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Dear MICHAEL!
This summer season will have some
challenges. It promises to be a very bad season for ticks. We have
seen many cases of Lyme Disease, but ticks also carry a number of other
potential infectious agents. The article below provides some helpful
information.
The sun and its effects on the skin is
also addressed in this summer focused issue.
Also we are hosting a Summer Detox
program specifically with teachers in mind. Many times when we run
these programs the timing is just not something busy teachers can fit in.
By offering this over the summer, we hope to make it more accessible for
all you teachers.
Case study- Adult onset Type 1 Diabetes,
a condition that is on the rise.
This
article on Ticks and prevention is timely.
One thing I avoid is using Deet on my
skin. I will spray my shoes and clothes but do not put on my
skin. I do spray my skin with a natural bug spray that contains lemon
eucalyptus.
Dr. Michael Kane
How to remove a
tick and prevent future bites
Source:
American Academy of Dermatology
Summary:
As tick populations grow and spread
across the country, their prevalence is increasing the public’s risk for
some troubling diseases. Of these diseases, say dermatologists, Lyme
disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus and alpha-gal
syndrome — a mysterious red meat allergy — are among the most serious.
As tick populations grow and spread
across the country, their prevalence is increasing the public’s risk for
some troubling diseases. Of these diseases, say dermatologists from the
American Academy of Dermatology, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
Powassan virus and alpha-gal syndrome — a mysterious red meat allergy —
are among the most serious.
“Although most ticks do not carry
disease, it’s important to be mindful of these risks and keep an eye out
while you’re outdoors,” said board-certified dermatologist Lindsay
Strowd, MD, FAAD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Wake Forest
Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “If you
notice a tick crawling on you or attached to your skin, remove it
immediately to prevent any potential infection.”
To remove a tick that is attached to your
skin, Dr. Strowd recommends the following tips:
- Use
tweezers to remove the tick. Sterilize the tip
of the tweezers using rubbing alcohol and grasp the tick as close to
the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull
upward with steady, even pressure.
Avoid twisting, squeezing or crushing the tick, as this can cause its
head or mouth to break off and remain in your skin. If this happens,
use tweezers to remove the remaining parts. If you cannot remove the
rest of the tick, see a board-certified dermatologist.
- Dispose
of the tick. Place it in a sealed bag or container; submerse
the tick in alcohol; or wrap it tightly in tape. You may also want to
save the tick in a sealed jar. That way, if you develop any symptoms
after the bite, the tick can be tested for disease.
- Clean
the bite area with soap and water.
“Although ticks can bite at any
time, they’re most active in April through September,” said Dr.
Strowd. “Fortunately, there are many things people can do to protect
themselves and their families against ticks.”
To prevent tick bites, Dr. Strowd
recommends the following tips:
- Walk
in the center of trails. Avoid walking through
heavily wooded and brushy areas with tall grass.
- If
you must walk through heavily wooded areas, wear long pants and long
sleeves. Pull your socks up over your pants, and tuck your
shirt into your pants to prevent ticks from crawling up your body.
It’s also a good idea to wear light-colored clothes so that ticks can
be spotted easily.
- Use
insect repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin
and clothing. Make sure to follow the product instructions.
Parents should apply this product to their children, making sure to
avoid the hands, eyes and mouth.
- Examine
your skin after spending time in heavily wooded or brushy areas. Conduct
a full-body tick check to make sure that no ticks are crawling on you.
Since ticks prefer warm, moist areas, be sure to check your armpits,
groin and hair. You should also check your children and pets, as well
as any gear you used outside.
“If you develop any symptoms within
a few weeks after a tick bite, such as a rash, fever or body aches, see a
board-certified dermatologist,” said Dr. Strowd. “Make sure you
tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, when the bite occurred and
where you most likely acquired the tick.”
Sun
Protection
by
Dr.
Michael Kane
Find or make shade. For those beach goers,
bringing an umbrella is a great idea. For other areas outside find a shady
so the direct rays of the sun are filtered.
Avoid the most direct UV rays.
Avoid the high UV sun exposure times 10-2 pm. These rays are the
most intense as they are more likely to penetrate the atmosphere because
the sun’s more directly overhead in the summer.
