MEDICATIONS, HEAT, THE SUN, AND YOU

7 medications that increase sun and heat sensitivity By Lauren Oster Published August 02, 2016.  

This summer's must-reads aren't romances or thrillers; they're the warning labels and package inserts for your drugs and supplements. As Consumer Reports on Health warned in a recent article, "[s]ome widely used medications can make you far more sensitive to summer's sunlight and heat than you'd usually be.  That sensitivity can mean anything from a reduced ability to sweat to an increase in the amount of fluid you lose through your urine. So it's important to revisit whatever safety info you have, and to check in with your doctor, who can let you know about potential risks during the brightest, warmest time of year, said Megan Rech, an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. "For the major players that interact with the sun and cause what's called phototoxicity, those [effects] should be listed on the bottle or in the patient information," explained Rech. "But there are a lot of medications that can cause interactions with the sun, so lesser-known side effects [that] occur in fewer patients may not always be obvious. Here are some of the better-known substances that may allow summer's sun and heat to hit you harder.  Depends on the Drug Acne treatments "Those can definitely be phototoxic, especially the retinoids," Rech said. "Phototoxic effects are going to appear like a really bad sunburn. The risk is more pronounced for prescription retinoids (such as Retin-A and Tazorac), which are significantly stronger than the products you'll find at drugstores and beauty counters. But OTC acne and anti-aging products with retinol can cause dryness, peeling, and sun sensitivity as well. Products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can also increase your vulnerability. If you're using one and plan to spend significant time outdoors, be sure to sport sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat. Antibiotics "Antibiotics can cause photosensitivity and phototoxic reactions, meaning that they're going to worsen your sunburn," Rech said. "The one that comes to mind right away is Bactrim, or sulfamethoxozole trimethoprim. Bactrim is prescribed to treat everything from bronchitis to bladder infections. "That's a big offender, and so are tetracyclines and fluoroqinolones. That said, you should never, ever skip an antibiotic for the sake of sunbathing, warned Rech. Your doctor can help you juggle your plans and your meds.  Allergy medications Some users find that oral antihistamines like diphenydramine (found in products like Benadryl and Dramamine) reduce their ability to sweat. In extreme cases, as the Consumer Reports medical advisory board noted, the overheating that can result leads to cramps, exhaustion, and even heat stroke. If you find that your allergy meds make it difficult for you to cool down, plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, and try to spend the hottest hours of the day indoors. Antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants may cause problems in hot weather because they "prevent the area in your brain that regulates heat response from knowing you're overheating," Rech explained. "They can also decrease sweating, which leads to a decrease in heat loss. When you're taking a drug that increases the likelihood of overheating, stay alert for warning signs such as headaches, lightheadedness, nausea, and weakness. If you experience any of those symptoms, get out of the sun and reach for water or a sports drink with sodium (which will help your body retain fluid until balance is restored). In the event of a severe reaction such as confusion, fever, or fainting, contact your doctor or call 911.  

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) "The main non-steroidals that cause phototoxicity are probably not ones that we commonly use," Rech said. But still, caution should be used, especially if you're on other medications. "Any time you're taking a non-steroidal and going out in the sun I would recommend barrier protection with sunscreen and avoidance if possible, because any of the non-steroidals can worsen [phototoxicity]," Rech explained. Vitamins and herbs "A lot of over-the-counter herbal medications [can have phototoxic effects]-for example, St. John's Wort is a big inducer of photosensitivity, and that medication in particular has a number of drug interactions. Anyone [interested in taking it] should ask their doctor or pharmacist first," Rech said. Another pill that might put you at risk: Niacin, a form of Vitamin B3 that's used to treat high cholesterol. It can cause skin reactions, Rech said, "so it could potentially cause [sun sensitivity].  Sun exposure can amplify the effect of transdermal patches (such as Fentanyl, a powerful pain reliever, or Clonidine, which lowers blood pressure) that deliver medication directly through the skin. When you get a sunburn, the blood vessels in the surface of your skin dilate, explained Rech, and that can lead to increased absorption of your meds. So if you're wearing a patch, it's a good idea to consider long sleeves. 

