Don't pack away the sunblock with your swimsuit and other summer accessories. Winter's sun is just as dangerous as summer's, says Adam J. Scheiner, M.D., www.adamscheinermd.com, an eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeon who's been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, The Howard Stern Show and The Doctors.

"The snow reflects the glare of the sun - and the damaging UV rays," he says. "People who like skiing and snowboarding in the mountains are getting 4 to 5 percent more UV damage for every 1,000 feet they ascend above sea level."

And then there are all those holiday cruises and escapes to warm-weather climates where beaches are packed year-round.

"It's not OK to lie baking in the sun for hours, even if it's just one week out of the winter," Dr. Scheiner says.

No matter how comfortable or cool the temperature feels, don't be fooled!

"Earlier this year, the surgeon general predicted 9,000 people will die from melanoma this year. That's preventable," Dr. Scheiner says.

"If skin cancer doesn't scare you, think with your vanity. Sun exposure is the No. 1 cause of wrinkles, discoloration, age spots and festoons, among other disfiguring problems."

Dr. Scheiner shares tips for preventing, minimizing and repairing sun damage:

•  Prevention: You're not just exposed when you're skiing, hiking, or taking a beach vacation.

"Anytime you go outside, you're exposing yourself to damaging UVB and UVA rays, and the result is cumulative. A little bit here and a little there adds up," Scheiner says.

Simply driving a car can result in serious sun damage. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found more skin cancers on the left side of patients' faces - the side exposed while driving - then the right. Scheiner says he's seen truckers and others who spend years on the road with severe wrinkling on the left side of the face.

"Always wear sunscreen, which protects against UVA and UVB rays. I recommend a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30, preferably higher," he says. "You can also protect yourself from UVA rays, which cause deeper damage, by applying UV-protective film to your car windows. Also, wear clothes with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating of at least 30."

•  Minimizing: Good nutrition and topical products can help minimize signs of damage, such as wrinkles and age spots, Dr. Scheiner says.

Eat foods rich in antioxidants -- carrots and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables; spinach and other green leafy vegetables; tomatoes; blueberries; peas and beans; fatty fish, and nuts. An American Society for Clinical Nutrition study found that women ages 40 to 75 who consumed more vitamin C, an antioxidant, had fewer wrinkles.

Use exfoliate creams to remove dead skin cells. Prescription creams including Avita, Avage, Renova and Retin-A have been shown to reduce wrinkles and age spots caused by sun exposure.

•  Repairing: Lasers can resurface facial skin by stripping away the outermost layers. Some "non-ablative" lasers also stimulate collagen formation, which helps smooth wrinkles.

"I use RESET® Laser Skin Resurfacing, which reverses the damage and removes many pre-cancers and even active skin cancers," Scheiner says. "RESET uses an advanced Dual Pulsed Erbium Laser, and my proprietary healing protocol. "

The RESET® treatment Dr. Scheiner has vaporizes the old skin and causes the collagen in the underlying layers to tighten.

The No. 1 best thing you can do for your skin starting today is to start making application of a broad spectrum, UVB/UVA sunscreen part of your daily routine.

"Apply it to all areas of the skin that can be directly exposed to the sun," he says. "The best scenario is preventing sun damage in the first place."

About Dr. Adam J. Scheiner

Adam J. Scheiner, M.D. is world-renowned in laser eyelid and facial plastic surgery for his groundbreaking treatment for Festoons. The Tampa-based oculoplastic surgeon wrote the medical text on the condition and shared his treatment  for Festoons on Dr. Oz and The Doctors TV shows. Dr. Scheiner is author of the new book, The True Definition of Beauty.

It's a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Christmas to New Year's, are a treacherous time when it comes to our health.

"There's a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues," says Dr. John Young, a physician specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses through biochemical, physiological and nutraceutical technologies, and the author of "Beyond Treatment: Discover how to build a cellular foundation to achieve optimal health," www.YoungHealth.com.

"The incidence of pneumonia cases spikes - in both cold and warm climates. And deaths from natural causes spike. In fact, more people die of natural causes on Christmas Day than any other day of the year!"

While those numbers are well-documented, the cause(s) are not.

"Stress plays a role, particularly if your immune system is weakened," Dr. Young says. "If you look at how most of us eat from Halloween through New Year's, it's easy to see how the immune system takes a beating and otherwise healthy people become more susceptible to illness during the holidays."

It's basic biochemistry, he says.

