When the sun is out after a long winter, every one loves it. But not the people of Canary Islands. Tourists there are being warned about the "unusually high risk" of UV rays this week. The Ministry of Health for this holiday destination has urged both, residents and visitors to take extra precautions and preventative measures to limit the impact of sun exposure over their body and skin.

The Ministry observed Aemet, Spain's national weather agency for the forecast which showed higher than normal UV or ultraviolet radiation levels in the region. It is in this backdrop that everyone in the region are requested to be extra careful when they are out in the sun. UV levels are set to reach 7, which is a 'high risk' in La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera and Gran Canaria. Other regions like Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are expected to reach a level 6, which is also classed as 'high risk'.

UV Index Explained

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), a UV index is a measure of the level of UV radiation, which ranges from zero upward. The higher the UVI, the greater potential for damage to skin and eye and the less time it takes for harm to occur, notes WHO.

The range 1 to 2 represents a low risk, 2 to 5 is moderate, 6 to 7 is at high risk, 8 to 10 is at very high and anything over 11 is extremely risky for anyone to stay out.

UV radiation levels fluctuate throughout the day, with the highest values occurring during the four-hour period around solar noon. The reported UV Index (UVI) typically reflects this daily peak. Depending on geographic location and the use of daylight saving time, solar noon falls between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. In some countries, sun protection advisories are issued when UV levels are expected to reach 3 or higher, as exposure at these levels increases the risk of skin damage, making protective measures essential.

What happens to you when you are out in sun for too long?

While sun bathing is good, being out in the sun when the UVI indicates a high or very high risk, may cause you health concerns. It can lead to sunburn, premature skin aging, incresed risk of skin cancer, eye damage and in severe cases, heat related disease.

Sunburn

It is one of the most common skin injury which happens when there is excess exposure to UV radiation from the sun. This happens when the UV radiation directly damages the DNA skin cells. These damaged cells die and shed, this is why people experience peeling after getting a sunburn.

Dehydration

This is also a common occurrence when your body loses too many fluids or electrolytes. It can also interfere with your normal body functions. You may feel dehydrated, especially when you are out in the sun, but not well hydrated. The most common symptoms are dizziness, fatigue and headache on hot days.

Hyponatremia

This is an electrolyte disorder in which your body experiences low sodium in blood. The symptoms could lead to nausea, confusion and even weakness. There are extreme cases when one may have seizures, slip into coma or die.

Heat Exhaustion

This is one of the most common consequence of being out under the hot sun. Dehydration with prolonged heat exposure can lead to heat exhaustion.

Heatstroke

When you are out under the sun and your body's core temperature cross 104°, heatstroke may occur. This is also known as sunstroke. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it causes more than 600 deaths each year in the United States.

Ibuflam tablets by pharmaceutical manufacturer Zentiva under the brand name Lichtenstein has been recalled. The 600mg tablets of ibuprofen products were recalled due to contamination. As per several media reports, a piece of metal was found in the tablet which triggered the recall. As per the manufacturer, the affected tablet are the 50-tablet packs with the batch number 5R02514.

Zentiva stated that the recall is explicitly directed at wholesalers and pharmacies, as the company confirmed upon request and the recall is not directed on patients. This measure was taken as a precautionary measure and in consultation with the relevant regulatory authorities.

As of now, patients have the option to return packages from the affected batch and receiving a replacement.

How Can You Return And Receive A New Ibuprofen Prescription?

As per Zentiva, the standard procedure of returning packages from the affected batch and receiving a replacement could be availed. For instance, if the package is almost empty, the standard procedure does not need to be followed, as this could potentially be considered a new prescription. However, patients will have the option of returning packages with the batch number.

A Zentiva spokesperson explained, "The possibility of obtaining a replacement through the supplying pharmacy in case of suspected quality defects always exists. Any connection to the recall lies solely in the fact that the suspicion regarding this batch can generally be considered justified."

This is not a case of re-dispensing under the replacement procedure. It is important to note that when a replacement pack is dispensed in response to a quality complaint, the affected medicinal product is not being placed on the market again, but rather a previously prescribed and supposedly defective medicinal product is being replaced.

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What Is Ibuflam Or Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID that is used to relieve pain, fever, and inflammation. Ibuflam is a brand name which is a combination medication containing ibuprofen and paracetamol or acetaminophen, which is also designed for enhanced pain relief.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), ibuprofen is on the list of essential medication. The medicine is used by mouth as a syrup or tablet, and could also be applied directly to the skin as a mousse, gel, or spray.

The uses include:

• fever
• inflammation
• headache
• menstrual pain
• common cold
• toothache
• back pain
• arthritis
• sprains

The medicine could have some side effects, which could include pain, diarrhea or constipation, nausea and vomiting, dyspepsia, bloating, dizziness, headache, nervousness, skin rash, tinnitus, edema or fluid retention.

Who Should Not Use Ibuprofen?

