It was a perfect, unusually warm day for early May: 74 degrees, light breeze, not a cloud in the sky. I took my son to the park and lay on a blanket, reading, while my son played with all the other winter-crazed kids. After a couple of hours, I noticed that my shins were becoming a little pink, so we headed on home. By bedtime, I was so burned that the sheets hurt; the next day, I was covered with small blisters. I also developed a low-grade fever, chills and nausea.

So how is it that a brown-eyed, brunette with a history of tanning easily developed sun poisoning on a mild spring day? Three words: methotrexate; prednisone; Celebrex. I was taking not one, not two, but three drugs that increases photosensitivity. Add to that my fondness for lotions containing alpha-hydroxy and the question becomes not how did I become sunburned but rather how did I avoid sunburn for so long?

Prescription Drugs and Photosensitivity

Despite the fact that my prescription bag was stapled with computer-generated warnings about increased photosensitivity, I hadn’t taken any special precautions to protect my skin. I suppose that in light of other possible side effects—liver damage, hair loss, nausea and Cushing’s syndrome, for example—I had grown cavalier about something as harmless-sounding as a sunburn. Perhaps it would have made more of an impression on me if the side effects for photosensitivity had listed: premature wrinkles, skin lesions, cataracts, suppressed immune system, carcinoma and the often fatal melanoma.

Even RA sounds like a walk in the park compared to blindness and cancer.

Some of the prescription drugs used to treat RA that increases photosensitivity are:

* NSAIDS
This includes ibuprofen, naproxen and COX-ll inhibitors like Celebrex.

* Antimalarials
These include Plaquenil and chloroquine.

* DMARDs
Among these are methotrexate and sulfasalazine

* corticosteroids

Prednisone and its cousins thin the skin and make it more fragile.

In all likelihood, if you have RA, then you are taking at least one of the drugs on the above list…if not two or more. Combine these with the more garden-variety medications common to most medicine cabinets and you have a recipe for a serious burn.

* antihistamines
* antibiotics (especially tetracycline and sulfa drugs)
* oral birth control
* anti-anxiety
* antidepressants
* acne medications
* anti-seizure
* hormones
heart/blood pressure

Over-the-counter medications, toiletries, cosmetics, etc

* perfumes and scented soaps
* aftershave
* dandruff shampoos that contain coal-tar ingredients
* skin-bleaching creams
* alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy preparations
* sunscreens (!!) containing para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)

Other Known Photosensitizers:

* quinoline
* musk ambrette
* 6-methyl-coumarin
* bergamot oil
* sandalwood oil
* St. John’s Wort

Sunscreen is not Enough

Ironically, at a time when more people are using sunscreen than ever before, the cases of skin cancer are skyrocketing—1.3 million cases for the year 2000 alone. Apparently, the availability of sunscreen has given people a false sense of security and unrealistic expectations of how long they can be exposed to the sun without danger. Since many of us with RA are taking medications that increase our sensitivity we also need to:

* Avoid peak hours.
While this differs according to region, 10 AM to 4 PM is a safe bet.

* Wear protective clothing.
This includes a broad-brimmed hat, UV-protected sunglasses and—depending on the length of exposure—long sleeves and pants.

* Use appropriate sunscreen.
There is evidence that sunscreen containing the ingredient Parsol 1789 may be more effective. Read the ingredient labels…and make sure that your sunscreen is at least SPF-15.

* Replenish sunscreen often.
Some experts feel that sun block should be replenished 30 minutes to one hour before recommended by manufacturers.

* Avoid reflective surfaces.
Pool water or snow, for example, creates a reflective surface that increases your chance for serious sunburn.

* Follow the shade.
Probably the most effective—if most ignored—means of avoiding a burn. If natural shade is unavailable, bring a beach umbrella.

Too Late; Already Burned

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, it is so hard to go inside. The weather is perfect, the company pleasing, the water couldn’t be better. When you’re feeling this fine, this…normal, it’s hard to duck inside, even when you are seeing those telltale traces of pink on your shoulders. Just remember: symptoms of sunburn don’t even begin until 2-4 hours after the sun has already done its damage; peak damage doesn’t occur until after 24 hours.

