Category: Advice

The summer months mean spending more time traveling and spending more time outdoors. For people with mobility issues, having a properly fitted walker or cane with the right accessories can make all the difference.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of the outdoors this summer:

First, make sure that you are physically up to it.

If necessary, make sure that your doctor or physician has cleared you to exert yourself for the length of time that you plan on being out as well as the conditions that you will be exposed to. While you are out and about, be sure to watch for any signs of discomfort or dehydration. If you are going to be on your feet for extended periods of time, consider wearing compression socks to maintain proper circulation if your doctor advises it, and make sure they are measured and fitted properly, not too tight, not too loose.

Make sure that your walker is properly fitted.

The fit of a walker is generally determined by weight and height. You want the top of the handle of the walker to be right about where the hip ends, and you want to be able to stand up and not be leaning forward or tilted back. Walker sizes are primarily determined by the weight of the user. Anything less than 250 lbs. is generally considered to be regular, and then there are walkers for people over 300 and 500 lbs. The weight and height are the most important things to ensure patient safety. If they’re going to be in the house and they have stability, then they might be fine with a simple frame design, but if they don’t have that stability or they have difficulty stopping, you might consider using a combination of wheels and skis to get the right amount of support.

Perform routine maintenance.

It is also important to make sure that your equipment is properly maintained. Walkers and canes are in direct contact with the ground, and the wheels, caps and skis can be wearing down gradually without us even knowing it. Before heading out, examine your walker or cane. You should probably consider replacing your tires, skis or caps every 3-6 months depending on the surfaces you travel on. If you spend a lot of time on black top, you’re going to go through them a lot quicker than on hardwood or carpet. If the contact points are worn or cracked, consider replacing them. If you see metal poking through, it’s time to replace them. There are plenty of affordable tips and skis out there, so there is no excuse for tennis balls. Everybody has seen somebody using tennis balls to help them transition, but they wear down quickly and skis are a safer option.

Keep everything you need within reach.

There is a wide variety of accessories that can be attached to your walker that can help to make your travels more enjoyable. Mobility bags and trays can be attached to either the front, side or back of your walker to ensure that water bottles, cell phones, medications or anything else you’ll be traveling with are within easy reach. Additionally, there are cup holders that can be connected to the frame of the walker to help make sure that you are properly hydrated when you are out and about.

Follow all of the safety instructions.

Most importantly, always take care to follow the “Safety Warning Instructions” that are included with your walker and its accessories. It was designed to support your weight – and the weight of your bags and trays – but only if it is distributed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Sun safety is never out of season. With summer rapidly approaching, that means it’s time for picnics, trips to the pool and beach… and a spike in the number of sunburns.

However, winter skiers and fall hikers should be wary of the sun’s rays just as much as swimmers! People who work outdoors should be taking extra precautions, too.

Sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin, age it prematurely, and increase your risk of skin cancer.

UVB is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging and other light-induced effects of aging (photoaging). They also exacerbate the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays and increasingly are being seen as a cause of skin cancer on their own. Sunscreens vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB.

What is SPF?

Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. SPF – or Sun Protection Factor – is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. So, here’s how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – about five hours.

Another way to look at it is in terms of percentages: SPF 15 filters out approximately 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 keeps out 97 percent and SPF 50 keeps out 98%. They may seem like negligible differences, but if you are light-sensitive, or have a history of skin cancer, those extra percentages will make a huge difference. And, as you can see, no sunscreen can block all UV rays.

But, there are problems with the SPF model: First, no sunscreen, regardless of strength, should be expected to stay effective longer than two hours without reapplication. Second, “reddening” of the skin is a reaction to UVB rays alone and tells you little about what UVA damage you might be getting. Plenty of damage can be done without the red flag of sunburn being raised.

Whatever our skin color, we’re all potentially susceptible to sunburn and other harmful effects of exposure to UV radiation. Although we all need to take precautions to protect our skin, people who need to be especially careful int he sun are those who have:

• Pale skin
• Blonde, red, or light brown hair
• Treated for skin cancer in the past
• A family member who’s had skin cancer

Reduce Time in the Sun

It’s important to limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. Even on an overcast day, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds. Stay in the shade as much as possible throughout the day.

