7 Tips for Keeping Patients Healthy and Safe This Summer
The middle of the summer is looming large, meaning greater heat, the longest days of the year, and more opportunity to get outside and enjoy it until winter hits. While it’s a popular season that many people enjoy and has much to offer, it can also pose some threats to the health of your patients. If they stay on top of it by taking control of their health, your patients can and will be able to have both a happy and healthy summer. Here are 7 tips you can encourage your patients to follow.
1. Stay Safe in the Sun
August is Summer Sun Safety Month, making it a good time to inform your patients how to protect themselves from sun damage. UV radiation levels are the highest in the summer, so they will have to take extra care of their skin when going outside. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the sun and man-made sources like tanning beds and welding torches.
The majority of skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UV rays no matter the source. Knowing this, your patients should be motivated to protect their skin from these harmful rays whenever they’re outside.
There are a few steps your patients can take to protect themselves from UV rays; the simplest one being to stay in the shade. If this isn’t feasible for them, they can put on a lightweight shirt that won’t have them drenched in sweat but will still protect their skin for the time being. Along with this, they can throw on a hat to protect their face or a pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes and the skin around it. Your patients should also avoid tanning beds and sun lamps.
The most important step your patients should be taking is to use sunscreen. While no sunscreen will block all UV rays, your patients can use sunscreen with a higher SPF (sun protection factor) number in order to get more protection. If they apply sunscreen properly and take extra steps such as those mentioned before, they’ll be able to protect themselves from serious sun damage.
2. Stay Active, but Keep Cool
Regularly exercising is a big part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and the warmer weather during the summer months can make it enjoyable for your patients to go outdoors and partake in physical activity. However, they should remain cautious in order to avoid overheating.
If your patients decide to exercise outside, you should encourage them to do so closer to the morning or evening when the temperatures and the UV levels aren’t as high. Not only will this protect them from overheating, but their workout might even be a little more enjoyable in slightly lower (but still warm) temperatures. If the morning or evening doesn’t work out for them and they have to exercise in the middle of the day, they should aim for shadier areas to keep cool. Though if it’s just too hot outside, they should settle for a workout inside an air-conditioned building.
Your patients should also be hydrating frequently before, during, and after their physical activity. Drinking the proper amount of fluids is crucial when it comes to giving your body the fluids it needs to perform adequately. Dehydration can occur at any time, but it’s much more likely when working out in the summer heat. They can work to prevent dehydration by drinking water before, during, and after their exercise, wearing lightweight clothing, and hydrating before they are even thirsty. Thirst is one of the earlier signs of dehydration, so it’s important for your patients to prevent thirst as well.
3. Eat Healthy Food, and Eat It Right
Summer is a great time for your patients to grill out or eat outdoors with their family and friends. However, they should still make sure they’re choosing healthy options in order to take control and maintain their health throughout the summer months. For healthier grilling, your patients should opt to serve more chicken, fish, and vegetables while avoiding ground beef, pork, sausage, and hot dogs since they tend to be processed and could increase their risk of cancer.
Your patients should also remain aware of how they are cooking their meat. By marinating their meat or microwaving it for two minutes before grilling, they can lower the risk of carcinogenic compounds forming. They should bring a food thermometer in order to make sure their grilled foods are cooked properly. Grilling out also allows your patients the opportunity to involve fresh fruits and vegetables, and maybe even a healthy summer salad.
The warmer temperatures due to the summer heat can easily spoil food, so your patients will have to take extra care. They should make sure to wash their hands, containers, utensils, and work surfaces before they handle their food in order to prevent harmful bacteria from spreading. They should also throw out any leftovers that have sat out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the temperature is over 90°F.
4. Get Plenty of Rest
Failing to get the proper amount of sleep has been associated with increased hunger, higher blood sugar levels, poor concentration, frequent illness, and impaired problem-solving. Your patients should be aiming to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
Your patients should try to maintain healthy sleep habits throughout the summer in order to fall asleep easier and get better sleep, especially since the summer heat might make it a little more difficult to get to sleep. Sleeping allows the body and mind to replenish cells, rebuild tissue, and restore energy. No sleep means no energy, and your patients will need all the energy they can get throughout these hot summer months.
