From New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Infectious Diseases expert Dr. Laura Fisher shares important information about common bug bites and what you need to be aware of.


LYME DISEASE

Signs and symptoms of early Lyme Disease:
rash,f ever, muscle and joint aches, headache, stiff neck, fatigue, facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy) irregular heart conduction.

Signs and symptoms of late Lyme Disease:
arthritis (joint swelling and pain), poor concentration and memory, numbness and tingling or nerve pain in an extremity.

Lyme Disease prevention
insect/tick repellent, wear light colored clothing, avoid areas with tall grass, check for ticks each evening, remove tick and show to physician, watch for Lyme rash


OTHER U.S. TICK BORNE ILLNESSES
Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Ehrlichiosis Symptions:
· Fever
· Headache
· Malaise
· 30-60% rash and muscle aches
· This is most common in southeastern and south central U.S.

Anaplasmosis symptoms:
· Fever
· Headache
· Malaise
· Muscle aches and vomiting
· This is most common in New England and north central states and West Coast.

Babesiosis Symptoms:
· Fever
· Chills
· Fatigue
· Muscle aches
· This usually occurs in New England, Long Island, New Jersey, Fire Island and Shelter Island

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Symptoms:
· Fever
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Muscle aches
· Anorexia
· Headache
· Most patients have a rash.
· This disease is widespread in the U.S.


MOSQUITOS
· West Nile Virus is transmitted by infected mosquito bites. It is widespread through U.S. Most cases are asymptomatic or mild.
· Possible signs and symptoms: 20 % have fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, eye pain, muscle aches and rash.
· Rare complications are meningitis, encephalitis (brain inflammation) or paralysis.
· Other types of mosquito-transmitted viral encephalitis in the U.S. are: Eastern equine encephalitis (Great Lakes region, Atlantic and Gulf coasts), Western equine encephalitis (western U.S.) and St. Louis encephalitis (widespread in U.S.). Symptoms of encephalitis include headache, fever, confusion, seizures and coma.

Dr. Mehmet Oz helps to dispel common health myths that will set you on track for a healthy summer. Dr. Oz is the co-author of, "You The Owner's Manual: An Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger" available online and in stores now. He is professor and vice-chairman of surgery at Columbia University, as well as medical director of the Integrated Medicine Center and director of the Heart Institute at Columbia Medical Center's New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Oz is the health expert for the Oprah Winfrey Show and Discovery Channel. He writes regularly for O, The Oprah Magazine and Esquire. Dr. Oz co authors a monthly column in Reader's Digest.

SUN PROTECTION: USE IT!
You're supposed to get 20 minutes of sunlight a day for adequate vitamin D-but only when it's at low levels (a good rule to tell: your shadow should be longer than your height). Beyond that, you know the drill. You know it, you hear it, and you see the ads with the baby's butt on billboards. Wear sunscreen. Like punishment doled out in the principal's office, sun protection is non-negotiable-because it's the most critical factor in keeping skin healthy. It's best to make sunscreen a part of your daily regimen so you won't get unexpected exposure (or get a sunburn). Use a great moisturizer that you love that also contains an SPF 30 sunscreen and affords the protection you need. If you're going to be outside for sports, use an SPF 30 and 4-star (reapply every two hours even if it says it's waterproof). Our recommendation: Always protect your face and backs of your hands but allow your body to be exposed to some sun for a few minutes before you add sunscreen. A little redness in the skin signifies vitamin D is being made. Here's a helpful hint: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreens protect immediately while all the rest of the sunscreens - called chemical or organic sunscreens (misnomers if we ever heard one) -- take 20 minutes to absorb into your skin before protecting. So, get those few minutes of sun and then apply the zinc.

