by Lester the Typing Horse
“Once a Sideshow Attraction, Now the Nation’s Leading Wellness Expert” Dear Mr. Horse: Exactly what happens when your skin gets sunburned? Is a suntan a milder kind of burn?
--Erin Doogen, Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Erin: The two are actually quite different. As the name suggests, sunburn is literally a burn caused by the sun's invisible ultraviolet radiation. There are three kinds of ultraviolet rays: A, B and C. Only the first two get through the Earth's atmosphere, thanks to the ozone layer. The remaining radiation burns the skin during prolonged exposure because the body isn't able to quickly produce enough melanin, which is a protective skin pigment. Consequently, you suffer from those awful red burns. The color you get from a suntan, however, is merely the increased melanin that occurs after shorter exposure to sunlight. And don't let a fear of sunburn or skin cancer cause you to completely avoid the sun. It's an important source of vitamin D, so even fifteen minutes exposure a day is healthy. If you’re going to be out longer than that, though, wearing sunscreen on exposed areas is a good idea.
Dear Mr. Horse: What is a goiter?
--Steve Franklin, Trenton, N.J.
Dear Steve: A goiter is a swelling of the neck from an enlarged thyroid gland. Goiters are mostly caused by an iodine deficiency, which lowers the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood, causing the pituitary gland to release the thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH. That causes extreme growth of the thyroid gland — goiters. They can be treated with medication that will shrink them, but if their size creates breathing or swallowing problems, surgery may be needed. Unfortunately, removal of the entire thyroid robs the body of its ability to produce the thyroid hormone, in which case hormone supplements become necessary. I don't even want to imagine the size of a goiter on a horse. We tend to do everything big.
Dear Mr. Horse: Is it possible to be thin — I don’t mean anorexic-thin — but still be unhealthy?
--Rachel Harris, Richmand, Va.
Dear Rachel: There are plenty of skinny people who suffer from heart disease. Even if you aren't heavy on the outside, organs like the heart, liver and pancreas can be surrounded by internal fat, which people store in different places. Thin people who are at risk of heart disease or diabetes may be eating too much junk food, but not quite enough to become fat on the outside. At the same time, they probably aren't exercising enough to combat this internal fat. In addition, genetics may play a large role as to where the body decides to store fat. So thin people shouldn't take their health for granted. A good diet and consistent exercise is crucial for everyone.