THINGS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH

Decluttering.  

I tried that Japanese practice of decluttering. You hold something and if it doesn't bring you joy, you toss it. Hey it really works! So far I've thrown out a bunch of bills, my treadmill and a lot of vegetables! 

Dad Knows 

One of the funniest memories I have of the trials and tribulations of making the journey from childhood to adulthood was our annual summer vacation trek from Chicago to a cabin usually someplace on a lake in Wisconsin or Michigan. Every year, it seems, we would get on a highway a few miles out of the city, and mom would wail, "Oh my goodness! I think left the iron on." And almost every year we would turn around and go back. But as I recall, not once was it was ever plugged in. She often had the same fear that all our earthly possessions would disappear in a fire caused by her forgetfulness. When I was about 14 years old, we were headed out of Chicago for Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and, sure enough, Mom gasped, "I just know I left the iron on." My father didn't say a word, just pulled over onto the shoulder of the road, got out, opened the trunk and handed her the iron. 

Just Asking... 

Cassie was a really good mom. When her children were growing up, her one son gave her more "stop and count to 10" periods than any of the others. Once, after her small son fell into the pond and came home with his good school clothes dripping wet, the exasperated Cassie sent him to his room while she washed and dried his clothes. A little later, Cassie heard a commotion in the back yard. She called out, "Are you out there wetting your pants again!?" There was dead silence for a moment. Then a deep, masculine voice answered meekly, "No, ma'am, I'm just reading the meter." 

You Know It's Summer in Florida When... 

• Your car is overheating before you drive it.
• Hot air balloons can't go up, because the air outside is hotter than the heated air in the balloon
• Airplanes can't land because the asphalt runways are too soft.
• The ducks in the park are designated "original recipe" and "extra crispy."
• More hot water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one.
• The hotdogs sold outside the Home Depot are actually hot.
• You cover the leather seats in the car with cloth or sit on towels.
• It's noon in August, the kids are on summer vacation, and no one is moving on the streets.
• You burn your hand opening the car door.
• You notice the best parking place is determined by the shade under trees instead of the distance to the door.
• All picnics feature hot food, like it or not.
• The politicians have to take their hands out of your pockets to fan 

MORE INFORMATION THAT SHOULD INCREASE APPLE'S POPULARITY

Microsoft is updating Windows 10 again, in its latest bid to win you back The company is following through on its commitment to regularly refine its Windows 10 software. Now it needs to get you to care.  by Ian Sherr @ / July 31, 2016.  

