5 Summer Health Tips to Avoid Seasonal Mishaps
1. Get Moving, Stay Active!
We understand that summer heat can make you lethargic. But the season is a great time to catch up and engage with your family and friends. Since the days are longer and summer vacations offer additional opportunities for leisure activities, it is the best time to boost your health and fitness.
Even in parts of India where temperatures soar significantly, early mornings and late evenings can be a preferred time to go outside and take a walk around the block. Besides, you can even enjoy some outdoor leisure activities with your family and friends. These include:
Most of these outdoor leisure activities help boost your physical and mental well-being, prevent obesity, and improve your fitness and sleep quality. Keeping yourself active during summers can help reduce the risk of several cancers, heart issues, and skin infections. It also improves cognition in children and adults.
However, when you are out and about in the sun, ensure that you protect yourself against summer diseases.
2. Protection from the Sun
It is a known fact that sunlight is a natural source of Vitamin D. We need some exposure to sunlight every day to maintain our health. However, too much sun exposure can be harmful to your body as it poses a risk of skin damage and cancer.
We have UVA and UVB as two forms of sunlight in our atmosphere. The UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, damaging the skin tissues and blood vessels. Excessive exposure to UVA rays can lead to loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles, premature ageing, etc. On the other hand, UVB rays do not affect the skin like UVA rays, but it can cause redness and sunburn.
Overexposure to UVA can lead to skin cancer. While medical experts are still researching the exact reasons for developing these conditions, a theory suggests that UVA rays lead to oxidative stress, leading to the development of these cancerous conditions.
To protect yourself from UVA rays, it is best to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. The product should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher. It is also recommended to reapply sunscreen 3-4 times when you are outside in the sun or swimming. Additionally, you can wear protective clothing and stay in shade to reduce the risk of sunburn.
3. Stay Hydrated, Stay Cool
The hot weather is a constant reminder to replenish the fluids that your body loses during the day. So, try drinking water and electrolyte-based drinks as much as possible, even if you are not thirsty.
Avoid consuming alcohol or caffeine during summers. Failing to stay hydrated in this season can lead to dehydration. While you can easily recover from dehydration, it can lead to severe health issues such as kidney damage or, worse, failure if the condition goes unnoticed.
Besides, people suffer from heat exhaustion as well during the season. To avoid this, try to rest under the shade from time to time and drink plenty of water and electrolyte-based fluids. When heat exhaustion is left untreated, it can lead to heat stroke, which is proven to be fatal in extreme situations. Heat stroke happens when the body temperature rises above 40ºC (104ºF), and the body is unable to cool itself naturally.
Bathing two to three times during summers can help reduce body heat and the impact of prolonged sun exposure. Swimming, on the other hand, keeps your body hydrated and has several other health benefits.
Another way to keep your body temperature cool is by wearing light-coloured cotton clothes. It allows your skin to breathe and keeps you away from harmful infections. You can also research several summer home remedies online and stay prepared to tackle the scorching heat.
4. Eat Healthy Food
Along with the rise in temperatures, there is a significant increase in food poisoning cases in India during summers. Children and adults suffer from this infection every year. Therefore, it is essential to be extra careful when eating food items from roadside stalls or those stored at home for days.
More importantly, it is an ideal practice to wash your vegetables and fruits after purchasing them. Besides, it pays off to follow good personal hygiene practices during the season. Keep the kitchen area and utensils clean, consume food after washing your hands for over 20 seconds, store leftover food in the refrigerator, etc.
5. Keep the Bugs Away
Increased heat during summer also leads to an increase in insect activity. To restrict these unwanted guests from entering your house, follow these tips:
Reapply caulk around window frames, air conditioning units, plumbing pipes, and dryer vents
Repair all the wall, window, and door gaps
Install door sweeps at thresholds
Use natural bug repellents that can be used both inside and outside the house
Don’t leave out dirty dishes
Use fine mesh screens on windows and around your bed
Following these practices will keep you and your loved ones safe from the bug life throughout the year.
Conclusion
Keeping yourself and your loved ones healthy during summer can help avoid distress caused due to seasonal diseases. However, despite optimum protection, someone is bound to suffer from the wrath of the rising summer heat. If your health worsens, it is best to consult a doctor for full recovery.
Besides, it is always best to buy a health insurance policy to ensure you and your family members are adequately protected against chronic diseases, no matter the season.