Dr Onyinyechi Eke Column: Fun In Moderation
[Column written by Dr Onyinyechi Eke]
It’s Cup Match season in Bermuda! Whether you’re for Somerset, St George’s or just a joyful outsider like me, it’s clear that it’s party-time on the island.
While the most sensible strategy for enjoying yourself over Cup Match weekend – or any weekend that might see you socialising in the sunshine this summer – is to limit your alcohol intake, we know that’s not always the most popular strategy. Instead, we want to suggest that you enjoy yourself – in moderation! Here are some useful tips and techniques to manage your wellness this weekend and beyond, so you can make memories you’ll want to look back on and not cringe about.
You’ve heard it time and time again, but it bears repeating once more: hydration, hydration, hydration! In the summer heat, we tend to lose a lot more fluid. This is down to sweating when we get warm, and is compounded by drinking alcohol, which sends you to the bathroom more frequently.
You can alternate glasses of water with your rum swizzle or just make a mental note to take a break once an hour or so to chug water as a group – to keep each other honest. Throw some ice cubes into a thermos and you can top up all day and still enjoy a reprieve from the heat.
You’ve always been told not to drink on an empty stomach and that still holds true. While it might be a cheaper and faster way to feel the effects, you’re more likely to lose control of things too early if you do. Indulge in some food from the vendors at the cricket grounds. If you’re celebrating in someone’s backyard, make sure to eat your fill of barbecue before you drink your fill of alcohol.
Before you set out for the day, make sure to slather on some reef safe sunblock. It should be reapplied every couple of hours so if you think you’re going to forget, set an alarm on your phone or smart watch to remind yourself. Keep an eye out for friends and family, too.
If you do get sunburned, get out of the sun as soon as you can and get out of the heat. Take a cold shower before applying a soothing moisturiser, ideally with aloe vera or calamine lotion in it. If it’s painfully uncomfortable then take ibuprofen to help but be careful about your alcohol consumption here. And, of course, drink some more water!
If you’re planning to be at the cricket on Thursday and/or Friday before continuing celebrations this weekend, be sure to try and build in a rest day somewhere. That day, let yourself sleep in, hydrate [again!] and eat a good balanced meal. If your head is bothering you, then you might find an ibuprofen will help.
Enjoy!
- Dr Onyinyechi Eke, MD, MPH, Attending Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital
For extensive coverage of Cup Match spanning over a decade, visit our website BernewsCupMatch.com, the island’s most comprehensive resource on the Cup Match holiday.
- Over 6,000 photos here
- Over 150 videos here
- Over 80 graphics here
- History here
- Dedicated website: BernewsCupMatch.com
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