Heat and sun exposure top the list of summer health concerns
SUMMER IS A WONDERFUL TIME.
Who doesn’t like long, lazy days, warm weather, picnics, and all things fun in the sun? My family, just like yours, revels in a good summer day.
For most of us, excitement can get ahead of our judgment. Relaxing in the summer heat might be good for the soul, but it can cause health problems from mild sunburn to heat stroke, particularly if we don’t routinely spend much of our life outdoors.
The summer sun, however, is a friend, not a foe if we follow a few simple rules.
Don’t get burned
The quickest way to dampen a summer day is sunburn. One of the worst burns of my life was on the top of my feet while learning how to windsurf. That certainly put a crimp on my vacation. Still, sunburns are totally avoidable with sunscreen and cover.
I cannot recommend highly enough the use of good, basic sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Yes, even those of you who think you are “tanners” need sunscreen. First, it helps prevent skin cancer, no matter your skin type. This reason alone merits its continuous use.
Of course, sunscreen also helps prevent sunburn. Burns are caused by overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays hit us more intensely in the summer and closer to the equator. UV rays also hit our skin when it is overcast. Sunscreen helps block these rays, which, in turn, prevents burns.
Besides using sunscreen, wearing cover-ups, hats, and light longsleeve shirts, as well as staying in the shade, can also help with sunburn prevention. Avoiding direct sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. can be a big help. Don’t neglect those forgettable places, like the top of your head (or part line), your face, your ears, the back of your neck, and, yes, your feet. If you wear makeup, make sure a basic sunscreen is included.
If, even after all your prevention, you do get burned, treatment is simple. Aloe gels are an excellent way of helping with the pain. You can also use anti-inflammatory drugs (the same as you would use for fever or basic pain) to help reduce the sting. Benzocaine products can also help with symptoms. Above all, like always in the summer, drink plenty of liquids. Besides UV rays, the sun brings heat. Overexposure to heat is a spectrum that ranges from mild heat exhaustion to full heat stroke. To avoid heat stroke, the key is to stay out of the heat exhaustion zone.
Always drink plenty of fluids when romping in the sun. In general, drink more than you think you need. Make sure you are able to get cool when you start to get overheated. Get out of the sun and into the shade. Use alcohol in moderation. It is easy to get overheated if you overindulge. Plus, alcohol is a diuretic, which lowers fluid levels in the body. Certain medications can make you prone to problems with heat. Make sure you talk with your medical provider about these issues.
At the beginning stages of heat exhaustion, you will be sweaty and start to feel fatigued. You may feel nauseated or get a headache. Treatment is simple. Move to a cool place, rest, and drink plenty of cool water.
If you have moved to a higher level of exposure, you will stop sweating and start running a fever. You may also feel confused, flushed, and have a rapid heart rate or breathing, and even experience seizures. If these symptoms occur, seek immediate treatment at the nearest emergency department.
Safe in the sun
Taking a few simple precautions will keep you safe, burn-free, and enjoying a great season. Summer is for adventure. The last place you want to explore is an emergency room. Sunscreen, lots of fluids, and common sense will keep you healthy and active all summer long.
Dr. Steven Bills is the owner of TeleMeMD (www.mytelehealthmd), an on-demand urgent-care service. Dr. Bills was born, raised, and educated in Toledo, attending St. John’s Jesuit High School and the University of Toledo, and graduating in 1993 from the Medical College of Ohio. Dr. Bills completed Emergency Medicine Residency training at the joint St. Vincent/Mercy Medical Center and Toledo Hospital program. Since 1996, Dr. Bills has worked in the Northwest Ohio area in nearby emergency departments as well as being a flight physician on local area medical transport helicopters. ✲
