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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Ready for Some Snow?
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It's about time I talked about winter snow skiing. The extended mild autumn delayed the ski season in many parts of the country but the past two weeks have been magnificent for ski resorts across the USA. Colorado already has 90 inches so far - Lake Tahoe has received 2 feet of powder in just the last 48 hours.

If you've read my comments regarding Rod Moser's WebMD blog All Ears, you already understand my family's passion for skiing.

Here I am at 12,000 feet with my daughter, Maggie, during a trip to Winter Park, Colorado. Pay attention: there are lots of informative tips in this photo that will help you enjoy a safe and memorable winter vacation.

See that bulge? Yeah, that bump in the right pocket of my ski jacket. That's where I put the bottle of sunblock when we are outside in the snow. Sunscreens and sunblocks are needed year-round. At elevation there are more of those harmful UV rays that can prematurely age the skin. (Prematurely age the skin? HA! Get over it...my skin is already mature, thank you!) I just don't want to acquire any skin cancers.

Note the Squinting? Both of us wear high quality 100% UV blocking ski goggles...except for this snapshot. Again, reducing UV exposure protects against cataract and macular degeneration. Goggles also protect you from a very painful corneal injury (UV solar keratopathy - also called "snow blindness") that is akin to sunburn of the ocular surface. This condition would definitely keep you off the slope - wasting valuable ski rental and chair lift ticket dollars. Now that's really painful!

Alert dispositions! Beyond the euphoria of reaching the summit, Maggie and I are thoroughly hydrated. Boosting daily water consumption helps your body adjust to the elevation and definitely improves your disposition. Many newcomers resemble zombies - pour them a glass or two of water, please. At altitude we drink lots of water and apply lots of nasal saline to keep sinus passages moist and comfortable.

On behalf of everyone at WebMD I hope that you and your loved ones enjoy a delightful holiday season. I look forward to seeing you frequently in the New Year!

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Posted by: Dr. Lloyd at 11:24 AM

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