Even relaxing by the pool or a leisurely walk can come with hidden dangers. From sun-related illnesses to poison ivy, stop summer bummers in their tracks. Learn more about 3 common summer health hazards, how to avoid them, symptoms to look for, and when to seek treatment.
Interesting fact: It can take only a few hours of work or exercise in the heat to develop heat stroke.
Here’s some health news that isn’t so hot. Prolonged exposure to heat and humidity without drinking enough fluids can make anyone sick during the summer.
People who work outdoors or spend a lot of time in direct sun are at greater risk for heat-related conditions, as are older adults – especially if they don’t have air conditioning at home. Because they sweat less than adults, children and teens who do not stop to rest when playing, exercising, or participating in sports are also extra vulnerable.
Symptoms
Knowing the warning signs of heat-related illness is key to preventing dangerous conditions like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke. When heat stroke occurs, your body stops sweating and can no longer cool itself, which increases your chances of having significant neurological dysfunction, seizures and more.
If you experience any of the following symptoms of heat illness, stop whatever you are doing and immediately move to a cool place to rest and rehydrate:
Prevention and treatment
There are many things you can do to keep heat-related illnesses at bay:
Heat rash is the mildest form of heat-related illness and can usually be treated at home, but avoid using ointments and creams that block your pores.
For heat-related illnesses, like worsening rashes, heat cramps or heat exhaustion, visit your nearest vybe for treatment. For cases of potential heat stroke, call 911 or head straight to the emergency room.
Interesting fact: Having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.
You don’t need to spend the whole day by the pool to end up with a sunburn. Even casual everyday activities like gardening, going for a walk, or taking your lunch break outside can leave you with red, painful skin.
Sunburns are extremely common, especially in young people. More than half of children, teens, and adults under age 30 get sunburned at least once each year.
Symptoms
Your symptoms will depend on how severe your sunburn is. The symptoms of a first-degree sunburn, which damages the outer layer of your skin (epidermis), include:
The symptoms of a second-degree sunburn, which damages the middle layer of your skin (dermis), include:
With a severe sunburn, you may also experience some of the symptoms of heat-related illness listed above, such as nausea or weakness.
Prevention and treatment
The easiest and most effective way to prevent sunburns is by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more every day – even when it’s cloudy. You should also:
Once you have a sunburn, the damage is already done. Fortunately, mild sunburns usually heal within a few days to a week, but more severe sunburns will take longer. Using damp cloths, applying hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera gel, or taking a cool bath or shower can all soothe sunburned skin.
Never peel skin or pop a blister on your own – instead, let vybe help relieve your sunburn pain and discomfort. If you develop severe pain or swelling, a fever, or blisters over 20% of your body, seek care right away.
Interesting fact: About 85% of people are allergic to poison ivy and similar plants.
Do you love exploring the great outdoors during the summer? Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac all grow in Pennsylvania, making it easy to accidentally touch the wrong plant resulting in a rash.
These three plants produce an oil called urushiol that causes an irritating allergic reaction in most people. Whether you touch the plant itself or an object that came in contact with the plant’s oil, that’s all it takes.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac rash include:
Depending on how sensitive your skin is, the rash may appear a few hours or a few days after your initial contact with urushiol. Some people develop a few small rashes, while others develop large rashes all over their bodies. The intensity of the itching also varies.
Prevention and treatment
The best way to prevent this unpleasant summertime situation is to learn what all three plants look like so you can avoid them. You should also:
Try your best not to scratch a poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac rash, which can break open your skin and cause additional inflammation. For a mild rash, applying calamine lotion or taking over-the-counter antihistamines can help reduce itchiness. The rash should go away in 2-3 weeks.
Seek professional treatment at vybe if your rash spreads to your face or genitals, your symptoms make it difficult to sleep, or your symptoms worsen.
By avoiding these common summer health hazards, you’ll stay cool as a cucumber ! But When summer takes a toll, vybe is here to help,seven days a week.
All vybe centers are staffed with certified medical professionals who are highly trained to treat a wide range of illnesses. It’s easy – just walk in or schedule an appointment online at your local vybe urgent care today.
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