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Thank you for
subscribing to In Great Health, an Avera eNewsletter that
provides you with information to help you live a healthy
lifestyle. To learn more about what Avera can do to partner with
you to improve your health, visit www.Avera.org.
To your health,
The Avera staff
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Keep Ticks Away When You're Outside This
Summer
Did you
know ticks, parasites that sometimes can be almost impossible to
see, can cause bacterial infections such as tularemia and inflammatory diseases such
as Lyme disease? While most ticks aren't
disease carriers, a few precautionary measures when you're
outdoors this summer can keep ticks off you and your family
members.
Ticks
attach themselves to the skin and feed on blood. To prevent
bites, wear lightweight protective clothing and use an insect
repellent containing DEET. If you're in woods or fields, wear
long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into your socks. Check
yourself and children frequently for the parasites. Don't forget
to check your animals, too.
To remove a tick , pull it out gently with
tweezers, being careful not to crush or twist the body. Wash the
area with soap and water and apply an antiseptic. Don't try to
burn the tick with a match or smother it with oil, alcohol or
Vaseline. Call your doctor if you're unable to remove the entire
tick. Also call your doctor after a bite if you develop:
- A rash
- Flu-like symptoms
- Joint pain or
redness
- Swollen lymph
nodes
Call
911 if you have chest pain, heart palpitations, paralysis, severe
headache or trouble breathing.
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Sun, Tanning Beds Cause Skin Damage
While
it may be tempting to soak up the sun now that summer is here,
remember to slather on the sunscreen. Safely enjoying the sun
greatly reduces your risk for skin cancer, the most common form of
cancer in the United States.
Avoid
tanning beds. Any exposure to ultraviolet
rays, specifically UVB rays, increases risk for sun damage. That
includes UV rays from either the sun or tanning beds. Using
tanning beds in spring and early summer to get a tan to prevent
sunburn is not a good idea; tanning itself is a sign of skin
damage. It's this simple: Exposure to UV rays increases risk for
skin cancer. There is no such thing as a "healthy tan."
Use
sunscreen. Apply sunscreen of at least 35 sun
protection factor (SPF) before sun exposure, and don't forget your
ears, neck, face and hands. Reapply every two hours, or even more
often if you're in the water.
Cover
up. Wear
protective clothing, especially when the sun's rays are strongest
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pants, long-sleeved shirts, hats and
sunglasses all are a good idea.
Be
checked annually. Fair skin, blonde hair, blue
eyes, freckles or moles are signs that you have a higher risk for
skin cancer. Have a health care provider check your skin annually
for signs of melanoma and other skin cancers, which are more
treatable in their early stages.
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Relieve the Pain From Migraines
A migraine is much more than a
muscle-tension headache; it's a severe headache caused by
neurotransmitter changes in the brain, vascular changes and
inflammation. It can be a debilitating condition that prevents
people from working or enjoying their free time. Learning to
avoid migraine triggers and how to treat migraines can help
relieve the pain.
Migraines
are a type of headache that may include one-sided throbbing pain,
nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines
are three times more common in women than men, and they're
usually diagnosed from ages 20 to 50. Migraines in men sometimes
go undiagnosed because people think migraines are exclusive to
women, so it's important to check with a doctor if you
or a loved one has symptoms.
Family
history is the main risk factor for migraines. Triggers may
include:
- Sleep deprivation
- Stress
- Change in the
weather
- Changes in
hormone levels during menstruation
- Foods such as
chocolate, caffeinated beverages, nuts, alcohol, citrus
fruits and bacon
- The flavor
enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate)
Treatment
for migraines varies. Some people prefer to be still in a dark,
quiet room when they're having painful migraines; while
muscle-tension headaches may seem to be alleviated with activity,
this actually makes migraines worse. To relieve pain, try
over-the-counter medications first. If those don't help, your
doctor may prescribe medication specially formulated for
migraines. Preventive therapy also is an option for people who
have migraines twice a week or more.
If
you suffer from migraines or think you might, talk to your doctor
about the best way to relieve your symptoms.
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In Great Health is one in
a series of Avera eNewsletters that gives readers valuable
information about health and wellness at Avera facilities. It is
not intended to replace personal medical advice, which should be
obtained directly from a physician.
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