15 Ways To Keep Cool When it’s Hot

As temperatures reach record highs in the UK (England) in july 2006 it is time to review some sound advice to keep safe in the sun. 

Try some of these tips:

1: Alter your pattern of outdoor exercise to take advantage of cooler times (early morning or late evening). If you can’t change the time of your workout, scale it down by doing fewer minutes, walking instead or running, or decreasing your level of exertion. 

2: Wear loose-fitting clothing, preferably of a light color. 

3: Cotton clothing will keep you cooler than many synthetics.

4: Fill a spray bottle with water and keep it in the refrigerator for a quick refreshing spray to your face after being outdoors. 

5: Fans can help circulate air and make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned house. 

6: Try storing lotions or cosmetic toners in the refrigerator to use on hot, overtired feet. 

7: Keep plastic bottles of water in the freezer; grab one when you’re ready to go outside. As the ice melts, you’ll have a supply of cold water with you. 

8: Take frequent baths or showers with cool or tepid water.

9: Combat dehydration by drinking plenty of water along with sports drinks or other sources of electrolytes.

10: Some people swear by small, portable, battery-powered fans. At an outdoor event I even saw a version that attaches to a water bottle that sprays a cooling mist. 

11: Pour a bit of ice cold water into the hat, then quickly invert it and place on your head. 

12: Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these will promote dehydration. 

13: Instead of hot foods, try lighter summer fare including frequent small meals or snacks containing cold fruit or low fat dairy products. As an added benefit, you won’t have to cook next to a hot stove. 

14: If you don’t have air-conditioning, arrange to spend at least parts of the day in a shopping mall, public library, movie theater, or other public space that is cool. Many cities have cooling centers that are open to the public on sweltering days. 

15: Finally, use common sense. If the heat is intolerable, stay indoors when you can and avoid activities in direct sunlight or on hot asphalt surfaces. Pay special attention to the elderly, infants, and anyone with a chronic illness, as they may dehydrate easily and be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Don’t forget that pets also need protection from dehydration and heat-related illnesses too. 

Reference Source: Medicinenet.com

Chamomile

The chamomiles (or camomiles) have long been used and cultivated by Europeans and Americans. There is hardly one western herbal published in the past 500 years that does not include this group of plants. Tyler (1993) notes that the Germans refer to it as alles zutraut (capable of anything), equating its reputation (though not uses) as a popular European herb with the status afforded ginseng in other cultures.

Soccer helps men express their feelings -study

LONDON - Soccer gives men a way to express their innermost thoughts and feelings, according to a pre World Cup survey.

Almost two-thirds of men (64%) believe that while watching or playing soccer, they are more willing to share their feelings with other men than when doing other activities.

Three quarters said they would not be embarrassed to hug their mates while watching a match.

"Football does have positive effects on people's psychological well-being," said Sandy Wolfson, Head of Psychology at Northumbria University.

"It gives people a ready-made topic of conversation where opinions on team selection, strategy, and players' skills are enjoyable topics for debate," he added.

The survey was carried out by the Mental Health Research Foundation, an independent organization devoted to helping people across the UK maintain good mental health. It was conducted online, with 500 male participants ranging from ages 18-70.

"It is encouraging that football makes it easier for men to talk about their feelings as traditionally, men are far less likely than women to share their innermost thoughts," said Andrew McCulloch, chairman of the foundation.

Along with hugging their friends, 70 percent of men admitted that a match can make them upset while 58 percent said that what happens over the course of a football match can make them aggressive.

However, the ability of football to bring out a man's emotions does have its limits -- three-quarters of men polled said they had never cried over the outcome of a match.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Are Boots To Blame For England Football Injuries?

The current question among England football fans after star player, Wayne Rooney, broke the fourth metatarsal bone on his right foot, is whether the boots are to blame for the number of injuries experienced by English footballers.

If Rooney makes a swift recovery he may be able to play in some of the World Cup matches. Whether he will be fighting fit is doubtful.

Rooney was wearing Nike Total 90 Supremacy boots. He wore them for the first time on the day he had the injury. Nike denies its boots are linked to a higher risk of injury.

Tom Docherty, who used to manage Manchester United, Rooney's current team, said to the Manchester Evening news that his wife, a physiotherapist, thinks the boots are to blame.

Docherty said that when he was a professional football player in the 1950s it used to take six weeks to break a pair of boots in. Players used to have to put them in a bucket of water. He added that balls are much lighter now and the pitches are in much better condition. Docherty believes the modern boot does not support the foot properly.

Rooney broke a metatarsal in 2004. David Beckham, Gary Neville and Roy Keane have all suffered a broken metatarsal.

When football pitches were not so good in the 70s and 80s hernias were the most common injuries.

Some ex-footballers say modern boots are like slippers.

Tony Book, an ex-professional footballer, told the Manchester Evening News he believes the name of the injury has changed. He believes the old ‘broken toe' injury is now reported as ‘fractured/broken metatarsal'.

Others say it is the media attention, or the faster pace of modern football.

The most common comments made by England fans and commentators are:

1. The boots.
2. Players are not getting enough rest.

There Are 5 Metatarsal Bones (in the foot)

-- The First Metatarsal Bone
Os metatarsale I; metatarsal bone of the great toe
The thickest and shortest one.

-- The Second Metatarsal Bone
Os metatarsale II
The longest one
David Beckham's injury in 2002

-- The third metatarsal bone
Os metatarsale III

-- The fourth metatarsal bone
Os metatarsale IV
Wayne Rooney's current injury

-- The fifth metatarsal bone
Os metatarsale V
Wayne Rooney's injury in 2004

Click Here To See Illustrations - Wikipedia

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today

Did you Know? There are more than 300 types of foot ailments

There are more than 300 types of foot ailment, with some resulting from genetic factors. However, for the elderly, most such ailments are caused by habitual neglect or accumulated damage. With just a little effort, people can avoid much harm. But if you are in pain, be sure to get medical treatment without delay.