Microsoft is updating Windows 10 again, in its latest bid to win you back.  Microsoft's Surface Book PC includes a pen the company says will be even more useful after the Windows Anniversary Update.  A new update to Microsoft's Windows 10 is coming, but you're forgiven if you didn't know. It turns out not many people are going to tell you. Admittedly, there's not much to talk about. The list of refinements for Microsoft's free paper-anniversary update to Win 10 can fit on a small sheet with less than a dozen bullet points . The changes boil down to features like making the digital pen more useful, new technology to detect hacking attacks and the ability to log into a computer with a wearable device instead of a password. The company's Cortana voice-activated assistant will gain new features too , each of which was designed to bring the technology closer to, as Microsoft spokeswoman Laura Jones put it, "the same features of a real-life personal assistant. With this in mind, Microsoft and the PC industry are largely treating the August 2 launch as just another Tuesday. That's just fine to Roger Kay, an analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates, who said Microsoft is better off focusing its efforts on convincing businesses to upgrade than teaching consumers -- who largely don't know what version of Windows they're running anyway -- about an incremental upgrade. "People are probably not very excited by it," he said. This is not the Microsoft you might remember from days of old, when the company and its partners would plow considerable resources into informing the world that a new version of Windows has arrived. In the years since Windows 8's debut in 2012, when the company spent hundreds of millions of dollars spent telling the world about it , Microsoft has signaled change. Satya Nadella took the reins as Microsoft's new CEO two years ago, the Windows leadership team has changed, and the company is now releasing its widely used Word, Excel and PowerPoint Office software for phones and tablets , not just PCs. It's even begun releasing new pet projects first, like a computer intelligence-powered camera app for Apple's iPhone . Windows is changing as well. The software behemoth is making good on its promise to run Windows "as a service," meaning it will send refinements and new features to PCs a couple of times a year. The result is our PCs get new features quicker, and regular refinements of existing ones. Microsoft also offered its latest Windows 10 software for free to nearly everyone who bought a PC in the past decade, a break with its tradition of charging hundreds of dollars for upgrades. That offer ended Friday . Close Major Windows 10 update coming August 2 Drag Learning from the past The PC makers say they're changing too. No longer focused on the computer-equivalent of talking about horsepower all the time, companies have settled on discussing the "experience" of using a computer. The new software, called "Windows 10 Anniversary Update," it just a part of the overall puzzle. BRINGING SEXY BACK -- TO PCS 15 things to look forward to in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update How to upgrade to Windows 10 for free after July 29 Microsoft needs you to fall in love with Windows. Soon Windows 10 to miss 1B devices deadline. Blame lousy Windows Phone sales Dell has opted to market its computers in two ways: ads showcasing how good they look, and others about what people do with them ( like making the Ghostbusters reboot ). After all, why spend time marketing Windows features every other computer maker offers? "HP has Cortana too," said Allison Dew, head of marketing for Dell's PCs. HP has also chosen not to directly market Windows or its features. "Our job is testing the new PCs shipping with the anniversary release and testing existing PCs," said Mike Nash, VP of customer experience and portfolio strategy at HP. To be sure, that's not a small job. In recent years, HP has stepped up its communication with Microsoft in an effort to make sure its computers offer the best experience running the latest Windows 10 features, not merely support them. As part of that effort, Nash, who used to work at Microsoft before leaving for Amazon and eventually HP, identified the most frustrating problems with computers and sought to fix them one-by-one. Among the changes, PCs start up faster these days and battery life is getting better too. . Dell, for its part, is continuing its efforts to break with the perception that it makes bare-bones ugly workhorse PCs. "The perception of Dell as innovative is starting to turn around," Dew said. . It's unclear whether that's enough at a time when Microsoft and the PC industry are clawing back respect from customers wooed by tablets, impressed by Apple's Mac laptops, or frustrated by Windows 8. . 

LIFE AND DEATH-LET'S GET MOVING

Blood clot deaths tied to hours of daily TV time Published July 27, 2016.  

People who watch television for five or more hours a day have more than twice the risk of those who watch half as much TV to die of a blood clot in the lung, a large Japanese study suggests. There are more than 200,000 cases of pulmonary embolism, which usually begins as a blood clot in the leg that travels to the lung, in the U.S. each year, according to the National Library of Medicine. It can permanently damage lung tissue, other organs, or cause death, but many people who have it have no symptoms. Pulmonary embolism is less common in Japan than in Western countries, said study coauthor Dr. Hiroyasu Iso, professor of public health at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, but Japanese people are becoming increasingly sedentary. "We were surprised about the strength of the effect of television watching compared with the effects of advancing age, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, or body mass index in this study," Iso said.  "We speculated that leg immobility during television watching had increased their risk of fatal pulmonary embolism. In a number of studies of long haul travelers, the association between prolonged sitting and increased risk of pulmonary embolism did not vary by ethnicity, Iso said. Other past studies have looked back at the lifestyle factors common to pulmonary embolism cases, but none had followed people over time to see if there was a link between their TV-watching time and their risk for embolisms, the study team writes in Circulation. Between 1988 and 1990 Iso and colleagues asked more than 85,000 adults 40 to 79 years old in Japan how many hours they spent watching TV, then followed them for the next 19 years looking for deaths from pulmonary embolism. They also collected information on obesity, diabetes, cigarette smoking and high blood pressure, and tried to rule these factors out in the relationship between TV and blood clots. Only 59 people in the sample died of pulmonary embolism, but compared to people who watched two and a half hours of TV or less per day, those who watched five or more hours were 2.5 times as likely to die of a clot. Researchers calculated that among people who watched less than two and a half hours of TV, the rate of deaths from pulmonary embolism were 2.8 per 100,000 people per year, compared to a rate of 8.2 deaths per 100,000 per year for those who watched five or more hours daily. Risk of pulmonary embolism death increased by 40 percent for each additional two hours of daily TV watching, they found. "Time spent watching TV is a pretty reliable way to measure how much time people spend sedentary, or inactive," said Dr. Christopher Kabrhel, an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston who was not part of the new study. "If being sedentary puts you at risk for pulmonary embolism, and I believe it does, then it likely also puts you at risk of death from pulmonary embolism, as this study showed. After TV watching time, obesity was the next most important factor predicting risk of death from pulmonary embolism, the authors found. Since U.S. adults watch more TV than Japanese adults, the results may be even more important to Americans, the authors said in a statement accompanying the study. "Nowadays, with online video streaming, the term 'binge-watching' to describe viewing multiple episodes of television programs in one sitting has become popular," lead author Dr. Toru Shirakawa, a research fellow in public health at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, wrote. Travelers on long plane flights and people watching TV for long periods of time can stand up, stretch, walk around, or tense and relax their leg muscles for five minutes to reduce the risk of blood clots, they wrote. "The results do not seem to be country-specific," Kabrhel said.  "Being sedentary is bad for you wherever you live. 

