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June 2nd, 2010Water Has No Substitue; Share It Wisely
August 14th, 2010The average American lifestyle demands 1,800 gallons a day to support, with 70 percent of that going to support our diets. If each of us learned how to conserve just a little more water, it could add up to big savings. National Geographic’s Freshwater Fellow, Sandra Postel, thinks you should start with these simple changes:
1. Choose outdoor landscaping appropriate for your climate. Native plants and grasses that thrive on natural rainfall only are best. (Read more in National Geographic Green Guide’s “Plants That Will Suck Your Yard Dry.”)
2. Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Because you’re saving hot water, you’ll also reduce your energy bill. (More at “Bathroom Revamp: Savings by the Gallon.”)
3. If you’re in the market for a toilet, buy a low-volume, ultra low-volume, or dual-flush model. (Read Green Guide’s “Toilet Buying Guide.”)
4. Fix leaky faucets. All those wasted drops add up—sometimes to 10-25 gallons a day. (Learn more on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s, or EPA’s,WaterSense website.)
5. Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when full. When it’s time to replace them, buy a water- and energy-efficient model. Remember, saving water saves energy, and saving energy saves water. (Read Green Guide’s “Dishwasher Buying Guide.”)
6. Eat a bit less meat, especially beef. A typical hamburger can take 630 gallons to produce. (Learn more about the water embedded in your food with National Geographic’s “The Hidden Water We Use” interactive.)
7. Buy less stuff. Everything takes water to make. So if we buy less, we shrink our water footprint.
8. Recycle plastics, glass, metals, and paper. Buy re-usable products rather than throw-aways, as it takes water to make most everything.
9. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and washing the dishes. Shave a minute or two off your shower time. Millions of people doing even the little things makes a difference.
10. Know the source of your drinking water—the river, lake, or aquifer that supplies your home. Once you know it, you’ll care about it. You just won’t want to waste water. (Find out more about your water sources with the EPA’s “Surf Your Watershed” interactive.)
Save Your Skin from the Sun
June 2nd, 2010
Why is the sun so bad for my skin?
The sun’s rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays) damage your skin. This leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer and other skin problems.
Being in the sun often over time, even if you don’t burn, can lead to skin cancer. A tan is the body’s attempt to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays.
On what parts of the body is skin cancer most likely to occur?
Most skin cancers occur on parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun. These areas include the head, neck, face, tips of the ears, hands, forearms, shoulders, back, chests of men, and the back and lower legs of women.
What are the risk factors for skin cancer?
A number of factors may put you at higher risk of having skin cancer:
Having fair skin, red or blond hair
Having light-colored eyes
Sunburning easily
Having many moles, freckles or birthmarks
Working or playing outside
Being in the sun a lot as a child
Having had a serious sunburn
Having had skin cancer, or having family members who have had skin cancer
Tanning in the sun or with a sunlamp
How can I prevent skin cancer?
The key is to avoid being in the sun or using sunlamps. If you’re going to be in the sun for any length of time, wear clothes made from tight-woven fabric so the sun’s rays can’t get through to your skin, and stay in the shade when you can. Wear long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, neck, shoulders and ears.
Remember that clouds and water won’t protect you–60% to 80% of the sun’s rays go through clouds and can reach swimmers at least one foot below the surface of the water. The sun’s rays can also reflect off water, snow and white sand.
Years of sun exposure plays havoc with your skin. Besides skin discoloration from red and brown spots, enlarged pores, and collagen breakdown, you may develop more serious conditions that can threaten your well being.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has multiple applications. Besides being effective for reversing the results of sun damage mentioned above, it is an FDA approved treatment for pre-cancerous Actinic Keratosis. PDT is available at Padilla MD Family Practice.
Excepted from: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/risk/159.html#ArticleParsysMiddleColumn0001
Summer Allergies: Control Your Symptoms
June 2nd, 2010
What are the most common allergens?
Pollen from trees, grass and weeds. Allergies that occur in the spring (late April and May) are often due to tree pollen. Allergies that occur in the summer (late May to mid-July) are often due to grass and weed pollen. Allergies that occur in the fall (late August to the first frost) are often due to ragweed.
Mold. Mold is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains, window moldings and damp basements. It can also be found in rotting logs, hay, mulches, commercial peat moss, compost piles and leaf litter. This allergy is usually worse during humid and rainy weather.
Animal dander. Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. You can be exposed to dander when handling an animal or from house dust that contains dander.
Dust. Many allergens, including dust mites, are in dust. Dust mites are tiny living creatures found in bedding, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house dust.
How can I avoid allergens?
Pollens. Shower or bathe before bedtime to wash off pollen and other allergens in your hair and on your skin. Avoid going outside, especially on dry, windy days. Keep windows and doors shut, and use an air conditioner at home and in your car.
Mold. You can reduce the amount of mold in your home by removing houseplants and by frequently cleaning shower curtains, bathroom windows, damp walls, areas with dry rot and indoor trash cans. Use a mix of water and chlorine bleach to kill mold. Open doors and windows and use fans to increase air movement and help prevent mold.
Don’t carpet bathrooms or other damp rooms and use mold-proof paint instead of wallpaper. Reducing the humidity in your home to 50% or less can also help. You can control your home air quality by using a dehumidifier, keeping the temperature set at 70 degrees, and cleaning or replacing small-particle filters in your central air system.
Pet dander. If your allergies are severe, you may need to give your pets away or at least keep them outside. Cat or dog dander often collects in house dust and takes 4 weeks or more to die down.
However, there are ways to reduce the amounts of pet dander in your home. Using allergen-resistant bedding, bathing your pet frequently, and using an air filter can help reduce pet dander. Ask your veterinarian for other ways to reduce pet dander in your home.
Dust and dust mites. To reduce dust mites in your home, remove drapes, feather pillows, upholstered furniture, non-washable comforters and soft toys. Replace carpets with linoleum or wood. Polished floors are best. Mop the floor often with a damp mop and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth. Vacuum regularly with a machine that has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Vacuum soft furniture and curtains as well as floors. Install an air cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate or electrostatic filter. Wash carpets and upholstery with special cleaners, such as benzyl benzoate or tannic acid spray. Wash all bedding in hot water (hotter than 130°F) every 7 to 10 days. Don’t use mattress pads. Cover mattress and pillows with plastic covers. Lower the humidity in your home using a dehumidifier.