THE OVERSIMPLIFICATION: Although anyone can get skin cancer, some people are much more susceptible than others. The most susceptible of all: “people with fair skin, people with lots of freckles or moles, and those with a family history of skin cancer,” says Ted Daly, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Garden City, New York, and director of pediatric dermatology at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.
YOUR PERSONAL RX: If you fit into any of the groups mentioned above, you should be extra cautious about getting too much sun. Whenever outdoors, wear a shirt, a brimmed hat, choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater, and see a dermatologist at least once a year for a thorough once-over. If you don’t fit into any of those groups, you still need to exercise some caution. Even the darkest complexioned people, although much less susceptible to skin cancer, are not immune, says Dr. Daly. “Among black people the most common site for melanoma (the most dangerous kind of skin cancer) is under the nail beds. They should check there regularly for any abnormalities.”
Alcohol consumption
THE PUBLIC RX: One glass of beer, wine, or whiskey a day if you’re a woman; two if you’re a man. That’s the limit. Anything under that limit is probably good for you and especially your heart. Anything more than that, and you risk a number of health problems, such as cirrhosis of the liver. You might also, like many before you, lose your career and marriage, or crash your car.
THE OVERSIMPLIFICATION: “Different people have different tolerance levels for alcohol. And even the same person will react differently to alcohol at different times,” says psychologist Michael Nuccitelli, PhD, executive director of SLS Health, a behavioral health care facility in Brewster, New York. Such things as body weight, genetics, whether you’re a regular drinker or not, and the amount of food in your stomach, he explains, will all have a bearing on how your mind and body deal with booze.
YOUR PERSONAL RX: Use the “one or two glasses a day” as a rough rule, “but err toward caution,” says Nuccitelli. “Be especially cautious if you seem to have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. Look at the drinking habits of your parents, siblings, and grandparents.” Be extra cautious, too, if you are drinking to drown your sorrows. “A very high rate of alcoholics suffer from anxiety and depression,” says Nuccitelli.
Fluoride
THE PUBLIC RX: The optimal amount of fluoride for healthy teeth is attainable by drinking fluoridated water. The optimal level of fluoridation recommended by the US Public Health Service is .7 parts per million in warmer climates, and 1.2 parts per million in cooler climates. (Officials assume that people in Florida and Arizona drink more water than people in Montana and Maine.) In communities without fluoridated water, children from six months to 16 years should receive fluoride supplements.
“There are people getting multiple times the fluoride that others are getting, way more than the amount widely considered optimal,” says Kenneth Rudolph, MD, a general internist in Scranton, Pennsylvania. “We know that high doses of fluoride can cause brittleness in bones and other problems. The only question is ‘how much fluoride?’ I don’t believe that has been fully answered.”
YOUR PERSONAL RX: All experts agree that too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, a speckling of the teeth. Experts also agree that children under six months should not be getting fluoride at all. Beyond that, the vast majority of health officials believe that mild overdosing is no big worry. Unfortunately, there is no firm consensus. Roughly two-thirds of America’s water supplies are fluoridated. If you’re unsure about your water supply, you can find out on the Centers for Disease Control Web site http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp. If you are concerned that your family may be ingesting too much, discuss it with your doctor. Certain water filtration systems can remove fluoride.
