Pack appropriately.
like poison oak, sumac or ivy to avoid a trip to the ER.
Bring water, food, a cellphone, a map or a compass, a whistle, a headlamp, and a flashlight.
When you hike or do any kind of exercise in hot weather, you cool off by sweating, which causes you to lose body fluids. If you do not replace these fluids, you can become dehydrated. “Your body may then have difficulty sweating and cooling down,” explains Dr. Pook. “This can lead to heat injury ranging from moderate problems, like heat cramps and heat exhaustion, to medical emergencies, like heat stroke.”
Hike on an established trail, and stay out of areas declared off limits to hikers.
Stay hydrated. Choose wisely. Watch where you are walking.
“That is a modern-day warning more of us need to heed,” Dr. Pook says. Whether we are lost in the music coming through our earbuds, talking on our phone or sending some texts, many of us are not focused on what is in front of us as we hike. Keep your focus on the people and potential obstacles in front of and around you.
Take it easy in the beginning.
If you just started hiking or if you have not exercised recently, forget speed and walk at a comfortable pace. Then gradually work up to 100 steps a minute.
Arthritis in the hands is more common than you might think. Nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men will develop the condition in their lifetime, according to a new study.
The risk of symptomatic hand osteoarthritis also varies by race and weight.
Aching or swelling hands, decreased motion and stiffness are all symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The study, published this month in “Arthritis & Rheumatology,” analyzed data for more than 2,000 adults over 45 years.
The lifetime risk of arthritis in the hands is 41 percent among whites and 29 percent among blacks, according to a news release about the study.
The risk to people with obesity is 11 percentage points higher than those who are not obese.