CSANews Issue 135

The Dog Days of Summer have arrived! Overwhelming heat and very hot weather are just the tonic for winter blues. (Do snowbirds actually have winter blues?)

Right now, Canada is under what they are referring to as a “Heat Dome.” This means a very high-pressure area that does not move very much. It traps heat beneath that dome and the radiation from the sun basically “cooks” us. Very little wind occurs and the skies are usually cloud-free. Perfect weather, eh? Well, not quite.

This heat wave is dangerous. The high temperatures play havoc with people who have breathing issues and, as we age, these are more and more common. Heat prostration is also common and is described as a condition marked by dizziness, nausea and weakness caused by depletion of body fluids and electrolytes. Even more dangerous is heat stroke. These are both very serious issues and you must do everything possible to avoid them.

We all know what to do – stay out of the sun, drink lots of water, try to stay in air-conditioned rooms, perhaps even go to the library or a museum.  Additional common-sense steps include wearing light clothes and a large-brimmed hat (not a baseball cap) and putting on sunscreen. Don’t be lazy, just do it.

Most people do not like spraying their body with “stuff” – men in particular. And now comes the really big problem with our Dog Days of Summer – skin cancer! I have always been lazy about sunscreen and have now paid the price. Last year, the doctors diagnosed me with skin cancer on the left side of my nose. This is probably due to driving as the sun pours in on…my left side. The good news was that an MOH’s procedure was available and totally cured me. Guess who is now diligent with sunscreen.

Sincerely,

The dog days or dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer. They were historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius (known colloquially as the “Dog Star”), which Hellenistic astrology connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck. They are now taken to be the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. (from Wikipedia)