Aspirin cuts cancer risk for diabetics

With many medications, possible side effects (many extremely uncommon) can be scary, but often the benefits far outweigh the risks.

One of the most common meds for which this is true is the mighty aspirin —showntohelpprevent a wide spectrum of woes from cardiovascular disease to some cancers. And now research has found another impressive benefit: It lowers the risk of breast cancer in women with Type 2 diabetes — in whom it’s about 20 percent higher than in women without diabetes. (It also lowers the risk in women without Type 2 diabetes.)

Researchers tracked more than 148,000 women with diabetes for 14 years; those who took a daily low-dose aspirin were 18 percent less likely to get breast cancer during that time, while those who took a high cumulative amount (88,900 mg or more) over that 14year period had a 47 percent lower risk of breast cancer!

So, if you have diabetes, talk to your doctor and see if twice-daily baby aspirin (one in the morning and one in the evening with half a glass of warm water before and after each) is right for you.

Beware sun poisoning

In the 2007 movie “The Heartbreak Kid,” Lila rubs mineral oil on herself at the beach. Eddie tells her she needs sunscreen. “The sun is really different down here,” he says. “The sun is the sun, Eddie,” Lila retorts.

Sun poisoning is no joke. It starts with a seemingly allergic reaction caused by extended exposure of the skin to strong UV light. That exposure triggers blistering, hives, swelling of the face, fever and chills, nausea, headache and even confusion — and raises your risk of skin cancer.

If you have a sunburn and are having those symptoms, get medical care immediately. Acute sun poisoning (which may be accompanied by heatstroke) can be treated by keeping open blisters and wounds clean and covered and through light therapy (ironic) if needed and medications.

To prevent sun poisoning, use an SPF 30 sunscreen with micronized zinc oxide and limit sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also find out if any of your meds, such as certain acne drugs, antibiotics, antidepressants, heart meds and some birth control, make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. If you have certain conditions, such as lupus or eczema, be aware that you’re at increased risk. Drink 8 to 24 ounces of water an hour when in temperatures greater than 84 degrees.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.