So what’s the best way to treat a burn? First, evaluate which type of burn you have. Most sunburn will be first-degree burns—red and painful. In case of a first-degree burn:

* Take a cool bath.
Baths are preferable to the pounding of a shower…and make sure the water is cool, not cold.

* Apply cool compresses.

* Take an OTC pain-reliever…but don’t raise “‘caine”.
Tylenol or another over-the-counter pain reliever will help reduce the pain, but avoid pain-relievers whose name ends in “cane” or “caine”. Often people are sensitive to these types of applications…and an allergic reaction is the last thing you need for already ravaged skin.

* Drink plenty of fluids.
Dehydration and sunburn often go hand-in-hand.

* Avoid oil-based products and aunt Minnie’s advice.
Oil-based products and home remedies involving grease or butter clog pores and can cause infection.

A second-degree burn will have the pain and redness of a first-degree burn, plus blisters, blotches, streaks, and/or a rash. Sun poisoning (not a medical term, by the way) is a second-degree burn with chills, nausea and a low-grade fever. If any of these symptoms are present, contact your physician. It probably won’t be necessary to make an office trip, but he or she might prescribe medications that can make you more comfortable.

Remember…the sun is not the same as it used to be and neither are you. One of the most effective ways to cope with RA is to avoid any other source of pain or discomfort. Ask your pharmacist which of your medications might put you at risk for photosensitivity and react accordingly.

Canaries may sing beautiful songs, but outside of that I never felt any affinity with the little yellow bird until just recently.

In the days of old coal miners used to take canaries down into the pit while they worked. It wasn’t for the beautiful songs that they sang, but instead for a far life threatening purpose, to detect odourless gases. Being in an environment with any level of gas present quickly overwhelmed the canaries systems. The canaries would die from the exposure and would serve as a warning to the coal miners to vacate the shaft.

Perhaps now you can understand why being a canary has never really struck me as being an attractive option. Now, in the prime of my life I have gained a new respect for the canary after going through trials and tribulations regarding my environment.

For me the canary syndrome started with the occurrence of asthma, which was not easily controlled by inhaled steroids and rescue remedies. My lungs reacted much like those of the canary, choking in an attempt to stop the “dangerous” from entering my lungs. My allergies became more pronounced along with developing a new set of sensitivities to the most common household items.

I have since started to appreciate the ability to have the early warning system in tact; it helps to keep me from remaining in environments that would prove hazardous to my health. Now being a canary is more than just being able to sing, it’s being able to provide your own map to health.

Many individuals with environmental sensitivities can be classified as canaries. The numbers are increasingly dramatically year-by-year. The reason why is anyone’s guess, but it has been linked to mental as well as physical causes. Do you wonder if you might be a canary? Well, maybe it is time you ask yourself some questions.

1. Do you fall ill due to exposure to fumes from paints or other chemicals, when others don’t even seem to notice the presence of these fumes?

2. Do perfumes overwhelm you to the point where you find it difficult to breathe or even end up with a migraine because of the scent?

3. Do the smells of mould linger in your nose and at the back of your throat?

4. Are you developing allergies and sensitivities to items that are commonplace in your present environment?

If you feel that you might be a canary, embrace the thought. Learning to adjust your lifestyle will help to keep you away from untold dangers that threaten your health and well-being. Join the flock of canaries and sing the praises of having an early warning system all of your own.

Discuss it with your physician before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements. Some can very harmful if taken too often or in too high dosages.

Vitamins and minerals are important for many different reasons.

Vitamin A helps maintain good vision and healthy skin. It supports the immune system and promotes growth. Vitamin A can be found in fish and animal foods.

Beta-carotene is found in carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and fresh parsley. It helps protect the body against cancer, cardiovascular disease and cataracts.

Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and is found in fortified milk, eggs and fish.

Vitamin K plays a major role in blood clotting and can be found in green leafy vegetables, milk and eggs.

Biotin helps metabolize fat, protein and carbohydrates and is found in peanut butter, wheat germ, liver and eggs.

Boron is found in apples and pears and works to help metabolize calcium and magnesium. It also enhances mental alertness.

Copper works with iron to make hemoglobin. Iron can be obtained from nuts, grains, seeds and liver.

Fluoride is found in most drinking water and also in tea and seafood. It helps forms bones and teeth and to prevent tooth decay.

