LHM Youth Lifestyle Information – Keeping Fit

Many young people with half a working heart have spoken to us about feeling affected by the weather. Whether it is hot or cold outside we know it can really affect your day. Feeling the cold more or struggling if the day is far too hot. Your heart condition affects your circulation, so this is why you feel the cold so much, your circulation is also affected by how hydrated you are. So, this might be why you feel sluggish in the heat.

Parents/guardians may tell you to dress for the weather to make sure you are safe, but that does not mean that you have to feel unfashionable.

Keeping warm during winter

Here are our top tips for keeping warm in winter.

  1. Layer up! Lots of thinner layers are better than one thick one, as they trap and warm air. Think vests, tops, cardigans, sweaters. There is something for everyone. Try the local ski shop, they have gear especially designed for very cold weather. It is easy to layer your clothes whilst sticking to your look.
  2. Warm up from the inside! Have hot cereal for breakfast; warm the morning drink of milk. Make hot chocolate or tea for snack time. Have soup with a sandwich for lunch and plan warm snacks throughout the day. Remember that you need food little and often so you will be helping your diet and keeping warm.
  3. Treat a cold! Prevent sore lips by using lip balm or simple Vaseline. If your runny nose just will not go away, talk to your parents about getting advice from your health visitor or the GP. It might develop into an infection, and we want to avoid that.
  4. Toastie at night! Sometimes it’s hard to keep warm in bed. Onesies with extra socks can help when the duvet slips. If it is cold, think about using a sleeping bag.

Keeping warm during winter

Here are our top tips for keeping warm in winter.

  1. Layer up! Lots of thinner layers are better than one thick one, as they trap and warm air. Think vests, tops, cardigans, sweaters. There is something for everyone. Try the local ski shop, they have gear especially designed for very cold weather. It is easy to layer your clothes whilst sticking to your look.
  2. Warm up from the inside! Have hot cereal for breakfast; warm the morning drink of milk. Make hot chocolate or tea for snack time. Have soup with a sandwich for lunch and plan warm snacks throughout the day. Remember that you need food little and often so you will be helping your diet and keeping warm.
  3. Treat a cold! Prevent sore lips by using lip balm or simple Vaseline. If your runny nose just will not go away, talk to your parents about getting advice from your health visitor or the GP. It might develop into an infection, and we want to avoid that.
  4. Toastie at night! Sometimes it’s hard to keep warm in bed. Onesies with extra socks can help when the duvet slips. If it is cold, think about using a sleeping bag.

Staying safe in the sun

Here are our top tips for those sunny days!

  1. Protect your skin Your skin is very sensitive, especially along your scar area, so you burn easily in the sun. Always protect your skin by using high factor sun cream. Tanning maybe fashionable but your health is more important, just being out in the sun will give you a healthy glow. You can find great on trend sunglasses with UV lenses which will really help. Always make sure that there is shade in the garden, park or beach. Getting sunburned is not nice and can be very dangerous for you.
  2. Still feel cold in the sun?  Summer the time we love to swim, remember a change of clothes is needed if there will be water where you are going (beach, lake, stream, etc). Having half a working heart, you will get cold quickly after being in the water—even for a quick paddle—and even in the sun so a towel and fresh clothes will soon warm you up.

3. Summer energy levels Sun = outdoor fun and it is great to get some fresh air! When you are outside, you might get more active (playing games, walking far, etc) so you will probably tire easily. Try and make sure you can have short breaks, just ten minutes sitting down before you are up and about again can be enough to give you a good rest.

4. Medication in the sun Your medication is year-round – yep even in the sun. Some of you might need them even when you are out and about. If you are taking liquid medications, it is important to keep them cool. A little ice bag with drinks and medications stored in it will keep them safe but be careful it is not too cold as you do not want frozen medication!

Wearing Make-up

Many young people with half a working heart tell us that they feel they have a blue tinge to their look or that they feel paler than their friends. There are safe and easy ways to help with this …. here are our top tips.

  • Blue tones in skin – A lot of young people with half a working heart may find that their skin tone has a tinge of blue. There is no need to pile on the makeup if you want to try and conceal this a little bit. If you go for a cool tone foundation this will help without trying to pile it on. Usually, cool tone foundations have a dash of pink.

 

  • We know we tell you to stay out of the sun and avoid sun burn when you have half a working heart. But what if you want a suntan? Easy most beauty shops offer a natural spray tan (let’s not go crazy and end up looking like an Oompa Loompa). You can also get really good quality home tanners too. A great way to have a natural glow without getting dangerously friendly with the sun.
  • If you really do not like your scars there are camouflage concealers. They will not get rid of the scar but can neutralise deep colours that stand out from your skin tone.

 

  • If you have a blue undertone to your skin most makeup artists will tell you to try and avoid any peaches or oranges when it comes to eyeshadow and lipsticks. This will make the blue undertone stand out. Instead go for nice blush colours or red lippy with a blue undertone.