Re: respiratory infections vs sunbathing?

M T S (scorpiofang(AT)juno.com)
Tue, 25 Mar 1997 00:17:32 tzn

>I just wish I could figure out why I keep getting them in the first
>place.
>Eric
That's an answerable question. A tracheostomy is a foreign object
and can constantly be a source of irritation. The body is constantly
fighting it, and any bacteria it comes in contact with. No matter how
sterile you may treat the trach, some bacteria can be airborn, or
even come from your own body. The best defense is the use of
prevention (vitamins/minerals, etc). There are always consequences
to cheating death, but you have to be ready to fight off anything.
Everyday is a battle that you have won.

Infection is not the worst that can happen. You also need to take
steps to prevent cancer if you are on the vent for over
1 or 2 decades. I lost a friend who had been the vent for 25 years, to
cancer associated to the constant irritation. I don't want to scare
anyone. Not everyone gets cancer. It is preventable. My friend was
also a "sun god". He had the darkest tan I ever saw from 20 summers
of near constant sunbathing. He only started wearing sunscreen 2 yrs
before his death (oct. '96). The sun provides mild radiation that is
more powerful than an x-ray machine and can absorb into the body
over time. I'm no doctor or physicist, but I strongly recommend using
SUNSCREEN, SUNBLOCK LOTION, UVA/UVB SUNGLASSES. The
ozone is getting eaten up these days. The sun is not the same friend
it used to be. I'm not talking propaganda. This is real.
Keep kicking ass!
M
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