In order for your patients to get better rest by staying cool during the nighttime, they should make sure to turn on their air conditioning or use a fan whenever they’re sleeping to allow them to be in a cooler atmosphere. Cooler temperatures tend to stimulate melatonin production which can result in better quality sleep for your patients.
5. Protect Yourself from Bugs
According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), insect stings are responsible for over 500,000 emergency room visits every year in the United States. During the summer months, bees, yellowjackets, wasps, and hornets are more likely to be out which could put your patients at risk of being stung, especially if they’re spending time outdoors. Because of the warmer weather, many insects that bite tend to be out more as well. There are many steps your patients can take to avoid getting bit or stung.
Your patients may use insect repellent if they wish; while it may not prevent certain insects from stinging, it deters biting insects and may decrease their risk of getting stung. The NPMA also recommends the following tips that your patients can follow to protect themselves from bugs:
- Seal cracks and crevices. In order to keep insects from moving indoors, regularly inspect the house for visible cracks and crevices that need to be sealed as well as nests around the perimeter of the house.
- Keep food covered. During a picnic or cookout, cover all food when outside and be sure to keep tight fitting lids on trash bins.
- Drink out of clear containers. Stinging insects can sneak into cans unnoticed, so it’s important to be able to see that a liquid is pest-free when drinking it.
- Avoid excessive use of fragrances. If your patients are spending long periods of time outdoors, they should skip the perfume or cologne, as yellowjackets and other stinging insects are attracted to sweet-smelling fragrances.
- Adjust the wardrobe. Avoid wearing dark colors and floral prints, patterns that can attract stinging insects. Wear closed-toe shoes, especially in grassy areas where hornets and other pests often nest.
- Remain calm. Your patients should not swat at stingers or flail in a panic—these movements may actually provoke an attack. Instead, remain calm and slowly walk away from the area.
6. Choose Your Drinks Wisely
Summer can present many opportunities for your patients to enjoy a cocktail every once in a while, but drinking too much alcohol may cause unintended outcomes. Not only can excessive alcohol intake cause inflammation of the liver, scarring of the liver, increased blood pressure, damaged heart muscles, and other potentially fatal diseases, but it can also lead to poor food choices. On top of that, one average serving of alcohol contains 100-150 calories, so even a moderate amount of 3 drinks a day can contribute 300+ calories.
While drinking alcohol in moderation can be okay for your patients, they should watch and limit their intake to avoid any negative outcomes. They can switch to non-alcoholic beverages that are refreshing and hydrating but still healthy during the summer time, such as sparkling water with a splash of 100% juice or water infused with fruit. Drinks with higher sugar content should be avoided.
7. Enjoy the Weather
While it’s important that your patients make sure to take these precautions during the hot summer weather, going outside and enjoying the summer (safely) can also provide great benefits for them. Getting sunlight in moderation may boost the supply of vitamin D in the body, which can help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, both of which are important when it comes to building bone.
Along with boosted vitamin D production, going outdoors can also improve the heart rate and blood pressure of your patients and give them an emotional boost. By encouraging your patients to take care of themselves with all of these precautions, you’ll be making sure that they’ll have a happy and healthy summer.
The Importance of Summer Health Discussions
Being able to discuss the health of your patients over the long summer season is important and may help them take better care of themselves. Staying in touch with your patients and encouraging your patients to follow these guidelines throughout the summer will also help you take better care of them.
If you’re looking for remote care tools to assist you in guiding your patients in maintaining their health throughout the summer, check out BodySite.com. BodySite offers HIPAA compliant messaging/telemedicine, an automated patient education system, and many other ways to care for your patients remotely.
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SOURCES:
1. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/uv-radiation.html
2. https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/Mhealthy/TheImportanceofWaterWhileExercising.pdf
3. https://www.lls.org/blog/five-tips-healthy-summer-grilling
4. https://npmapestworld.org/newsroom/press-releases/2016/steer-clear-of-stinging-insects-this-summer/