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THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL Many medications play role ol sunlight and skin In last week’s column, I wrote about possible risks associated with over-exposure to our sum mer heat. But did you know that there are many medications that may make your skin more sensitive to the effects of sunlight? This increased sensitivity to the sun may also increase your risk of a heat related illness. Most people have prob ably seen the warning label that their pharmacist places on the bottles of some med ications that reads “Avoid prolonged exposure to sun light." This warning is referring to the person taking the medicine, not the medicine itself. This label indicates that the medicine is one of the many that may make your skin more sensitive to the effects of sunlight and that you should take additional precautions to avoid being sunburned. And while this sensitivity ‘Hey, boss, that’s not fair’ When my brother and I were young, I’m sure we drove our parents crazy. For what seemed like sev eral years, one of us was always yelling, "Hey, that’s not fair!” We were both experts at detecting special privileges being offered to the other. Among the worst manifesta tions were desserts. We would argue over who had the right to pick first among the pieces of pie or the scoops of ice cream —we each wanted the larger serv ing! Mom finally established a solution that both my broth er and 1 hated, but it sure brought order to the chaos. Her new decree: one of us prepares the two servings and the other one has first choice. The squabbling ended immediately. There was no advantage to being the slicer or the scoo per—once the first portion was established, an observer would need a set of scales to detect any difference in the size of the second serving! There was no advan tage in being the chooser either —the ration for each was as equal as anyone could make it! I'm sure “That’s not fair!” lingered in other aspects of our young lives, but I don’t recall dessert squabbles after that rule went into effect. I bet there are leaders How to get better gas mileage State Point Wire With gas prices seem ingly soaring into the stratosphere, the volume of advertising is increasing for “gas-saving” products, designed to appeal to con sumers looking for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there are prac tical steps car owners can take to increase gas mile age, the Better Business Bureau continues to warn consumers to be wary of gas-saving claims for auto motive devices or oil and gas additives. While some of the gas saving products have been proven to work, the savings usually are small, at best. What’s more, you could end up with serious engine problems or a voided man ufacturer warranty by add ing after-market devices to your engine. Indeed, some “gas-sav ing” products may dam age a car’s engine or cause substantial increases in exhaust emissions. Some of these products include Air Bleed Devices, Vapor Bleed Devices, Liquid Injection, reaction (called photosensi tivity) may be more com mon in fair-skinned people like me, it can occur in all persons, regardless of skin tone. It’s important to note that it is not only sunlight that your skin is more sensi tive to while taking these medications. You should also avoid exposure to sunlamps and tanning beds because you may be burned more easily by these as well. When one of these medica tions is taken, the chemical in the drug is distributed throughout the body, includ ing the skin. The presence of the chem ical in the skin makes the skin more sensitive to ultra violet (UV) radiation and more likely to burn or react adversely to UV exposure. Some medications (such as Retin A and Accutane) are much more photosensitizing than others and the degree of reaction may depend on the dose of the particular mediation being taken and the duration of therapy. Dennis Hooper I eadcrs Building W W^ 1 * 1 ‘ * out there who would love to apply similar wisdom in their organizations. A big difference, however, is that my parents heard “That’s not fair!” loudly and clearly. Many times, the boss never hears the complaints. Some don’t listen. Mostly, however, the complaints are uttered among peers and the dissatisfaction never surfac es to the leader. How’s a leader supposed to gauge his or her success in being fair? When I invite leaders to assess themselves in the many attributes of leadership, “fairness to direct reports” is one of the characteristics they evalu ate. Here is the description provided in the assessment instrument I use: • treats direct reports equitably; • acts fairly; • has candid discussions; • doesn’t have hidden agendas; • doesn’t give preferen tial treatment. Fuel Line Devices, Mixture Enhancers, Internal Engine Modifications and more. Instead of searching for miraculous gas-saving products, the 888 is rec ommending that consum ers consider taking one or more no-cost or low-cost actions that can help driv ers save on gas consump tion. The most important place to start is at the gas pump - buy only the octane level gas you need. Check your owner's manual to deter mine the right octane level for your car. More tips from the 888 to help you get better gas mileage include: ■ Drive more efficiently. Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreas es rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour. ■ Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops. Accelerate slowly when starting from a dead stop. Don’t push the pedal down more than one-quarter of the way; this allows the carburetor to function at peak effi ciency. You can improve gas David Voltz 9T ■ T W' ” j voltzrph@hotmail.com MpSL: And since your skin is more quickly affected by sunlight while taking these medications, the risk of heat related illness is also increased. People taking these medi cations need to not only take precautions against sunburn but also against heat exhaus tion and heatstroke. If you are prescribed on of these medications it is important to not stop tak ing the medication if you’re going to be in the sun, just take some precautions. Use physical barriers such as sunglasses, hats, and loose fitting clothes. A common myth is that leaders should treat every body the same. This is clearly an unachiev able objective and will result in nothing but frustration for all involved. Many stud ies have shown that it is far better to give to each person that which he or she needs for encouragement and growth. This requires listening closely and honest dialogue about expectations and per formance. Near the end of Now, Discover Your Strengths, by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton, are 34 pages of guidance for how leaders should manage individuals with each of the individual talent themes identified in the book. Creating the environment for talented employees to grow their skills and expand commitment requires the leader to discern how each individual is unique, then figure out ways to capitalize on this distinction. mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid jerky starts and stops. ■ Use overdrive gears and cruise controls when appropriate. They improve the fuel economy of your car when driving on a high way. ■ Keep windows closed when traveling at high way speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10 per cent. ■ Avoid rough roads whenever possible. Dirt or gravel can rob you of up to 30 percent of your gas mileage. ■ Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent. • Properly maintain your car. Keep the engine tuned, tires inflated and aligned, change the oil on schedule, and check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to 10 per cent. Above all, continue to practice safe driving and maintain you car. LOCAL Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher and make sure to reapply as often as the product label recommends. And drink lots of water while outside in the heat. So what are the medications that can cause photosensitivity? It’s a long list, so I’ll just mention some of the more common ones. If you have any questions about your specific medication, be sure to ask your pharmacist or physician. Along with Accutane and Retin A, tetracyclines (such as Doxycycline, Minocin, The cry of “Hey, boss, that’s not fair” is usually uttered by those who feel they have missed out on spe cial privileges. Those who are advantaged usually don’t complain! So it’s not really “fairness” that people seek. The leader who can create benefit for every individual will be rewarded with per sonal loyalty and allegiance to the organization’s vision. So how does a leader accomplish this? From my position as a leadership development coach, I advo cate a conscious method for building leadership aware ness and skills be available to any interested individual. That way, anyone who desires to grow has guidance for doing so. I further suggest that every “boss” in the organi zation be evaluated on how effectively those under his or her authority receive appro priate support and account ability. ft K V ■H sL ■ % wpwj Mm w Go Karts, | Scooters & Lpirt Bikes Electric Guitar s s9°° Acoustic Guitar Adult 88 Child $ 24 88 Banjos $ 42 73 Shampoo - Lotion . ¥***>+ «n Household Cleaners *1 UU | Cell phone accessories: Cases, Auto & Home Chargers and much, much more @ sl°° each. Kitchenware, Clothes, Cleaning Supplies. TONS OF ITEMS! 79 Green St. - Warner Robins, GA Q9'l-oflo2 (One Block From Hwy. 247) l HOURS: 10am - spm Mon-Sat Monodox, Achromycin), sulfa antibiotics (such as Septra, Bactrim, Azulfidine, Gantrisin) and quinolone antibiotics (such as Cipro, Levaquin, Tequin, Floxin, Avelox) are among the more photosensitizing medica tions. Sulfa related drugs (such as Hydrochlorothiazide, Maxzide, Lozol, Phenergan, Thorazine, Compazine, Prolixin, and Trilafon) as well as the sulfa related oral anti-diabetic medica tions (Glucotrol, Diabeta, Glynase, and Micronase) are also photosensitizing. Some over-the-counter medications may also cause this reaction. Benadryl, Claritin, ibuprofen, naprox en and the herbal supple ments St. John’s Wort, dong quai, and bitter orange all have had reports of photo sensitizing reactions. And I could go on and on listing drugs, but I won’t because it’s a very long list. These I’ve mentioned are just some of the more com mon offenders. RECYCLE ' f\rst United Mettwdiirt Chur cf) V Cheerful Cherubs We offer a Hall Day Pre-K Program for 6 months - 4 years Highßead And Zoo-Phorius Curriculum. We encourage each child to develop his or her potential through new experiences including physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual. N 205 N. Davis Dr. • W.R., GA 31093 • 922-8448 / wanretvv o ?tt(Zt&ie4& *rfye<zcCqucvrfen4, tJJM fmAMA THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2006 Remind your neighbors to recycle and help pre serve our planet’s natural resources. Recycling Just a little now can make a big difference for future generattons. EAG llwinrS.et - s 99°° |ftuNf&gt - s ll9°° iQ.ueen tS,et - s ls9°° iKingtS.et - s 229°° If you are taking a pre scription medication, read both the warning labels on the bottle and the accompa nying information handout that your pharmacist gives you. These should indicate whether or not you ought to be more cautious when in the sun while taking your medication. Ask your pharmacist or physician if there is a specific medication you’re curious about. And even if you're not taking a photosensitizing medication, always wear sunscreen and drink lots of water while outdoors. If you have any questions regarding medications or pharmacy practice in gen eral, or comments, or sug gestions for topics you’d like to read about in this column, just write to me. I can receive email via voltzrph@hotmail.com or postal mail at Pharmacy Q&A, c/o The Houston Home Journal, PO Box 1910, Perry, GA. 31069. All questions are confidential, so you don’t have to give your name. EMPLOYMENT ADS $2.50 f»f*r li#f«» fifir tlav $13.00 §»«>r roluriifi ini li Liuv Ads IK-iulliiiv 2 1 1uym prior *«t Ukiilfiy A«!» Mt iolliiif 2 tlayit prior nt INoou Call us at 478-987-1823 Fax to: 478-980-9194 or Email to: nicoleccgp evansnewspaporß.com People Pleasing! 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