School’s out and lots of Kentuckians will be swimming, vacationing and spending more time outdoors. Saint Joseph Health points out the summer months carry health risks that are preventable. Dr. Jacob Trapp is a family practitioner in Lexington. He said folks shouldn’t venture outside without wearing sunscreen.
“Any time that damage is done to the skin by the sun, whether it is getting a tan or a sunburn, that can potentially damage the DNA of that area of the skin. Those damages eventually, and this can happen years down the line, lead to skin cancers.”
Trapp said it’s still important to get outdoors for its mental and physical benefits, including Vitamin D from the sun. He also said people should also be aware dehydration can strike without warning.
“If you are losing hydration through sweating or through even just natural evaporation when you're outside, your thirst mechanisms may not catch up to how dehydrated you actually are.”
Trapp said symptoms of dehydration or heat exhaustion include feeling tired, confused or about to pass out. He said it’s incredibly important to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate when you’re outdoors – and to get inside when any warning signs occur.
