Dread the Red

The sweat beads on your overheating brow, leeching into your eyebrows; one droplet glides past your swiping fingers and slips quickly into your eye, stinging. One pesky sweat droplet cascades down your cheek, flushed pink by the heat, making its way down to the southernmost point of your chin before it dribbles off and soaks into your already sweat-drenched tank top.

WHY AM I SO HOT AND WHY IS MY SKIN SO RED?!

Infrared radiation, or heat, which is a type of energy that the sun sends toward us and is the reason your body is sweating (a natural cooling agent). Accompanying that energy is visible light, what our eyes can see, and ultraviolet (UV) light, which is not visible to our eyes, but it’s there and it’s what is turning your skin red!

All of those energies are types of electromagnetic waves, but they all have different levels of energy, making some more dangerous than others.

The amount of space between the highs and lows of the waves determines the amount of energy; infrared waves are longer with more space between the highs and lows, causing them to have less energy. UV waves have much less space between the highs and lows of its waves, making it have more energy than visible light and infrared radiation; that amount of energy is dangerous and can hurt us.

Over time, UV light’s contact with our skin can hurt and even kill our skin cells. Our bodies’ reaction is for the skin to become red, which can hurt…a LOT! Although this light originates from the sun, it has the ability to reflect or bounce off of other surfaces, including water, snow, concrete, etc. These powerful rays can even project through clouds, making it possible to get burned on overcast days that you rarely or never even see the sun!

While there is no easy answer on how to combat infrared waves that make the summer heat, you can protect your skin from the invisible UV rays.

• Wear breathable (so you don’t get overheated from those infrared waves), lightweight, full-coverage clothing that will help block UV rays.
• Use sunscreen or sunblock; research which is the better choice for you. http://www.melanomafoundation.org/prevention/facts.htm
• Don a hat and sunglasses – aside from looking great, these items will help keep the sun’s harmful rays from reaching your sensitive skin and eyes!
• Sit in the shade – whether it’s a tree, umbrella, or something else, shade offers a cool reprieve from the hot sun and protection from the powerful and often damaging UV rays.

This is all fine and dandy, but the most important reason to use sun safety and protection measures is to help prevent melanoma.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Cancerous growths are developed when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells trigger mutations, or genetic defects, that lead to skin cells multiplying rapidly and forming malignant tumors, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. These cancerous growths are typically caused by UV radiation.

Wait, the sun produces UV rays – which can be mostly blocked, using the above methods – that can cause CANCER? You’ve got it right. Knowing your skin well, checking it often, and using sun safety and protection are all ways you can prevent melanoma.

Do summer the smart way – use sun protection every time you go outside!

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm

http://www.melanomafoundation.org/prevention/Prevention.htm

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sunburn/en/

How a F.A.S.T. Reaction Can Save a Life

Strokes strike quickly and, often, seemingly out of nowhere. Knowing the signs of strokes and reacting quickly may help minimize the long-term damage strokes can inflict.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (ruptures). Once that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it and brain cells die, according to the American Stroke Association. They recommend a F.A.S.T. reaction approach.

F.A.S.T. is a simple acronym to remember the sudden signs of a stroke, and will enable a quicker outreach to emergency personnel.

F Face Drooping – If one side of the face droops or feels numb, ask the person to smile to see if his or her smile is uneven.

A Arm Weakness – If one of the person’s arms feels weak or numb, ask the person to raise both arms to see if one arm drifts downward.

  S Speech Difficulty – If the person’s speech is slurred or difficult to understand OR if they are unable to speak, ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as “The sky is blue,” to see if they repeat it correctly.

T Time to call 9-1-1 – If the person shows any of the above symptoms, call 9-1-1 to get the person to a hospital immediately, even if the symptoms subside. Be sure to check the time so you’re aware of when the first symptoms presented.

Other symptoms of strokes include sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
• Confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
• Severe headache with no known cause.

Should you or someone you are with experience these symptoms, contact emergency services immediately. GRMC’s emergency department is equipped to diagnose individuals suffering from a stroke or a recent stroke; a robotic stroke unit in the GRMC emergency department connects with neurologists at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

This connection allows tests to be run that enable medical staff to make an informed decision on the status of the stroke and if medication is necessary or if the symptoms are severe enough that the patient should be referred to a higher level trauma center.  GRMC also provides additional necessary rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

To find out more about occupational therapy at GRMC, please call 641-236-2985; physical therapy at 641-236-2364; and speech therapy at 419-787-5788.

Sources:

• http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp
• http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Learn-More-Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_451207_Article.jsp#.Vz3upfkrLcs

Pain, I've Had Enough

Eman R. Boulis, MD

Pain – we’ve all experienced it in one form or another; the dull, deep ache of chronically sore muscles; burning, electrically-charged nerve pain; the stiff, throbbing twinges that accompany joint pain – all of these types of pain can affect our daily lives. An often overlooked syndrome that causes significant pain is fibromyalgia.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition that impairs joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic, widespread pain. The majority of people affected by fibromyalgia are middle-aged women, but men and children may also be affected.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, rheumatologists have expertise in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disease and systemic autoimmune conditions commonly referred to as rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases can affect the joints, muscles, and bones causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity. But, what can you do if you experience inexplicable, widespread pain? GRMC has just the service for you: visiting rheumatology specialist Eman Boulis, MD, with the Central Iowa Rheumatology Clinic. Dr. Boulis has the know-how to help diagnose and treat fibromyalgia and other rheumatic diseases.

If you are suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms, do not hesitate to call 641-236-2338 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Boulis today.

Sources:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/fibromyalgia/#b

http://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Health-Care-Team/What-is-a-Rheumatologist