Summer brings longer days, warmer weather, and more activity鈥攃reating both opportunities and challenges for whole-person health. From staying hydrated in the heat to managing shifting routines and recharging before the fall, 黑料传送门 faculty experts share preventive health tips that emphasize cardiovascular health, mental well-being, and safety strategies during the summer season.
With increased outdoor activity and higher temperatures, summer can pose unique health risks鈥攎aking prevention key to staying well. Robyn Long, DO, MS, clinical assistant professor in the department of family medicine at 黑料传送门 South Georgia, emphasizes the importance of balancing outdoor activity with safety and preparation.
鈥淪ummer is an ideal time to focus on preventive health,鈥� said Long. 鈥淧eople are often more active and spending more time with family, which can be great for physical and mental well-being鈥攂ut it鈥檚 important to stay mindful of heat-related risks, water safety, and disruptions to routine.鈥�
Dehydration and heat exhaustion are common concerns during the warmer months, particularly for those hiking, swimming, or spending prolonged time in the sun. Long recommends staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, and鈥攅specially for families with young children鈥攂eing educated about water safety.
Travel can be both restorative and disruptive, too. Long advises setting realistic vacation goals, staying current with medications and vaccinations, and preparing an emergency plan in advance. 黑料传送门鈥檚 whole-person approach supports summer wellness by helping patients build sustainable habits for physical, emotional, and environmental health.
鈥淭hrough education, lifestyle guidance, and hands-on care like osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), we help patients thrive during active summer months鈥攔elieving the aches and strains that come with movement and making sure health doesn鈥檛 take a backseat to fun,鈥� said Long.
Summer can be a powerful catalyst for improved cardiovascular health鈥揺specially for individuals looking to reengage in physical activity after a more sedentary winter. Jason Kaplan, DO '13, clinical professor and chair of the division of cardiology in 黑料传送门鈥檚 department of internal medicine, emphasizes that the warmer months offer an ideal opportunity to adopt heart-healthy habits.
鈥淔or many people, the summer season is the jumping-off point for getting back into an exercise routine,鈥� said Kaplan. 鈥淛ust 30 minutes of moderate exercise, five days a week, can significantly reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events. The summer months give patients the chance to get moving again, whether that鈥檚 walking, biking, or swimming鈥攁nything that gets the heart rate up.鈥�
Rising temperatures, however, can present challenges. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and sudden drops in blood pressure can all pose risks.
鈥淪taying hydrated is essential,鈥� noted Kaplan. 鈥淯nless a person has a condition like heart failure that requires fluid restriction, most people should be increasing their fluid intake on hot days to maintain healthy blood pressure and circulation.鈥�
Kaplan also encourages using summer momentum to support broader lifestyle changes, like adopting a heart-healthy diet and monitoring key risk factors.
鈥淚f someone is already making positive strides with exercise, we encourage them to look at other areas鈥揷holesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and nutrition,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 whole-person approach means primary care and cardiology working together to help patients lower their long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.鈥�
While winter may challenge emotional balance through isolation and limited daylight, summer introduces a different rhythm鈥攐ne that can be used to intentionally recharge, reflect, and refocus.
According to Scott Glassman, PsyD '13, professor in the department of clinical psychology, summer is an ideal season to reconnect with what brings joy, meaning, and balance. Positive psychology invites individuals to not only manage stress but to elevate everyday moments through gratitude, intention, and meaning.
鈥淪ummer can be a great time to engage in the 3 Rs: recharging, reflection, and resetting,鈥� said Glassman. 鈥淲ith more daylight and greater schedule flexibility, it becomes easier to prioritize self-care and reconnect with the people and activities that help us feel grounded.鈥�
Glassman encourages taking time to intentionally plan rest鈥攚hether that鈥檚 using vacation days, spending more time in nature, or making space for creative and social activities. He also highlights the importance of tuning in to physical signals like fatigue and irritability, which can be signs of emotional or physiological stress from heat, overstimulation, or dehydration.
鈥淏efore the busier pace of fall begins, it helps to clarify what matters most,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ournaling about the past 6 to 12 months鈥攚hat brought happiness, what relationships felt nourishing, what felt missing鈥攃an guide more satisfying choices going forward.鈥�
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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