Summer time is sunning time, and a time to head for lakes, beaches, parks and enjoy outdoor activities in the sun. But, the American Cancer Society urges people to follow simple guidelines to take care of their skin and prevent skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, accounting for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. According to the ACC, nearly one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the US. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 59,940 cases in 2007.
Risk factors for skin cancer include unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sun; fair complexion; family history; severe sunburns as a child; occupational exposures to cancer causing materials or radium; and multiple or atypical moles on the skin.

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Her smile is a woman’s greatest beauty enhancer, so new studies regarding periodontal disease are a concern for women of all ages. Two new studies in the June issue of the Journal of Periodontology suggest that periodontal diseases are a threat to women of all ages and may be related to hormonal fluctuations that occur at various stages of their lives.

One study looked at fifty women between the ages of 20 to 35 with varying forms of periodontitis. The study found that women who currently were taking oral contraceptive pills had more gingival bleeding upon probing and deeper periodontal pockets, a sign of periodontitis, than those who were not taking oral contraceptive pills.

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Few women looking in the mirror are completely happy with what they see and the desire to lose at least a few pounds is almost universal. Since the CDC estimates 66 percent of American adults are either overweight or obese, shedding a few pounds probably is a good idea.

Despite fervent wishes and magical thinking, the basic formula for weight loss hasn’t changed much over the centuries – eat less, exercise more, be patient.

It’s only natural women seek more attractive alternatives, like diet pills.
Unfortunately, they have a poor track record and an unappealing list of side effects from heart attacks and stroke to anal leakage.

Diet pills work in different ways depending on their ingredients.

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Women are accustomed to being advised to eat less and exercise more, but young women who practice strict exercise and dieting regimens may harm their body’s ability to form new bone, which can lead to osteoporosis later in life. A new study indicates that women up to the age of thirty are at risk for bone loss and that rigorous exercise and extreme dieting can predispose them to osteoporosis. Researchers recommend that the more women exercise, the more they need to eat to stay healthy.

“Thousands of women severely restrict their diet and practice rigorous exercise programs for fitness and weight control,” said Anne Loucks, professor of biological sciences at Ohio University and lead author on the new study. “Because some don’t see obvious signs of undernourishment, such as a disrupted menstrual cycle, they may think they’re eating enough. If their diet does not supply enough energy to fuel their exercise level, though, they may be harming themselves. They need to replenish those calories.”

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There are over seventy breeds of cats recognized by various cat registries and a cat must have a traceable lineage going back several generations to be registered as a pedigreed cat. Most cat owners don’t have the luxury of ancestral tracking, and are content to answer the breed question with ‘alley cat’ or ‘tabby cat’. Hopefully, the alley cats will all find good homes, and lose their undesirable designation. Cats with identifiable features which indicate a pedigreed cat somewhere in its background are called mixed breed. Maine Coon mix, Persian mix, and Siamese mix are common mixed breeds. At the vets, any cat that isn’t known to be a particular breed, is a Domestic Shorthair, a Domestic Longhair or a Domestic Medium length hair. It’s inelegant, but accurate. Tabby describes not a breed, but rather a pattern.

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