Always apply sunscreen if you're going outdoors for longer than 15 minutes (even on a cloudy day, which only stops 20 to 40 percent of UV radiation). Make sure that the protection is a broad spectrum-UVB rays cause burning, but UVA rays penetrate deeper and are just as harmful - maybe even worse. UVA sunscreens are harder to find-zinc oxide and titanium dioxide work the best-and newer versions of these sunscreens form a small film rather than making you look like you smeared crayon all over your face. You need to slather all sunscreens on thick and apply them evenly, making sure not to miss any spots such as the back of the neck, the top of the ears, and any exposed scalp. Most of us don't put on enough sunscreen, and if that's the case with you, then you're only getting half the effectiveness (if you're putting on SPF 30, it's more like SPF 15). You really need one to two ounces of sunscreen to cover your whole body. This should be reapplied every two hours or after getting wet.

Which product is the best?
Look for ones that are hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, because you don't want to cause other skin damage while trying to protect from sun damage. But don't put a lot of faith into those labels, since all creams can causes pimples and rashes. It's really hit or miss. Also make sure that your sunscreen is water resistant so it doesn't end up in your eyes while the rest of the players on your team watch you drop the ball in painful anguish. Water resistant also means it will stay on your body past the first droplet of sweat when you are hot. But even if it says "water resistant," reapply it after swimming. By the way, hats and T-shirts don't provide enough SPF protection. Hats provide an SPF of 10 at the most, with T-shirts only a level of about 5 (sun-protective clothing with SPF is also available).

Ever wonder what the heck the SPF numbers truly mean?
An SPF of 1 means your skin covered in SPF 1 would turn red in about 20 minutes; a 2 would require 40 minutes, and so on. By the way, the most common reason for sunscreen failure is inadequate amounts. And while we are repeating, remember it takes 1-2 ounces of sunscreen to properly cover a body. There are two types of sunscreens: Chemical sunscreens absorb UV and change the chemical makeup to a lower form of energy. Physical sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium oxide reflect and scatter the energy (most leave a white residue). Popular brands for toxicologists are whole foods premium or Aubrey cosmetics since avoid chemical absorption. Zinc and titanium dioxide are physical blockers, so less risky

Fun Fact:
Eat tomatoes to prevent burning!

Treat sunburns with:
Asprin, Alka-Seltzer, Aloe Leaves, and eat tomatoes and/or blueberries

Protect your lips from Skin cancer on lips
Lip protection spf 30
Avoid petroleum which is absorbed
Burt's Beeswax helps (if chapped from wind or sun)
Antioxidants

Protect your Eyes
Always wear plastic sunglasses with UV protection; you don't have to spend a lot!
Eye receives more light than usual during outdoor activities
UV exposure causes cataracts and macular degeneration
Consume antioxidants in retina - lutein leafy green veggies
No correlation between price and quality
ANSI criteria- Should block 99% UVB and half of all UVA
Sport glasses shatterproof and strapped
Polarized reduces glare helps see beneath water surface


SUMMER AILMENTS/TREATMENTS
Remember the Poison Ivy and Poison Oak tip - "leaves of three stay away from me" Resin causes disease; wash off skin with soap and clothes in detergent to avoid re-contamination. Dehydrated with Burow's solution (aluminum acetate) or baking soda or vinegar mixed with water, zinc oxide, calamine lotion. Soak in cool water with Aveeno oatmeal additive, Benedryl for itch, topical hydrocortisone (Cortaid, Caldecort), Epson salts or oral steroids if severe. If you touch it, wash your hands 15-20 minutes. If it's blistering, it's no longer contagious.

Lyme disease:
It is not just an east coast disease. You get it from ticks (on exposed skin) from wooded or grassy areas. Make sure to check yourself daily (in near high tick areas). If you see it, remove the tick within 48 hours to avoid disease; symptoms include bull's eye; rash, fever, chills, aches, joint pain.

