Sunscreen Benefits Beat Risks In Pregnancy: MDs

Summary of Article:

Pregnant women should not be scared of using sunscreen to protect themselves from skin cancer despite safety concerns raised in animal studies, Canadian doctors say.  The July issue of Consumer Reports includes sunscreen ratings based on protection from UVA and UVB rays that cause damage such as sunburn, and tests of water resistance claims.  The article also raises questions about potential harmful health effects on a fetus from a compound found in some sunscreens called retinyl palmitate.  "Retinyl palmitate, a type of topical Vitamin A, is an antioxidant that animal studies have linked to an increased risk of skin cancers.  In skin, it converts readily to retinoids, associated with a risk of birth defects in people using acne medications containing them.  As a precaution, pregnant women may want to avoid sunscreens with retinyl palmitate," the magazine said.  "More research is needed, but as of now, the proven benefits of sunscreen outweigh any potential risks".  But warning pregnant women against using sunscreen with retinyl palmitate based on the findings of animal studies with retinyl palmitate based on the findings of animal studies that use much higher doses that can be absorbed through the skin is unwarranted, said Dr. Gideon Koren, director of the Motherisk program at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.  "Scaring pregnant women is a national sport both here and in the United States," Koren said in an interview Wednesday.  "The rat studies have never shown sunscreen to cause malformations".  "There have been no studies in humans to show that there have been any problems," said Dr. Cheryl Rosen, a dermatologist at Toronto Western Hospital and director of the Canadian Dermatology Association's sun awareness program.  "I really do think we need to look at sunscreens in a positive note because the benefits outweigh the risks that are mostly theoretical.  We don't have actual risk".  The cancer society recommends that people: Choose a sunscreen that is water resistant with an SPF of at least 30, reapply your sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating, and make sure the product offer both UVA and UVB protection, usually labelled "broad-spectrum".

My Opinion of Article:

I totally agree with article and believe that the type of sunscreen you buy should always offer protection from both UVA and UVB.  It is essential that it be water resistant because usually when you use sunscreen, you go swimming gas well.  If you don't apply the right sunscreen, as said in the article, you could end up burned, or even with skin cancer.  This would be a terrible situation and is not worth the risk, especially for a cause that can be stopped by simply just buying sunscreen with the right amount of protection.  People all across the world need to take this subject a lot more seriously and should definitely consider making the best decision when buying sunscreen

Colon Cancer Screening Reaches Too Few: Report

Summary of Article:

Wider use of home screening tests for colorectal cancer would prevent unnecessary deaths, the Canadian Cancer Society says.  Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada, with 8,900 Canadian expected to die from the disease this year, according to the group's annual cancer statistics, released on Wednesday.  The society estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 deaths could be prevented over the next decade if 80% of Canadians age 50 and older were screened as recommended.  The society recommends that these Canadians get screened every two years with a simple stool test known as fecal occult blood test (FOBT), and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).  The tests detect trace amounts of blood in the stool, which can be a sign of colorectal cancer.  Detecting cancer in people who have no symptoms is a major goal of cancer screening, said Gillian Bromfield, senior manager of Cancer Control Policy for the Canadian Cancer Society.  Canadians who have discussed colorectal cancer screening with their doctors are more than twice as likely to get screened regularly, Bromfield added.  The group recommends the following: maximizing regular participation and retention in screening programs and enhancing their quality, improving Canadians' awareness about screening and the fact that screening is for people with no symptoms, and more research into the risk factors for colorectal cancer and effective prevention and treatment.  Blogger Derek Miller died of colon cancer two weeks ago.  The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that roughly 8,900 people will die of the disease this year.

My Opinion of Article:

I think this is extremely important and everyone should be tested for colon cancer.  If these screenings are available, and can show a sign of colorectal cancer, why  not take it?  Many people who have cancer, often find it late and find it only when it has spread throughout their body.  If you can take a screening, you will find about the cancer earlier, before it spreads to the rest of the body.  These screenings can potentially save many lives and can hopefully be the start of the end of colon cancer.  8,900 people are estimated to die from colon cancer, this year alone.  This is way too many people to die for a cause that can be helped with these screenings.