SPECULATING ON IPHONE 7

iPhone 7 preorders could start September 9 The date has been forecast by known leaker Evan Blass, who also has said the new phone will launch September 16. by Lance Whitney @ / July 28, 2016.  

The iPhone 7 could be up for preorder on September 9 and offer a redesigned home button. CNET Consumers eyeing the iPhone 7 may be able to preorder it starting Friday, September 9. No, Apple hasn't announced anything. Rather, the purported preorder date was leaked in a tweet Wednesday night from generally reliable leaker Evan Blass, aka @evleaks. Blass' tweet said simply: "Confirmed: Pre-orders start on the 9th. You can extrapolate the launch event date from there. Blass didn't reveal where he got the information, but September 9 is around the same date last year when preorders for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus started, namely September 12 . Blass' suggestion to "extrapolate the launch event date from there" is easy enough since iPhone sales typically kick off a week after preorders start. On Saturday, Blass already offered a tip via Twitter that the iPhone 7 will launch Friday, September 16 . Analysts and other Apple watchers will be paying close attention to preorder and launch weekend numbers for the iPhone 7. Apple's smartphone sales have declined the past two quarters, leaving the company stuck trying to find a way to boost demand. Many reports say this year's model will offer only modest changes and that Apple is saving major enhancements for next year's edition, but that is all speculation based on limited knowledge. The rumored new features include stereo speakers, a larger camera lens and dual camera lenses for the iPhone 7 Plus. But another new report suggests Apple may have something up its sleeve for the iPhone 7's home button. . The home button for the new phone will be flat , flush with the surface of the screen, according to Japanese blog site Makotakara. Rather than being the traditional physical button of iPhones past that gives when you press it, the new button would simply respond with a vibration when touched. That could open the door for a 3D Touch-type feature to make its way to the home button. . A September 9 preorder date would mean that Apple's launch event for the iPhone 7 would likely take place the week of September 5. Last year's launch event occurred September 9, a few days before preorders began. September 5 is Labor Day, so that wouldn't work. And unless Apple holds the iPhone 7 event earlier in the month, it will probably take place September 6 or 7.

SOME THINGS TO WATCH FOR YOUR PETS HEALTH

FDA warns against feeding dogs raw meat, peanut butter Published July 27, 2016.  

