Beat Summer Health Bummers

Swimmer’s ear. Mosquitoes. The heat. The bikini. Summer is not all fun in the sun. However, Sutter Health wants to put the fun back in summer by helping you overcome some common summer bummers.

Every day from June 21 to July 20, Sutter Health medical experts will post seasonal tips on the non-profit's Facebook and Twitter accounts. Topics covered include how to beat the heat and stay safe this summer.

Amy Davis, communications coordinator at Sutter Health, compiled this list of tips to beat seasonal setbacks:

• Swimmer’s Ear: Aside from wearing earplugs, after swimming, put two drops of a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and vinegar in each ear. The alcohol breaks the water tension and helps the canal dry; the vinegar is antibacterial and antifungal.
• Summer Camp: Whether it's band camp or sports camp, preparing your child for sleep-away camp is an important step before they leave home.
• Sunscreen: Rather than putting tequila in that shot glass, think of it as a measuring cup for sunscreen - that's how much your body needs for even coverage - one ounce.
• Get Bikini Ready: It’s never too late in the summer for bikini body tips — how to combat swimsuit season spoilers like saggy skin, ingrown hairs and more.
• Summer Meals: Can’t Stand the Heat? Don't touch that stove — turn your side salad into a main dish with an extra source of protein. Try cubes of reduced-fat cheese, tuna packed in water, sliced turkey or chicken, low-fat cottage cheese or kidney beans to add protein to your plate.
• The Great Outdoors: Well, except for the bugs. Whether they show up at your picnic uninvited or leave their mark with itchy bites, see how to keep bugs from bugging you.
• Bare it All: What's one body part that everyone sees naked during the summer? Your arms - so here's how to get them in shape as you prepare to go bare.

On its Facebook and Twitter pages, Sutter Health experts will also be answering questions such as how to get a good night's sleep during hot summer nights, where brain freezes come from, how flip flops affect your feet and more.

If you have a summer health concern you’d like answered by Sutter Health's team, post it on facebook.com/SutterHealth, tweet it to @SutterHealth or submit it here. For more summer tips, check out Sutter Health affiliate Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s blog.