While many associate summers with fun getaways, refreshing beverages and floppy hats, others associate them with irritable rashes, exhaustion, and even food sickness. The warmest three months of the year are from April to June. Some illnesses occur more frequently in the summer and can occasionally have an effect that persists long after the season has passed. Fortunately, knowing about typical summer health issues and taking a few easy precautions will usually be enough to keep you safe this summer. One of the precautions is health insurance you must have to protect yourself financially should any of the summer-related illnesses infect you.
The following is a list of typical illnesses that are more prevalent during this warm weather:
- Insect bites
- Heat strokes
- Dehydration
- Sore eyes
- Diarrhea
- Typhoid
- Asthma attack or Respiratory Discomfort
- Chicken Pox
- Flu
- Food poisoning
- Cough and cold
- Jaundice
- Vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue
Handy Tips to Avoid Some Common Summer-related Health Issues
Stay Hydrated
To stay hydrated, drink plenty of water and increase your consumption of fluids like coconut water, buttermilk, and lemon water, at home and while travelling. Ensure you drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of liquids throughout the day.
Use Sunscreen During the Day
You risk sunburn if your skin is exposed to the sun for an extended period, especially in the afternoon. An excessive amount of UV exposure might result in itchy skin rashes. In extreme circumstances, this might result in skin cancer or melanoma. Always use sun protection with at least 30 SPF. Every 2-3 hours, reapply it to any areas of the skin that are exposed.
Wear Loose-fitting Clothing to Keep Your Body Cool
During the summer, it's crucial to wear light-colored, loose clothing. Your body won't perspire if you wear tight clothing. Dark colours also absorb more heat, which may be uncomfortable for you. As a result, you must dress comfortably and in light colours, ideally in cotton or other breathable materials.
Watch Out for the Mosquitoes
Simple yet effective precautions like avoiding standing water and applying insect repellent treatments to exposed skin can help you avoid getting bitten by insects. It's also a good idea to stay inside right after dusk, when mosquitoes are typically at their most active.
Before Handling Food, Wash Your Hands and Sanitise Them
When handling food, wash your hands thoroughly and adhere to normal hygiene guidelines. To avoid water and food-borne illnesses, wash your hands before handling or preparing any food. Sanitise your hands immediately after using the restroom.
Always Keep ORS Handy
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) should always be within easy reach. For these, sachets are easily accessible. If not, you can make them at home using a litre of salted, cooled, and boiling water, along with six level teaspoons of sugar. All day long, keep drinking this to stay hydrated.
Avoid Eating from Street Vendors
Food poisoning is most common in the summer because bacteria tend to multiply more quickly in warm weather. Handling food safely outside gets challenging. Salmonella and e. coli can grow if the food is undercooked or left out for an extended period. When the poisoned food enters the system, it causes vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach aches.
Consume Fresh Produce and Fruits
Fruits and vegetables, such as watermelons, leeches, mangoes, papayas, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc., may help keep you cool during the sweltering summer months. We frequently overindulge in ice cream and chilly beverages while neglecting the luscious fruits that can help us reenergize during these dreary months. They also have components that can help us stay healthy.
Avoid Unnecessary Sun Exposure During Peak Hours
Avoid going outside in the heat, especially between 12 and 3 o'clock. The likelihood of sun damage and sunburn is higher at this time since the sun's rays are perpendicular to the ground. Additionally, UV rays may potentially penetrate your skin at this time.
Wear Appropriate Summer Gear
Wearing a cap and sunglasses will help you stay cool when travelling or engaging in outdoor activities. It will also keep your face looking young and wrinkle-free by preventing damaging UV rays from reaching the delicate parts of your face.
Stay Well Rested
You'll likely develop a summer cold if your immune system is damaged. You can benefit from a good night's sleep in this regard because it's frequently seen that getting less sleep can cause a summer cold. When you have a cold, it's highly advised to avoid cold foods. Maintain a healthy fluid intake to keep your body hydrated.
Get Yourself Vaccinated
Make sure you have the necessary immunisations for your kids against some diseases prevalent in the summer. For example, if you want to protect them from these diseases, you must choose the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella). Be careful to get them vaccinated against these diseases as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
Conclusion
If precautions are not followed, the intense heat and relentless dryness bring a variety of diseases with them. Not only will they ruin your summers, but they will also leave a dent in your savings in case of your worsening health and subsequent hospitalisation. Make sure you adhere to the advice given above. To get properly covered in a medical emergency, it is a good idea to obtain health insurance at the earliest.
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