Better Summer Health Tips

by Barbara J. Sarene on July 3, 2009

by Barbara J. Sarene

Are you interested in being healthier during the summer? The summer heat can take a toll on you physically and can even present some hidden dangers. No matter what activity you participate in during the summer, it is a good idea to be cautious and always take your health into consideration. You should know exactly how to manage the heat. You also know how to swim safely. There are a number of tips that will help you stay health during the summer heat.

As the temperature and humidity rises the risk of suffering from heat exhaustion and heat strokes also rises. When the bodys cooling features become overloaded it is possible for heat illnesses to occur. It is important to drink a lot of fluids during the summer months. Even if you are not doing a lot of work or performing strenuous activities it is still important to drink a lot of fluids during the hot weather in order to prevent dehydration. You should avoid drinks that have a lot of sugar in them. Also be sure to avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol.

You should know the signals of heat emergencies. Heat exhaustion is one of the more common heat illnesses. Although it is relatively mild it can be very dangerous. This illness occurs sometime after dehydration occurs. Certain groups of people are more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion such as older people and young children. People who have high blood pressure need to be more careful as well. Some of the symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy perspiring and muscle cramps.

It is also important to know the signs of a heat stroke which can be much more fatal. Heat strokes can be life threatening. When the body is unable to control its temperature a heat stroke can occur. It takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes after the first system occurs for a heat stroke to occur. One of the symptoms of a heat stroke is a very high body temperature over one hundred and three degree. Your skin will also become hot, dry, and red.

Do you feel as though you might be suffering from heat exhaustion? If so, there are several things you should do to help treat the heat related illness. The first thing you should do is find a cool place to sit and relax that is out of the sun. Be sure to loosen your clothing. You should begin drinking fluids but not fluids that contain caffeine or alcohol. You should also take a cold shower if possible then sit and rest for awhile until your body cools down.

There are a number of things you should be careful of when swimming. You should avoid getting Swimmers Ear, which is an ear infection, at all costs. You can do a number of things to protect yourself from swimmers ear. For starters, you should also remember to dry your ears after getting out of the water. It is a good idea to check the chlorine and pH-testing program at the pool. Be sure to avoid swimming in waters that may have been previously closed due to pollution.

Swimmers itch is another illness that can occur from swimming in contaminated water. Swimmers itch is a skin rash. Children are more prone to getting swimmers itch because they swim in shallow water. You should avoid swimming in locations where swimmers itch has become a known problem. Avoid feeding the bird in the area. You should also avoid swimming in marshy area where snails can be located. You should dry yourself off as soon as you leave the water or take a shower.

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