SAFE SUMMERS

Best Ways To Protect Oneself From Heat

Summer is a time to enjoy outdoor activities and eat
a variety of foods such as ice-cream and cool drinks. But this weather
poses challenges and can result in various health concerns. To have
a happy and safe summer, one needs to be extra careful to prevent
the hazardous effects of the weather. Here’s a list of some methods which
will help you stay cool and safe this summer.

Safe Summers

Safe Summers by Famhealth

Best Ways To Protect Yourself From Heat

Summer is a time to enjoy outdoor activities and eat a variety of foods such as ice-cream and cool drinks. But this weather poses challenges and can result in various health concerns. To have a happy and safe summer, one needs to be extra careful to prevent the hazardous effects of the weather. Here’s a list of some methods which will help you stay cool and safe this summer.

Stay away from heat during peak heat hours and protect yourself.

Try to stay inside especially from noon to around 3 pm, when the sun’s rays are directly perpendicular. If you have to go out cover your eyes and wear wide brimmed hats to protect yourself. Try to wear loose fitted clothes and protect yourself from getting exposed to direct sun and use sunscreen with a high SPF content whenever possible.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) using air conditioners at home is the best way to protect oneself from heat-related illnesses.

Hydrate yourself

Dehydration can lead to various problems such as heat stroke. It is extremely essential to keep oneself hydrated, so keep on drinking water and liquids all around the day to keep yourself hydrated. A good amount of water is lost during perspiration; hence to compensate the lost water one must drink at least 7-8 glasses of water each day. It is also good to consume fruits and vegetables high in water content such as watermelons.

If you are dehydrated, you may experience below signs and symptoms:

  • Excessive thirst
  • Dry mouth
  • Headache
  • Cramping in muscles
  • Confusion

The best way to prevent dehydration is to slowly start consuming water. However, one must be careful not to guzzle an entire glass at an instance, as it might add an extra load to the stomach. Alcohol should be avoided, as it leaves the body dehydrated.

Be extra vigilant, if you suffer from below problems:

Heat cramps

Dehydration can lead to painful muscle cramps in legs and abdomen. Start massaging the cramped area and start rehydrating your body by slowly consuming water.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a serious condition which happens due to an extreme exposure to hot weather conditions. Usually, such individuals perspire heavily and their skin turns cold and clammy. It’s important to immediately shift the affected person to an air-conditioned environment. Rehydrating the person slowly with the water is essential to reverse heat exhaustion.

Heatstroke (or sunstroke)

Long hours of exposure or extreme physical exertion under the summer sun can lead to an extremely dangerous condition known as heat stroke. Unlike with heat exhaustion, people experiencing heatstroke have hot dry skin and a high body temperature — and they often have stopped sweating.

Sun and skin cancer

Sun rays have ultra violet light, which is extremely dangerous to the skin; exposure can result in skin tanning and ultimately can lead to skin cancer. Extreme exposure to sun can also cause sunburn, eye damage, and premature wrinkles.

It is important to cover oneself with proper clothing; broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and staying indoors  can also help one from the damage caused to skin.

How to choose a good sunscreen to protect your skin?

According to US Food and Drug Administration regulations require labels to follow certain guidelines. Below are certain labels which should be present, while you are choosing a sunscreen for yourself:

  • Choose a sunscreen with “broad-spectrum” protection. A broad spectrum sunscreen means it should protect against both UVA and UVB radiations. UVB radiations cause sunburns and most of the sunscreen protect against it. But, UVA radiations cause skin cancer and ageing. Hence, a broad spectrum sunscreen should only be used.
  • Choose sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Sunscreen with higher SPF not only protects for a longer period of time, but also has the capacity to filter higher percentage of UV rays. Example: SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%; SPF 50 sunscreens filter about 98%, and SPF 100 filter about 99%. According to FDA sunscreens with SPF 15 or lesser protect only against sun burns not against the skin cancers.
  • While choosing sunscreen you must be carefully observe that “Water resistant” does not mean “waterproof.” No sunscreens are waterproof or “sweat proof”. It is advisable to reapply sunscreen after every 2 hours.