Iodine helps regulate growth, development and metabolic rate. Iodine is found in iodized salt (table salt), seafood, bread and dairy products.

Iron can be found in pumpkin seeds, beef, Cream of Wheat cereal, baked potatoes and clams. Iron transports and stores oxygen in red blood cells, helps with hormone production, assists the immune system and enhances thinking abilities.

Manganese is crucial to normal brain function and the development of the skeleton and connective tissue. It is obtained through nuts, tea, whole grains and cereal.

Vitamin C is found in oranges, orange juice, cranberry juice, cantaloupe, broccoli, peppers, pink grapefruit and kiwi. Vitamin C helps form collagen, which strengthens blood vessel walls and forms scar tissue. It also strengthens resistance against infection.

Vitamin E fights heart disease and some cancers. It can be obtained from vegetable and nut oils, sunflower seeds, whole grains, wheat germ and spinach.

Calcium is found in milk, yogurt and cheese and aides in healthy growth, and strong teeth and bones.

Folic Acid helps make DNA, assists in cell reproduction, and reduces elevated homocysteine. Folic acid is found in asparagus, cereals, pinto beans, navy beans and spinach.

Niacin is in poultry, tuna, most meats and many cereals. Niacin is used in energy metabolism. It supports the health of the skin, nervous system and digestive system.

Potassium balances electrolyte levels and keeps nerves firing and muscles contracting. Potassium can be found in bananas, potatoes, beans and spinach.

Riboflavin helps with energy conversion and supports vision and skin health. Riboflavin is found in fortified and enriched foods, milk products, spinach and meats.

Thiamin supports appetite and nerve function and is found in fortified and enriched foods, pork and wheat germ.

Zinc is found in red meats, poultry, eggs and oysters. Zinc strengthens the immune system, is involved in taste perception, wound healing and sperm production. It is essential for brain function.

The key to eating healthy is eating a well-balanced diet. There is no magic food that is perfect and will give you all the nutrients you need. However, if you focus on getting all your vitamins and minerals you will have a full plate and no room in your belly for non-nutritious items. If you are eating low-fat healthy foods that your body needs instead of high-calorie junk foods, your body will feel more nourished, causing you to eat less and lose weight. You will also have more energy and feel more productive throughout the day.

Hear are some hints that will improve your child’s chances.

Avoid other sick kids whenever possible.

I know that may seem like a tall order, but do what you can. Instead of giving you’re OK to a visit from that playmate or relative that “just has a little cold,” reschedule for another day. Too many of us may be afraid of hurting feelings, just explain your child is susceptible to ear infections and colds often lead to ear infections.

If at all possible, move your child to a smaller daycare.

The more kids, the more germs are being swapped. Some studies suggest the magic number is five or less children. The smaller number of children could mean that fewer children are on antibiotics to treat ear infections, leading to a lesser chance of your child catching and antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria.

Never expose your child to second hand smoke.

Although this may seem like a no-brainer, try to take notice of situations you may have overlooked. Like that restaurant that you may love, but the smoking section is right next to the non-smoking section. If you have relatives that smoke, invite them to visit at your house, where they must smoke outside or not at all. This way you will be able to more easily detect if a caregiver breaks the rules and smokes inside. Smoke can irritate the Eustachian tube, causing them to swell.

Breastfed babies get fewer ear infections than their bottle-fed piers within the first six months of life.

Breast milk contains antibodies that help fight disease. If you are using formula to feed your baby be sure to feed in the semi upright position and never prop the bottle. This can lead to fluid dripping into the Eustachian tube and causing irritation.

If your child does get an ear infection, follow your pediatrician’s advice. Don’t pressure him or her into giving antibiotics if they say to wait and watch a few days. About 80% of ear infections will get better within 10 days. The problem is that there is no good way to distinguish between them and the other 20%. Therefore, doctors often treat all the infections with antibiotics. If your doctor does prescribe an antibiotic be sure to use the entire dose over the prescribed number of days, even if symptoms improve. This will also help avoid creating antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Do all you can to make these adjustments. The good news is that after age two, children’s ear infections are far less common. After age two the Eustachian tubes grow longer and are less susceptible to irritation. The child’s immune system is also much stronger. So hang in there, do what you can and administer lots of loving care.

