Summer health hazards

Sun, sand, surf. Mosquito bites, poison ivy, sunburn. Ah, the joys of summer. Here's a look at some of the season's common health concerns and how to prevent and treat them.

Sunburn
Caused by skin's overexposure to the rays, which leads to redness, peeling, blistering, sun-induced aging, and skin cancer.
-Symptoms
Itchiness, irritation, tenderness, pain, blisters, swelling.
-Prevention
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, pants and sunscreen. "Put the sunscreen on before you go in the sun so it blends into the skin, and put on a lot, not just a thin coat," says Ian Arnold, MD and lecturer at the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto. Also, avoid peak sun hours - between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
-First Aid
Try to cool the burn with cold water, an ice pack or a cool shower. Aspirin, Motrin or Advil can help to decrease the pain, while hydrocortisone cream can reduce inflammation. If blistering, see your physician.

Sunstroke
Sunstroke is not common, but when it strikes, it can lead to shock, brain damage and death. Sunstroke is the third stage in a heat illness and results from excessive sweating and salt loss, and heat exhaustion from dehydration. Athletes, like marathon runners and golfers, are at a higher risk because they exercise in extreme weather conditions.
-Symptoms
Faintness, weakness, dizziness, fever, shallow breathing, dark urine.
-Prevention
"Drink fluids before you get thirsty and always have a bottle of water with you," advises Dr. Arnold.
-First Aid
Lie down in a cool place and apply cold compresses and wet cloths to skin. If your body doesn't cool, get to a physician quickly.

Rashes
Common rashes stem from allergic reactions to the sun and plants. Unfortunately, "There is no way of predicting who will get [polymorphous light eruption]," says Dr. Cheryl Rosen, head of the division of dermatology at the University Health Network. "Some people are sensitive to the UVA part of the sun, others the UVB." Meanwhile, contact with poison ivy, sumac and oak can lead to a severe rash, blistering and infection.
-Symptoms
Redness, bumps, blistering (in tracks indicates a rash from plants), swelling, itchiness, clear fluid.

Click to continue to learn how to treat your rash and what to do about pesky bug bites...

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