developing skin cancer.
And yet, we all need the sun, as it is our main source of vitamin D, which helps calcium absorption. Doctors advise us to keep a balance between sun exposure on one hand, in order to maintain an adequate quantity of vitamin D, and avoid excessive sun exposure on the other hand.
There two types of sun exposure risks: immediate and tardy one. Skin burns are immediate complications, while photoaging and skin cancer represent more severe and tardy complications. The UV sun radiations represent the main cause of skin cancer, but solar exposure is also extremely harmful. Therefore, any change you might notice on your skin, especially on an already existing mole, is the most frequent warning signal to make you see the dermatologist.
“I recommend that you apply the ABDCE rule. This way, you will find it easier to analyze your moles", advises us Dr. Adina Dobritoiu.
What does the ABCDE rule consist in?
• A means asymmetry: the shape of half of a mole does not resemble the other half
• B is from border: the borders are irregular and poorly defined
• C comes from color: the color is not uniform, and the lesion has several different shades
• D means diameter: lesions of larger sizes or with a significant increase in size (more than 6 mm)
• E refers to the lesion’s evolution in time
It is recommended that you conduct a self-examination at least once a month, analyze every mole and see the doctor if something does not look right, because the melanoma discovered in its initial phases can be completely cured. Therefore it is very important that you take care of yourself and see the doctor if you notice that a mole is asymmetric, has irregular borders and more than three shades of brown. Moreover, if the size of the mole increases in a short period of time (a few months) to over 6 mm, this is a very important signal for you to see a specialist.
What can you do to prevent skin cancer? Clothes, sun hats and sun glasses can act as a physical barrier against harmful UV sun rays. And yet, fabrics do not ensure 100% protection, and UV rays reflect themselves both in the sand and in the water. Protect yourself from the sun, even when you are under an umbrella.
Sun protection creams must have UVA and UVB filter. Using protection creams with minimum 30 SPF, 50 ideally, regardless of your skin shade, is recommended. The proper quantity of cream is of 2 grams / square centimeters of skin. The cream must be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and repeated every two hours or immediately after coming out of the water.
Tip: Do not sunbathe between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm, because sun rays are extremely strong and harmful during this time of day. Moreover, children aged less than 6 months must be protected from direct sun rays exposure. 85% of sun exposure along a person’s life takes place before the age of 18. As a parent, be a good model for your child and encourage the healthy habit of preventing skin cancer!
“I invite you to conduct a self-examination at least once a month, analyze each mole and see the doctor if necessary. But, most important of all, protect yourselves from the sun!” Dr Adina Dobritoiu.
Specialist Physician in Dermatology - Venereal Diseases
PhD candidate in Medical Sciences
Dorobanti Policlinic
http://www.reginamaria.ro/ro/clinica/locatii/dorobanti/medici/adina-dobritoiu/dermatologie-venerologieAbout sun glasses. Are they necessary or not? What happens when we do not wear them? Even though the risks of excessive UV-R (ultraviolet radiation) exposure for the skin are well known, the importance of ocular protection is often diminished, or, when wearing sun glasses is recommended, complete or correct information is not provided as well. The human eye is constantly exposed to the toxic UV-R coming both from the solar light and from artificial sources. Light transmission through the eye is fundamental for the functions of sight; therefore the light absorbed by the eye needs to be benign. Exposure to radiations can diminish sight or cause temporary or permanent blindness. Both UV-A and UV-B radiation can trigger the appearance of the cataract. The UV radiation is also a risk factor for lesions of children's retina.
Clearing these wavelengths from the ocular exposure area reduces the risk of cataract and of retina photo-traumas. An easy way to achieve this is by wearing sun glasses able to block radiations with wavelengths shorter than 400 mm (the figure 400 is marked on the lens). Nonetheless, due to the eye geometry, these glasses need to be curved around the eye in order to prevent the reflected UV radiation from touching the eye. Additional protection is provided by contact lenses (which absorb significant quantities of UV-R).
Wearing protection (hats/caps) as well as certain sun glasses which block UV-R, reduces direct solar exposure, but can not protect the eye from the diffuse ambient light, and the face from the reflected solar light. Contact lenses which block UV-R and allow the user to be exposed to this type of solar radiation for a longer period of time can be used, without reaching a toxic ocular dose.
To conclude, ocular solar exposure without adequate protection (sun glasses/contact lenses) can have major negative effects, both on a short, and on a medium/long term.
Dr Andreea Stefanescu, specialist physician ophthalmology
Baneasa Policlinic
http://www.reginamaria.ro/ro/clinica/locatii/baneasa/medici/andreea-madalina-stefanescu/oftalmologie