(Doxycycline) 14 day course if rash, fever, chills, aches/look for bull's eye
Borrelia from deer ticks

Bees and Bug bites
4% humans allergic- hives, rash
Stinger is barbed and continues to pump venom for 20 minutes and attracts other bees to sting as well, so remove the stingers.
Use cold compress and toothpaste/ raw onion, Benedryl and Motrin

Dr. Mehmet Oz helps to dispel common health myths that will set you on track for a healthy summer. Dr. Oz is the co-author of, "You The Owner's Manual: An Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger" available online and in stores now. He is professor and vice-chairman of surgery at Columbia University, as well as medical director of the Integrated Medicine Center and director of the Heart Institute at Columbia Medical Center's New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Oz is the health expert for the Oprah Winfrey Show and Discovery Channel. He writes regularly for O, The Oprah Magazine and Esquire. Dr. Oz co authors a monthly column in Reader's Digest.


We all have a third eye called the pineal gland located in the middle of the brain. It secretes melatonin to help us sleep at night and this same chemical affects our sexuality. Many animals that have a particular season for reproduction are alerted to the onset of the breeding season by the length of the day. Melatonin is known to block our sex hormones. Long and bright days of sunshine cause a decrease in melatonin production, thus stimulating breeding. Shorter days and longer nights increase melatonin secretion and signal the body that the breeding season is ending. In other words, our brain's pineal gland senses the length of the day and increases our sexual drive as the days begin to get longer so historically we were most likely to conceive babies in the summer. What is the benefit? The child is born in the following spring and has the entire summer to grow prior to facing the following winter.



If you are starting a tri-athelon, probably wise to avoid, but generally not a big deal. The blood to the intestines increase dramatically after eating, but will re-adjust if your muscles starting demanding energy during a swim.



pg 271, plus the role of ear wax, which is a kind of sweat, is to trap dust and sand so they cannot damage our ear drum, so you actually want some moist wax. Best way to remove is mineral oil or your finger.



This data came from World War II studies, but since many of our foods are 50% water (potato is 75%), we can get most of what we need from solid foods. But since we sweat a lot in the summer remember to drink enough water to keep your urine clear.



Sweat does not smell that much until the bacteria start growing. So use deodorant to block your pheromones, and shower to avoid stagnant sweat, but blocking the sweat glands has limited effect and is not wise. Plus the blocking agents have aluminum, which you don't want to absorb through your skin on a constant basis. (pg 274)



It doesn't have to be hot or bright outside for you to tan or burn. Clouds block infrared waves, which give us heat, but don't significantly affect the UVA and UVB rays which are a different frequency. This part of the reason the people have more skin cancer on their left side, since the sun comes through the driver's window. It's recommended that you tan in the late afternoon after two, after the sun has reached its peak.

Folks exercise more in the summer so we can address 3 big workout myths: Our bones are solid structures that thin with aging at a predetermined rate (False- pg 108). The more you exercise, the more you benefit (false, pg 107)
You can spot reduce fat by exercising a specific muscle or using an electrical stimulator (false, pg 126).



Sun burns can cause melanoma, but sun tans do not. In fact, because smart sun exposure increases vitamin D and 50% of us are deficient in this vital vitamin - which prevents cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and infections - getting 15 minutes of daily sun is smart, So place sun block (both ova and cub) on your face and hands, but expose your legs ± back for 15 minutes daily. One trick is to apply the block just before you leave the home since it only is effective after about 15 minutes anyway. Data supporting our view is that Americans near the Mexican border have less melanoma than those near the Canadian border. If sun exposure was the key link, we could see the opposite. Same data for city dwellers have more melanoma than farmers who see the sun all year round but rarely burn since they are already tanned.



Fingernails also grow faster than toenails. Nails on a person's dominant hand (right vs. left) grow faster, and men's nails grow more quickly than women's, except possibly during pregnancy and old age. The average growth rate for nails is 0.1 mm each day, but the individual rates depend on age, time of year, activity level, and heredity.



We cannot really detox in 2 weeks, but we can change our taste buds.