Active Lifestyle Promoted in $50K Prize

Summary of Article:

Overcoming obstacles to encourage Canadians to lead healthier, more active lives will be the focus of a major new research award in Montreal.  On Tuesday, McGill University launched the Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health.  The $50,000 annual award will go to an academic whose work within the past five years has broadened understanding of how physical activity, nutrition, or psychosocial factors influence personal health and well-being.  "I want the Bloomberg Manulife Prize to help create a shift in people's attitudes toward healthy living," Bloomberg, a McGill graduate, philanthropist and financial executive, said in release.  The award will fund research not only to understand the issues behind illness, but also to foster active behaviours and positive lifestyle choices, said Hélène Perreault, McGill's dean of education and a professor of exercise physiology.  Only about 15% of adults and 7% of children move enough to get substantial health benefits, Statistics Canada said in January.  Earlier targets of 90 minutes for youth ages 5 to 17, and 30-60 minutes daily for adults have been lowered to 60 minutes for youth, and 150 minutes a week for adults.  The winner of the Montreal prize is expected to be announced in the fall of 2011.  The award will be money to fuel ongoing research, and the recipient will be invited to deliver a public lecture. 

My Opinion of Article:

I believe this award is a great idea and not only will it help further research, it will push people to keep healthy and exercise daily.  Staying active and healthy is one of the most important things in life and getting motivation to exercise and eat proper foods is hard.  However, I believe with this award, more people will start doing this.  I am not that shocked that the amount of exercise time has been lowered and numbers in that category have been dropping because our world is slowly getting taken over by technology.  I am however happy that McGill University made this award and I know the recipient will use the money to good use and improve everyone, to make a healthier world.

Canadians' Love Of Texting Bigger Than Ever

Summary of Article:

Canada may be the birthplace of the BlackBerry and mobile e-mail, and we're among the world's most obsessed users of Facebook, but it hasn't stopped us from engaging in relatively old-school form of electronic messaging: texting.  In fact, texting on cellphones, a feature first offered in Canada in 2002, is bigger than ever.  According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, 56.4 billion texts were sent in Canada in 2010, up 60% from the 35.3 billion sent the previous year.  Canadians have more and more digital messaging options nowadays including: e-mail, social networks, and chat programs, but there's something about texting that's stuck with consumers, said association spokesman Marc Choma.  "I think text messaging has a certain appeal just because it is so instant and so quick and all you have to know is a person's phone number," Choma said.  An anonymous person also said, "If I want to able to get a hold of my kids there seems to be something innate in young people that they feel compelled to respond to a text message  almost instantly.  I can try to call, or leave a voice message, or e-mail, but for some reason a text seems to get a much more imediate response.  The number of texts sent in 2009 was up 70% over the previous year, and in 2008 there was an annual increase of 105%.

My Opinion of Article:

I am surprised by this article, and not surprised at the same time. I wasn't aware that the percent of texts sent had gone up the past two years but am not surprised at the fact that people are more likely to respond to texts instead of other communicational devices.  It makes more sense that people are more likely to respond to texts, because as stated in the article, it is much quicker and easier to respond to a text.  There is an almost guaranteed chance that your message will get sent if you have signal, and you can say what you want.  You can also choose to reply to it or reply, whereas if you used a phone, it wouldn't be realistic to hang up on someone.  This article and these studies have also shown how dependant our world is on technology.  Instead of going to face to face with someone and talking to them, we send a message from across schools, etc.  It is a good device to communicate, but from the rates it is going at, the whole world will eventually text, and be taken over by technology.

High Coffee Intake Tied To Lower Prostate Cancer Risk

Summary of Article:

Men who drink six cups of coffee a day showed a lower risk of developing a deadly type of prostate cancer compared with nondrinkers, a large U.S study suggests.  The study by researchers at the Harvard school of Public Health compared risk of aggressive prostate cancer among 47,911 U.S men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.  Participants reported their coffee consumption every four years from 1986 to 2008.  During the study period, 5,035 cases of prostate cancer were reported, including 642 fatal or metastatic cases, Lorelei mucci, an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard and her co-authors reported in Tuesday's online  issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.  "In conclusion, men who consumed coffee regularly had a reduced risk of lethal or advanced prostate cancer," the study's author wrote:  "It is premature to recommend that men increase coffee intake to reduce advanced prostate cancer risk based on this single study.  In addition, the effects of coffee consumption or other aspects of health must be considered in making consumption recommendations".

