Summertime Shifts

Grilling. Ice cream. Picnics. Beaches. This is the best time of the year to live in the Southeast. The sun beckons us to visit one of the many springs and lakes in the state, as well as the ever-popular Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. On the other hand, we might choose to stay home and relax, spending time with our families so we can appreciate each other and the scenery that makes Central Florida extraordinary.

But while the weather changes to allow us to take delight in the longer days, shorter nights, and refreshing midday rainstorms, our diets tend to change, too. We celebrate the return of summer with outdoor grilling, cooling down with ice cream, and packing baskets for picnics, all of which captures what most of us enjoy during this time of year.

The smells and flavors of summer are bound to make us feel carefree, and our minds need that sense of bliss. But with this change, we want to remain diligent about our health. We must pay attention to the outside of our bodies by shielding our eyes and skin from the glare and heat of the sun. However, we should also remember to care for the invisible parts of our bodies — like our arteries and heart — because as with this month’s health topic, abdominal aortic aneurysms, you may not be able to see what needs your attention.

Yours,

Asad U. Qamar, MD

FACC, FCCP, FSGC, FACP, FSCAI Cardiologist