Health Briefs: Flip-flop dangers

People of all ages wear flip-flops during the summer. But wearing them for long periods on concrete or while playing sports can cause pain and injury because they offer limited arch support and coverage, say doctors at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Some potential health concerns: muscle stress and back pain from gripping flip-flops with your toes; plantar fasciitis from inadequate foot support and lack of shock absorption; broken toes and toenails, cuts and germs, and sun damage to the skin.

Heat stress

Spending time outdoors in the summer requires attention to heat-related illnesses, says Dr. Alan Gertler of University of Alabama at Birmingham. "The heat of summer increases stress on the heart, particularly during exercise," he says. Watch out for muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, dizziness, confusion, a body temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit and cold, clammy skin. If you have these symptoms, "drink plenty of fluids and cool down. If symptoms don't improve after 30 minutes, seek medical attention."

-- HealthDay