News Taffy

Summer is here and that means many of you will be taking vacations. Vacation is a time to relax and have fun but you don’t want to ruin a good time with health problems. Here are a few tips to avoid trouble.

Pack all medications the family takes. Many medicines must be taken consistently to work, like birth control pills. Forgetting something that important leads to unplanned consequences nine months later. Seriously, not having your medication might mean you feel really bad just when you want to be at your best.

In addition to prescription meds, pack a few other medicines like over the counter pain pills, allergy meds, something for an upset stomach and, if you have young children, a thermometer. Be sure to pack children’s medicines if your children still need them. I can’t tell you how often one of ours turned up sick on vacation. Last year when I broke out in hives, having Benedryl would have been nice rather than my husband driving around at 10 o’ clock at night looking for some.

Check the weather before you go. The area could be experiencing unseasonable weather and you don’t want to pack the wrong clothes for the conditions especially if you are traveling some place you’ve never been. Nothing will be more miserable than shivering or sweltering your way through your trip. While buying a whole new wardrobe sounds like fun, it might be more expensive than you’d like.

Sunscreen! I continue to be amazed at the people who go to the beach and broil like a lobster. Do you really want to hurt badly later? Do you really enjoy having your skin come off in large flakes? A bad sunburn is unattractive as well as painful and is totally preventable. Did I mention that continuous sun exposure is the leading cause of wrinkles and skin cancer? That alone has me slathering on sunscreen. You need sunscreen if you are going to be outside for prolonged periods such as at a baseball game, not just at the beach or lake. Reapply often.

I enjoy a good martini as much as anyone but watch the alcohol intake. The least that can happen is that you will suffer a bad hangover the next day. Getting drunk in an unfamiliar location leaves you vulnerable to all sorts of unpleasant consequences like unwanted advances from strangers to mugging. Don’t forget the drunk driving charges you could face. I don’t think your vacation plans include visiting the local police station.

Be careful with food on vacation. If you suffer from food allergies, ask the waiter about the food and mention your food allergy. If you are traveling with food or picnicking, make sure to keep food properly hot or cold. No one will enjoy a case of food poisoning.

Keep up your exercise routine to prevent weight gain if you indulge a bit. Make time to at least walk and stretch each day. Also, don’t go on vacation and try something strenuous that your body isn’t conditioned for or you might risk a bad injury. Nothing ruins a vacation like coming home on crutches.

I hope these tips help everyone have a safe, healthy and happy summer vacation!

Until next time,
Lisa