Summer Health Care
Summer is one of the four temperate seasons of the world; it is the warmest season of year with the longest days. The summer season is popularly considered to start on different dates in different cultures or areas of the world. Equally and almost in all cultures, it is the season of relaxation having “summer vacation" in all secondary and elementary schools. [1]
Summer is the season of sun as well as fun. [2] Summer is a great time to maintain your fitness program and enjoy fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, take a vacation and have fun. It’s also the time to pay attention to your health and safety. [3] When you are outdoor for enjoyment in summer don’t forget to keep precautionary measures for yourself and your children. [2]
Summer hazards are numerous ranging from insect bites and heat stroke to skin cancer and dehydration. [2] So protect your skin, prevent illness and injury, and be preparing for possible emergencies and disasters of summer. Below are some tips to help you stay safe and healthy this summer. [3]
Skin and Body Care
According to American Cancer society more than one million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer that is mainly caused by ultraviolet sun radiation. [2] Summer restrictions should be beneficial for every one whether young or old; too much sun exposure can lead to serious consequences for people of any age. Electromagnetic radiation that are emitted from the sun in the form of ultraviolet (UV) light burns the skin and can lead to skin lots of skin conditions like sunburn [2, 4] and more severe include skin cancer. [2]
Here are some mentioned tips that really help against problems associated with scorching sunlight.
- Always wear wide brimmed hats before going to expose to sun [2, 4] and use an umbrella when in the sun. [4] You can also wear sunglasses to restrict harms of ultraviolet radiations on your eyes. [7]
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply it after two to three hours. [2, 3, 4, 7]
- Try to avoid scheduling outdoor activities during afternoon when sunlight is scorching and strongest. [2, 3, 4, 7]
- Use of lip balm is also good. [7]
- Use clothing to cover as much of your skin as possible when you are exposed to sun. [2]
- Some foods may have some protective ability against sunburn and recommended to take a period before the exposure to sun. Beta-carotene and lycopene are the two chemicals easily found in tomatoes and seasonal fruits, have been found to increase the skin's ability to resist the effects of UV light. [4]
It should also keep in mind that sun protection is important all year round not only in summer. It is recommended to perform above mentioned precautionary measures to prevent you from skin cancer and other hazardous skin conditions. [3]
Avoid Dehydration with Plenty of Water Intake
Dehydration is the most common problem in hot summer. It is strictly recommended to drink plenty of water during the hot summer seasons especially recommended if you are going to outside for extensively long periods of time. [2, 5] An average person having normal daily activities loses two and a half quarts of water every day through three basic mechanism elimination, perspiration and respiration. It takes eight glasses of water to replace this loss. Any increase in any of three lead to more water requirement. [2] As there is more perspiration in summer so drink plenty of water to replace lost body fluids. [6]
The greater the amount of water lost through perspiration so the more water must be consumed to replace it to maintain natural water balance of body. Water is too crucial for life and as it is evident that human body cannot tolerate large deficits, so it must be sure that consumption of water approximately concurrent with its loss. [5]
Eat Healthy and Safe foods
Always eat balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Be sure that your diet doesn’t restricted to meat and high fat content food. Fruits and vegetables are also crucial for life and they encase important vitamins, fiber minerals and minerals that may help protect you from health hazards.
- Add plenty of fruits and vegetables daily to ensure your health.
- Make use of seasonal fruit on regular basis.
- Make a habit to wash your hands before eating or preparing food.
- Cook foods to the proper temperatures to kill the contaminated germs. [4]
References
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_season
- http://www.umm.edu/features/summer.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/men/summer/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunburn
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration
- http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003218trt.htm
- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC & James F. Balch, M.D. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. (3rd edition) Page No. 631. Penguin Putnam INC. New York: Avery.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease.
|