My Opinion of Article:

I believe this study can be very important, especially if people are very concerned about getting prostate cancer.  If drinking a certain amount of coffee a day can actually reduce chances of prostate cancer, it is good news.  However, there are also side effects of drinking coffee, and as the article stated, this is just one of many studies to be investigated and we shouldn't all start drinking coffee, without knowing if there are any disadvantages.  While this could be good news, in particular for people worried about prostate cancer, however, I believe it is still to early to take any chances, as their could be more cons than pros.

Osama Bin Laden Dead, Obama Announces

Summary of Article:

Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind al-Qaida, is dead, President Obama announces from the White House.  Known as the most sought-after terrorist since the attacks of September 11, 2011, President Barack Obama has announced that he has finally been killled by a US operation.  When President Barack Obama was addressing the nation, he states that he was killed in a "targeted operation" in Abbottabad, a highland town north of Islamabad.  The operation started with an intelligence lead last August, and culminated in an operation involving a "small team of Americans".  "After a firefight they killed bin Laden".  None of the Americans was killed and Pakistani co-operation "helped to lead us to him", he said.  Osama's body is currently in possession of the US, according to the first reports from the US television networks.  As the news spread, crowds gather outside the gates of the White House in Washington DC, singing the national anthem and cheering.  President Obama made the highly unusually Sunday night live statement to announce the news at around 11:30 p.m Eastern time.  Bin Laden's capture comes eight years to the day that President George Bush declared "mission accomplished" in Iraq.  As president, Bush declared he wanted Bin Laden "dead or alive" -- but it is now the unlikely figure of Barack Obama who has been able to announce the final triumph as US commander-in-chief.  This is a turning point in the global "war on terrorism" that has been waged since 9/11 -- and the news will revereberate around the world.

My Opinion of Article:

I agree with this article and believe it is definately a turning point in the global "war on terrorism".  Too many lives were lost during 9/11 and too much war has been going on, mostly because of Bin Laden's doing.  I also believe this will definitely give Barack Obama great respect and recognition.  Former President of the United States, George Bush has been trying for years to find Osama Bin Laden and has been unsucessful.  I feel many people will respect Barack Obama more and gain more trust towards their country's leader.  I also feel that although killing Bin Laden won't bring back the lives that were lost, people will have more comfort, now knowing that the one who killed their loved ones, is finally dead.  While there is still mourning in the world, from that terrible day on September 11th, we now know the man behind the scenes can no longer harm anymore people.

Allergy season 'one of worst'

Summary of Aritcle:

There may be a dusting of truth to allergy sufferers' complaints that this season will be a bigger 'headache' than the past years.  Heave snow and rain in some parts of the country have nourished a profusin of tree pollen, while a sudden shift to warm, sunny weather has make it realease more robust.  This is in addition to the wind, and the suffering skyrockets.  Warnings for a difficult season have come from allergy specialists from New York to Atlanta, and Chicago to California.  "This past week has been one of the worst ever," rasped Lynne Ritchie, 70, as she bought allergy medicine his week at a Manhattan drugstore.  Dr. Stanley Schwartz hears that from patients all the time -- every year , in fact, he noted with a wry smile.  "Literally, every year is hte worst year," said Schwartz. April was a historic month for weather, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia all set records for the wettest April since 1895.  Pollen counts and allergy attacks vary widely from region to region, locality to locality and day to day.  However, this year, signs really do point to a particularly 'prickly' season.  Dr. Joseph Leija, the allergist who performs the Gottlieb Allergy count for the Midwest, said last month that tree pollen was unseasonably high in Chicago and predicted "one of the wost allergy seasons ever.

My Opinion of Article:

I know tons of people who have allergies, some very serious.  I do believe they need to look out for the weather, as it seems to be getting worse every year.  If pollen counts are getting gradually greater every year, people to ensure that they have the proper medication and are prepared incase it gets really bad.  I am not really surprised by the years getting worse and worse as the weather is becoming more unpredictable and unusual as years go by.  These doctor's facts do not suprise me.  While I do believe it is important to have medication, it is not a huge deal and people shouldn't be too concered about it.  However, I am glad that there is awareness with regards to allergies and it should be a problem shown to people with allergies.