Patients Not Informed of Abnormal Lab Test Results
According to a poll done by Medscape, about 1 of every 14 abnormal (lab) tests was not reported to the patient.
So be sure to follow up with your doctor after you've had tests done. Medical labs are usually able to get the results to the medical doctors within a week (with some exceptions, some tests take an entire week to perform, in which case, it would take two weeks. Many assume that no news (from the doctor's office) is good news. That is not a safe assumption to make. It is your health, be sure that you get all the answers you are looking for.
-Dr. Lei Gu ND
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunscreen safety
Summer is here, which means more time spent in the sun! Those of you who are health conscious are probably adding sunscreen to your daily skin care routine. Before you can put skin cancer on the back burner, however, be sure that your sunscreen is causing more health problems than you are trying to prevent by using it!
What you may not realize is that (based on a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, on 1000 products) 4 out of 5 sunscreens out on the shelves at best do not have as much sun protection as the bottle claims. Many even contain ingredients that pose threat to your health ranging from allergic reactions to possibly cancer!
Some of the common problems with sunscreens include:
1. Containing of toxic chemicals
2. Breaking-down with exposure to sunlight (ironically)
3. Not protective against both UVB and UVA rays
Remember, just because the label claims it is gentle and protects all day does not mean that it's true; as there are a number of the safety criteria are not required by the FDA.
When choosing a sunscreen look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as the primary active ingredients. However these same ingredients in spray or powder form is to be avoided as one can easily inhale the fine particles which can cause health problems. Also be sure that neither of these ingredients are in the nano form, which means that the particles are small enough to be absorbed into the skin posing potential health issues (that are yet to be studied).
Active ingredients commonly found in sunscreens you should avoided include: octyl methoxycinnimate, oxybenzone and octisalate to name a few. For a complete list, visit the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Safety Database at:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/index.php
Choose your sunscreen carefully and enjoy the sunshine!
-Dr. Lei Gu ND
What you may not realize is that (based on a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, on 1000 products) 4 out of 5 sunscreens out on the shelves at best do not have as much sun protection as the bottle claims. Many even contain ingredients that pose threat to your health ranging from allergic reactions to possibly cancer!
Some of the common problems with sunscreens include:
1. Containing of toxic chemicals
2. Breaking-down with exposure to sunlight (ironically)
3. Not protective against both UVB and UVA rays
Remember, just because the label claims it is gentle and protects all day does not mean that it's true; as there are a number of the safety criteria are not required by the FDA.
When choosing a sunscreen look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as the primary active ingredients. However these same ingredients in spray or powder form is to be avoided as one can easily inhale the fine particles which can cause health problems. Also be sure that neither of these ingredients are in the nano form, which means that the particles are small enough to be absorbed into the skin posing potential health issues (that are yet to be studied).
Active ingredients commonly found in sunscreens you should avoided include: octyl methoxycinnimate, oxybenzone and octisalate to name a few. For a complete list, visit the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Safety Database at:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/index.php
Choose your sunscreen carefully and enjoy the sunshine!
-Dr. Lei Gu ND
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Antibiotics & asthma risk
A recent study in Pediatics examined 251,817 infants for any association between antibiotic use and asthma. It was concluded that children who have been given antibiotic use in the first year of their life have an increased risk of developing asthma after the 1st 24months of their lives.
Furthermore, this risk increases with the number of courses of antibiotic use. The study found that the highest asthma risk was in children given more than 4 courses of antibiotics within the first year of their lives.
So, before you give any child antibiotics for minor infections, remember the risks associated with it. Consult a your naturopathic doctor for alternative treatments!
Pediatices 2009;123:1003-1010
Furthermore, this risk increases with the number of courses of antibiotic use. The study found that the highest asthma risk was in children given more than 4 courses of antibiotics within the first year of their lives.
So, before you give any child antibiotics for minor infections, remember the risks associated with it. Consult a your naturopathic doctor for alternative treatments!
Pediatices 2009;123:1003-1010
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