Six Home Remedies to Soothe Sunburn

With summer upon us, it is a wonderful opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of taking sun-smart measures, which include wearing sunscreen and protective clothing and seeking shade during peak hours. But if you find yourself nursing a sunburn, you don’t need to head to the drugstore for relief. Here are six home remedies for sunburn to help soothe your symptoms:

1. Cool It Down

Minimize pain by taking cool baths or putting a cool, wet cloth on the affected area several times a day. Make sure the water is not too cold and avoid extreme temperatures. When sunburned, the skin’s ability to control temperature is compromised, making it easy to for you to get overheated or too cold.

2. Stay Hydrated

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day to replace fluid loss and to prevent dehydration and dizziness. Try to avoid drinks that can dehydrate you even more, like soda, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.

3. Apply Moisturizer Immediately and Frequently

Look for creams and ointments like Lubriderm, Aquaphor, Eucerin, or Vaseline rather than lotions. Apply the moisturizer when the skin is wet (after bathing or soaking with cool compresses) as the moisturizer will serve as a moisture-blocking wall, trapping that water in your skin and helping it heal faster. Some moisturizers, such as Cerave or Cetaphil Restoraderm, contain the good fats called ceramides that form the cement that holds the top layer of the skin, or stratum corneum, together.

4. Reach for Healing Superfoods

Some foods help heal and protect your skin further damage. These are foods rich in antioxidants, such as blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, plums, prunes, artichokes, beans, and pecans. Free radicals are formed from sun exposure and are the root of the problem, damaging the membrane of skin cells, and ultimately causing damage to DNA. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits and vegetables can protect the cells by quenching the high energy of these unstable radicals, so there is less chance for damage.

5. Protect — Don’t Pick At! — Blistered Skin

Blisters can serve as a natural bandage for healing raw skin underneath. Let them open on their own. When this happens, apply petroleum jelly two or three times a day to keep the wound moist, and cover it with a bandage. If you’re unsure how severe your blisters are or have concerns about infection, check with your healthcare provider. Signs of infection include increased redness or pain and thick yellow discharge. One blistering sunburn doubles your risk for developing melanoma later in life, so if you have a history of one or more blistering sunburns, make sure to tell your dermatologist and be diligent about having your skin checked each year.

6. Stay Out of the Sun

Sunburned skin is even more susceptible to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation than skin that has never or rarely been sunburned. Make sure to take extra precautions when going outdoors, including applying sunscreen and wearing sun-protective clothing.

Make Sunglass Safety a Priority This Summer

Sunglass safety is an important part of choosing sun protection for your eyes. If you're overwhelmed by the choices, use these tips to shop wisely and safeguard your vision.

 

Aware of the harm the sun's rays can cause our skin; most of us liberally apply sunscreen for sun protection before heading outside. But what about protecting our vision? It turns out, our eyes are vulnerable to the same harmful effects of ultraviolet, or UV, radiation and susceptible to sunburn and cancer.

The importance of choosing safe sunglasses is often forgotten in the dizzying array of fun and fashion that surrounds sunglasses designs. Designer frames, celebrity trends, and silly fads often influence our purchases, and we forget the importance of sun protection. But it's essential to think of safe sunglasses as sunscreen for your eyes."UV radiation can lead to several dangerous eye conditions," says Jeffrey L. Weaver, OD, MBA, MS, executive director of the American Board of Optometry and adjunct professor at the University of Missouri College of Optometry in St. Louis. "Ultraviolet radiation can cause benign growths on the eye's surface, cataracts, cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes, and photokeratitis, or snow blindness, which is painful sunburn of the eye's surface."

The GREAT news is that, armed with the right information, you will be able to look cool and stylish and still protect your vision and overall eye health.  Here are five signs that your sunglasses might not be up to par and tips on how to make sure you are wearing a pair of safe sunglasses with optimal sun protection:

1.       No UVA/UVB labeling. Sunglasses must block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. This information will be on the label. If it isn't, the sunglasses probably do not block out sufficient UV radiation to protect your eyes and vision. If possible, buy your sunglasses from a store that offers equipment that can verify the UV transmittance (or absorption) of the lenses, to ensure you are buying safe sunglasses.

2.       Mottled tint. To provide optimal sunglasses safety, the tint must be uniform - the lenses shouldn't be darker in one area than another. If you are looking at gradient lenses, the tint should be darkest at the top and lighten gradually toward the bottom. "Gray tint is the best choice to maintain your color perception," Dr. Weaver says. This can be particularly important for recognizing traffic signals.

