A few Healthy Tips
Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Be physically active
The summer is a great time to play outdoor games, garden, or walk. Start a new routine that combines fun and physical activity. Active people are less likely than inactive people to be obese or to have high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease and stroke, depression, colon cancer, and premature death.
Tips:
- Adults should get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most, preferably all, days of the week.
- Children and adolescents should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most, preferably all, days of the week.
- Start at an easy pace and increase time and distance gradually.
- Don’t overdo it. Prevent injuries.
Healthy Tips for summer
Be water-savvy
In 2006, males were three times more likely than females to die from unintentional drownings in the United States. Alcohol use is involved in up to half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation. Tips:
- Learn how to swim. Never swim alone.
- Wear your life jacket while boating.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages while boating.
- Watch children in and around water.
- If you have a swimming pool at your home, install a four-sided isolation pool fence.
Healthy Tips for summer
Eat healthy and Safe food
Whether you plan to grill on the patio or picnic in the park, be sure to eat balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have important vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from some chronic diseases. Foodborne disease is caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. An estimated 76 million cases of foodborne disease occur each year in the United States. Most of these cases are mild and cause symptoms for a day or two, but some cases are more serious and require hospitalization. Tips:
- Eat plenty fruits and vegetables daily.
- Wash your hands before eating or preparing food.
- Cook all foods to the proper temperatures.
- Refrigerate foods promptly.
- Handle and prepare food safely.
Keep your cool in the sun
Sun protection is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. Take steps to help prevent skin cancer and other conditions.
Heat-related deaths and illness are preventable, yet many people succumb to extreme heat each year. Take steps to lower your risk for heat-related illness.
Tips:
- When possible, avoid outdoor activities during midday, when the sun’s rays are strongest.
- Cover up with clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect exposed skin.
- Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic fluids.
- Seek shade.
- Wear sunscreen and lip screen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Remember to reapply it as needed.
Fight the bite
To lower your risk for West Nile Virus, avoid mosquito bites when you spend time outside working or playing. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill. Tips:
- Use mosquito repellent.
- Install or repair window and door screens.
- Eliminate mosquito breeding sites.