Summer is here again! Most of us look forward to summer and spending time outside with family and friends. It come days at the beach, hiking, vacations, outdoor festivals and parties, pool parties, open concerts and barbecues. Unfortunately, health threats also come with summer heat. Insects that may spread disease proliferate in warmer weather. Sunburn and serious conditions such as heat stroke occur during hot summer days.

Toronto, Canada May 21, 2008

We, at ADV-Care Pharmacy, has some helpful tips to make your summer sane, safe and memorable:

1. Wear Sunscreen Lotion

In terms of your skin, overexposure to the sun may cause some pretty undesirable effects. UV rays damage elastic fibers and cells in your skin, and can cause freckles, age spots and skin cancer.

If you're going to be out in the sun for extended periods, wear sunscreen lotion. Please do not to be confused with sun-tanning lotion which, like the name implies, helps your skin tan. The rule of thumb is the more sensitive to the sun you are, the higher Sun Protection Factor (SPF) sunscreen you should use. Unless you want to sport name brand sunscreen, you can get generic sunscreen for a couple of bucks.

A word of caution: When taking certain medications, particularly antibiotics, long-term exposure to the sun is not recommended. Contact our pharmacist direct line or your medical provider if this should concern you. Likewise, if you are on medication, try to keep it away from heat, since it can render it ineffective.

By the way, the highly advertised self-tanning products we mentioned before work like make-up. Avoid regular usage since they can plug up your pores. Also, they might induce an allergic reaction or skin patching. Using them occasionally is best if you want to look fabulous for that summer party.

For the details about the sunscreen, click HERE

2. Insect Bites and Stings

What To Do About Stings, Insect Bites at the summer time? The first, and most obvious Thing to do is to avoid them. If you can't avoid them, then you should treat them. If you can't avoid them, and don't treat them, they could have serious consequences.

For the details about the Insect Bites and Stings, click HERE

3. Check Weather Conditions If Have Respiratory Problem Or Arthritis

Air quality is a concern for those who have respiratory problems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index (AQI) is used for forecasting daily air quality. It tells how clean or polluted the air is and what associated health concerns patients should be aware of. The AQI focuses on health effects that can occur within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. Besides air quality, wind is also a health consideration because it can carry pollution and allergens far distances, therefore affecting people with respiratory ailments such as asthma.

Many people find the weather aggravates arthritis. Pain specialists sometimes suggest that patients keep a detailed journal of weather conditions to establish a possible relationship to their pain. Changes in weather are more likely than particular weather conditions to affect the severity of common aches and pains. For example, rapidly falling barometric pressure, which generally signals the onset of stormy weather, is believed to have a strong correlation with the potential for feeling aches and pains. An increase in absolute humidity, especially in the summer, can lead to an increased potential for aches and pains. Some research also finds a correlation between dry, cold air and migraine headaches. According to research by the New England Center for Headache, as many as half of all migraines are triggered by weather. It is believed that barometric pressure changes may bring on headaches, if the sinus cavities are slow to equalize air pressure. Damp, cold weather can intensify sinus pain. Extremes in temperature, not just changing temperatures, can also affect the potential for feeling aches and pains.

4. Foods and Water

For some, sunny days mean their daily activities increase threefold, the days are longer and there are a lot of events to attend. Unfortunately, what this translates into is not hydrating our bodies enough. Remember to drink water. At the risk of sounding like your mother, don't forget to eat and drink properly and safely during all that summer madness! Here are some things to remember:

Summer heat feels great, but it can lead to dehydration very quickly. Whether you're going to the beach, hiking, driving around town be sure to bring some bottled water along. On average, it is recommended that women drink 9 to 11 cups per day and men 10 to 12 cups per day. When doing strenuous exercise, it is recommended that you drink even more water and/or sport drink. If you have diarrhea, it is always a good thing to consult with your physician. If it is not too severe try drinking a sport drink, pedialyte, ceralyte, infalyte or horchata (rice water). Avoid drinks with caffeine since they may cause greater fluid loss.

When you are busy having fun, it's easy enough to forget to drink water. By the time your mouth starts to feel dry and/or you begin to feel dizzy or nauseous, you may be well on the way to serious dehydration, so head it off at the pass and drink plenty of water along with the party goods. You might have to seek out a restroom more often, but that's better than the emergency room.

Remember that alcohol and caffeine-loaded beverages have a diuretic affect. If you drink them to the partial or total exclusion of other beverages, you may increase the risk of dehydration. Plain old water and juices are preferred.

If you're planning on traveling to a foreign country, beware of the water quality. Picking up anything from Cryptosporidium to a range of parasites can cramp your vacation style and, in extreme cases, can be life-threatening. Your best bet is to stick to distilled water and/or boil water before drinking it. Bottled water is probably better than tap, but may not be as safe as we're often led to believe.

Eat, eat, eat! Summer heat may mean you concentrate on lighter foods like fruits, vegetables and sandwiches, but it also means you need to be extra careful about spoilage. Bacteria love warm weather and foods high in protein, so be careful to keep picnic foods refrigerated or adequately chilled.

5. During Vacation

If you are going on vacation or extended trips, make sure you do not forget your meds.

If possible, touch base with your doctor and our pharmacist a few weeks before making your trip. Your doctor may be able to write you an extended prescription and/or recommend something for sickness associated with travel. And, of course, our ADV-Care pharmacy can ship you latest prescription to your new address or cottage.

If you do not want to travel with pill bottles, find a couple of empty film canisters in which to place your pills. Make sure to label each container if you have trouble knowing which medication is which. You may also want to ask our pharmacist, physician or treatment advocate for pillboxes or pagers to help you remember when to take your medication.

Note that the same schedule for taking your medication should be followed even with time zone changes. For example, say that you are taking a particular medication every eight hours with food and are used to taking it at breakfast and at dinnertime but there is an eight-hour time difference where you are going. This may mean setting up your alarm clock and waking up in the middle of the night or very early morning, taking your medication and having a snack that you have set by your bedside. Always plan ahead. Remember, adequate sleep, especially in vacation time, is one of the most important components in anyone's health.

Summer flings do happen. You are in a crowded room. Your eyes lock, and, well, you can fill in the rest. It is always good to plan ahead.

Sex and sexuality are beautiful expressions of who we are, and as such we should enjoy them safely. The risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease or transmitting the virus to someone else, especially when alcohol and drugs come into the picture, may not make for too good of a vacation souvenir. Don't take your chances, bring plenty of condoms and lube and communicate with your sexual partner, if possible, what you are willing and not willing to do sexually. Use your imagination: there are flavored condoms, flavored lube, dildos, hot wax, feathers, oils, fresh tropical fruit, ice, etc., use your imagination.

If you are going to a bathhouse, sauna, park or restroom, be prepared. Take a cruising kit: lube, condoms, hand wipes, and some tissue and if all possible, water. You may find that some of our better vacations are those in which we have fulfilling sexual experiences.

6. Remember One Important Toll-Free Phone Number

Is there a doctor in the house? I know you're probably not looking forward to running out of medication or seeking medical care while you're away on summer vacation or outings, but sometimes it's the possibilities we don't account for that become a problem.

Remember only our ADV-Care Pharmacy toll-free phone number 1-888-471-4721, we will with you all the time.