South Texas Health System Hosting Live Webinar To Provide Important Education On Sun Safety During The Ongoing Scorching South Texas Heat

For the next installment of its monthly Let’s Talk Your Health webinar series, STHS will offer education on UV radiation from the sun, its impact on your health and how to stay sun safe

Ultraviolet (UV) rays may be invisible to the human eye, but the impact of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun is very real.

While UV rays have some beneficial effects, chiefly through the production of vitamin D and potential positive impacts on mood and certain skin conditions, excessive exposure to UV radiation can be harmful.

“Too much UV radiation from the sun can damage the DNA in our skin cells,” says Mike Menowsky, MD, FACEP, an emergency medicine physician affiliated with South Texas Health System. “Excessive UV exposure is a major risk factor for developing skin cancer, including melanoma, which can be life-threatening if not detected and treated early.”

In the United States, skin cancer is a major public health concern, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with one in five Americans developing it during their lifetime.

But that’s not all… Excessive exposure to UV radiation can lead to premature aging, eye damage and a weakening of the body’s immune system,  making it less effective at fighting off infections.

The good news is that there are several ways to stay protected from harmful UV radiation and prevent long-term skin damage.

“Being sun smart is crucial for protecting your skin and overall health from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation,” says Menowsky. “Implementing sun safety practices can significantly reduce these risks.”

To help Rio Grande Valley residents be sun smart, South Texas Health System will dedicate its latest Let’s Talk Your Health webinar to UV safety.

Broadcast live on the STHS Facebook Events page on Tuesday, July 15, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., the online seminar will offer important education on UV radiation from the sun, its impact on your health and how to stay sun safe. During the webinar, a STHS-affiliated health expert will discuss safety practices that you can incorporate into your daily routine that allow you to enjoy the outdoors while minimizing the risks associated with sun exposure.

For more information on the webinar, visit the STHS Facebook Events page. To watch previous Let’s Talk Your Health Seminars, visit STHSLetsTalk.com.

About South Texas Health System

South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.