Womans World Magazine Response

[Shantilly]

Please copy and email the editor of Womans World Weekly to respond to their comment in October17th , 2006 issue regarding "Stop Winter Sadness". The article states "IMPORTANT: Tanning beds shouldn't be used to treat SAD. Their light is high in harmful ultraviolet rays.





Stephanie Saible
Editor In Chief
Womans World
270 Sylvan Ave.,
Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey
07632

EMAIL for Editor Stephanie Saible: DEARWW@AOL.COM

Dear Mz. Saible:
I think its time you get out of the dark and see the sunshine! I normally enjoy your magazine, but am amazed again at your lack of educating the public and creating a false scare re: Stop Winter Sadness. In the article you state : IMPORTANT; Tanning beds shouldn't be used to treat SAD. Their light is high in harmful ultraviolet rays. TIP: Take a 60 minute walk early each day. Swiss research shows it's as effective as lightbox therapy for easing SAD. The article goes on to "Consider a prescription. Just approved antidepressant Wellbutrin as a treatment for winter blues.



My first question is how much is the pharmaceutical companies paying you to endorse their product. You don't mention all the side effects? (Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in short-term studies in children and adolescents)
Body (General): Frequent were asthenia, fever, and headache. Infrequent were back pain, chills, inguinal hernia, musculoskeletal chest pain, pain, and photosensitivity. Rare was malaise. Also observed were arthralgia, myalgia, and fever with rash and other symptoms suggestive of delayed hypersensitivity. These symptoms may resemble serum sickness (see PRECAUTIONS).
Cardiovascular: Infrequent were flushing, migraine, postural hypotension, stroke, tachycardia, and vasodilation. Rare was syncope. Also observed were cardiovascular disorder, complete AV block, extrasystoles, hypotension, hypertension (in some cases severe, see PRECAUTIONS), myocardial infarction, phlebitis, and pulmonary embolism.
Digestive: Frequent were dyspepsia, flatulence, and vomiting. Infrequent were abnormal liver function, bruxism, dysphagia, gastric reflux, gingivitis, glossitis, jaundice, and stomatitis. Rare was edema of tongue. Also observed were colitis, esophagitis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gum hemorrhage, hepatitis, increased salivation, intestinal perforation, liver damage, pancreatitis, stomach ulcer, and stool abnormality.
Endocrine: Also observed were hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone.
Hemic and Lymphatic: Infrequent was ecchymosis. Also observed were anemia, leukocytosis, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Altered PT and/or INR, infrequently associated with hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications, were observed when bupropion was co-administered with warfarin.
Metabolic and Nutritional: Infrequent were edema, increased weight, and peripheral edema. Also observed was glycosuria.
Musculoskeletal: Infrequent were leg cramps and twitching. Also observed were arthritis and muscle rigidity/fever/rhabdomyolysis, and muscle weakness.
Nervous System: Frequent were agitation, depression, and irritability. Infrequent were abnormal coordination, CNS stimulation, confusion, decreased libido, decreased memory, depersonalization, emotional lability, hostility, hyperkinesia, hypertonia, hypesthesia, paresthesia, suicidal ideation, and vertigo. Rare were amnesia, ataxia, derealization, and hypomania. Also observed were abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG), akinesia, aphasia, coma, delirium, delusions, dysarthria, dyskinesia, dystonia, euphoria, extrapyramidal syndrome, hallucinations, hypokinesia, increased libido, manic reaction, neuralgia, neuropathy, paranoid reaction, and unmasking tardive dyskinesia.
Respiratory: Rare was bronchospasm. Also observed was pneumonia.
Skin: Frequent was sweating. Infrequent was acne and dry skin. Rare was maculopapular rash. Also observed were alopecia, angioedema, exfoliative dermatitis, and hirsutism.
Special Senses: Frequent was amblyopia. Infrequent were accommodation abnormality and dry eye. Also observed were deafness, diplopia, and mydriasis.
Urogenital: Frequent was urinary frequency. Infrequent were impotence, polyuria, and urinary urgency. Also observed were abnormal ejaculation, cystitis, dyspareunia, dysuria, gynecomastia, menopause, painful erection, prostate disorder, salpingitis, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urinary tract disorder, and vaginitis

Yet you mention the negative of Ultraviolet light, not specifying mild, moderate or overexposure. Where are the positive effects of Ultraviolet light?
Swiss research? Where are the facts? How much sunlight can they possible be exposed to in Switzerland?

I am requesting you do a bit more investigating into the positve benfits of UV Exposure. Perhaps you should check out the following websites : http://www.sunarc.org and http://www.uvfoundation.org, to aid you in researching your next article regarding Ultraviolet light .


