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Physical Therapy & Injury Specialists

STAYING ACTIVE Newsletter

 

July 2012

In This Issue
Dog Days of Summer
5Qs: Brenda de St. Simon - Financial Manager & Runner
10 Things to Eat - Even When It's Too Hot to Eat
Think About It...
Staying Active Tip - 8 Glasses of Water a Day?
DID YOU KNOW?
Clinic News

Greetings!

 

Happy Springtime to you! We hope you enjoy our June issue of STAYING ACTIVE. This month's newsletter is full of tips related to staying healthy during the Dog Days of Summer. 

 

 
Dog Days of Summer

 

The "Dog Days of Summer" is a term used to refer to the central, torrid part of the hot season and it originally comes from the star Sirius. The specific days that were traditionally referred to as the Dog Days of Summer were from July 3 to August 11.

   

If you exercise outdoors in the Dogs Days of Summer, use these common-sense precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses.

 

How heat affects your body

Exercising in hot weather puts extra stress on your body. If you don't take care when exercising in the heat, you risk serious illness. Both the exercise itself and the air temperature increase your core body temperature. To help cool itself, your body sends more blood to circulate through your skin. This leaves less blood for your muscles, which in turn increases your heart rate. If the humidity also is high, your body faces added stress because sweat doesn't readily evaporate from your skin. That pushes your body temperature even higher.

  

Heat-related illness

Under normal conditions, your skin, blood vessels and perspiration level adjust to the heat. But these natural cooling systems may fail if you're exposed to high temperatures and humidity for too long, you sweat heavily and you don't drink enough fluids. The result may be a heat-related illness. Heat-related illnesses occur along a spectrum, starting out mild but worsening if left untreated. Heat illnesses include Heat cramps, Heat exhaustion, and Heatstroke.


How to avoid heat-related illnesses

Click here for tips about how to avoid heat-related illnesses.

 

 
5 QUESTIONS for Brenda de St. Simon - Financial Manager & Runner 
Brenda and Sophia

 

1. Where were you born? What is your family like?  
I was born in Denver and spent my childhood there. I am the youngest of 5 kids. After college I worked as a consultant in many places including Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, England, Portugal, Sweden and Israel. After marrying a Swiss man, we moved back to Boulder and settled down. Now I have 3 kids and 3 dogs and travel very little.
 
2.  How do you stay active? I tried at various times in my life to take up running but never kept it up for more than a few weeks. About 2 years ago, I tried again and this time it stuck. I run regularly now and have run 3 half marathons and numerous shorter races. Signing up for a race keeps me motivated. In September, I am part of a 12 person relay team running 200 miles in 24 hours. It's a little weird to think of running during the middle of the night but I am excited for it.  
 
3.  Have you had any injuries from running? When I first started I was having severe IT band pain. A PT at PTIS evaluated and corrected my stride and my legs have been pain free since. 

4. Do you exercise during the Dogs Days of Summer?  I have to keep exercising so I don't lose the progress that I've made. With my kids off during the summer break and the weather being so hot, the best time to run for me is at 6 am. I can get it out of the way and focus on my work and my kids (and my dogs).
 
5. Who's your favorite author?  I love to read and mostly enjoy books about why people do what they do but my long-time favorite author is John Irving.

 

 
10 Things to Eat - Even When It's Too Hot to Eat.

    

watermelonThe main danger to the body during hot days is dehydration. The best foods to eat when it's hot out are those that keep the body hydrated. During hot days, the body loses a surprising amount of water. Fortunately, there are a lot of foods that can provide this need. They are not only re-hydrating, but are nutritious and taste good as well. 

 

 10 Things to Eat When It's Hot

 

 
THINK ABOUT IT....

 

"It's not who you are that holds you back, 

it's who you think you're not." 

-Anonymous

 

STAYING ACTIVE TIP - 8 Glasses of Water a Day?

 

walkers with water bottle

The experts are now saying that the advice to to guzzle 64 ounces, or eight 8-ounce glasses, of water each day just to stave off dehydration is a myth. Studies are showing that we get enough fluids to keep our bodies adequately hydrated from the foods we eat and the beverages we drink -- even from caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea. 

 

The new advice is "Drink when you're thirsty!" But remember, it's not a bad idea to consume 64 ounces of fluid a day, it's just not scientifically proven. AND...during the hot summer, you need more liquids so keep drinking that water. It's good for you.

 

 
DID YOU KNOW?

 

 Eating spicy foods will help cool you down. People from the hottest climates on the planet tend to eat some of the spiciest cuisine. Eating a superspicy meal induces sweating, which may help you feel colder. However, drinking cold fluids -- and lots of them -- is the best way to prevent dehydration.

 
 
CLINIC NEWS
                                        Food Drive for Joy House
Thanks to all of you that donated for this food drive. Your support helps change lives.

 

School Supply Drive for Bishop Elementary School
We are collecting school supplies for Bishop Elementary. It is the same school we donated to last year and they were more than thrilled that we are doing it again.  Donations are being accepted now through Friday, August 3rd.  

 

Welcome Our New Staff

Welcome Johanna Cole and Debra Baker to our Pearl Street clinic.


Heather Lee is riding in the Courage Classic again this year

The Courage Classic is a three day 150+ mile bike ride through Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Frisco, Leadville and Vail. It is a fundraiser for Children's Hospital of Denver. Heather's riding team is called Summits for Samantha. Summits for Samantha was formed four years ago in honor of her friend's daughter, Samantha. Samantha had mitochondrial disorder/dysfunction/disease. Tragedy struck when Samantha passed away suddenly just after her 4th birthday, and a week before the 2010 Courage Classic. 
 
Thank you for your interest in health and wellness. We believe Staying Active is important for WORK.SPORT.LIFE. 

If you like this newsletter, please send to friends and family and have them subscribe. If there is a topic you would like us to include in a future issues, please let us know.

 

Happy 4th of July!

 

From The Entire Staff

Physical Therapy & Injury Specialists

www.denverptis.com 

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