Avoiding Common Summer Health Issues

Summer is one of the most magical times of the year. The sun is shining. The weather is warm. Best of all, you can spend all day outside in the garden, in the yard, at the beach, and at any number of other outdoor locations.

While the summer does lead to many positive changes in many people’s lifestyles, it does open up the possibility of some health concerns, too. Here is a quick reminder of some of the most common summer health issues as well as suggestions for how to avoid them.

Some Of The Physical Concerns of Summer

Let’s start with a couple of the most common physical summer health issues. With the warmer weather, the longer days, and more time spent outdoors, it’s easy to find yourself dealing with some unpleasant situations, like the following:

Sunburn

Sunburn is all too common during the summer. Heading outside at the wrong time of day, forgetting to wear sunblock, or simply spending too much time with exposed skin in the sunlight can lead to a bad sunburn.

If you want to avoid spending days dealing with that infamously red, painful skin, take steps to avoid sunburn whenever possible. Don’t go outside during the peak sunlight hours. Wear hats and sunblock religiously. If you find that you get a burn despite your precautions, also have remedies like aloe vera or baking soda and oatmeal ready to go.

Dehydration

Dehydration is another nasty one to watch out for. In some ways, this is even worse than sunburn, as it happens subtly and can be more dangerous.

Always engage in outdoor activities with a plan in place for how you’ll stay hydrated, such as:

  • Setting reminders on your phone to drink water
  • Learning about the symptoms of dehydration
  • Trying to avoid spending excessive amounts of time outside during hot days

Hydration isn’t just important for you to stay alive. Drinking plenty of water also helps your gut-brain connection by aiding with things like digestion, healthy skin, and energy levels.

Some Of The Lifestyle Concerns of Summer

Along with basic physical preparation, it’s worth taking the time to prep yourself for some of the more nuanced challenges of summer life. For instance, you should watch out for:

School And Work Adjustments

As summer breaks start and seasonal work shifts, it’s easy to have your daily schedule thrown off. If you’re a student on break, make sure to keep your days at least somewhat structured and productive.

If you’re starting a summer job or seeing a seasonal increase or decrease in your workload, it’s also important to find balance. Adjust your routines, shift your schedules, and look for other ways to manage stress and maintain your mental health throughout the summer.

Social Gatherings

Summer is a time for social gatherings, which is a wonderful thing. However, this can also pose some risks. On the one hand, you want to make sure to actually engage with others when you’re invited. Social activity is critical for emotional and mental health.

On the other hand, you also want to ensure that you don’t use social events to act recklessly. For instance, don’t drink too much alcohol simply because you’re at a party. Also, don’t eat food late at night while you’re at an event if it’s going to upset your stomach or cause something like GERD to flare up.

Food, Exercise, And Sleep

Finally, remember to keep tabs on your basic activity. Your day-to-day behaviors can often be impacted by the shifts and changes in your summer schedule. Pay particularly close attention to three items:

  • Food – Make sure that you’re sticking to a healthy diet whenever you’re not attending parties or social gatherings. Also, eat plenty of immunity-boosting food options as you regularly interact with others.
  • Exercise – With busier summer schedules, it’s easy to let exercise slip. Plan in time for outdoor activities like gardening or jogging to help you stay in shape.
  • Sleep – Summer days are long, and it’s easy to stay up late and get up early. Try to set up a solid sleep schedule that can help you get at least seven hours of sleep each day.

Caring for your body’s basic needs is important at all times of the year. In the summer, though, it’s easy to let these things slip during the long days and fun activities. That’s why it’s worth making an effort to stay on track in the name of your health.

Staying Healthy This Summer

Of course, there’s no end to the number of potential concerns that you should be on the lookout for during the summer. However, the list above is a great starting point. Things like sunburn, dehydration, and changing schedules are all easy to forget as you charge into the warm months ahead.

However, if you take the time to slow down and make a mental note about these potential summer health issues, you can avoid them with some simple forethought and preparation. If you can do that, you’ll end up much better off as you enjoy the summer fun without paying the price for it in the long run.

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