by Mary McBean, M.D., board-certified family practitioner with Vanderbilt Medical Group in Spring Hill and is a credentialed physician with Williamson Medical Center.
Nothing gets people up, out and moving like a dose of warmer weather after a long, cold winter.
You’ve been closed up for months in a weather-induced sedentary state. But then the sun starts to shine longer, the days get warmer and you suddenly get a springtime injection of energy and enthusiasm you haven’t seen in months. Unfortunately, sometimes our zeal for getting active and enjoying the fresh air creates an increased risk of bodily harm because spending a Saturday hunched over your garden seems like a great idea until that night when your back hurts so bad you can’t stand up straight.
Whether it’s sore muscles from a day spent cleaning out the garage, contracting poison ivy while working in the garden or taking a spill from your newly dusted-off Rollerblades, springtime definitely can pack a punch to your body.
By taking a few small precautions, spring doesn’t have to be such a precarious time of year.
Springtime sunburn
One thing I caution people about this time of year is sunburn. We’ve been inside and covered up all winter, so we finally get to spend some time outside, but because it isn’t too hot, we don’t think to take precautions against sunburn.
This time of year people tend to burn in places they wouldn’t expect like the small of your back from bending over, or the back of your neck from mowing the yard. Be mindful of the fact that you will burn easily this time of year and apply sunscreen daily as part of your morning routine. You need it on your face, neck and arms.
Hazardous yard work
Getting out this time of year to get your yard in shape is what I consider hazard number two. I can’t tell you how important it is to read and follow the directions with fertilizers and weed killers and other lawn and garden chemicals. People can get skin, eye or inhalation injuries that can cause immediate problems such as headache or nausea. On a breezy day, you have to be extra careful about inhaling it and getting inadvertent exposure. These products are designed to kill living cells in organisms but can have an adverse affect on us, too. Some are associated with long-term nervous system problems.
Protect your eyes
When it’s time to cut the grass, two things people often overlook are eye and ear protection. There are a lot of loud machines coming out of the garage and hearing damage is cumulative, so be sure to protect your ears. Then there’s the trimming of branches and cutting back bushes, which can very easily cause an accidental abrasion or perforating injury to the eye. It happens all the time and we are constantly seeing people with scratches to their eye because they didn’t wear protective glasses.
Read the rest of Dr. McBean’s springtime advice here.
More Local Health & Fitness News