Wear sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes is a must as well. The sun
can do significant damage to the eyes. Also wearing a hat with a wide
brim keeps some of those direct rays from the eyes.
Wear
Protective Clothing– Clothing with a high
Ultraviolet Protection Factor can reduce the suns ability to reach your
skin. Look for clothing that has a UPF rating.
What
Is UPF?
UPF stands
for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It indicates what fraction of the sun’s
ultraviolet rays can penetrate the fabric. A shirt with a UPF of 50, for
example, allows just 1/50th of the sun’s UV radiation to reach the skin.
Protection
from the outside– Sunscreen should be a last resort. Slathering your entire body with a
lotion that has some questionable ingredients is not a great idea.
Often you will need to reapply frequently, making it even more important
that the sunscreen is as non-toxic as possible. Look at the link for
suggestions from The Environmental Working Group website. EWG Sunscreen Guide, it provides
a rating for effectiveness and toxicity.
Protection from the inside.
There are supplements that have been shown to help protect cells from
the harmful effects of the sun. We know that bioflavonoids are
protective. One in particular provides some powerful sun protection.
Astaxanthin– is a carotenoid that is naturally
synthesized by a number of algae and yeasts. It is available in our
diet through the ingestion of wild caught salmon, shrimp and
crayfish it is that pigment that makes that pink color in these food
sources.
It is available as a supplement, typically derived from algae. It
is closely related to other bioflavionids (zeaxanthin, lutein and
B-carotene) but is more bioactive.
Health benefits of astaxanthin show that it has a number of properties
that have skin benefit including photo protective, antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory effects,
Not all supplements are equal- some quality control tests have shown
great variation in quality and purity. So be careful in your
selection. We use a product by Designs for Health. It
contains 6 mg and the recommended dose is one capsule 1-2 times daily with
food.
As always we advocate prevention, and provide you with information to
make smart choices.
Adult Onset Type 1 Diabetes
by
Dr. Michael Kane
Type
1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that is typically seen early in life
but it is possible to develop as an adult. The immune system begins to
attack the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin . Insulin is
that hormone that helps the body control blood sugar. This attack can
eventually destroy those cells so they can no longer produce
insulin. These people would then need to be on insulin for the rest
of their lives. In the 30-50 year age group, type 1 diabetes
accounts for 13% of all new cases of diabetes.
I recently had a patient recently
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes through his PCP and he was put on
metformin to control his blood sugar. While I was taking his
medical history, he did present with a typical pattern for type 2 diabetes
with a gradual increase in issues with blood sugar control.
I ran some blood tests looking for
markers for the control of blood sugar, and for the immune system markers
that would be run to see if the immune system is attacking the
pancreas. As it turns out, those levels where very high, indicating
this was indeed a Type 1 onset. While this might not be a big factor
for the control of his blood sugar from the MD’s perspective, it makes a
big deal from the naturopathic perspective because the cause of the
diabetes is completely different. This was an autoimmune condition.
The question with any autoimmune
condition is what causes the immune system to attack self. There are
some cases where there is a cross reactivity to foods. If the body, is
creating antibodies (an attack) to certain foods and those foods have any
structural proteins that match the proteins in the body those systems can
be attacked as well. It is thought that this cross reactivity could
happen with virus or bacterial exposure as well.
In this persons case, there were multiple
foods sensitivities detected. He has cut out those foods and
instituted a regular exercise and nutritional program to support his
overall health.
So far we have seen a dramatic
improvement in this bodies ability to regulate his blood sugar. His
most recent blood sugar reading was normal and he was noticing improvement
in his overall health and wellbeing.
My hope is that we can decrease or
eliminate the attack on the pancreas and preserve the healthy insulin
producing cells.
Upcoming
Events
(Click on Link for More
Information)
Summer Detox Program
with Dr. Kane
 Keep
us in mind for referrals.
We can help family members,
friends, and co-workers feel better, reduce a disease, avoid
or use fewer drugs and improve their quality of life. Your referral is our
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when you refer us to others as a trusted source of medical care.
Thank you!
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