though, so wear sunscreen, sunglasses and light clothes to protect your skin and guard against heat illnesses.
Keeping cool and staying hydrated are also important steps in preventing heat illnesses. If out and about, be sure to know where the nearest public cooling station is. You’ll often find them in libraries, senior centers etc. Make sure to drink water and replenish your electrolytes. We will explore more about electrolytes on page 2. Stay cool, stay safe and enjoy the summer!
~ Golden Horizons Office Team
Mr. W's Newsletter Inspiration
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did.” ~ Attributed to Mark Twain
“Go to heaven for the climate, hell for the company.” ~ Attributed to Mark Twain
Cultural Tidbit: This month, Mr. W sent us two quotes, allegedly penned or said by Mark Twain. There is evidencethat he may not have been the original author of these quotes. Here are some sources to do your own digging: Now for a bit about Mark Twain...the 6th of 7 children, Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri. He is a famous American lecturer, humorist and author, most known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. |
Caregiver of the Quarter
July Birthdays
Electrolytes
Some of the main electrolytes found in our bodies include potassium, sodium, phosphate, magnesium, chloride, calcium, bicarbonate. These electrolytes serve various functions in the body. For instance, potassium, calcium and sodium are used to help muscles contract. If there is a deficiency in one of these electrolytes, the muscle contracting will be weaker, causing an imbalance.
An electrolyte imbalance goes two ways - either too high or too low. Electrolyte levels will fluctuate depending on other factors in the body. When we are active, we lose electrolytes - especially sodium and potassium through our sweat (hence the summer push to replenish). If there is a major imbalance, symptoms may include weakness, muscle spasms, fatigue, blood pressure changes, diarrhea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat to name a few. Some causes of electrolyte imbalance may be as simple as sweat during activity and poor diet, or more serious including cancer treatments, heart disease, kidney disease. If you have any issues or questions regarding your electrolyte levels, be sure to speak to your doctor. If one has a poor diet, balancing electrolyte levels may be done with good sources like fruits, vegetables (kale, spinach), table salt, yogurt and more. For more, visit our blog.