While summer is a celebrated season marked by a range of fun outdoor activities, summertime conditions can also expose people to a variety of hazards if they’re not careful.
“Summer is a great time of year to enjoy an array of activities, especially if you have kids, but you want to ensure that you stay healthy and safe at the same time,” says Jaclyn Guliano, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Family Practice of CentraState in Marlboro.
Following are some of Dr. Guliano’s top tips for enjoying a happy and healthy summer.
- Stay hydrated: With the heat and sun exposure of summer, we lose moisture from sweating, so it’s important to drink plenty of water and limit juice, soda, and even milk. I recommend five 8-ounce glasses of water daily for kids and eight 8-ounce glasses for adults.
- Seek protection: Sunblock is essential, but the type is critical. Some only protect against UVA rays, which penetrate deep into the skin and can cause wrinkling, and some protect against UVB rays, which are associated with more superficial skin issues, like sunburn. Use sunblock with an SPF of 30 or greater that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and contains either zinc oxide or titanium oxide as its active ingredient, and reapply it every two hours or so.
- Support your skin: People don’t realize how permanent sun damage can be, so wearing protective clothing and seeking shade are important. Salt water can dry out the skin, so be sure to rinse off after swimming in the ocean. After showering, use a moisture-locking lotion containing soothing ingredients like aloe, cocoa butter, or vitamins A and E.
- Exercise wisely: While it’s great to work out in the summer, heat can put excessive strain on the body. To avoid conditions like heat exhaustion or heatstroke, you may need to reduce the intensity and duration of your workouts or adjust the timing to cooler parts of the day. Stay well hydrated and drink water every 15 to 20 minutes while exercising. Leg spasms or cramps are among the first warning signs that you’re overdoing it, so give yourself adequate time for them to subside. If you experience extreme fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, disorientation, or nausea while exercising in the summer, get into a cool, shaded environment.
- Eat healthfully: Take advantage of New Jersey’s delicious, fresh produce, such as berries, peaches, and watermelon. Watermelon can help you stay hydrated, and you can freeze it to make ice pops or blend it into smoothies, which is fun for kids.
“Pairing these tips with pool and beach safety at our beautiful Jersey Shore can make summer enjoyable and safe for the whole family,” says Dr. Guliano.
The new CentraState Health Pavilion at Marlboro, located at 479 Newman Springs Road, is prepared to meet all your summer health care needs. It includes Family Practice of CentraState, Immediate Care Medical Walk-In, rehabilitation services, and an outpatient lab. To learn more, call 866-CENTRA7 (866-236-8727).
