How heat can affect your body and tips on staying cool this summer

With the summer here many Calgarians take full advantage of the festivities, outdoor fun and of course, the sunshine. Summer brings a lot of additional things with it, but not all are always positive. Things such as common illnesses, allergies and heat can all affect your health in a negative way if certain precautions aren’t taken. In order to help keep you safe this summer here’s everything you need about how the heat can affect your body and some tips on keeping cool

How heat and hot weather can affect your body

When the weather is hot, this can affect our bodies in many ways. The combination of heat from the environment in tandem with our naturally produced internal body heat can compromise the body’s ability to regulate temperature and can cause common illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and more. This only exacerbates the importance of being cautious with what activities you are doing and how long you are staying outside.

One of the reactive responses to heat your body will take is sweating. This is your body’s natural cooling system, as sweat is pushed out onto the surface of your skin, it will evaporate into the air to draw heat away and attempt to cool your body down.

But this response can have a negative effect if you aren’t hydrated enough. When it’s especially hot and you begin to sweat profusely, you can actually sweat away too much fluid and essential minerals like sodium and potassium. Dehydration and prolonged heat exposure can lead to heat stroke or heat exhaustion so it’s important to aid your body in cooling off by something that is balanced with salt and sugar, heading to a cool place and resting.

Tips for staying cool in hot weather

Drink plenty of water

Since dehydration is a major risk and can act like a catalyst for other heat related illnesses. It’s important to make sure that you’re drinking water or something that can replace some of the nutrients your body needs.

Eat small meals, avoid foods that are high in protein

Salty and protein rich foods can produce metabolic heat when being digested and cause water loss. Smaller meals throughout the day will help keep you cooler.

Dress appropriately and wear sunscreen

Wear lightweight, loose fitting clothing to help your body cool off. Wearing sunscreen will help you avoid sunburn while also helping you remain cool when in direct sunlight and heat.

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Ticks are nasty creatures that love to latch onto you and drink your blood. Passing on all sorts of diseases and illnesses along the way, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia, and more. Luckily there are several ways you can protect yourself against ticks and reduce your chances of contracting an illness from them. One way is by going to a compounding pharmacy in Calgary for help. However, prevention is key, so here are some tips on how to protect yourself against ticks.

Prevention Before Going to a Compounding Pharmacy in Calgary

Keep to Footpaths & Avoid Long Grass When Out Walking

Ticks are not as big of a problem in urban areas as in rural areas, but they can still be found. If you live in a forested place, avoid trails that lead into woods and dense, long grass where ticks tend to hide. Try to take the difficult way around when possible.

Wear a Long-Sleeved Shirt

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and is spread through ticks. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of a tick. Lyme disease is diagnosed through a blood test, but it can take up to several months to diagnose if you are bitten by a tick carrying the disease.

Tuck Your Trousers Into Your Socks

Ticks love to cling onto trousers and socks, so always tuck your pants into your socks. Tuck your trousers into your socks and wear sneakers that cover the length of your socks.

Use Repellent

Use repellent on exposed skin and clothes if you know you will be out walking in grassy areas. Try to avoid synthetic perfumes, as they attract ticks (one of the reasons why dogs often get bitten more frequently than humans).

Wear Light-Coloured Clothes

Wear light-coloured, tight-fitting clothing to make it easier to spot ticks on the skin. A tight weave on apparel is also best because it makes it harder for ticks to penetrate. The hair around your ankles and wrists should be kept short.

Check Yourself for Ticks & Remove Any at Once

Check yourself for ticks every hour or so when you are out walking. Remove ticks immediately with fine-tipped tweezers. If you wear glasses, remove your glasses so you can see them properly.

Check Your Children & Pets for Ticks

Pets often get ticks and show no signs of them. You should check your children if they are out in the garden too. The tick can attach for around 36 hours before passing on the disease it is carrying.

Use a Tick Exterminator on Your Yard & Garden

If you live in an area with thick grass and woods, you should talk to a pest controller to use a tick exterminator in your garden and yard. These devices take out families of ticks hiding under grass or around garden plants. They are used to exterminate fleas from pets too.

Ticks are an unpleasant experience if you find one attached to your skin. If you are out in the woods, on a park walk or on a forest trail, and see a lot of grass and leaves, it is best to avoid them. If you don’t have that option and still need to go in that area, try using some tick repellent. Also, use precautions like wearing dark colours, tucking your trousers into your socks and even wearing gloves when working in the garden.