By Christine Cheng (R.Ph.) and Fred Cheng (R.Ph.)
Now that summer weather is in full swing, we all want to head outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. Keep the following points in mind to help you enjoy these gorgeous, sunny summer days:
Keep It Cool: As we age, the body’s ability to maintain its internal thermostat decreases. Thankfully, there are many ways to stay cool during the summer. You can install fans or air-conditioning in your home, or spend more time in public places that are air-conditioned (such as public libraries or shopping malls). This is particularly important when you are exercising because your body will heat up faster in hotter weather.
Stay Hydrated: Our body’s main method for helping to keep us cool is to sweat. In order to keep up with the body’s sweating, it is important to stay well-hydrated. You must have heard that we should drink 8 glasses of water a day. This is based on the fact that it takes about 1mL of water to burn 1 calorie. Thus, a person consuming 2000 calories in a day should take in about 2000mL (2 litres!) or eight 250mL glasses of fluids. Many may think that since they don’t consume 2000 calories a day, they may not need that much fluid; however, in order to ensure we are providing the body with adequate hydration during the hot summer months, it is encouraged to keep the 8-glass rule-of-thumb in mind. Keep in mind that air-conditioning could further dehydrate a person. Another important consideration is that as we age, we are more likely to be on medications to help maintain our health. Some of these medications may decrease the body’s ability to sweat. If your healthcare provider has mentioned the word “anti-cholinergic” or told you that the side effects of a particular medication include constipation, dry mouth, or blurred vision, chances are that it could also affect how much you sweat. Often, the elderly are more susceptible to these “anti-cholinergic” side effects than their younger counterparts on the same medications. Other medications such as diuretics can increase the loss of fluids from the body. Consider talking to your physician and pharmacist to see if you are on any medications that could affect your body’s fluid levels.
Sun protection: Whether it be wearing long-sleeved clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, ensuring ample application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, or (ideally) a combination of both, it is important to protect ourselves against the effects of the sun. As we age, our skin gets thinner making it more sensitive to the burning effects of the sun’s UV radiation. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the older population is more likely to be on more medications…including those that could increase the senstivity of the skin to the sun. For example, hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide, commonly used diuretics, can both cause photosensitivity. There are supplements for skin-health that help restore or maintain a strong, natural physical barrier to the elements; watch for a future article on this topic or contact us for more info.
On a final note, keep an eye out for symptoms of exhaustion (which can include mild nausea, light-headedness, vomiting, clammy or cold hands, and excessive sweating) and or heat stroke (which can include a strong pulse, body temperature above 40degC [104degF], hot and dry skin, and mental confusion). As always, discuss with your healthcare provider regarding any medications you may be on and how they may affect the safe enjoyment of your summer plans. Stay smiling in the summer sun!
Christine and Fred Cheng are a sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. They would love to hear from you! Contact them HERE.
