How to Fight These Common Summer Conditions

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Some of the common summer illnesses are allergies, asthma, and sun-related dangers.Many illnesses seem to develop during the summer. Some of the common summer illnesses are allergies, asthma, and sun-related dangers. Today is the first day of summer, so what better time to plan and prepare for what’s ahead? Here are my quick remedies to relieve allergies, asthma, and other summer illnesses.

Allergies

Allergies usually occur starting in the spring months, through the summer, and into the fall. Allergies are caused when you body’s immune system attacks foreign proteins that you might ingest through your nose and mouth. This immune response produces a lot of inflammation, swelling, redness, itchiness, and mucus secretion.

There are many ways to relieve allergies, including drug therapies, air cleaners, and vaccinations. In my opinion, the best way to manage allergies is to get enough vitamin C. If you’re not getting enough vitamin C from food, take 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C three times per day to reduce the common symptoms of allergies attributed to the release of histamine. Getting enough vitamin C can make the difference in your quality of life during the summer months.

Asthma

Seasonal asthma is much like allergies because the attacks are usually triggered by an inhaled allergen, chemical, or toxin. Once the upper respiratory tract has been irritated by allergens, chronic inflammation can be a problem. After this situation occurs, your lungs will be hypersensitive to other irritants such as pollution, second-hand smoke, and chemicals. There will be continual wheezing caused from mucus secretion. Most people who are prone to getting allergies should try and avoid the environmental concerns, have an air cleaner installed in their homes, and try various drug treatments including inhalers.

It is quite difficult to avoid some of the offending substances that can cause attacks so this is what I recommend. Take 500 mg of vitamin C three times per day, and 1,000 mg of fish oil capsules, three times per day and 100 mg of NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) three times per day to relieve allergies. This nutritional regimen will really help you control your summer asthma symptoms.

Heat Illness

This potentially serious issue can occur when you are exposed to extremes in heat and humidity for extended periods of time outside. Symptoms ranging from skin redness, dizziness, weakness, and shortness of breath are signs that you need to get to a cooler place, sip cool beverages, and rest. This is a condition that you can predict and avoid if you are prepared. To do this, I recommend wearing loose, light, cotton clothing; having access to shade or a cooler place; and hydrate before, during, and after doing physical activity. Heat-related illness like heat stroke can be prevented with planning.

Sunburn

This is another health concern associated with summer weather conditions. Despite all the warnings regarding the effect of excessive sun exposure, sunburn occurs regularly. Sunburn can occur quite quickly and this can be a very serious health concern if there have been repeated incidents of burning. You can avoid excessive sun damage by utilizing the slip-slop-slap awareness campaign that was previously instituted in Australia where the incidence of skin cancer is one of the highest in the entire world. Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat. If you must expose yourself to the sun, do so during the morning or early evening and limit the time of direct exposure to 30 minute intervals.

Source(s) for Today’s Article:
Seo, J.H., et al., “Association of antioxidants with allergic rhinitis in children from seoul,” Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. March 2013; 5(2): 81-7.
Li, Y.J., et al., “Role of oxidative stresses induced by diesel exhaust particles in airway inflammation, allergy and asthma: their potential as a target of chemoprevention,” Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets. September 2010; 9(4): 300-5.
“Sun Protection,” Cancer Council Australia web site; http://www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/sun-protection/campaigns-and-events/slip-slop-slap-seek-slide.html, last accessed June 18, 2013.
Shaw, G., “Skin problems & treatments health center,” WebMD web site; http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/top-7-summer-health-hazards, last accessed June 18, 2013.