Posted In Health Tips on June 26, 2024
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Summer is here and it's important to pay attention to possible health risks that may come with warmer weather. In this article, we provide tips to protect your skin, stay hydrated in the heat, and practice water safety.
Protect your skin
Understanding sun safety and using sunscreen is crucial to keeping your skin healthy and preventing sun damage. Everyone loves to spend time in the sun during warmer seasons and spending time outside is a great way to be physically active, reduce stress, and get vitamin D.
While being outside in the sun, it is important to protect your skin and reduce damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are a form of radiation emitted by the sun, tanning beds, and sun lamps. UV rays can cause skin damage all year round, so taking the precautionary steps to protect your skin should be prioritized every day. According to the Skin Care Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and worldwide, and an estimated 80% of skin aging is caused by the sun.
Some ways to protect yourself from sun damage include staying in the shade, wearing long clothing and brimmed hats to avoid excessive skin exposure, using sunglasses, and applying the correct sunscreen. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 should be applied in a thick layer covering all exposed skin and reapplied every two hours and after swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel.
Stay hydrated
It is easy to lose track of time and forget to drink enough water to avoid becoming dehydrated and suffering from heat exhaustion. During warmer seasons, it is vital to replenish the water you lose from sweating. According to the American Heart Association, drinking enough water keeps the body hydrated, helps the heart pump blood through the body more efficiently, and helps muscles function properly.
The best way to tell if you’re dehydrated is by paying attention to the color of your urine: Pale and clear urine is an indicator of proper hydration, while darker urine means you need to drink more water. Other symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, feeling tired, swollen feet, or headache.
Dehydration can also lead to heat stroke and other fatal illnesses, so it is important to pay attention to your body and make sure you are getting enough water throughout your day.
Water safety
Pools and beaches are popular places to visit during the summertime. While spending time by the water, being mindful of water safety and guidelines will keep everyone safe and free of injury.
The American Red Cross provides the following guidelines for practicing safe swimming: “Always swim in a lifeguarded area, never swim alone (regardless of your age or swimming skills), keep within your fitness and swimming capabilities, heed warnings, and be aware of weather and water conditions.”