Protect yourself from UV rays

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 11 August 2009 14:15

Editor: This is the second of two columns about sun exposure. The first column appeared in our July 8 issue.

 

Ultraviolet (UV) rays, an invisible component of sunlight, can cause skin damage, cataracts, wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer. These rays also impair the skin’s immune system.UV rays can hurt you on cloudy as well as sunny days. UV rays also bounce off surfaces of the ocean, sand, snow and cement.

One of the surest ways to reduce your exposure to UV rays is to stay out of the sun when it is the strongest. Those times in North America are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the late spring and early summer.

Other ways to protect yourself are to wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and...

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Wedding-ring quilt to be auctioned for Senior Center

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 07 July 2009 14:20

Quilt-Seniors07.08.jpg

Nellie Jost, Elfrieda Fast, Helen Fenstermacher (from left) and Betty Barr (not pictured) are working on a single wedding-ring quilt to be auctioned in the fall. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Hillsboro Senior Center, said director Mary Dudley. The date for the auction has not been determined yet. The quilt pieces, she said, date back to the 1930s, with many of the blocks made from feed sacks. When completed, the quilt will measure 70 inches by 70 inches and will have taken more than 40 hours to complete. The quilt blocks were made by Elma Flora. The public is welcome to view the quilt-making in progress at the center at 212 N. Main.

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Physical activity can relieve pain of arthritis in adults

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 07 July 2009 14:17

ArthritisPhoto.jpg Studies have shown aquatic-based exercise helps to restore and maintain muscle strength, relieve pain and stiffness and provide a community support system for people with arthritis.

More than 46 million people of all ages in the United States have arthritis. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that arthritis is the nation’s most common disability.

The same CDC study showed that the number of people who report arthritis as their primary cause of disability has grown by more than 3 million since 1999.

What’s more alarming—with the aging of baby boomers—the prevalence of arthritis is expected to increase 40 percent by the year 2030.

Given the pervasiveness of...

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Using direct deposit can ease financial stress for caregivers

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 07 July 2009 14:16

SeniorsDirectDeposit.jpg Direct deposit can also protect people from serious financial crimes like check theft and fraud. The last thing caregivers should have to worry about is a lost or stolen check.

Half of American caregivers make health-related decisions for a loved one, and a new government survey finds an equal number are now helping to manage the finances of a parent, friend or other person needing their care—adding to caregivers’ levels of stress and anxiety.

Yet, surprisingly, only 52 percent of caregivers receiving Social Security payments on behalf of the person they care for say they use direct deposit, a decades-old time-saving tool that is safer and more reliable than paper checks.

According to the nationwide...

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Healthy Geezer: Be smart when spending time out in the summer sun (Part 1)

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 07 July 2009 14:14

Editor’s note: This is the first of two columns about sun exposure. The next column will appear in our August special section.



Q There are lots of sunblocks out there with SPF numbers on them. What exactly do these numbers mean?



A Sun exposure is an extensive and important subject that is worth two columns. This is the first one.

Sunblocks—or sunscreens—work to prevent the damage of ultraviolet (UV) rays, an invisible component of sunlight. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC.

UVA is the most abundant of the three ultraviolet rays at the earth’s surface. These rays penetrate through the outer skin.

Many of the UVB rays are absorbed by the stratospheric ozone layer, so there aren’t as many of these at...

Read more: Healthy Geezer: Be smart when spending time out in the summer sun (Part 1)