Summer's almost here, and with it, longer, sunnier days spent outdoors.
While this is a great benefit to boosting people's moods and stocking up on vitamin D3, there are dangers in getting too much sun exposure as well, even on cloudy days, according to Fraser Health.
"Most people think that as long as they aren't getting a sun burn, they aren't damaging their skin, but even if your skin is tanning and not burning, daily exposure to sunlight adds up and over time can cause skin damage and even skin cancer," said Paul Van Buynder, chief medical health officer with Fraser Health, in a press release.
"A tan is visible proof that your skin has been damaged from ultraviolet radiation," he said in the release.
Skin cancer may be the most serious consequence of too much sun, though it's not the only harmful effect.
Too much sun can cause premature wrinkling, spotting and aging of the skin, as well as eye diseases and weakening of the body's ability to fight off infections, illness and disease, according to the release.
Children are especially at risk of developing health problems later in life if they experience sunburn.
To avoid harmful UV rays, Fraser Health recommends seeking shade between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants as well as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and applying sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before and again after sweating or swimming.
For more information on sun safety tips from Health Canada, visit www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/ sun-sol/index-eng.php.
Guidelines for medical tourists
For Canadians considering a trip overseas for surgery or other medical care, there are guidelines now available from Simon Fraser University researchers to help medical tourists make informed decisions.
SFU's Medical Tourism Research Group recently developed a tool that helps to answer questions related to ethical concerns about the health and safety risks associated with out-of-country health care.
Created by SFU ethicist Jeremy Snyder, with support from a Canadian Institute of Health Research grant, the one-page information sheet outlines several key points to consider, including unforeseen costs, procedure risks, the potential for contracting diseases and patient rights.
It also points to the potentially negative impacts medical tourism could have on local communities where surgeries or health care is offered.
Snyder is hoping to distribute the guideline across Canada.
For more information, including a list of medical tourism research involving several popular travel destinations, visit www. sfu.ca/medicaltourism/ resources/html.
