William Penn Life, 2012 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-07-01 / 7. szám
Our Health Corner with Debbie Wolfe, rn Beyond sunscreen More than your skin needs special care during the summer HAPPY JULY! Summer is here! Time for vacations and family fun. But summertime fun in the sun comes with its own set of precautions. Last summer, we talked about the types of sun screens to protect your skin, but more than your skin needs protection. Protecting Your Eyes. Are your sunglasses doing their job to protect your eyes? "Sunglasses that don't block 99 to 100 percent of UV light are worse than no sunglasses at all," says the chief of ophthalmology at New York Presbyterian Hospital. The darker the lenses, the more your pupils dilate, allowing even more light in. To find a protective pair, check the UV sticker. If it says only "UV protection" with no number, that pair may offer as little as 50 percent protection. Make sure your brand states 99 to 100 percent UV protection. Go BIG! Larger lenses block more light and protect the eyelid and surrounding skin. If you can find a wraparound style you like to block glare from the sides, that's even better. The color of the lenses is no indicator of the level of protection. Price is also not a good indicator of UV protection. I found a pair at the mall I liked; they were $200 but only had 70 percent UV protection. Later that same day, I found a pair at the flea market for $5 that had 100 percent protection. Protecting Your Hair. Your hair needs protection from the sun's rays, too. Ultraviolet rays don't just damage your skin; they dry out your hair, fade your color and take away the overall shine. Here are some tips to keep your hair looking great. • Always wet your hair with tap water before diving in the pool or charging into the surf. Wet hair will soak up less chlorine or salt than dry hair. • Mist on long-lasting sunscreen for hair. Several are available at your -ríjfra neighborhood drug i. store. • And don't forget about your scalp. Apply at least an SPF 30 on your "part" every time you reapply sunscreen. Avoiding Dehydration. The summer sun and heat can also lead to dehydration. Staying hydrated will help you maintain your energy through all your summer adventures. If you don't drink enough, you could experience headache, fatigue, cramps and—in the most extreme situations-life-threatening shock. If you plan to be active for more than two hours in the sun and heat, hydration becomes even more critical. For example, you can lose up to two quarts of fluid per hour hiking in the heat. So how much water should you bring on your hike? Take the number of hours you and your friends plan on being active, divide that by two and multiply by the number of people in your group, (e.g., 2 hours of hiking -r 2 * 4 people hiking = 4 liters of water, or 1 liter per person.) For all day outings, consider an electrolyte enhanced sports drink, like Gatorade, to help replace the minerals that keep your brain, heart and other other muscles running smoothly. If you prefer to stick with water, bring along munchies, to snack on every hour instead. Any munchie works as long as they have some salt for your electrolyte balance and carbs for fuel. I find there is nothing like good old raisins and peanuts. They are salty, lightweight and high in energy. Enjoy all that summer has to offer: lazy days at the beach or park, a week in the cool mountains or even a trip to some exotic island. Be smart and stay safe. Make Summer 2012 one you will remember with a smile, not one you want to forget. Till next month.... Be Healthy! Be Happy! stay Fit! egészségére! rabble ■■ For more useful information about how to stay healthy and safe during the summer, whether you’re staying at home or going somewhere on vacation, log onto: O http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/summer-health-directory (Offering information and resources on nearly everything under the summer sun) O http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MovingOutdoors (Guidelines for staying healthy outdoors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) William Penn Life 0 July 2012 0 11
