HA-Blog

With spring break fast approaching and the luckier of us dreaming of warmer climbs, its time to start discussing the wonderful return of the sun. Unfortunately there are some things to watch for while soaking up the rays. Over-exposure to ultra-violet rays can have negative health effect, both in the form of nasty sunburns or long term health problems like skin cancer. It’s important to remember that what you do to your body now will affect a great many things with your future health. Here are some problems you may encounter if you spend a little too much time in the sun:

-Sunburn- sunburn occurs when the skin is exposed to sunlight longer than the naturally occurring protective pigment can absorb the UV rays. This overexposure leads to damage to skin cells (most notably their DNA - for you bio nerds out there P53 triggered apoptosis). In response to this, the body sends massive amounts of blood to the surface of the body to speed their repair. This has several affects on the body: 1) a great deal of moisture is lost through the damaged skin barrier (This condition requires that someone with a sunburn drink plenty of fluids, especially if the sunburn covers a large portion of the body.), 2) a great deal of heat is also lost due to the rush of blood to the surface (This may not seem intuitive, but it is very easy to become hypothermic due to a sunburn. With all of that body heat leaving through the skin, any exposure to excess cold can quickly drop core body temperature below safe levels.), and 3) chances for infection are greatly increased, especially if blisters form (Try not to pop blisters, this transforms a class II burn into an open wound and makes care for the damaged skin much harder.) Prevention- Wear sun block that suits the needs of your exposure time. The basic rule of thumb is that you have 30 minutes of unprotected exposure to direct UV (more if you have darker skin tone and less if you have lighter). Sun protection factor (SPF) lists the number of minutes longer than standard resistance you can stay out before reapplying more block. This means that at standard resistance with SPF 15 sun block recommended exposure time is 45 minutes, after that reapplication is necessary. Treatment- if the burn covers a large percentage of the body (>70%) it may be necessary to consult a physician, just to ensure that the threat of dehydration is addressed. Otherwise there is little to do to “cure� sunburn. The best way to deal with it is to administer some form of aloe based ointment (helps seal in moisture and protect skin from normal contact damage) and STAY OUT OF THE SUN. Most vacationers jump right back out into the pool, but for bad sunburns it is a good idea to stay indoors for a day or two and let your skin recuperate. When you do venture out again, be sure to protect the skin with high SPF sun block to prevent further unnecessary damage.

-Heat Exhaustion- Heat exhaustion occurs when the body has trouble coping with excessive exposure to heat and dehydration. It is commonly observed as clammy skin, excessive sweating, rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, slightly elevated temperature, nausea, and feeling feint. Prevention- this one is pretty easy, don’t overexert yourself on hot days, drink plenty of fluids, and if you start to feel any of these symptoms, slow down, find some shade and cool off for a bit. Sports drinks help, but nothing beats good old H¬2O. Treatment- If you notice that you (or a friend) are beginning to show some of these symptoms, head for the shade. Lie down with feet slightly elevated and take sips of cool (NOT cold) water and try to cool down. If the person begins to loose consciousness or becomes incoherent, medical attention is definitely required because the condition has become…

-Heat Stroke- Heat stroke occurs when the body is no longer able to cool down itself and stops trying to regulate body temperature. The difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke is the absence of sweating and change in level of consciousness. Treatment- If you suspect that someone has heat stroke; it is IMPERATIVE that they get medical attention IMMEDIATELY. Call an ambulance and place them under a tree/ in an air-conditioned area and do all that you can to keep them cool until help arrives.

Helpful Links:
Sunburn-
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003227.htm
http://www.beach-net.com/Oceansunburn.html
http://www.healthcentral.com/ency/408/000062.html
Heat Exhaustion-
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-heat-exhaustion/FA00020
Heat Stroke-
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-heatstroke/FA00019