Summer is coming, be careful with common summer diseases

Summer has come, bringing not only extreme heat but also the risk of many diseases. In Vietnam, summer is the hottest season of the year with March and June being the highest temperatures. Heat is a factor that affects our entire body, including our skin, eyes, and digestive system. The scorching heat and the unrelenting dryness bring together a common summer illness if no precautions are taken.

Here are some common summer ailments and tips to avoid them.

The common summer illness is heat stroke

Hot weather, along with dehydration, can lead to heat exhaustion and eventually heatstroke. Heatstroke or hyperthermia is a manifestation of heat stroke caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Heat stroke usually occurs when a person’s internal temperature reaches about 38 degrees Celsius.

There will be a few signs for you to recognize this condition:

• Weak, fast pulse
• Dizzy
• Tired
• Cramp
• Nausea
• Red skin

If the condition is severe, it can lead to confusion, slurred speech, agitation, rapid breathing and pulse. So, how can you avoid heat stroke burnout?

First, always wear loose, light-colored clothing if you plan to go out. Try to avoid clothing with insulating materials such as polyester, nylon, or wool. Linen, cotton, jersey and seersucker are breathable, lightweight alternatives that will help keep you cool.

You should also drink lots of water. If you are an active person, try to increase your water intake. In case you have to be outdoors, remember to drink water every hour.

Make sure you drink enough water during the summer

Food poisoning

Hot weather plus high air humidity are typical of summer. However, this is a fertile environment for bacteria to grow leading to contaminated food. This creates an environment for bacteria, viruses, toxins and chemicals when entering the human body causing stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. In addition, raw meat, food sold outdoors by roadside vendors and contaminated water are also common sources of disease-causing bacteria.

To minimize the possibility of food poisoning, it is important to wash your hands and clean cooking surfaces frequently during food preparation. Keep meat and fish separate from other foods, and never mix raw foods or their juices with cooked foods.

Sunburn

Have you ever spent an entire day outdoors in the middle of a summer day? Do you find that the skin on your shoulders, scalp, face, and knees is red, sensitive, and hot to the touch afterwards? This is the phenomenon of sunburn. Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun that damage your skin cells. Overexposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun will result in thermal burns, redness, and burning. This is because the earth is closest to the sun in the summer, making the rays hotter and more likely to burn you. This is especially true between 10am and 4pm.

People with fair, freckled skin are more likely to suffer a severe sunburn than those with darker skin. However, we should all be aware of regularly applying sunscreen, wear hats and sunglasses when outdoors, and try to minimize sun exposure during the hottest part of the day.

You don’t need to worry too much because most sunburns will improve on their own after a few days. However, you should seek medical attention if your sunburn is accompanied by extensive blistering, headache and fever or severe pain.

Sunburn

Infectious diseases from insects

There are many diseases that are transmitted from insect bites, such as dengue fever transmitted by mosquitoes.

In Europe, summer is an active time for ticks, which are the source of diseases like lyme disease, Rocky Mountain fever, etc. Other insects are also more active and are likely to bite or sting during the summer. such as wasps, aphids, ants and various arachnids can be dangerous sources of infections. The most common signs of these infections are fever, body aches or a rash after an insect bite and you should seek medical attention immediately if you experience them.

In Asia, mosquitoes are one of the most common summer insects. They can also carry bacteria and viruses that cause diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever and La Crosse encephalitis. To avoid mosquito bites, it’s important to wear light-colored clothing and apply mosquito repellent if possible. You should also avoid going outside during peak mosquito hours (like dawn and dusk when the wind is calmest).

Even if you don’t have an allergy related to insect bites, you should seek medical attention if any bite looks suspicious or feels irritated for a long time.

Adults should take precautions for children

Summer is a great time to enjoy the holidays and spend time with family and friends. However, you can only make good memories when you are really healthy. Therefore, you need to take measures to maintain and prevent unnecessary diseases in this weather.

>>> See more: Choose the right sport for this summer?

Reference source

Common Summer Diseases https://neubergdiagnostics.com/blog/common-summer-diseases/ Accessed 12/05/2021

These Are The Most Common Summer Health Problems https://physiciansurgentcare.com/2018/05/01/these-are-the-most-common-summer-health-proble.ms/ Accessed 12/05/2021

What are the diseases caused in summer? https://www.lalpathlabs.com/blog/what-are-the-diseases-caused-in-summer/ Accessed 12/05/2021