"We eat a lot more refined sugar, for instance, which is a carbohydrate that's been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate," he says. "Our bodies can't use that, so the cells in our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back. So, eventually, they grow weak."

So - can we have a little sugar, and good health, too? Dr. Young says we can.

"The occasional slice of pumpkin pie is fine as long as you're also feeding your cells with the nutrients they need - the minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids - to stay healthy."
He offers these tips for staying healthy through the holidays and throughout the year.

•  Get your vitamin D!
Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and one of our best sources for it is sunshine. Unfortunately, many people work indoors all day, so they get little sun exposure. When they do go outside, they wear long sleeves and sunblock to protect against skin cancer. And, of course, in the wintertime, people in cold climes tend to stay inside. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient, and should be taking supplements.

"Vitamin D is crucial to many physiological systems, including our immune defenses," Dr. Young says. "It helps fight bacterial and viral infections, including the flu. It supports our cardiovascular system; optimal vitamin D levels can reduce hypertension, heart attacks and stroke.

"If I feel I'm coming down with a cold, I'll take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime," he says. "The next morning, I usually feel like a new person."

•  Eat your protein - 1 gram for every 2.2 pounds of body weight daily.
In this country, we think a healthy diet means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. We've forgotten protein, Dr. Young says.

"Our immune system is made up of proteins - our bones are 40 percent protein," he says. "We need protein."

When calculating your protein intake, consider: an egg has about 8 grams, and 8 ounces of fish, chicken, beef or pork have about 30 grams.

Dr. Young does not give any of his patients more than 100 grams of protein a day.

•  Get a good night's sleep, exercise, and manage your stress.
Yup, some doctors' orders never change. Rest, exercise and finding effective, healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to pamper your cells.

"One of the many cellular benefits of exercise is that it increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise another means of feeding your cells."

It's also important to manage stress during the holidays. With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system.

"Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods," Dr. Young says. "It feels good - and it's good for you!"

About John Young, M.D.

Dr. John Young, (www.YoungHealth.com), is a medical doctor with more than 15 years' experience working in emergency rooms and pediatric burn units. He's the medical director of Young Foundational Health Center, specializing in treating patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes by addressing the physiological issues and not just the symptoms. He's also medical director of Young Health Products, which incorporate the latest biochemical, physiological and Nobel Prize-winning protocols for optimal cellular nutrition. Dr. Young is the author of "Beyond Treatment." He takes questions via a call-in conference call every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. Call (760) 569-7676, access code 772967.

Entering its 11th year, the 100 Great Iowa Nurses program is now accepting nominations  

Iowa City, IA (Oct. 15, 2014) - The 100 Great Iowa Nurses program is excited to announce that nominations are officially open for 2015. Each year, this program recognizes 100 nurses across the state whose courage, competence, and commitment to patients and the nursing profession stands out above all others.

Patients, coworkers, friends, and family members are encouraged to nominate an outstanding nurse for recognition. Nominations are being accepted online at www.greatnurses.org

After undergoing a two-part review process, 100 Great Iowa Nurses are honored each year at a ceremony created for the state of Iowa by nurse and community leaders. On May 3, 2015, the 100 Great Iowa Nurses selected for recognition will gather to be honored at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The celebration is an annual prelude to National Nurses Week, which begins on May 6 and ends on May 12 (the birthday of Florence Nightingale).

Nurses selected for this honor represent many sectors of health care, working as nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, and offices. They come from all practice areas, including acute care, sub-acute care, school nursing, parish nursing, nurse leaders, and academics.

This statewide event belongs to the people of Iowa, and is made possible through the generous support of sponsors. In addition to recognizing 100 Great Iowa Nurses every year, the program also offers scholarship support to nursing students at all levels of education.

Current and future nurses across Iowa are encouraged to apply for available scholarship opportunities to complete or further their nursing education. Scholarship applications can be found at www.greatnurses.org/scholarships.

About 100 Great Iowa Nurses

100 Great Iowa Nurses is a nonprofit program that honors great nurses in Iowa, and funds scholarships to support the education of Iowa nurses. Established in 2004, the program recognizes qualities that demonstrate efforts beyond those expected of a nurse within his/her normal duties, such as concern for humanity, significant contribution to the profession, and mentoring. For more information, visit www.greatnurses.org.

CONTACT: Cassie Raasch, Communications and Marketing, 100 Great Iowa Nurses, (319) 335-7003, info@greatnurses.org

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