| Summer is a wonderful time to be outdoors and | | | | clothing tends to absorb heat while white clothing |
| to be active. It is the vacation season for millions. | | | | tends to reflect it. 6. Know how heat and sun |
| But summer can be a very dangerous time as | | | | interact with your medications. Some medicines |
| well. And, like it or not, once we reach the age of | | | | make us more sensitive to the sun (increased |
| 65 or we develop heart disease or high blood | | | | photosensitivity), more sensitive to heat, or more |
| pressure, we are at greater risk of suffering a | | | | likely to become dehydrated. A quick conversation |
| heat-related illness during the summer. Here, then, | | | | with your physician or pharmacist will alert you to |
| are my top summer health and safety tips for | | | | problems that could arise due to your medications. |
| retirees. 1. Know the symptoms of heat-related | | | | 7. Pay attention to Air Quality Warnings. Breathing |
| illnesses. The greatest risk, of course if heat | | | | difficulties are more common as we grow older. |
| stroke. But other problems can also occur due to | | | | Smog, pollutants, allergens and humidity can make |
| summer heat. Thirst and less frequent urination | | | | it difficult to breathe. Check your television |
| are signs of dehydration. Prickly heat bumps are a | | | | weather information or check online to see what |
| really irritating skin rash. Some people experience | | | | the air quality is before engaging in strenuous |
| cramps and swelling of the hands and feet. It is | | | | activities or before deciding to spend time |
| also possible to experience heat exhaustion | | | | outdoors. 8. Don't forget to protect your eyes. |
| (clammy skin, paleness, dizziness, nausea, fever, | | | | The UV rays of the sun can also damage your |
| and headache). Heat stroke symptoms include: | | | | eyes, and will be uncomfortable, especially if you |
| sluggishness, rapid heart rate and breathing, | | | | are developing cataracts. Always protect your |
| confusion and irritability, high body temperature, | | | | eyes when outdoors by wearing tinted lenses, a |
| intense muscle aches, fever, diarrhea or nausea | | | | hat with a wide brim, or sunglasses. 9. Stay as |
| and even fainting and convulsions. Heat stroke is a | | | | cool as you can. Staying indoors in an air |
| life-threatening situation. People suffering heat | | | | conditioned place is the best way to protect |
| stroke need to get to a hospital immediately. 2. | | | | yourself from the summer heat. Electric fans |
| Drink lots of water throughout the day. Water | | | | might be helpful, up to a point, but once the |
| cools and prevents dehydration. Be sure to drink | | | | temperature passes the 90 degree mark, they |
| lots of water throughout the day, not just with | | | | really don't do enough. If you don't have air |
| meals. Sports drinks are also helpful. But avoid | | | | conditioning, you might want to visit a friend or |
| drinks with a lot of caffeine, lots of sugar, or | | | | family member, go to a public place, like a library, |
| alcohol because they can cause you to lose more | | | | shopping mall, etc. or a "cooling center" to spend |
| body fluids. 3. Be smart about physical exertion. It | | | | time in cooler air. Even a few hours in a cool |
| is best to limit exercise to moderate activity. Plan | | | | environment can help you prevent heat-related |
| to engage in any activities that require great | | | | illness. The best time to go to a cooling center is |
| physical exertion either early in the day (before it | | | | always during the hottest part of the day. 10. |
| gets really hot) or late at night (after the sun | | | | Rest. Try to space out your activities so you |
| goes down and it cools off). You will find that you | | | | have time to rest between them. If you begin to |
| have more energy at these times and that you | | | | feel the effects of summer heat, stop what you |
| place yourself at less risk for heat-related | | | | are doing and rest for a bit before continuing. The |
| problems. 4. Protect your skin. Protecting your | | | | less active we are the less our bodies are |
| skin with either a hat, clothing or sun screen will | | | | stressed by heat. In addition, be safe by paying |
| not only prevent an uncomfortable sun burn, but | | | | attention to normal safety tips. When traveling, |
| it will protect your skin against the damaging UV | | | | pull over to eat snacks. This year, we should all be |
| rays of the sun and protect you from potential | | | | particularly careful where we swim and especially |
| skin cancer. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30+ or | | | | where we dive since many lakes and ponds have |
| higher is the best choice. If you plan to be in the | | | | been affected by this year's droughts and have |
| water, it is important to use a water resistant | | | | significantly lower water levels. And, be very |
| sunscreen. You can also protect your face, neck | | | | careful with fire of any kind. Copyright 2007 by |
| and ears by wearing a hat with a wide brim. 5. | | | | Dr. Cynthia Barnett |
| Think about your clothing. Most of us dress for | | | | Dr Cynthia Barnett is a Retirement Lifestyle |
| the occasion or the purpose. But as we grow | | | | Expert. Through her coaching, keynotes, |
| older and our skin becomes more sensitive and | | | | workshops and seminars she inspires people to |
| our bodies are more likely to feel the effects of | | | | "re-fire" their lives to live happier, satisfying and |
| heat, we also need to think about what we wear | | | | more meaningful lifes. Personal coaching individually |
| a bid differently in summer. Of course, we want | | | | or in groups can help you create a road map for |
| to wear cool clothing. Lightweight clothing is best, | | | | your second phase of life. Athletes know they |
| but with a tight weave, if possible to keep off the | | | | need coaches to help them learn quickly and |
| sun. Remember that natural fabrics breathe | | | | support them on their journey. |
| better than synthetics. And don't forget that black | | | | |