With summer not only comes great days of sunshine and warm weather , but it also brings with it the threat of sunburns, allergies, insect bites, and other potential health complications.
Sunbathe
While the sun’s rays are an excellent source of vitamin D and can considerably boost our mood, UVA rays apart from tanning our skin can also damage the immune system , since they can make it more difficult for the body to fight diseases and it can lead to skin cancers such as melanoma, squamous cell, or basal cell cancers. To counteract these effects, it is advisable not to spend too much time in the sun, use a sunscreen with at least SPF + 30 and avoid the hours of greatest incidence (from 12:00 am to 4:00 pm).
Hydrate
It is important to be hydrated – especially by drinking cold water -, since dehydration is an important cause of heat stroke (when the body temperature rises above 40.6 ºC), seizures (due to the lack of electrolytes: when levels are too low cell-to-cell electrical signals do not work properly and lead to involuntary muscle contractions) or brain edema.
Severe dehydration can also lead to kidney failure, coma, and even death.
It is important to remember that the best thing to stay well hydrated and beat the heat is to drink cold water. All those drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine, can increase the production of liquids, making it much more difficult to be properly hydrated.
Do exercise
Going for a walk or practicing some exercise will help us reduce the risk of breast cancer among women (this was determined by a study published in Cancer Epidemiology ), reduce the chances of developing psoriasis (as stated by research published in the Archives of Dermatology journal ), better cognitive development in both children and the elderly (since exercise increases the size of critical brain structures) or improved sleep (since we sleep much better when we exercise at least 150 minutes a week).
Protect yourself from insect bites
Insect bites are responsible for millions of visits to emergency rooms each year according to the National Pest Control Association. Allergic reactions to insect bites can even be fatal . Thus, when we are outdoors, we must use an insect repellent that contains DEET (30 to 50%) or picaridin (up to 15%).
And do not forget the most important thing: enjoy the summer (with health).