Yours in Sunshine!

[Brandy1]

So, they are saying to take an antidepressant pill instead of tanning in a tanning bed?
Yeah, that makes sense...

Great job Shantilly, fantastic post!

[Sherin]

Here's another one!

Pale... to be or not to be?
Students tan in artificial lighting despite possible risks such as cancer
NICOLE TROTTA
Staff writer
Article Date: November 01, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Although summer has come and gone, many University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students plan to stay tan year-round with tanning beds. Senior Dana Holden tans in the winter to keep her skin bronzed.
“I used to burn real bad at the beginning of summer, but now that I’ve gone tanning at indoor places, I am able to tan more often,” Holden said.
Many students see tanning as a form of pampering themselves.
“Tanning relaxes me and puts me in a better mood,” senior Rachel Coolbroth said.
Tanning is a way to Other positive benefits of tanning include vitamin D production and increased bone mineral density, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
However, tanning does come with many risks. Both tanning outside and indoors can cause skin cancer, but the UV rays that are emitted from tanning beds are two to three times more powerful than the sun’s, according to the American Osteopathic Association. Some types of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, are incurable. The median length of survival of distant metastasis is a mere six to 12 months, and the five-year survival rate is less than 10 percent, according to the Texas Cancer Center.
Freshman Erika Karpen frequently tans in tanning beds, even though she knows it can cause skin cancer. “When I start tanning, I go for about five minutes,” Karpen said. “Each time, I up a minute or two until I can go the full amount without burning. Once I feel that I am tan enough, then I stop going on a regular basis and go just once a week to keep that tan up.”
Although Karpen may feel that tanning once a week does not pose much of a risk, research shows that women who tan in a salon just once per month have a 55 percent greater risk of melanoma than women who do not visit tanning salons, according to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Also, even if a sunburn does not occur from tanning, cancer can still result, according to an article from the Associated Press.
Many students ignore the risks of tanning because they believe that they will not have to worry about them until much later in life.
“I do think tanning is harmful, but it’s a lifestyle choice just like smoking,” sophomore Kari Andersen said. “I look at it that I’m going to die someday anyway, so why not?”
People with this attitude usually do not realize that melanoma is likely to occur at a young age, unlike lung cancer or heart and liver disease.
Melanoma is the second most prevalent cancer in women ages 20 to 35, and the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 25 to 30, according to the Melanoma Center. Adolescents ages 15 to 19 also commonly have melanoma. On the contrary, only 2.4 percent of people diagnosed with liver cancer are under 35, and fewer than 3 percent of lung cancer cases are found in people under 45, according to the American Cancer Society.
Many people still tan because they feel that society puts pressure on them.
“It is much like the pressure to be overly thin,” Marilyn Kile, wellness coordinator for UW-Whitewater’s health center said. “It is an unhealthy, artificial standard of appearance.”
Coolbroth said she felt pressure from her high school classmates to tan.
“I first started tanning in high school because it was ‘the cool thing to do.’ Everyone at my high school was so obsessed with the way they looked and had to go tanning to be cool,” she said.
But only in the past decades has being tan become so appealing. In the 19th century and earlier, being pale was desirable because it defined your place in society.
Sophomore Sean McCrimmon is one student who does not feel pressure to tan.
“I have never tanned in my life,” he said. “It’s a personal choice; I just wouldn’t do it at all.”
There are still options for people who are desperate to get a tan without the associated risks. tanning creams is a safe way to get a healthy glow. If applied correctly, they should produce a natural-looking tan.

http://www.royalpurplenews.com/disarticle.php?id=1839&dateid=2006-11-01

If anybody wants to lodge a complaint:

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[Shantilly]

lets email them and clog their servers!!!

[spraytannedjenn]

isn't it amazing how everyone's first respocne to a problem is DRUG"S. I used to use tanning beds to help with the winter depressions (can't anymore-CHemo and Radiation) Although I on a rare occasion do jump on in for 5 minutes when it gets bad. Sitting in a bright winder helps but sometimes jumping in the tanning bed is the only thing that will fix it. Getting spray tanned helps me also. I know it is all in my head but I Know that I FEEL BETTER so for me that is all that matters.

And by the way you are putting yourself at a huge risk just looking at this post. Studies show tan talk can be addictive and therefore hazards to your health. Anyone know of a good support group? LOL

[Shantilly]

85 views and only 3 comments?
Everyone crying the blues business is down.
We have to change public perception, one negative article at a time.
Where is the support here?

[Shantilly]

thanks brandy!!

[Brandy1]

You have my support. 100%!

[Sherin]

I sent in a response!

[Shantilly]

thanks sherin!! what about everyone else?