3.       Lenses that distort your vision. To avoid lenses that distort images, hold the sunglasses in front of you at arm's length. Choose a

straight line in the distance, such as a table edge or door frame, and move the sunglasses slowly along the line. The straight edge you are looking at should not break, sway, curve, or move. If it does, the lenses have imperfections, which can impair your vision.

4.       Not blocking enough visible light. When you look in the mirror while wearing a new pair of sunglasses, you should not be able to see your eyes. If you can, the sunglasses may not be blocking enough visible light. You want your sunglasses to block 75 to 90 percent of visible light, including "blue light" - the blue and violet portion of the solar spectrum. Studies have implicated long-term exposure to blue light as a risk factor for developing macular degeneration. "Basically," Weaver says, "the darker the sunglasses, the more visible light you are blocking."

5.       Flimsy lenses. Lens material should be durable."The preferred material for anyone using sunglasses in active situations - pretty much anything other than sunbathing - is polycarbonate, a tough, lightweight plastic," Weaver says. Polycarbonate lenses are impact resistant, which lessens the chances of the glasses breaking and causing injury to your eyes or your vision.

One last thing: Certain contact lenses absorb UV rays and have proven to be very beneficial in protecting the eyes. However, Weaver cautions that "a pair of safe sunglasses is still necessary to obtain full sun protection for your eyes and to protect your vision and overall eye health."

Enjoy our beautiful sun this holiday weekend!!

 

 

Eleven Ways to Boost Your Health in One Minute!

If you're the type of person who is constantly wondering where the day went, you probably jump for joy whenever you read about short workouts, even 5 minutes long, that improve health. While that doesn't mean you should give up your lengthier workouts in favor of mere minutes of activity, it does add some strength to the comforting belief that every little bit counts.

And perhaps the best news of all is that it's not the only way in which you can improve your well-being in a brief amount of time. Some take even less. Here are eleven ways to boost your health in just one minute.

Give someone you love a hug

There's nothing quite like a good hug. And while a warm embrace certainly makes us feel happier and more relaxed, there are also physical health benefits of hugging, like lower blood pressure and heart rate.

Laugh

There's a good reason laughter has a reputation for being the best medicine. Not only is it one of the body's natural stress relievers, it also mimics (at least a little) some of the physiological responses in the body to physical activity.

Nibble some dark chocolate

The natural plant compounds in cocoa can protect the heart in a whole number of ways, from lowering blood pressure, raising levels of "good" cholesterol while lowering the "bad" and even helping with circulation. There's some evidence to suggest chocolate can also help ward off diabetes and protect the skin. Now that's sweet news.

Find the silver lining

A little optimism goes a long way. Looking on the bright side has been associated with a healthier heart and a stronger immune system, so next time you're voicing a complaint, take a minute to reframe those thoughts.

Look away from your computer screen

If you work at a desk job -- or even if you're just a tech fan outside of the office -- you probably spend a fair amount of time in front of screens. But all that computer time can do a number on your eyes. To combat strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for just 20 seconds.

Wash your hands

This one also only takes 20 seconds -- and it's well worth it. Simply educating communities about hand washing can lower the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 31 percent and lower the number of people who get colds and other respiratory illnesses by 21 percent, according to the CDC.

To do it right, wet your hands with clean, running water, lather with soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds. That's roughly about the length of time it would take to hum "Happy Birthday" twice (in your head, unless you'd like some strange looks from your coworkers). Rinse your hands under running water and dry completely.

Buckle your seat belt

Most American adults consistently buckle up in the car, but not everyone: According to the most recent data available, about 87 percent of adults wear their seat belts. For the 13 percent who haven't quite gotten the message, it takes mere seconds to protect yourself, whether you're driving or just along for the ride. More than 2 million adults are treated for car accident injuries each year, and more than half of teens age 13 to 20 who died in car crashes in 2012 were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the CDC.

Rest in child's pose

It's one of the most relaxing, restorative yoga poses, but it's also a gentle, reinvigorating stretch that may help relieve back and neck pain. Sit back and hold for that entire glorious minute.

Wear sunscreen

Nearly 5 million Americans are treated for skin cancer each year, and sun exposure is one of the biggest causes of the disease. Yet it hardly takes any time at all to lather up against harmful UV rays. To cover yourself completely, aim to use about an ounce of the stuff if most of your skin is exposed.

