Summer is a favorite season for many an outdoor enthusiast.  The weather is warm and sunny, and there are lots of fun activities we can participate in.  But while we’re out enjoying the beautiful sun, it is important to protect ourselves from sunburn.

Sunburn can be very painful and unpleasant, and it can cause us to age prematurely.  But it can also be dangerous.  Sunburn can lead to skin cancer, so avoiding it can not only allow us to have a more fun and active summer, it can also save us from serious health problems later in life.

Preventing Sunburn

The best way to prevent sunburn naturally is to either stay in the shade or wear protective clothing.  Long-sleeved cotton shirts in light colors will protect the arms without being too hot.  A wide-brimmed hat can provide protection for the face and neck.  If you’re going to be in one spot for a long period of time, a large umbrella or awning can provide protection without the need for extra clothing.Sunscreen is the most effective sun protection option for those who do not want to stay in the shade or wear protective clothing.  SPF 15 or higher is sufficient for most people.  For babies over 6 months of age and young children, however, SPF 30 may provide more protection.If you’re going to be swimming or doing something to work up a sweat, waterproof sunscreen is crucial.  Products that are not marked as waterproof will rinse or sweat off, leaving you unprotected.  It is also advisable to reapply sunscreen every 8 hours, even if you remain dry.

Treating Sunburn

There are lots of products on the market for treating sunburn.  Hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion are two popular commercial remedies.  But there are several all-natural remedies that also work very well.

Aloe vera is a popular natural sunburn remedy.  You can buy aloe vera gels and creams at most drugstores and discount stores.  Or you can get an aloe plant, and break off the leaves and squeeze out the juice when you need it.

Witch hazel is also great for sunburn.  You can gently rub it on the skin as needed, or you can add it to bath water and soak to soothe the sunburn if it covers a large portion of the body.  You can also do this with vinegar, but you will need to dilute it well.

When it comes to sunburn, prevention is the best way to keep it from putting a damper on your summer fun.  If you do get mild sunburn, a good remedy can reduce the pain and help you get back to your favorite activities sooner.  However, for extreme sunburns, particularly those that blister, it is best to see a doctor.

If you’ve ever been diagnosed with food poisoning, you know how uncomfortable it can be.  While it is a common illness that affects about 76 million people a year, if a severe case is left untreated it can result in hospitalization and even, on rare occasions, death.  That’s why it’s important to know what food poisoning is and how to deal with it if you or a loved one is affected.

What Exactly is Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning is a general term that can be used to describe hundreds of different ailments that you can catch from what you eat.  It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or even harmful chemicals in your food.  Depending on what specific type you have, the symptoms of food poisoning will vary.  Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, severe stomach pain, and diarrhea.  More serious symptoms include bloody stools, fever, chills, and dehydration.  The symptoms will start within 48 hours of eating contaminated food.

While most people think of food poisoning as being absolutely terrible, there’s actually a good chance you’ve had it before and didn’t even know it.  Since it generally goes away on its own within about 24 to 48 hours, it is often mistaken for the stomach flu.  In serious cases, however, the symptoms are much more severe and only go away with treatment.

Food Poison Treatment

Generally, the treatment for food poisoning is simply to wait it out.  As with any stomach illness, it is important to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water.  If you can keep them down, it is a good idea to try taking anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea medication to slow down the loss of fluids, but putting fluids back in is more important.  While it will likely be a hassle and make you feel sicker, you should continually drink water or other beverages that won’t cause stomach discomfort.

If you are too sick to keep hydrated, you may need to go to a hospital.  There they can give you medication to keep you from losing more fluids, along with IV fluids to keep you hydrated.  Depending on the type of food poisoning you have, they may be able to give you antibiotics or other medication to fight the infection, but the normal treatment is to let the sickness run its course.  If you do need to go to the hospital, be sure to keep your follow-up appointments and complete your entire treatment.

The most important thing to know about food poisoning is how to avoid it.  By taking a few simple steps, you can avoid a whole lot of pain and aggravation.

* Be sure to get your refrigerated and frozen food home from the store quickly, especially meats and fish.  Your refrigerator and freezer should be kept at 40 degrees and 0 degrees respectively.

* Use or freeze food and leftovers within a few days.  Don’t ever eat food past its expiry date.

* Always heat food to 165 degrees when cooking.  Get a meat thermometer to make sure you reach the proper temperature.

* Be sure to keep meat, poultry, and fish separate from other foods (and use a separate cutting board), and always clean up thoroughly after cooking them.

* Always wash raw food before you eat it so you can remove any contaminants.

Knowing what food poisoning is, how to prevent it, and what to do if you have it, are all important for keeping your family as healthy as possible.

Womens Health Institute

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Comments

* Comment from Cindy Smith - Posted on 7:36 pm, 20 May, 2006

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