As the summer season kicks off and people begin spending more time outside of their homes, it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers to one’s health. The higher temperatures are great for participating in many beloved activities, but they can also bring health hazards. This is why it’s crucial that these top summer health concerns are on your radar and that you take the steps to prevent them.
Sunburn
When you spend more time out in the sun, your chances of sustaining a bad sunburn increase, of course. You probably already know that sunburns aren’t fun to deal with, but they have more of an effect on your skin than you’d think. These skin conditions aren’t just painful— they also make you susceptible to developing further skin problems such as hyperpigmentation, dark spots, or even skin cancer. Because of this potential lasting damage, it’s vital that you apply sunscreen before each outing and reapply every two hours to protect yourself.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is more likely to occur in the summer as the temperatures continue to rise. This is a serious medical condition that happens in response to your body’s prolonged exposure to an elevated core temperature. As your body gets warmer, it loses its ability to perform key functions that maintain normal body temperature. For this reason, you need constant hydration and the ability to sweat to cool down. In addition, it’s important that you wear lighter clothing and take breaks to allow your body to recover from the heat. Remember exercise or work involving muscular effort generates heat.
Dehydration
Another top summer health concern to be aware of is the increased rate of dehydration. To reiterate, the higher the temperature outdoors, the more your body needs to sweat to keep you cool. This speeds up the rate at which water leaves your system and dehydrates you more quickly. When you don’t drink water to replenish these fluids, you could become dizzy, lose focus, or worse. When you’re spending time in the sun, always bring along a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated. Eventually, you can succumb to the more serious problem of heat stroke.
Eye Damage
Sunny days can be a lot brighter than what your eyes are typically used to. With reflective surfaces to bounce light in your direction and less coverage to give your vision a break, summer provides additional chances for your eyes to sustain damage. Just like your skin can absorb UV rays and burn, your eyes can be damaged from the increased amount of light, and your vision can deteriorate. For this reason, wearing sunglasses is key to protecting your eyes.
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