Dr. Eliaz Newsletter - July 2007

As July is now truly upon us and summer is in full swing I want to remind you to take the time and really enjoy the summer. These months when children are out of school and vacations are being enjoyed is a time that we can truly slow down from the daily busyness and focus on our health physically and emotionally.

Summer is a time of heat and of increased temperatures. The idea behind Thermal Expansion is that gases expand when the temperature is increased. If you have a balloon, and you heat up the contents, the balloon will get larger. Liquids expand and contract too, but there is a lot less change in their volume compared to gases. Solids expand and contract the least of all the states of matter.

As temperatures increase around us this expansion causes the energies in nature to accelerate. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. An object which has motion - whether it is vertical or horizontal motion - has kinetic energy. Movement can express itself in many different ways including the physical level, speech level and proliferation of thoughts on an intellectual level. It is obvious that as the basic atoms which comprise us expand and move in conjunction with the increased heat, so to would the atoms which comprise or intellect, spirituality and of course our emotions also be in motion.

As our own personal energy expands with the energy in nature, it is healthy and useful to experience and get in touch with this energy personally. This makes summer an excellent time to spend getting in touch with nature. Our day to day lives have become overwhelmed with social and work demands leaving no time to simply be and enjoy your home, family or even reflect on the day to day. Inventions such as cell phones that combine the internet, email and a computer make it more difficult to escape from constantly being on call. While technology does serve a greater good in bringing the world closer together, we seem to never to be able to be free of the demands of the outside world. This results in the overload, contraction and busyness of our minds and energetic systems.

The expansion of summer energy serves as an excellent opportunity to balance this contraction. The challenge is how do we successfully accomplish this? There are a number of basic principles that we can put into use. The opposite of contraction is movement and expansion. This can be done through exercise especially in and with . Nature has the ability to allow us to unwind, release our contractions and find a state of deeper relaxation. It can be through sitting in a quite spot, lying down, or walking in nature.

This month I want to talk about the importance of exercise even in the midst of the hot summer months. I really can't emphasize enough the importance of exercise but in this newsletter as we are in the thick of summer I want to talk about how exercise can affect your body and how to do so safely.

Hot weather and your body

Exercising in hot weather can put extra stress on your heart and lungs. The exercise itself and the air temperature increase your body temperature. To dissipate heat, more blood circulates through your skin. This leaves less blood for your muscles, which increases your heart rate. If the humidity is high, your body faces added stress because sweat doesn't readily evaporate from your skin - which can push your body temperature even higher.
Under normal conditions, your skin, blood vessels and perspiration level adjust to the heat. These natural cooling systems may fail if you're exposed to high temperatures and humidity for too long. The result may be a heat-related illness, such as cramps, heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Keep it cool

To avoid heat-related illnesses, keep these basic precautions in mind:

• Take it slow. If you're used to exercising indoors or in cooler weather, take it easy at first. As your body adapts to the heat, gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts. If you have a chronic medical condition or take medication, ask your doctor if you need to take additional precautions.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Your body's ability to sweat and cool down depends on adequate re-hydration. Drink plenty of water while you're working out - even if you don't feel thirsty. If you're planning to exercise intensely or for longer than one hour, consider sports drinks instead. These drinks can replace the sodium, chloride, potassium and electrolytes that are lost through sweating. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, which actually promote fluid loss.
• Dress appropriately. Lightweight, loose fitting clothing promotes sweat evaporation and cooling by letting more air pass over your body. Avoid dark colors, which can absorb the heat. A light-colored hat can limit your exposure to the sun.
• Avoid midday sun. Exercise in the morning or evening - when it's likely to be cooler outdoors - rather than the middle of the day. If possible, exercise in the shade or in a pool.
• Wear sunscreen. Sunburn decreases your body's ability to cool itself.
• Have a backup plan. If you're concerned about the heat or humidity, stay indoors. Work out at the gym, walk laps inside a mall or climb stairs inside an air-conditioned building.

Remember to Watch for Signs of Distress

Stop exercising at the first hint of a heat-related illness. Signs and symptoms may include: Weakness, headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, and rapid heartbeat. If you suspect a heat-related illness stop exercising immediately get out of the heat and drink plenty of water.

Until next month, best of health,

Isaac Gabriel Eliaz