Hold a plank

A daily one-minute plank is a classic fitness challenge you've probably seen hashtagged on your Facebook or Instagram feeds. Join the trend and you'll benefit from a stronger midsection, which can help ward off back pain and improve posture. Here's how to do it right.

Smile

It's no surprise that people who smile a lot are usually happy people, but 2010 research suggests that people who smile widest also live the longest. Even if you're feeling stressed, faking a smile can eventually make you feel more at ease -- and it only takes a moment.

Did you know that our Wellconnect Walking Program is not only FUN, but good for you too?!

Those pesky deer ticks. How to protect yourself this summer!

As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out, onset of the disease is most common in June, July, and August, when ticks are more active and people spend more time outdoors. State health offices report 30,000 cases to the CDC every year, but the actual number of Americans diagnosed with the disease could be as much as 10 times greater.

A bacterial infection caused by a bite from the black-legged or deer tick, Lyme disease is prevalent in the northeast and upper Midwest. The first sign is usually a rash with a bull’s-eye shape that appears within weeks of being bitten by an infected tick. The rash may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as body aches, fatigue, and fever.

Not everyone develops a rash, according to Penelope Dennehy, MD, director of pediatric infectious disease at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. In those cases, “it’s difficult to sort out Lyme symptoms from whatever garden-variety illness or virus is going around,” Dr. Dennehy says.

Untreated, Lyme disease can cause arthritis or neurological problems. Though less common, the Mayo Clinic lists an irregular heartbeat or inflammation of the liver as other potential complications.
RELATED: Protect Yourself From Deer Ticks When Hiking

Though most cases can be treated with antibiotics, it’s best to avoid getting Lyme disease in the first place. Here are some simple precautions you can take:

• Use insect repellent that contains at least 20 percent DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend using DEET on infants younger than two months.
• Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily. Wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck pants into your socks to reduce skin exposure.
• Wash clothes after being outdoors and inspect your body. Be sure to check kids and pets as well. Dennehy suggests parents look for “any freckles that weren’t there before.”
• Don’t panic if you spot a tick on your body. It has to embed itself for at least 24 hours and be infected in order to transmit the disease.
• If a tick is embedded in your skin, use tweezers to grab the tick near its head and pull straight up.
• If you think you’ve been bitten and have any symptoms, even if the signs seem to disappear, contact your doctor.

Summer is On! Simple precautions can ease the strain of warm weather.

Beat the heat

Some simple choices can help you weather the weather and keep heat from over stressing your heart and spoiling your summer.

Take it easy. Turn procrastination from a vice to a virtue by putting off exercise or other physical activity until things cool down. Evening and early morning are the best times to get out. If you do exercise, drink more than you usually do.

Cool is cool. Chilled air is the best way to beat the heat. Fans work, but only to a point — when the air is as warm as you are, sitting in front of a fan is about as helpful as sitting in front of a blow dryer. If you don’t have an air conditioner, spending an hour or two in a movie theater, at a store, or with an air-conditioned neighbor can help. So can a cool shower or bath, or putting a cold, wet cloth or ice pack under your arm or at your groin.

Drink to your health. The lower your coolant level, the greater your chances of overheating. Unfortunately, staying hydrated isn’t always easy. Stomach or bowel problems, diuretics, a faulty thirst signal, or low fluid intake can all interfere. On dangerously hot and humid days, try downing a glass of water every hour. (If you have had congestive heart failure, check with your doctor or nurse first.) Go easy on sugary soda and full-strength fruit juice since they slow the passage of water from the digestive system to the bloodstream. And don’t rely on caffeinated beverages or alcohol for fluid because they can cause or amplify dehydration.

Eat light. Stick with smaller meals that don’t overload your stomach. Cold soups, salads, and fruits can satisfy your hunger and give you extra fluid.

Warning signs of heat illness

Heat-related trouble ranges from irritating problems such as prickly heat (also known as heat rash) to heat exhaustion and the potentially deadly heat stroke. It can be hard to tell where heat exhaustion ends and heat stroke begins. Both can be mistaken for a summer “flu,” at least at first. Be on the lookout for:

• nausea or vomiting
• fatigue
• headache
• disorientation or confusion
• muscle twitches

If you think you are having heat-related problems, or if you see signs of them in someone else, getting to an air-conditioned space and drinking cool water are the most important things to do. If these don’t help or the symptoms persist, call your doctor or go to a hospital with an emergency department.

Walking Log

Here is the link for an electronic copy of the walking log.  This excel document will allow you to enter your daily steps, while it will calculate your totals and averages for you.