During the long hot summer, take precautions!

Does it happen to you that you forget to drink water or other fluids and remember only when you are literally dying of thirst?   Is your urine low in volume and more yellowish than normal? Are you dizzy, lightheaded, constipated,  breathing rapidly, and constantly suffering from headaches?

Not to be an alarmist or your prophet of doom, but these days, the temperatures are abnormally high and the heat may cause havoc in our system if we don’t take precautions!

There are two conditions we would wish to avoid during the summer months: dehydration and heat stroke.  Both conditions could be fatal if not avoided or given proper medical attention instantly.  Remember that very high temperatures may cause a climb in body temperature (40+ degrees Centigrade or 104º F+) and when cooling mechanisms are unable to lower the body’s temperature, a heat stroke and dehydration  occur which may cause brain damage and shutdown of the functions of internal organs.  The body has mechanisms to cool off extreme heat, but we have to help our body by hydrating it constantly and avoiding circumstances that dehydrate us.

Many conditions may cause rapid fluid loss that leads to dehydration and heat stroke so let us be vigilant about water and fluid intake when faced with these conditions:

Too much exercise, fever, increased urination due to infection, vomiting, diarrhea due to food poisoning or gastroenteritis, travelling with no access to safe drinking water (bring your own water supply), significant injuries to skin such as burns or mouth sores (water is lost through the damaged skin), prolonged sun exposure (sunbathing, manual laborers working outdoors, athletes doing strenuous sports);  and other factors.

Reminder:  Do not take the above symptoms lightly. Seek medical assistance and bring the afflicted to the nearest hospital!

Adults are supposed to take 11-15 tall glasses (10 ounces) of fluids daily.

Hot tips

If you want to enjoy outdoor activities in this hot weather, you should keep hydrated and avoid overexhaustion.

• Drink plenty of fluids, preferably the ones that hydrate you with electrolytes, (small amounts of body salts are lost during fluid losses) such as Pocari Water, Gatorade, and other commercial isotonic drinks.  Avoid caffeine, stimulants, diuretics, and alcoholic beverages as they have dehydrating properties.  Avoid heavy meals as well.

• Wear light and loose fitting clothing that will allow perspiration to evaporate and cool the body.  Wear wide-brimmed hats in light colors to keep the sun from heating your head and neck, and to block the powerful radiation from hurting the eyes.

• Avoid strenuous exercises during daylight hours when temperatures are at their highest.   Do your aerobics and other exercises after sundown. 

• Avoid staying in enclosed spaces such as  your car if your aircon is not on.  Statistics in the US show that between 1998 and 2011, at least 500 children have died from being inside hot cars and 75 percent of them were below two years of age.

• When doing strenuous activities or sunbathing, applying cold compresses or wet towels on the neck, face, torso, head could be helpful in lowering body temperatures.

• Eat foods that are high in water content such as fruits and vegetables.  Avoid eating  raw food and foods that have been exposed for hours  in restaurant  buffets.

Beauty and the beach

Don’t let the joys of walking out on the beach displaying your new Cohen weight loss diet body tempt you not to take precautions for your skin.  Always use sun screen creams with high SPF (sun protection factor) to shield you from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.   Your face especially needs to be protected daily from the harsh rays of the sun.  

I discovered a new product, Coverderm Filteray BB Sunscreen, that I use almost daily for my face.  It not only filters the sun’s rays but is also the perfect cover for my pigmentation. It is waterproof, anti-inflammatory, and has moisturizing properties. I don’t have to apply it constantly as it gives protection for a minimum of six hours.  It contains vitamin C and avocadin which prevents premature aging, regenerates, and hydrates the skin.  I also use the body spray for my back and arms when I use a sleeveless sand low back top during daytime.  They have different degrees of SPF, starting from 10 to 50.

Coverderm is available at Duty Free Philippines, sports outlets, and a showroom at 3F Bonifacio Technology Bldg., 31st St. corner 2nd Ave. Global City.

Budget- and travel-friendly

To moisturize my skin before bedtime, I use the latest Sunflower Beauty Oil of Human Nature.  A 50ml. bottle, perfect for travel use, costs only P149.75.  This oil helps diminish fine lines around the eyes, helps lighten under-eye circles, helps soften and lighten underarms, removes makeup, helps hydrate dry face and helps improve skin condition after sunburn, among many other uses.  It really is a small bottle of miracles at a very affordable price. Available at Rustan’s Fresh Supermarket and other supermarkets. 

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Source of dehydration and heatstroke facts: Medterms.com