Summer health hazards — beyond the heat

If you can’t stand the heat — too bad. The National Weather Service is forecasting above-normal temperatures for a good chunk of the country in August, except where tropical storms and hurricanes are expected.

You can’t win.

I wrote earlier this summer about the hazards of excessive heat, from heat rash to heat stroke, which is potentially fatal. Today, we’ll talk more about a few common summer health hazards that we all need to watch out for.

Ticks

Ticks have to be one of nature’s grossest arachnids. When you or a pet gets a tick bite, the tick (usually a female) does all it can to hold on and literally feed on your blood in order to lay its eggs. As it does, its body expands from something you can barely see to the size of a coffee bean — about 200 times larger.

You usually won’t feel a tick bite, which is why — after you’ve been outside — it’s a good idea to check your legs for the presence of ticks. It’s even better to have someone check you over, because they also favor warm and moist areas where they can hide, such as joints, armpits and genital areas. It usually takes 24 hours for a tick to start transmitting bacteria, so the sooner you remove it, the safer you’ll be.

Problems may arise two to four weeks after you’ve been bitten, when tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever will kick in, potentially causing rash, flu-like symptoms, joint pain, chest pain and gastrointestinal issues (vomiting, diarrhea.) If you remove a tick that has bitten you, tape it to an index card or keep it in alcohol so it can be identified in case you get sick.

The best why to deal with ticks is to avoid getting bitten in the first place by wearing appropriate clothing (for example, long pants tucked inside long socks) and applying insect repellent containing DEET. Keep your pets safe with flea and tick prevention recommended by your vet.

Dehydration

Especially during hot weather, our bodies experience greater “insensible loss” of moisture through our skin. It’s how we cool ourselves through perspiration, and we can lose a lot of water in a short period of time.

Dehydration — literally the lack of water — affects us in many ways. You may not even realize you’re dehydrated because you won’t necessarily feel thirst.

People who are mildly dehydrated can experience irritability, fatigue and lightheadedness, which can progress to confusion, fainting and symptoms of shock as the brain experiences less blood flow. Severe dehydration may even lead to unconsciousness, coma and organ failure if left untreated.

Everyone needs different amounts of water, depending on age, weight and level of activity. The rule of thumb is six to eight glasses a day (about 64 ounces) for a healthy 150-pound person, but there’s a better way to determine if you’re getting enough water: your urine.

If your urine is the pale yellow of lemonade, you’re probably getting enough water. Bright yellow urine means you need to drink more.

COVID-19

Yes, it’s the virus that keeps on giving. The summer wave of COVID showed up right on schedule in June, with emergency rooms seeing a 15% increase in treating people who have COVID, and hospitalizations for severe cases increasing by 25 percent.

While researchers are working to understand the new variants, which appear to be more transmissible, there are two pieces of good news.

First, the variants appear genetically similar to previous variants, so existing vaccines should remain effective. Also, most of us have built up significant immunity because we’ve had the vaccines and we’ve likely had COVID ourselves.

So if it’s been six months or more since your last COVID booster, head to your doctor’s office or the local supermarket or pharmacy for a fresh one. And I do recommend that, if you’re traveling on crowded airplanes this summer, wear an N95 mask.

Falls

The aforementioned hazards of heat and dehydration, when they result in fainting or dizziness, means we are more susceptible to falls, and this is especially true of our seniors.

Also, we’re outside more, around slipper surfaces (like poolsides) and maybe wearing the wrong shoes, making slip-and-falls more common, too. Again, protect yourself by staying hydrated and not getting overheated in the hot days to come.

Cooler days are coming, if we can just hang in there and stay safe.

• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg is a board-certified patient advocate. A critical care registered nurse for 30+ years, she is founder of NShore Patient Advocates (www.NorthShoreRN.com). Her book, “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones,” is available on Amazon. She is offering a free phone consultation to Daily Herald readers; email her at teri@northshorern.com.