Take
care in the summer sunshine
At
Christmas time, the message is don’t get sunburnt and don’t
smoke. This article is based on a report from Australian Institute
of Health and Welfare (AIHW), November 22, 2002.
One
of the largest causes of deaths in Australia is cancer.
Reductions
in tobacco use and sun exposure could help to prevent many cases
of cancer in Australia.
According
to the AIHW, 27 per cent of all deaths in Australia in 1999 were
cancer related and in Australia, about 82,000 new cases of cancer
are diagnosed each year.
The
most common cancers found in men in order of occurrence are prostate
cancer, bowel cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. In women the most
common cancers in order of occurrence are breast cancer, bowel
cancer, melanoma and lung cancer.
In
Australia, males have a one in three chance of developing cancer
before age 75 and females have a one in four risk.
Sun
exposure in Australia is a major health problem, with skin cancers
(melanoma and non-melanocytic skin cancers) accounting for 46
per cent of all (about two million) general practice visits a
year for cancer management.
A
recent media report suggested some Australians are deficient in
Vitamin D. The body produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed
to sunshine; however, this needs to be done safely.
Stay
out of the sun during the hottest (highest UV) times of the day,
10am – 4pm. If you venture out, cover up with clothing, sunscreen,
hat and sunglasses. Rash shirts/vests and suits are great for
both adults and children. It is possible to get enough sun exposure
to produce sufficient vitamin D during normal outdoor activity.
We have ample sunshine in Australia and 10 minutes outdoors is
enough to sustain vitamin D levels.
Some
people seldom venture outdoors due to the computer age and if
you are one of these people and have a poor diet as well, you
should consider the benefits of fresh air, a little sun and good
food. By all means spend a little time in the sun, but do it carefully,
with consideration given to the risks of skin cancer.
You
can also get vitamin D from cheese, butter, margarine, cream,
fortified milk, fish, oysters and fortified cereals. Remember
the low fat option is just as high in vitamin D and better for
your waistline.
Cigarette
smoking is still a major cause of death in Australia. It was estimated
that cigarette smoking directly caused 7554 deaths (21.8 per cent
of cancer deaths) and 10,619 new cases of cancer (12.9 per cent
of all new cases of cancer), in 1999.
In
2000-1, current tobacco use and personal history of tobacco use
were in the top 10 additional diagnoses for people admitted to
hospital for every type of the eight National Health Priority
Area cancers. The eight cancers are lung, cervix, breast, prostate,
melanoma, bowel, non-melanocytic skin cancer and non-Hodgkins
lymphoma.
It
is a time to consider your family and loved ones:
- As
a non-smoker you are 10 times less likely to die of lung disease
and are less likely to have a stroke.
- As
a non-smoker you are three times less likely to have a heart
attack than a smoker is.
- As
a non-smoker your children are less likely to develop asthma,
coughs, colds and respiratory infections than smokers’
children are.
It
is party season, but this may lead to people becoming blasé
about safety for themselves and others. Please consider your safety.
Don’t drink so much that you are not in control. Stay in
control – don’t fall asleep on the beach and get badly
burnt, don’t smoke so much that you live to regret the sore
throat and long term damage.
Have
a great, safe and happy Christmas and festive season.