This plateau, which many experience in their training, is commonly referred to as a “sticking point.”

The first thing to consider is whether or not you’re over-training. If you’re constantly feeling tired, out of energy and not wanting to go to the gym, it’s time to back off for a little while. Check out your sleep habits. If you’re not getting at least 8 hours per night, you’ve probably discovered your problem.

Especially if your’e exercising, you need to get adequate rest for your body to recover and get ready for the next exercise session. If you truly feel you’re getting enough rest and still have the blahs, you’re definitely over-training and need to lay off for a week or two.

On the other hand, you might be one of those people that gets bored with the same old routine and needs frequent change to stay “fresh” and excited about going to the gym.

If you want a change, need to get past that “sticking point,” or are ready to come back after that all-needed rest, here are some possible ways to change your “old” workout:

If you were lifting heavy weights with few reps, radically change your tactic and shift to extremely lighter weights with lots of reps. A number of times I’ve done month-long training periods with sets of 75 to 100 reps. Talk about a shock to your body. You will probably lose strength, as I did, but that’s okay. (What’s a month?) The lighter weight and high rep scheme prepares your connective tissue (ligaments, tendons) to better handle heavier weight. In the long run, your body will benefit.

You can probably guess my next recommendation. If you were doing relatively light weight with sets of 20 or more reps, add on the weight. Cut down on the number of sets, use heavier weight and adopt a pyramid scheme. Your first set do 12, second set do 10, third set do 8 and fourth set do 10-12. Again, this is a very different feel for your body. It works!

Change the body-part order of your workout. There are various ways to work out that all have supportive reasoning. Here are some:

Push/Pull Theory – do all pushing movements one day and all pulling movements the next day. For example, work your back and biceps on the same day. The next workout do chest and triceps. The following workout do shoulders and/or legs.

Large Muscles/Small Muscles Theory – work your largest muscle groups on the same day. For example, work back and chest in the same workout. The next workout do arms. The next shoulders and/or legs.

Weakest Link First – work your weakest body part at the beginning of your workout when you have the most energy. If it’s your biceps, then blast them right at the start.

With these concepts as the basis for any workout scheme, you can come up with all kinds of variations when you vary the poundage, rep and set scheme, and exercise order. The variations are almost limitless, and you shouldn’t become bored. If you do, it’s your own fault.

If you are afflicted with the second type of bupropion, epilepsy, have seizures or eating problems such as bulimia and anorexia, don’t use this medicine. When taking this medicine, you might have to adjust the dosage or have special tests to find out if it is safe for you to use it. Prior to purchasing this medication, you need to talk with your doctor. You need to inform your doctor prior to consuming any over the counter or prescription medication. It is true that medicine brings successful and good results; however there are also several small to moderate side effects. Mild side effects such as headache, joint pain, back pain, upset stomach, etc, last only for short time span and will disappear shortly.

If you experience some side effects such as breathing problems or other common symptoms, you should quit taking this medicine and visit your doctor as soon as you can. Since it is becoming more popular and the results are good, this medicine can be bought online now. It is easy to purchase Wellbutrin by sending your order online. The only thing to do is just fill the order form out on the Internet. It is fascinating that online pharmacies sell you medicine at affordable prices with thorough details about the medicines that you buy. Online stores aim on making the process of purchasing online easy and smooth, and offer flexible payment options.

Wellbutrin can be bought from online pharmacy, which provides brand name as well as generic medications.

The people we surround ourselves with can make a huge difference in our lives. When we choose to build relationships with such people in order to feel accountable to them, the support we feel can make the difference between doing something or not. One of the relationships you can build is to choose people whom you contact on a regular basis, perhaps weekly, to check in with them. Checking in gives you the opportunity to let them know what you achieved during the past week. And also, you can share with them what you want to achieve in the next week, and outline your plan of how that will happen. You may choose to do this with each other. Although you may want to talk mainly about your health and weight loss plans, they may want to talk about starting or running their business, moving house, decorating, gardening or whatever it is they need support with.

You may decide you want to work with a professional and in this respect, a coach is an ideal person to be held accountable to. It’s surprising how much more you achieve when you know you’re going to speak to your coach each week. Even working with a coach in a group setting adds accountability. There’s also the sense of being accountable to other people in the group.