If you've ever had to medicate your dog, chances are you've snuck it into some peanut butter to entice him to swallow it. Turns out, that trick could be harmful to man's best friend, according to a new statement issued Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While you may toss your dog a piece of food occasionally, some eats aren't fit for dogs and others could be deadly, the FDA warned, as animals' bodies process food differently from humans'. "Our bodies may break down foods or other chemicals that a dog's [digestive system] can't tolerate," Carmela Stamper, D.V.M, a veterinarian at the FDA, said in the statement. The FDA warned against feeding dogs the following foods: ท Raw meat : Uncooked meat can contain E. coli, Salmonella and other harmful bacteria. Keep raw meat well out of reach on countertops and wash your hands before giving your dog a treat if you've handled raw meat. The warning goes the other way, too: "People can get sick after handling contaminated dog food, not washing their hands, and then using their hands to eat a sandwich or a slice of pizza," Stamper said in the statement. ท Grapes, raisins and currents : Not all dogs are affected by these foods, but in others, they can cause kidney failure. Apples and bananas are OK; just don't feed your dog the core or seeds. ท Fried and fatty foods : Not only could your dog have a stomachache- and you'd have to clean up the outcome- but these foods can also cause pancreatitis, a potentially life-threating disease. ท Moldy foods : Be careful when you toss moldy cheese rinds or hamburger buns in the trash so your dog doesn't get to them. You wouldn't feed spoiled food to your family, so your dog shouldn't eat it either. ท Onion, garlic and chives : In large amounts, these seasonings- as well as onion and garlic powder- can be harmful. ท Salty snacks : "Feeding the odd potato chip or pretzel probably won't do any harm," Stamper said in the statement. But if your dog gets into a whole bag of them, he could get really sick. Make sure your dog has access to plenty of water at all times, especially if he gets into salty snacks. Peanut butter itself isn't harmful, but it may contain xylitol, a sugar substitute used in many sugarless products that's deadly to dogs. "If you feed your dog pills coated in peanut butter, or put peanut butter in their hollow chew toys, make sure to check the list of ingredients first to make sure it doesn't contain xylitol," Stamper said in the statement. Macadamia nuts can be harmful for dogs too. The FDA also warned about allergens- while people can have severe reactions, these allergies tend to manifest as skin or ear issues for dogs. The effects of food may vary from dog to dog, depending on a number of factors, including the animal's genetic makeup, size and food intake. Cat owners have less to worry about, as felines are pickier than dogs and don't often get into trouble by eating foods that will harm them, Stamper said. But she added that cats are very sensitive to onions, garlic and onion and garlic powders, so to keep those ingredients away from them. 

KEEP THOSE PUPPIES COOL

7 tips to keep your pets cool during hot weather By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer Published July 28, 2016.  

Summer heat can be dangerous for pets, but there are a number of steps that owners can take to keep their pets safe when temperatures climb. Just this week, 14 dogs were found dead in a truck in Ohio after the vehicle's air conditioning unit failed, according to the South Bend Tribune. The dogs' handler was in town for a dog show, and left the animals unattended in the truck for about 2 hours. The incident underscores the need for owners to pay careful attention to their pets during hot weather, said Genny Carlson, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Joseph County, which is investigating the case.  "This serves as a reminder for people with pets, children and elderly relatives that being in a car without proper ventilation or a working air conditioner can be dangerous, and to take the proper precautions," Carlson told the news outlet cleveland.com. Here are tips for keeping pets safe this summer: Don't leave animals unattended in a parked car. On an 85-degree day, temperatures inside a parked car can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes, according to the Humane Society. Try to bring pets inside, if possible. Don't leave them in sheds or garages, recommends the Government of Western Australia Department of Health, because these structures can become very hot inside. If you do need to leave your pets outside, make sure that they have plenty of cold water and shady spots in which to rest, such as under trees or tarps. Be careful about taking your dog for a walk on a hot day. If you do walk your pet on a hot day, it's best to go in the early morning or evening, according to the Humane Society. You should also walk your dog on grass, because hot asphalt can burn their paws. Dog owners should be particularly careful about taking certain breeds out in the heat. Flat-faced dogs, such as Pugs and English Bulldogs, can overheat more easily because they can have trouble panting, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (SPCALA). And white-eared dogs may be at increased risk for skin cancer, the Humane Society said. Put ice cubes in your pet's water, and keep the water out of the sun. Items such as a cooling body wrap, vest or mat can also help keep your pet cool outside, according to the Humane Society.