Page 20 - 6-26-15 Friday's Edition

Health
Yes, You Need Sunscreen, Too
Some African Americans don’t think they need sunscreen, but you’re sadly mistaken. So, make sure you use it when you’re outside, especially in these areas, which are usually for- gotten: your scalp, your lips, the top of your feet, the back of your knees and even under your clothes.
Can You Become Lactose Intolerant As You Get Older?
Thirty to 50 million Ameri- cans (adults and children) are lactose intolerant. The disor- der affects some populations more than others: 76% of African-American, Jewish, Mexican-American, and Na- tive American adults are lac- tose intolerant.
As you get older, your lac- tose levels can start to decline, which means there’s nothing stopping the lactose you con- sume from going to your colon undigested, where bacteria break the sugars down and create excess gas and fluid in the process. So, yes, it is com- mon to develop a lactase defi- ciency in adulthood.
The body creates lactase when it’s instructed to do so by the LCT gene, and over time that gene can become less ac- tive. The result is lactose intol- erance, which can begin after age 2, but may not manifest it- self until adolescence or even adulthood.
An injury to your small in- testine - whether from an acci- dent, surgery, radiation, infection, or disease - can also leave you unable to drink milk without symptoms, according to research.
5 Risks Of Untreated Acid Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux dis- ease (GERD) or acid reflux af- fects 7 million Americans. For those who are unaware, GERD is a digestive disease in which the acid from the stomach flows back into the esophagus and then into the mouth, causing heartburn. The occasional heartburn is nothing to worry about, but heartburn shouldn’t be ignored if you’re experienc- ing it on a daily or almost-daily basis. In the long run, GERD can wreak havoc on your esoph- agus. Here are five reasons to stop ignoring your acid reflux.
1. Esophageal cancer: In cases where GERD has been left untreated for many years, esophageal cancer can develop. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, persistent coughing, vom- iting and chest pain.
2. Tooth decay: When the acid makes its way back up to the mouth repeatedly, it can lead to acid erosion and once the tooth enamel wears down, it’s gone forever. In fact, 40% of
people with GERD had tooth decay, according to a study con- ducted by the University of Ala- bama.
3. Esophagitis: Untreated acid reflux can eventually lead to esophagitis – this is when the esophagus becomes inflamed and irritated.
4. Reflux laryngitis: As the stomach acid travels from the stomach and back up to the mouth, the voice box becomes inflamed in the process.
5. Breathing issues: If you have asthma, GERD can make your symptoms worse over a pe- riod of time.
If you’re experiencing heart- burn on a regular basis, see your doctor immediately.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015