Tag Archives: heat

4 Common Dehydration Myths Debunked

dehydration_myths_webOur bodies need water to function properly, regulate our temperatures, help us digest food, and protect our joints and organs. And, in the hot summer months, it’s especially important to drink lots of water while you’re enjoying the great outdoors, exercising, or working outside. Know the truth about dehydration can help you stay healthy, so we’re debunking four common myths about being hydrated.

Myth #1: Dehydration isn’t as serious as everyone says.
Sure, the most common dehydration symptoms include mild headaches and sluggishness. But, dehydration can become severe and require immediate medical attention. According to the Mayo Clinic, serious symptoms include swelling of the brain, kidney failure, seizures, and even death. If dehydration symptoms aren’t caught early and treated with extra fluid, you can develop dizziness, confusion, and extreme thirst. Other serious symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and irritability. Symptoms of severe dehydration should be taken seriously, and medical attention should be sought immediately.

Myth #2: You should drink eight glasses of water a day.
We’ve all heard this rule, but how much truth does it hold? There is no scientific evidence to support the well-known theory of drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Still, your body does need a steady supply of water to operate efficiently and keep you healthy. The Institute of Medicine recently determined that men should drink around three liters, or 13 cups, of total beverages every day, and women should drink around 2.2 liters, or nine cups. These intake levels include more than just water and can apply to coffee, tea, fruit juices, and even foods like watermelon and cucumbers, which have high water content.

Myth #3: Staying hydrated means only drinking water.
Yes, drinking water is an important part of staying hydrated. But, it also takes minerals, electrolytes, and essential fatty acids to keep the water you’re drinking where it needs to be in your body. Electrolytes and trace minerals help transport water to the blood cells, where they then activate enzymes. Those enzymes help with digestion and other bodily processes. Without enzymes and essential fatty acids, cells can’t properly absorb and hold the water they need. So, make sure you’re taking in the elements you need by eating mineral-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Cook with high-quality sea salt, which can deliver up to 60 trace minerals and help manage water flow in your body. And, don’t forget to include whole foods that are high in essential fatty acids, such as flax seeds and walnuts.

Myth #4: There’s no such thing as too much water.
Typically, your body flushes out any extra water it doesn’t need. But, if you’re drinking more than 12 liters of water in 24 hours or exercising heavily, it’s possible to disrupt your body’s natural balance and end up diluting too much electrolytes. The condition, known as hyponatremia, occurs when the level of sodium in your blood is abnormally low. Hyponatremia is rare, but anyone can get in trouble if they drink water in excess without replacing essential minerals and electrolytes. Overconsumption of water is most likely to occur in long-distance runners, and can lead to serious complications. So, don’t force yourself to keep drinking water if you’re feeling full. And, if you’re drinking lots of water during heavy exercise, be sure to add adequate salts and electrolytes to balance it out.

Staying hydrated will help you avoid heat illnesses this summer, so make sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits and vegetables that are high in water content.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

3 Weapons to Beat the Heat at Work

Beat the heat  and stay cool at workIt’s hot outside! In fact, last year was the second hottest in recorded U.S. history and the hottest in 75 years, and this year isn’t much cooler. In some parts of the country, May temperatures reached triple digits. Even the NBA champions are associated with the rising temperatures.

While the summertime is mostly associated with having fun in the sun, for many people working outside this time of year can be very dangerous. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were more than 15,000 reports of heat-related illnesses at work between 2003 and 2009 with nearly 300 of those resulting in death. Don’t let the sun sabotage your ability to work. Here are three things you can do to keep yourself healthy during the summer months.

Get Some Cool Fuel
One of the most important things to remember when working long hours in the heat is to remain hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids will not only keep you from getting heat stroke, cramps, or exhaustion, but it will also help prevent workplace injuries. Try freezing large refillable bottles of water overnight and taking them to work the next morning. They will stay cold all day and keep you hydrated when you need it the most.

You should also be wary of drinks with a high concentration of sugar, alcohol, or caffeine.  Those types of drink will not keep you hydrated as long, and in some cases they will increase the rate of dehydration. Also, try avoiding eating foods high in protein, like meat, that increase metabolic heat production, which increases water loss.

