“It’s a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do”. The American journalist and broadcaster Walter Winchell came up with this ‘graphic’ quote to detect when summer is making its debut. And now it’s official: a new summer has arrived to, hopefully, bring us many moments of joy. Lying on wonderful beaches, backpacking, partying and even having a summer fling may make these warm days unforgettable. Unfortunately, and leaving such expectations aside, summer isn’t that much of a gracious season.
This is the time of the year when bugs ‘come out to play’ and annoying health issues can ruin your plans, thus making you both sick and sweaty, which is a ‘nasty’ combo to say the least.
Do you want to know the main health hazards to look out for during these months? Let’s find out!
Food Poisoning
Who has not been sick with diarrhea and vomiting during the summertime? High temperatures are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria when food is left out of the refrigerator for too long. Be sure to monitor the temperature of the food you are going to eat, especially if you go on a picnic or camping. Plus, don’t forget to take precautions when cooking raw meat, which shouldn’t be mixed with other food items. Ah, and washing your hands properly is a must in case you are in charge of the meals!
Escherichia Coli, better known as E-coli, is a type of bacteria responsible for many cases of food poisoning. It’s found in contaminated food and water, so if you are out in the wilderness, think twice before drinking from fountains and swimming in dirty waters.
Dehydration
It’s summertime, therefore it’s hot. That means you are sweating out the fluids of your body without even noticing, and here’s the problem. We all enjoy outdoor activities in such nice weather, but we need to keep our bodies well hydrated while doing so. Otherwise, the loss of fluids in our bodies can go out of balance, which can trigger symptoms such as dizziness, dry mouth, a pounding heart and even fainting. Severe dehydration and exposure to very high temperatures can lead to heat stroke, considered a medical emergency since it can cause damage to the brain and even death.
Bug bites and insect stings
As pointed out early on the text, bugs and insects are in their element when it’s hot outside, and they can even sow fear in certain areas of the world. Such is the case of Aedes mosquitoes, which are currently in the spotlight for carrying the feared Zika virus, responsible for many symptoms and linked to microcephaly and birth defects.
However, Zika isn’t the only disease to be concerned about when thinking of bugs. For example, you should watch out for ticks, whose bite can transmit Lyme disease to humans. Such an infectious condition usually causes fatigue, headaches, fever and skin rash. Yet, when left untreated, Lyme disease can expand to the nervous system, the joints and the heart, which can lower the patients’ quality of life.
Beyond these severe examples, let’s not forget about common bug bites and stings that, despite not having such scary consequences, can give us a hard time with symptoms such as hives, swelling and itchiness at the sting. Wasp or bee stings fit perfectly into this category, so try not to bother them!
Sunburns
The obsession for getting a perfect tan during the summertime often results in painful sunburns that may turn you into a ‘lobster’. Despite health warnings about conditions like skin cancer, a lot of people keep neglecting the harmful consequences of exposing their skin to the sun’s burning rays for long periods of time and with no or inadequate protection, which leads to problems: pain, swelling, blisters and even nausea, headaches and fever. After all, sunburns are first-degree burns that damage the cells of the skin, so you might as well wear sunscreen with high Sun Protection Factor, and also avoid lying out in the sun from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, when the sun’s rays are stronger.
On top of that, a new study carried out by the Case Western Reserve University, in Ohio, shows that UV rays can increase the risk of cataract, which tipically occurs with aging. Researchers found that UV light can damage lens proteins, thereby prompting a clouding of the eyes after chronic sunlight exposure.
Summing up, we are not trying to be a Debbie Downer and bring down the mood of your summer expectations, but it’s important to, once again, be aware of certain ‘summery risks’. Obviously, that shouldn’t keep you from having a delightful time, but doing it in the healthiest way possible!
