How to Stay Healthy Memorial Day Weekend and Throughout the Summer

Memorial Day weekend is the official weekend of the start of summer. We hope for sunny skies and warm weather so we can have our first swim of the summer and spend time with family and friends. We shop the store sales to buy new summer sandals and bathing suits, new cookout utensils, outdoor tents and chairs, and of course, we start stocking up on fireworks for the 4th of July. Along with all of this, we dust off the grill for the first official barbecue of the summer. This is all exciting and fun for us, but summer also means potential health problems.

The first health issue to be aware of is dehydration. We've been hibernating all winter, and so we tend to be overly excited when summer finally arrives. Being outside under the hot sun can wreak havoc on our bodies. Dehydration means the body doesn't have enough fluids and water as it should. The elderly and children are especially susceptible to this. It's caused by excessive sweating and excessive urine output; and these fluids that are being lost are not being replenished. Symptoms include dry or sticky mouth, headache, dizziness, fainting, and in extreme cases, death. To avoid dehydration, be sure to drink plenty of water when outside in the sun. If you're enjoying physical activities while outside, drink Gatorade or another sports drink to maintain a proper electrolyte balance.

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Credit: www.fda.gov

Copyright: www.fda.gov