Dress with Care

Wear clothes that protect your body. If you plan on being outside on a sunny day, cover as much of your body as possible. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves and pants. Sun-protective clothing is now available. However, the FDA only regulates such products if the manufacturer intends to make a medical claim. Consider using an umbrella for shade.

Be Serious about Sunscreen

Check product labels to make sure you get:

• An SPF of 15 or higher.
• Broad spectrum protection – sunscreen that protects against all types of skin damage caused by sunlight.
• Water resistance – sunscreen that stays on your skin longer, even if it gets wet. Reapply water-resistant sunscreens as instructed on the label.

Unlike traditional prescriptions, it’s not as obvious to tell when your bra has expired. A majority of women simply have no clue! In most cases, women are walking around in brasseries that should have been replaced months, or even years ago.

Your bra is there for a reason. It has a very important job to do, but when it has expired it can no longer perform that job. Depending on how well your bra is taken care of, their average life is only 6 to 9 months.

Your bra is on its last leg when:

1. You have to wear your bra on the tightest hook, but it still rides up your back.
2. The elastic is so stretched out that it just won’t bounce back.
3. Your body weight has changed.
4. Your bust is drooping.
5. Hooks or pieces are missing or beginning to fall off.

For Mastectomy patients in particular, it is very important to realize that bras should be replaced every 3-6 months. Wearing a breast form and mastectomy bra offers the comfort of being more balanced. It is also important in preventing back and neck pain, as well as maintaining good posture.

Certain insurance companies will only provide coverage for up to 4 bras a year, which can be sufficient as long as they are properly taken care of. To allow your brassiere to live a long life, here is a simple tip:

• Make sure that you have at least 3 to 5 brassieres a year and rotate them daily. If you rotate 3 bras, you will be able to wear each of them for 121 days out of the year! Stop in MacDonald’s Pharmacy or call to make an appointment and we will make sure you are comfortable and looking your best all year long!

Parents are role models for the next generation, so we need to be practicing good habits to pass down to them. You can help your child have good habits by having them start them early in life. This will bring them lifelong benefits. You can encourage them to evaluate food choices and physical activity habits.

Here are some tips and guidelines to start.

1. Be a good role model.
   If your kids see you eating right and doing physical activity, they will notice and will get the message that good health is important.
2. Keep things positive.
   Tell kids what they can do, because they don’t like hearing what they cannot do. Everyone likes to be praised for a job well done, so keep things fun and positive.
3. Get the whole family moving.
   Plan times for the whole family to get moving together. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or even just play hide-and-seek outside.
4. Be realistic.
   Setting realistic goals and limits are a key to adopting any new behavior. Taking small steps and making gradual changes can make a huge difference in your health over time.
5. Limit TV, video game and computer time.
   These habits lead to a sedentary lifestyle and cause excessive snacking, which increases the risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease. You should limit screen time to two hours per day.
6. Encourage physical activities that they will enjoy.
   Let children experiment with different activities until they find something they really enjoy doing. They’ll stick with it much longer if they love it.
7. Pick exciting rewards.
   Don’t reward your children with TV, video games, candy or snacks. Find other ways to celebrate, such as a day going bowling or mini-golfing, or a day at the beach or pool.
8. Make dinnertime a family time.
   When everyone sits down together to eat dinner, there’s less of a chance that children will eat the wrong food or snack too much. Get the kids involved with you by letting them help cook and plan meals. Everyone will develop good eating habits together. (An added bonus is quality time with the whole family!)
9. Make a game of reading food labels.
   The whole family can learn what’s good for their health and become more conscious of what they’re eating. .
10. Stay involved.
    Become an advocate for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at school. Make sure your children’s healthcare providers are monitoring cardiovascular indicators such as BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol.

We offer nutrition counseling, so stop in today if you want some help along the way! Making the healthier choices are often tough and it can be nice to have a support system to help. Challenge your friends, family and children to change with you and enjoy the benefits.