I have two daughters in their early 20s who visit the tanning beds quite often and it makes me uneasy. How dangerous are tanning beds? Are they worse than smoking?

The World Health Organization and numerous other health care agencies (both government and private) have established that tanning beds are detrimental to health.

The UVA & UVB radiations emitted by the beds are carcinogenic for the skin. They can damage the DNA of skin cells leading to skin cancer. The rays also accelerate skin aging due to loss of elasticity and can cause eye damage.  The rays have a cumulative effect over the years; the longer the exposure,  the greater are the risks of development of skin malignancies, especially in a person under 30.  Certain connective tissue diseases like Lupus, can exacerbate after use of tanning in beds or sun bathing.

However, comparing the use of tanning beds to smoking is like comparing apples to oranges. Both are carcinogenic,  but affect different body systems which cause cancer by different mechanisms.

Answer submitted by Dr. Nidhi Tiwari who specializes in Internal Medicine and is with Provena Medical Group and is a member of the Provena Mercy Medical Center Medical Staff.

We are planning a family cross-country road-trip this spring. Unfortunately, my two daughters ages 10 and 12 always get “car sick.” What can I do to help them so they can enjoy being on the road as much as we do?

Motion sickness while traveling in a car, boat or plane, happens secondary to the movement of fluid inside the semi-circular canals of the internal ear. It is fairly benign, but an uncomfortable problem as it can cause a various degree of nausea and vomiting .

 It can be prevented by taking medications before travel.    Adults can use Transfer Scop; a patch to be placed behind the ear 4- hours prior to travel which can be effective for three days.

For kids, one option is Antivert; 25-50mg can be taken an hour before travel and repeated as needed after 24 hours. A chewable option is Dramamine; 50 mg can be taken six to eight hours as needed. They are both antihistamines and safe medications when used according to directions.

 Other small measures like frequent stops, eating low residue small meals during travel will also help you in enjoying the car trip as a family.

Answer submitted by Dr. Nidhi Tiwari who specializes in Internal Medicine and is with Provena Medical Group and is a member of the Provena Mercy Medical Center Medical Staff.