Mind Your Medicine
Some medicines have negative reactions with extreme heat or sunlight. Make sure you’re aware of what medicines you take and the warnings that come with them. If you’re taking medication, check with your doctor for any that have negative side effects when you’re working in the heat. Discuss safer alternatives or other strategies for avoiding negative effects. You should also talk to your doctor about your working conditions whenever receiving medicine.

Get a Shield for the Sun
You may think that because of the heat, you should wear summer clothing like shorts and tank tops, but that isn’t the case. When your skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation for extended periods of time it can cause a painful sunburn which can contribute to skin cancer risks. Try wearing long sleeve, loose-fitting clothing and a hat with a brim to shield you from harmful rays. Wear lightly-colored or white clothing when working in the heat because lighter colors reflect light better and don’t get as hot as easily. If you have to work outside with exposed skin, remember to regularly apply sunscreen.

Working in the heat all day can be dangerous if you don’t take care of yourself. If you’re interested in learning more about how to identify and avoid heat-related illnesses, you can check out the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s resource page on beating the heat. What are some tricks you’ve developed to help beat the heat this summer?

Quick Ways to Put Some Sizzle in Your Cold Job Search

Heat up Your Job SearchOld Man Winter is saying goodbye. The bitter cold wind is going away, flowers are blooming, and people are trading sweaters and snow boots for shorts and sandals. The ski trips and winter activities have come to an end, and many graduates will be starting their job search.

Your job search may have gone cold during the winter months while dealing with holidays and other distractions, but now that spring is here and summer is soon approaching, it’s the perfect time to heat up that sluggish job search. Here are some quick ways you can bring a little sizzle and spark some new life into your job seeking efforts.

Catch up with Old Contacts
Maybe you haven’t had the chance to keep up with a few contacts in the past few months. Now that the weather is warming up, it would be a great opportunity to schedule a quick meeting outside a coffee shop, ice cream parlor, or deli to catch up. Even if they don’t have any leads, it’s always a good idea to stay fresh in their minds in case they find one.

A summer barbeque is a good reason to fire up the grill and invite old friends and new people to a gathering. You never know who you’ll meet and what new leads they could have.

Give Your Attire a Makeover
Does your interview clothing have any holes, missing buttons, stains, or tears? If it can be repaired, fix it yourself or get someone who knows what they’re doing to help. If it needs to be cleaned, send it to a professional cleaner to take care of it. Make sure you’re not missing any key pieces to your wardrobe if you need professional attire. If on a budget, you can find good quality items at resale shops as long as you’re willing to look for them.

You may also want to consider purchasing an entirely new wardrobe if you have the budget. You always want to look your best, and new, fresh attire can give you that boost of confidence you need when interviewing or attending professional events. Some discount stores may offer great deals in the summer for recent college graduates.

Review, Renew, and Revise
Have you updated your résumé recently? Think about what you’ve accomplished in the past few months. List any new skills you’ve acquired, training you’ve completed, or any other relevant information that has changed.

You can also consider changing the format of your résumé. After catching up with your contacts, ask them what they think about your résumé to see if they can offer any input. Try researching some résumés that stick out to see if you can still display relevant information, but express your professional experience as well.

Call for Help
You can also reach out to people in your industry network by scheduling some informational interviews.  During the summertime, it’s actually easier to meet with decision makers since their schedule typically isn’t as tight and they can be more generous with their time. Informational interviews not only help you become better at answering questions and perfecting your elevator pitch, but also allow to be more visible to decision makers.

If you’re frustrated doing things on your own, consider hiring a job coach or contacting a staffing agency. Job coaches can provide good, real-world advice on ways to improve your résumé, cover letter, and interview skills. There are also free services offered by staffing agencies that can provide helpful guidance in your job search.

The weather is getting hotter, so should your job search. For whatever reason, if your job search has gone cold, now is the time to light the fires and set your job search ablaze! What are some ways you’ve added some sizzle when looking for a job?