What I want is for you to become accountable to someone in order to achieve good health and weight loss.

The fact that increasing the HGH levels in the human body can make people look and feel younger is common knowledge. This fact has already been proven by doctors. In the past, you could only get HGH as a prescribed injection. These injections were very costly, and you could spend up to $100,000 yearly on them.

Luckily, we now have a better way to increase our levels of HGH naturally. All-natural supplements are now available that include peptides and amino acids that will help our bodies produce more HGH naturally. This is not as costly as using synthetic HGH, and it is better for your health.

You can benefit from increased HGH levels in a lot of different ways. For example:

Benefits for the Skin – Your skin is kept younger in appearance and is softer when you have higher levels of HGH. Another plus is that HGH can vanish wrinkles and small lines from your face. Improved skin texture is another well-known benefit you can get from this product.

Fingernails and Hair – Higher levels of HGH can make your nails look better and they will be less prone to breakage and splitting. Your hair will become darker, and it will shine with health when you use HGH.

Energy – Your levels of energy will be much higher when your levels of HGH are increased. Our modern, active lifestyles require a lot of energy.

Weight Loss – HGH can assist you in losing weight and keeping it off. Metabolism will become faster and you will burn off fat quickly.

Improved Memory – Higher levels of HGH can help you maintain your mental abilities and keep your memory razor sharp.

Improve Your Immune System – Your immune system can be assisted by heightening your HGH levels. This will protect your good health. A strong immune system will keep you in better health with less illness every season.

If the concept of anti-aging piques your curiosity, give all natural HGH boosting supplement a try.  Boosting your body’s levels of Human Growth Hormone could make all the difference in the world.

Lexapro and Zoloft are both in a class of medications known as SSRIs. The purpose of an SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is to assist the body in using serotonin more efficiently. Anxiety, depression, and occasionally personality disorders, are caused by serotonin in low levels in a person, as shown by studies.

Although SSRI medications do not cause addiction problems, you can still experience withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use. Patients should always consult with a physician or other qualified health care provider when starting or discontinuing an SSRI medication. Because some severe reactions have occurred in younger patients, such as suicidal thoughts or behaviors, it is important to have them watched closely for any of these signs,

Even though generic Zoloft and Lexapro treat anxiety and depression similarly, there are small differences in the side effects caused by each one.

The most common side effects of each medication are detailed below, with Lexapro being safe for the majority of people. Side effects that are generally not serious, but common, include lower libido, anorgasmia, difficulty ejaculating, insomnia, or somnolence, and nausea. Although many people do not even experience any side effects, you should always pay attention to your body’s cues and report any change to your prescriber. In addition, sinusitis, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and certain infections of the respiratory tract might be developed by patients. Zoloft’s side effects are mostly identical to Lexapro, including tremors, anxiety, diarrhea, appetite changes, headaches, nervousness, weight changes, nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, fatigue, impotence, lowered sex drive, and difficulty in obtaining an orgasm, however most patients did not stop using the drug based on this, as most side effects have been reported to lower, or cease entirely with treatment that is continued.

Some symptoms you should be especially concerned about and seek medical care for include allergic reaction, fever with or without chills, any change in blood pressure, heartbeat or pulse. Zoloft differs from Lexapro, in that it causes gastrointestinal upset more often. Although there is a risk with both medications causing GI problems, there is a larger amount of continuous problems during all of the treatment with Zoloft.

Always inform your health care provider of any medications, prescription or non-prescription, that you are taking or have taken recently. Medications that are classified as MAOI may be incompatible with Lexapro or Zoloft, due to some occasional fatal interactions. Also, if there have ever been any problems with your liver or kidneys, you might not want to take Lexapro or Zoloft. Be certain to inform your health care provider if you have manic thoughts or seizures prior to the start of an SSRI treatment.

You must research on your own to make the decision of which drug works the best for you, and this applies to all treatments for depression. You can, along with your health care provider, come to a decision that is informed in order to choose whether you condition will be effectively treated by Lexapro or Zoloft. Remember, you should never self-medicate; there is a reason why you can only obtain these medications by prescription. Becoming educated and open-minded will help you determine the course of treatment that is best for you. It is very important to feel comfortable about the suggestions of your doctor. Come to an agreement about how you are going to treat your condition before starting any medicines.