1 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Willness sun Masks. I'm doctor Nicole Saftfire and 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: this is your weekly rundown. Well, today's weekly rundown. I 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: may be sounding a little bit more sunny in my disposition, 4 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: and why is that. Well, that's because I'm currently away 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: on vacation. Doesn't everyone just sound a little bit more 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: chipper when they are kind of not doing their everyday activities. 7 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: I'm currently away enjoying some warmth, some sunny weather, and yes, 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm soaking up every minute of it. Because getting outdoors, 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: you've heard me say, it isn't just good for the soul, 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 1: it's actually good medicine. And we don't talk enough about 11 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: how good it is, how powerful being outside really can 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: be for your body. Sunlay helps our bodies produce vitamin D, 13 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: which plays a role in our immune system, bone health, 14 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: muscle strength, and even mood regulation. And let's be clear, 15 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: vitamin D deficiency it's incredibly common, especially in colder climates 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: where we spend months bundled up indoors. If you find 17 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: yourself feeling a little down during the darker winter months, 18 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: it's not all in your head. It's actually because you're 19 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: not getting enough sunshine. So even just fifteen to twenty 20 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: minutes of suddenly on exposed skin can help depending on 21 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: where you live, the season, your skin type, you know. 22 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: But fifteen to twenty minutes good rule of thumb, adding 23 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: some fresh air, some movement of the body. It all 24 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: lowers your stress hormones and suddenly a walk outside looks 25 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: a lot like a wellness prescription. But here's the reality check. 26 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 1: These sunny escapes, It's not going to last very long. 27 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: I'm going to be heading home to a massive snowstorm. 28 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 1: I keep reading about the headlines. I have to actually 29 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: put my phone away because it's a little depressing. But 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: it definitely seems like we're getting a lot of weather 31 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: to the northeast. So this is a good reminder that 32 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: while winter can be beautiful, it does also come with 33 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: some real health and safety wrists if you're not prepared. 34 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: So I wanted to put together some tips for you, 35 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: as a lot of the country may be seeing some 36 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: weather upcoming days. Let's talk about snowstorm prep because prevention 37 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: is always better than emergency care. First, check your essentials, 38 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: make sure you have enough food, water, medications, and definitely 39 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: obviously if you have babies or even pet supplies to 40 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: last at least seventy two hours, just in case the 41 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 1: roads aren't safe, you're out of power whatever it is. 42 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: And speaking of power, power matters. Charge your phones, back 43 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: up your batteries. And if you rely on any sort 44 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: of medical equipment like oxygen or something to help you 45 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: breathe at night, make sure you have a plan if 46 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: the power goes out. Third, you have to prevent injuries. 47 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: Most snowstorm er visits they're not for frostbite. They're actually 48 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: from people going outside, slipping, falling, or just over exerting themselves, 49 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: like while shoveling. Take breaks, lift properly. If you can't 50 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: lift heavy things, don't do it. Ask for help, come 51 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: up with a plan. Maybe you have a neighbor who 52 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: has a strong teenage son who can help you. Don't 53 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: push through any chest pain or shortness of breath. It 54 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: may not just be you're exerting yourself, but you may 55 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: actually be having a medical crisis. Carbon monoxide safety is 56 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: another huge issue with impending storm. Never run generators or 57 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: grills indoors or in garages. This is a silent killer 58 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: every winter. You can go on Amazon, you can go 59 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: to your local hardware store. If you don't have carbon 60 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: monoxide monitors in your house. You should get one because 61 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: you can't see it and you can't smell it, but 62 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: it can definitely kill you. And finally, make sure to 63 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: check on vulnerable neighbors and family members, especially the elderly 64 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: or those with chronic stress. Check in on them, send 65 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: them a message, put on your snow boots. If it's 66 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: not too dangerous outside, take a walk over. Make sure 67 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: everyone's doing okay. So whether you're soaking up the sunshine 68 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: temporarily like myself, or you're bracing for the blizzard, remember 69 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: your environment impacts your health more than you think, so 70 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: get outside when you can and when it's safe, plan 71 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: ahead when you can't, and take care of your body 72 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: every day. That's it for me. I'm doctor Nicole Saftfire. 73 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: This has been your weekly rundown on Wellness un Mass. 74 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: Make sure to tune in to Wellness sun Mass on 75 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio or Apple podcasts or anywhere that you get your podcasts, 76 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 1: and I'll see you next time.