Anyone with:

• repeated stomach problems like heartburn
• stomach ulcers
• bleeding problems
• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• kidney disease
• age over 60 years

OR

Anyone who:

• has taken a diuretic
• is using other NSAIDs or pain relief medication
• is using anticoagulants
• is receiving treatment for any serious condition
• has chickenpox or shingles
• has Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• has liver problems

The US Food and Drug Administration approved leucovorin, but not for what White House had recommended for in its September briefing. FDA has approved the prescription drug leucovorin for cerebral folate deficiency in the receptor 1 gene, a genetic condition that is estimated to affect only about 1 in 1 million people.

In September, the White House touted leucovorin as a potential treatment for children with autism. Health and Me previously reported on how parents were struggling to find the prescription drug, while not enough scientific evidence was there to support the claim.

What Is Leucovorin?

It is a high-dose B vitamin, which is commonly used as a treatment to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy. It has been approved by the FDA for cerebral folate deficiency in the receptor 1 gene. The disease is rare and fewer than 50 cases have been identified worldwide. FDA Commissioner Dr Marty Makary called this approval "a significant milestone" for patients with the condition.

However, in September last year, Markary and US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr said that the drug could help children with autism. Kennedy, standing next to US President Donald Trump, said, they had "identified an exciting therapy that may benefit large number of children who suffer from autism."

CNN reported that in Austin, Texas, Meagan Johnson, a mother with an autistic son of three years of age, spent four days calling pharmacies across the region searching for leucovorin. She contacted nearly 40 pharmacies around her home in Pflugerville, hoping to locate the medication. Health and Me reported how getting the prescription turned out to be far harder than obtaining it.

This update on leucovorin, notes CNN have hit some families hard, especially the families of children with autism. This is because of the September briefing and when Trump also said that painkiller Tylenol could in fact cause autism. The drug leucovorin was used as something that could give them hope, however, with the update in its label, parents efforts to find the prescription drugs could feel like in vain.

The Rare Condition For Which Drug Got Its Approval

The drug got its approval for folate deficiency in the receptor 1 gene. This is a defect that causes proteins that guide folate into the brain to malfunction. As a result, normal levels of folate is found in the blood, but not in the brain or nervous system, due to which tasks like thinking, speech and movement could not be performed.

In an op/ed published in Politico and reposted on the White House website last fall, Markary said that his agency would "approve prescription leucovorin as a treatment for children with cerebral folate deficiency and autistic symptoms". However, he did not that it cause not a cure for autism, but there have been studies that show that it could help children with folate deficiency and autism to improve speech by roughly 60 per cent. The Trump administration made a bold move to expand the usage of the drug by "opening the door to the first FDA-recognized treatment for autism." wrote Markary and other HHS leaders.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday to collaborate on advancing research in space medicine.

The MoU was signed between M Srinivas, Director (AIIMS), New Delhi and Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), ISRO. The event brought together senior leadership from AIIMS and ISRO, including ISRO Chairman V Narayanan and Secretary, Department of Space, as well as Deans, Heads of Departments, faculty members, and studies from AIIMS New Delhi.

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As per the news agency Asian News International (ANI), a press release of the collaboration noted for a cooperative framework for ground-based and space-based research in Space Medicine. The press release also noted that the research will cover areas like human physiology, cardiovascular and autonomic regulation, musculoskeletal health in microgravity, microbiome and immunology, genomics and biomarkers and behavioral health.

“This MoU will give us the escape velocity to venture together into the field of space medicine. Collaborative research between AIIMS and ISRO will benefit patients, the nation, and ultimately humankind. As India moves toward Viksit Bharat by 2047, we hope to emerge as a Vishwaguru in space medicine as well,” said Prof M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi.

Chairman of ISRO Dr V Narayanan and Secretary, Department of Space also highlighted India’s remarkable journey in space programme. He noted how India evolved from the time when rockets and equipment were transported on bicycles and bullock carts to today, where it is going to be leading medical and research institutions like AIIMS to strengthen India’s human spaceflight capabilities.

The programme also featured a presentation on AIIMS New Delhi’s ongoing work in space medicine research, delivered by Prof. KK Deepak, former Head of the Department of Physiology. The event was attended by Heads of Departments and faculty members from across AIIMS New Delhi, along with representatives from the Resident Doctors Association (RDA), the AIIMS Student Association (ASA), and the Society of Young Scientists (SYS).

The collaboration represents an important step toward enhancing India’s capabilities in human spaceflight and biomedical research. It also aligns with the country’s broader scientific ambitions as India moves toward its centenary in 2047 and the vision of Viksit Bharat.

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What Do We Already Know About Space Medicine?

As per a 2017 study in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, space medicine is fundamental to the human exploration of space. It supports survival, function and performance in this challenging as potentially lethal environment. It is international, intercultural and interdisciplinary, operating at the boundaries of exploration, science, technology and medicine.

Space medicine specialists play a crucial role in safeguarding astronauts and other spaceflight participants. Known as “flight surgeons,” they help develop strategies to protect the health, safety, and performance of space travellers in the extreme conditions of space. Their responsibilities span every stage of a mission — from selection and training to in-flight care, post-mission rehabilitation, and monitoring long-term health effects.

With inputs from ANI