There’s nothing quite like a California summer when it comes to having a good time. The state is full of great options for activities, whether you want to enjoy the wild outdoors, do some traveling with friends and family, go to the beach, or just take advantage of the relaxing balmy weather at home. However, that same sun and heat we love can be too much of a good thing. Most people tend to fall ill in the cooler months, but you can still have health issues during the summer as well. So, whether you are staying in military housing in Los Angeles or out on your own, here are some of the common issues that you may encounter while trying to enjoy the summer.
Everyday Issues
Let’s start with some of the more common issues that you can find yourself in health-wise in summertime, no matter what you are doing. For example, if you’re planning an activity off-the-cuff, and end up going out with family and friends on a warm day, sometimes, you may forget to bring water with you. Depending on what you are doing and where you are going, this may not present a huge issue, but technically, it does lead to dehydration risk. When you become dehydrated, the lack of fluids in your body can leave you dizzy, with a dry mouth, end things can only ramp up from there.
Technically, you can be dehydrated at any time of year in any setting, but outdoors in the summer is the most common because of the combination of warm air in high temperature. Generally, dehydration happens because of heat stroke. This occurs when your body’s inner temperature reaches a high level and the body excretes excess sweat to try and cool down. Because of the risk, you always need to be cognizant about having water with you or near you when you are going out. Even if you are working, don’t be afraid to plan breaks to ensure that you get water so you can plan your intake better.
One thing that people tend to just assume is a natural part of summer is sunburn, but sunburn can have consequences and you don’t have to just treat it as an inevitability. Note that for the sake of this discussion, we’re referring to sunburn as spending an excessive amount of time exposed to direct sunlight. During the summer, this is worse simply because the earth is closest to the sun, and this makes the rays hotter.
Medical science shows that people with pale or freckled skin or more at risk of sunburn, but anyone can have problems with it, and needs to protect themselves via using skin creams and lotions. However, these should also be mixed with avoiding direct sunlight. Some ways to handle this issue include wearing hats, sunglasses, and trying to stay indoors during the hottest days. If you’re not able to manage that and do get sunburned, generally, after a few days pass, your condition should improve. However, it’s essential that you seek medical help at a veterans medical center in California if you experience additional symptoms like fever, headaches, and pain. Research shows that around 30% to 40% of people suffer some sunburn at least once a year due to failure to take on preventative measures.
More Uncommon Issues
Sunburn and dehydration are things that can happen to just about any person during a summer day. However, there are other issues that aren’t necessarily as frequent, but still involve mentioning due to potential frequency. For example, skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in humans, with more than a million people being diagnosed each year. If caught early, it’s easily treatable. However, to do that, you need to make sure you keep an eye out for potential changes or skin anomalies. Each skin change isn’t necessarily a sign of cancer, but can hint that you are at risk for developing it. The main reason for skin cancer is overabundance of sun exposure/sunburns. Make sure that you take proper precautions on how you dress and spend your day to cut down on direct sunlight, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer.
In some cases, summer leads to potential food issues that aren’t directly related to sunlight or heat, but tend to occur more during this season nonetheless. A good example of this is food poisoning. For many people, summer means eating out more, whether you’re having a picnic with the family, eating out or having parties with friends, or eating at new locales on vacation. However, these outdoor settings also involve more junk food and potential hygiene problems. As delicious as some of that street food can be, use your good judgement when it comes to where you eat based on how the food is prepared. Food poisoning can be life-threatening in some circumstances.
Generally, the symptoms of food poisoning appear within 1 to 2 days of eating the food in question, and some of the symptoms you may encounter include vomiting, lethargy, fever, and aching muscles. Be sure to get medical attention if these apply to you.
One other thing that tends to occur more in the summer is drinking. In and of itself, in moderation, this isn’t a problem. However, it’s also part of the reason why more accidents on the road tend to occur during the summer. Many people end up injuring themselves and others by driving or operating a vehicle while drunk. Sometimes, you don’t even need to be in a vehicle, as some falls and drownings also stem from being too inebriated to act properly.
At the end of the day, summer is meant to be fun, and there’s nothing wrong with relaxing and having a good time. A little bit of safety and support from places like a veterans association in Los Angeles can make all the difference.
