Prevention Of Diseases During Rainy Season
While they provide us much needed relief from the summer heat, the warm and damp conditions of monsoon provide a perfect breeding environment for germs and diseases too, and we witness a significant increase in communicable diseases and various ailments. Knowing what to expect can help you protect your loved ones, and indeed yourself, from diseases, and care for them if they do catch get sick. Follow below tips to keep your household healthy:
Keep your Hands Clean
Flu viruses typically spread through contact, so be extra careful when you are exposed to areas that may be laden with germs – such as bus stops, public restrooms, public food-courts etc. if at all possible, avoid coming in direct contact with any exposed surface; if not, wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water. Frequently using a disinfectant or a hand-sanitizer is also recommended.
Drink Plenty of Water
Not drinking enough water is bad in any season – doubly so during the rainy season, as this is when germs reign supreme over any wet surface (which is pretty much every surface). These germs when ingested in our body stimulate the creation of harmful toxins, which water naturally helps expel from your body. Typically, a healthy adult shoulddrink8-10 glasses of water a day.
Maintain Healthy Eating Habits
Phytochemicals provide vitamins in food and are natural chemicals that exist in plants – typically fresh fruits and vegetables that are green, red or dark yellow. Consuming phytochemicals is essential to strengthen your body’s immune system. However, remember to thoroughly wash your vegetables as germ laced greens can cause stomach infections. Symptoms of stomach infection include:
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea
- Fever, chills, and aches
- Loss of appetite
Take lots of Vitamin C
Vitamin C gives your body natural resilience (not immunity) against colds and flu, two of the rain gods' most generous gifts. Increase your intake of vitamin C-rich foods like lemons and other citrus fruits to help your body recover faster from the flu. Taking vitamin C tablets to boost your intake is also a smart option.
Protection against Mosquitoes
Rains can result in stagnant water, which provides a conducive environment for mosquitos to multiply, that’s why mosquito-borne diseases – such as Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya – are far more prevalent in monsoon than during any other season. To make things worse, mosquitos can become immune to chemicals fairly quickly, hence repellents are not a viable solution in long term. Draining stagnant water is your best course of action against mosquitos. Follow these tips to guard against mosquitos:
- Dress to cover your entire body to protect against mosquitos
- Choose the right mosquito repellents and mosquito repelling fragrances
- Bring out the nets and screens to keep mosquitos at bay while you sleep
- Don’t rely entirely on home remedies and natural repellents, consult a doctor
- Learn to recognize and prevent mosquito-borne diseases
Other Do’s and Don’t’s
In addition to the above, follow below-mentioned tips, and you’d be largely covered from the harmful effect of the rain (hope we don’t sound like a doomsday conspiracy theorist!)
- Always keep an umbrella handy to avoid getting wet in the rain
- Avoid eating street food, no matter how tempting they look
- Don’t touch your face too much, and keep your home pest-free
- Remove wet clothes from your body asap, and take a warm shower immediately
It’s ironic that the monsoon that brings a smile on everyone’s face with the cool and refreshing shower, can also be instrumental in increasing the growth of harmful germs and bacteria, and kids and elderly are especially susceptible to the diseases that are the harbinger of the monsoons. However, with a little careful planning ahead of the rains, and vigilance during, you can enjoy your chai and pakoda without worrying too much about the health of the loved ones.
