Chronic wounds, that include bedsores, are a common and potentially life-threatening problem. This problem mostly occurs in people with diabetes or poor circulation, the elderly, and also among bedridden or wheelchair-bound persons. Bed sores is also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers. It affects about five to ten percent of hospital patients, up to 39 percent of spinal cord injury patients and up to 13 percent of nursing home residents in the United States.

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A four year study of 11.5 million Medicare enrollees have shown that shown that short-term exposure to fine particle air pollution from sources such as motor vehicle exhaust and power plant emissions significantly increases the risk for cardiovascular and respiratory disease among people over 65 years of age. The study conducted to show the link between fine particle air pollution and hospital admissions for heart and lung –related diseases was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a component of the National Institutes of Health and is the largest of its kind.
The findings revealed that small increases in fine particle air pollution resulted in increased hospital admissions for heart and vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure and respiratory infection. Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. of National Institutes of Health said that “study participants over 75 years of age experienced even greater increases in admissions for heart problems and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than those between 65 and 74 years of age.
The study results are published in the March 8, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
According to the study, these findings indicate an ongoing threat from airborne particles to the health of the elderly and hence there is a need to set a national air quality standard that is as protective of their health as possible.
“These findings also provide evidence that fine particle concentrations well below the national standard are harmful to the cardiovascular and respiratory health of our elderly citizens. As the association between inhaled particles and adverse health effects has been established, we must concentrate on understanding why these particles are harmful, and how these effects can be prevented.
Fine particle air pollution consists of microscopic particles of dust and soot less than 2.5 microns in diameter – about thirty times smaller than the width of a human hair. These tiny particles primarily come from power plant emissions, motor vehicle exhaust and other operations that involve the burning of fossil fuels. Fine particles can go deep into the respiratory tract, reducing lung function and severe conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

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It is very important to pay attention to lip care instead of just paying attention to make up of lips. As their outermost protective layer is very thin, lips need specific attention. Lips contain no sweat glands and few oil glands therefore they are prone to dryness and chapping. It can be very painful to have cracked dry lips that can develop infections also.
The factors that lead to dry lips are as follows:
• Dehydration can be the first reason for dry lips. You can get dehydrated by consuming too much coffee and alcohol and the first symptoms manifest in dry lips.
• Extreme hot and cold temperatures can also lead to chaffed lips. As the outer protective layer of the lips is thin it is unable to handle extremes in temperature very well. It cracks and this can also hurt.
• Body breakdown is caused by overworking and stress. The lowered body immunity manifest as minor infections and lips are a first casualty. This can cause dry and painful lips.
• Cracked lips can also be caused by irritation and allergic reactions to certain lipsticks and certain types of foods. Contact eczema can also be a cause of this problem. You should consult a professional doctor if you suffer from this condition.
• Some medications can also lead to dehydration of the body resulting in dry lips.
• Lips can dry as a result of certain medical diseases. This can be a side effect of drugs and also needs to be investigated by a doctor.
Some common remedies and precautions that can be followed daily to prevent dry lips are as follows.
1. Drinking at least eight glasses of water everyday helps to keep the body well hydrated. Dehydration is a common cause of the problem and drinking water is a simple solution.
2. You can start using a good lip balm which should create a moisture barrier by reducing dehydration from the lip area. You can also select lip balms with antiseptic properties that are good for cracked lips where infections may have set in.
3. To prevent dry lips you must eat a diet rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B, E and various minerals. This can help counter lifestyle problems and boost immunity levels.
4. You can also apply a mixture of glycerin and rose water on the lips for a few minutes before washing it off to prevent dry lips.

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