Red Hot Mamas In Charge of Change.
By: Red Hot Mamas
Published: April 18, 2014
It’s certainly been a long winter for us this year with lots of incredibly cold and snowy weather. So, its delightful to welcome in April and the nice weather it brings.
Personally, I’m looking forward to getting outside and taking long walks with my two dogs, Mary Jane and Marco. They are Norwich terriers who are fearless, affectionate and have seemingly unlimited energy. Needless to say, I get my fair share of exercise, exploring the woods of New Jersey with M&M.
I know many of you, who may not even own dogs, will also start walking more as the warmer months come upon us. So, I hope these tips I’m about to share with you will benefit your entire family, furry members and humans alike!
Ticks are more active in warmer months. If you have ever been bitten by a tick it’s a pretty scary thing, as it could transmit Lyme disease. So, you need to protect yourself by steering clear of wooded and grassy areas and always wear a long sleeved shirt and pants. And, be sure to check yourself upon returning home. Those ticks hide in places you would not believe. So check carefully your scalp and other hard to see places.
And, if you do find a tick on you, remove it immediately with clean tweezers, pinching the tick as close to your skin as possible and pulling it straight up. If you twist the tick, it can stay embedded in your skin. Wash the area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. And, always be sure to watch for symptoms of Lyme disease: a bull’s eye shaped rash that develops around the bite, a headache or fever, muscle and joint pains and fatigue. See your doctor immediately.
It’s important to get out and walk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend people ages 18 to 64 should engage in: moderate aerobic exercise (such as walking) for at least two and a half hours a week and include muscle strengthening activities (lifting weights) at least two days a week.
Talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program and start at a low intensity and gradually increasing your activity level.
Good health to you all,
Karen Giblin