Protect yourself from viral diseases-cold, flu and viral fever

During the summer, the body weakens and becomes susceptible to viral infections. You can take some preventive steps to protect yourself against infections. Below are few steps which you can take:

  • Ask your doctor if you can have a flu vaccination.
  • Wash your hands regularly and keep your surroundings clean.
  • Consume antioxidant rich foods, foods with lots of vitamins and minerals to strengthen your immune system.
  • Exercise regularly to keep your immune system fight against infection.

Protect yourself from mosquito borne diseases

Indian summers harbor mosquitoes, especially during the monsoons. Mosquito-borne diseases result primarily due to viruses, bacteria or parasites and are transmitted by mosquito bite. To protect yourself from dangerous diseases like malaria, dengue take below mentioned preventive steps:

  • Use a mosquito repellent
  • Plan your day outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active
  • Wear full covered clothes
  • Avoid standing water
  • Use a mosquito net
  • Keep the air circulated by using fans. It will make mosquitoes difficult to fly near you

Water-borne illnesses

Summers also harbor many water-borne illnesses like Jaundice, cholera and diahrrea. To protect from those infections follow some below mentioned steps by:

  • Practicing good sanitation methods.
  • Drinking boiled or chemically treated water
  • Avoid contaminated foods such as street foods
  • Food consumed should be properly cooked, as these viruses are heat prone and get killed easily with boiling and heating.
  • Avoid raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled
  • When you eat raw fruit or vegetables that can be peeled, peel them yourself.
  • Wash your hands properly before consuming food.

Good Habits for healthy metabolism

Good Habits for healthy metabolism by Famhealth
  • Stress- It is a widely known fact that stress is a number one cause to a large number of diseases. According to a study conducted by the researches at the Ohio State University, stress is in direct correlation decline in metabolism speed. It is advisable to have a daily habit to find a quiet place and relax for at least fifteen minutes by doing deep breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation.
  • Drink more water- Without enough water intake, our metabolism gets “depressed” as the research by the University of Utah shows. An optimal amount of water intake for an adult would be eight glasses of water per day. Additionally, it is highly advised to drink one glass of water before a meal, as water consumption before the meal helps enhance your metabolism speed.
  • Eat often-Eating can actually boost your metabolism. It is recommended to eat smaller/lesser meals more frequently. Experts suggest, you should have five small meals every three hours. Also, eating at the same time every day, and avoiding late dinners helps in boosting metabolism
  • Good Sleep-Irregular sleeping habits can harm your metabolism causing stress and craving for sugar and bad carbs. Quality sleep requires sleeping in a well aired room without artificial light for at least eight hours. To keep your metabolism from slowing down you should try to go to bed at the same time and wake up early each day
  • Increase your iron levels-Iron helps to transform blood sugar into energy that fuels the muscles in the human body. Including foods rich in iron such as fish, red meat and beans into your daily eating regiment, can help boost your metabolism during physical activity.

Dizziness

Dizziness: Signs, Symptoms, Causes and First Aid

Dizziness isn’t a disease, but rather a symptom of various disorders.

Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, woozy, or unbalanced. It affects the sensory organs, specifically the eyes and ears, so it can sometimes cause fainting.

Causes of Dizziness

Common causes of dizziness include a migraine, medications, alcohol and problem in the inner ear.

Some other possible causes of dizziness include:

  • Sudden drop in blood pressure
  • Heart muscle disease
  • Decrease in blood volume
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Low iron
  • Low blood sugar
  • Ear infection
  • Dehydration
  • Heat stroke
  • Excessive exercise
  • Motion sickness

How to identify Dizziness

People experiencing dizziness may feel various sensations, including:

  • light-headedness or feeling faint
  • a false sense of spinning
  • unsteadiness
  • loss of balance
  • feeling of floating or swimming

Sometimes, dizziness is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or fainting. Seek emergency medical help if you have these symptoms for extended periods.

What to do when you feel Dizziness.

Follow these tips if you have recurrent bouts of dizziness:

  • Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy and rest until the dizziness goes away.
  • Use a cane or walker for stability, if necessary.
  • Always use handrails when walking up or down the stairs.
  • Do activities that improve balance, such as yoga and Tai Chi.
  • Avoid moving or switching positions suddenly.
  • Avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery if you frequently experience dizziness without warning.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. Using these substances may trigger dizziness or make it worse.
  • Drink at least eight glass of water a day, get seven hours or more of sleep, and avoid stressful situations.
  • Eat a healthful diet that consists of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins to help prevent dizziness.

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