Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / July 16, 1981, edition 1 / Page 5
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?v? a nr "nj T7 p) t "3 '"?' i, ;w W 1 C J J ii H 9 r-: J l t , J .' ! IS Cy AN?4 FETEHS At 7 a.m. it is 0 degrees and 95 percent humidity. Dy the moon, most people have decided to go swimming and lounge around a pool. Tar Heels are sun worshippers sitting around the cut door swimming pool, playing tennis or sunning in McCbfkle or Polk Places (more commonly known as the quad between Wilson Library and South Building). Cut doctors warn against prolonged exposure to the sun. Dr. Robert S. Tomsick, assistant professor in dermatology at the North Carolina Memorial Hospital, is a skin cancer spe cialist. The skin changes after it is exposed to the sun over many years, he said, and excessive exposure to the sun can cause premature aging of the skin, brown spots, wrinkling and skin cancer. , Most North Carolinians of English descent with blond or red hair and a light clear complexion should be more con scious of protecting themselves in the sun. Blacks, however, have a built-in sunscreen, Tomsick said. "Most sunscreens contain a chemical agent PABA or para am inobenzeoic acid, which is an effective block of ultraviolet light that causes skin cancer as well as aging changes," he said. "The government rates sunscreen products from two to 15. Two has negligible protection. The Sun Protection Factor most effective is 1 5." All creams, lotions and oils have an SPF, a standard for measuring the protective powers of sunscreen products. The length of time each SPF will protect a person from surlburn varies, depending on skin type, locale, health and other' factors. Persons with fair complexions who tend to bum easily should use a product with an SPF of 1 5, Tomsick said. Dr. Clayton E. Wheeler, chairman of the dermatology de- partment at NCMH said, "I think the incidence of cancer is related to sun exposure.' " The use of sunscreen products usually prevents sunburn. Wheeler said, but many doctors believe sunburn causes skin changes which may eventually result in skin cancer. Repeated exposure to the sun's rays can lead to certain types of cancer, such as basaf-ce'l and squamous-cell carci noma (nonmelanoma cancers) and the more serious melano ma cancers. Nonmelanoma cancers occur almost exclusively ' on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, hands and legs. . One of the least common forms of cancer is called a mel anoma. It is a black or dark brown spot on the skin that may resemble a mole. Tomsick said the area may begin to grow and itch or bleed. The area also may change colors very rapidly. '. " The other types of cancers are not pigmented, Tomsick said. They may appear as raised lumps, a little red and may or may net be scaly. "Skin cancer is a disease of an older age group in the 40s end beyond since it is cumulauve," he said. But individuals in their 20s or 30s also may develop mela nomas, although infrequently,, and generally on the face. . The cure rate of skin cancer dzpends on the type of cancer, its location and how far along it is. If caught early enough and treated, there is a 60 percent cure rate (the cancer will not return after its removal), Tomsick , said. Some advice for sun worshippers: Clouds can filter out a lot of visible and infrared rays while letting through as much as GO percent of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Many people are deceived into stay ing out for hours at a time on cloudy, overcast days and may suffer severe sunburns. Avoid the midday sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daylight savings time when ultraviolet rays are most intense. Use a sunscreen product with an SPF level for your complexion and apply it regularly when you are in the sun, especially after swimming and exercise. As mid-July temperatures soar, heat exhaustion and strokes occur By ANN PETERS Along with the summer sun comes increased outdoor exercise and work, and also increased incidents of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dr. Joseph DeWalt, director of Student Health Services' Sports Medicine, said heat exhaustion could affect most people who are active outdoors. The symptoms of heat exhaustion include light hcadedness, rapid pulse, hyperventila tion, numbness in the hands or mouth, mod erately elevated temperature and fainting. "Heat exhaustion is a fairly frequent oc currence and common complaint" DeWalt said. "Heat exhaustion can occur with people who jog more than 3 miles a day and who don't make any provisions for replacing water loss." When a person sweats, he loses water and other nutrients from the body, DeWalt said. If only water is replaced, a person may ex , perience muscle cramps in his legs or abdo men. People, also should be aware of sodium, potassium and calcium losses, and should replace these nutrients. Potassium can be found in citrus fruits, bananas and raisins. Calcium can be found in dairy products, especially milk. Cut DeWalt said, 75 percent of the black population has a deficiency of an enzyme that helps calcium to be used effectively in the body. He said he usually advises black athletes who came into Sports Med to use calcium tablets. But the use of supplementary sodium tablets is usually not necessary since many foods contain salt CQGAMZAITCH ' ABORTIONS UP TO 12 WEEKS $105X3 -EEIOM 13-14 WEEKS .53CD.CD 15-16 WEEKS $353.C 3 Vttzz7.zy Tects t'rih Ccntrcl For Further Information Call 832-G535 cr 1-800-221-2563 : 917 We:! Rlsa St. Rslz&i, N.C. 27; 9 t - ll.-C3-.C3pj3.ltai.-Frf. . ,3 .......2 c.c: 3 ....' 1 r "Keeping the weight loss to 3 to 5 percent of the body weight while exercising or play ing can reduce the danger of heat exhaus tion," DeWalt said. Common hazards are self-treatment or self-diagnosis of the problem. DeWalt sug gested drinking any liquid and going directly to the nearest medical facility. Running with a friend also was suggested in case of light headedness or unconsciousness. "The most "dreaded condition is heat stroke," he said. "There is usually a strong family history of heat stroke, it is more pre valent among obese people and women tend to have heat strokes more often than men. "As an individual works and plays in the heat, the body becomes better equipped to handle the heat The only way to prevent heat stroke is intelligent exercise." Heat stroke is the inability to maintain an internal body temperature compatible with the humidity and temperature conditions the individual is working with, DeWalt said. ; i! i ' i 1 1 t t ; . ! I M - i i : i ' 1 f 1 . r - : ""-. - ..' " fS I '; "V " : IT jtB- I H : N - I !f . i -.' x. i i ;( f f-. , ",';,t I i ' J - t i . . i ... I : " . , 1 .U t " f f epens friday, Ja! 17, 6-0 p.nv inivw.:i'' . C7.wil Ci-1 illil 1 i Tl .ury. Ju.! 15. Tar Hrtl5
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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July 16, 1981, edition 1
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