Friday. Fry day?! 100 degrees and rising...

Another great article find, posted by P.J. Skerrett

Worth a read!  -->  Heat is hard on the heart; simple precautions can ease the strain

Warning signs of heat illness.  Be on the lookout for:  Nausea or vomiting, fatigue, headache, disorientation or confusion, and/or muscle twitches

Eye am watching out for you...

Summer is in full swing.  I can smell the sunscreen in the air.  Especially wafting around my own body.  Every morning my ritual is to slather, slather, slather... my goal, to ward off as many wrinkles and potentially scary skin issues I can.

My children smell of sunscreen too... :)  Even my son!  Of course, he had to suffer a painful sunburn firsthand - regardless of the fact that I had given him strict applications instructions and a bottle of 30 spf... for days he winced and steered clear of any misguided physical contact or possible absentminded hugs.  Now he welcomes the application of that ‘smelly stuff.’

Skin protection is widely covered during summer months.  However, an area that gets sorely ‘overlooked’ when it comes to sun protection... the eyes.  

Not only does our skin burn, but the delicate workings of our eyes are at risk of burning too!  

Cataracts, macular degeneration and reduced night vision are just a few of the disorders linked to over exposure of the sun.  Our eyes can be damaged by the suns powerful rays. 

“Children are more susceptible to ultraviolet damage than adults because they tend to spend more time outside than adults and often are not as careful to protect their eyes.” (read more here - "Protect your eyes from summer sun")

Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses and that big floppy brimmed hat! ...okay not too floppy, but make sure it is at least a decent sized visor. 


More information can be found at Prevent Blindness America.

Another sense to add to the human mix!

How awesome are we?!  5 senses... maybe even 6 if you consider the new study that finds we Amazing Human Beings have magnetosensor capabilities?!   What’s this you ask?  Basically, it’s what helps migratory birds navigate.  (For more, check out this article - Humans May Have ‘Magnetic’ Sixth Sense)

I decided, I am adding another...  Common Sense.

Remember that ol’ saying your parents told you?  ...the one about the older you get, the less you know?  Well, it’s happened to me.  Seriously, no matter how much I learn about anything... there is always information to counter.  Maybe counter is not the right word, that sounds negative.  Balance is more like it.  I love that word.  Now the trick, to maintain balance. 

My post for today begins with a question:  With summer in full swing who would think about hypothermia?  (a.k.a.  Dangerously low body temperature.)

Well....... THINK!  Especially if you do any kind of boating.  Cold water can rob you of your abilities:  ability to maintain a normal body temperature, ability to speak clearly, ability to feel with your hands and fingers, ability to move, ability to breath normally, ability to judge, ability to think... ability to stay alert and ALIVE!

Watch this video - Before You Wade In - Effect of Cold Water on Body  - to see how quickly cold water can alter your abilities. The accompanying article is pretty informative as well. (The cold truth: Hypothermia a danger no matter the time of year) 


Now the counter... our frigid frosty friend has its counter balance... meet Extreme Heat.  Another article came my way, "Use 'common sense' when dealing with summer heat."
The focal point:  Hydrate, hydrate, HyDRaTE!  Warning signs for heat exhaustion include cramping in your calf muscles and hamstrings, stomach cramps, feeling dizzy and/or light headed, nausea, headaches, as well as the oddity of not sweating any more - even though you're cool to the touch.  Major warning on that last item, as this could indicate that your organs are literally beginning to shut down in an effort to keep your heart beating.  Add to that awfulness some disorientation and lack of focus, and your headed for disaster.


Remember to use your Seventh Sense.   Common Sense is above all, your best defense.  
(Related Posts:  Boaters be wear... as in WEAR your lifejackets! & Need help calming your racing heart?)

Mozart's nightshift might have been his doom?!

How did Mozart die?
"If Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had spent a few minutes basking in the sun, it might have forestalled his untimely death..."
Wow!  This is some theory.  Sure makes sense.  Especially, if you never get out in the sun - and there are no other means, such as today's availability of supplements... "Researchers theorize he suffered from disease because of lack of vitamin D  

Unbelievable!  How lucky are we today?!  If you're concerned about sun exposure - which is a great way to get your Vitamin D - there are always supplements.
In case you're wondering... Between the ages of 1-70 RDA suggests 600 IU, after 70 the amount increases to 800 IU. (Reference Table outlining the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Vitamin D)
Though many experts believe that these recommendations are far too low to maintain healthful vitamin D levels. They advocate for supplementation in the winter of about 2,000 IUs per day and a dose of daily sunshine in the summer.

Another interesting point that the National Institutes of Health, Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet aptly notes is that "more than 40 million adults in the United States have or are at risk of developing osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue that increases bone fragility and significantly increases the risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis is most often associated with inadequate calcium intakes, but insufficient vitamin D contributes to osteoporosis by reducing calcium absorption."

My question..... How do you ever find a balance? This, as I slather on my sunscreen every morning. (My sister had a run in with Melanoma. Thankfully, one that she won!  I do not want to repeat that nightmare.)

Off to my vitamin stash... I know I have some Vitamin D in there somewhere........

5 Ways to Unwind in 60 Seconds

Simple tips to feel relaxed and peaceful, from this simple article ~ 5 Ways to Unwind in 60 Seconds  :)

Grossology... Yes, I used my kids!

I am guilty of using my children.  Yes.... I did.  We went to the Long Island Children's Museum to see the Grossology Exhibit.  (Saw a recent article in the local Herald - 'Gross' doings at Long Island Children's Museum)

My son, who is going to be 15 on July 11th, was not thrilled to be the lone man towering over so many 'little kids.'  He fell solitary, somewhere in the middle of the toddlers and adults.  My daughter had a better chance of looking like she belonged.  As for me... I camouflaged quite well with the doting parents.  No one would know I was really there for ME.  Shhhhhh.....

The exhibit offered a great time for younger children.

I, myself, was duly grossed out by the concept of moles, warts and pimples as the handles for scaling the Skin Climbing Wall... and the 'fart' making machines at the Toot Toot! station - thankfully without the inclusion of smells.  Especially given the fact that many father's joined in heartily at this particular exhibit, giggling louder than their offspring... what is it about making the loudest sound that entices them so?!

There were lots of interactive stations to engage curious minds.  However, this being said, I think I was the most attentive student.  I fear, many lessons got lost amidst the noise and commotion.  (Did you know that you can shout 600 feet?! - followed by a pleading "Please don't.")

Yes, children climbed the Skin Wall... but none read the information to learn what it was really about.  I very much wanted to hear what each exhibit had to say... and there were several to interact with, but there was no way given the variety and level of noise.  This was a frustration for my son as well. (ex: The speakers on the Nigel Nose-It-All was so loud it was crackling.)  Hence, all that was left for many of the exhibits to offer, was the hands on portion...

That being said, it was very cute.  The visual arena began as you walked thru the Gallery Entrance, a giant mouth - With rosy red lips, and teeth I should only hope for.  :)   You can create a giant burp at the Burp Man station, or find out more about vomiting at the Vomit Center.  (Admit it, you want to know.....)  There's even a giant 'Operation' game to perform surgery on.  Though, given the way some of the 'student doctors' were going at it.... this guy doesn't have a chance.

All in all I had fun ...and my children didn't disown me.

Grossology - The Long Island Children's Museum