5 Health Summer Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore
It’s summer. Naturally, our top priorities during this fine season include dabbling in the art of alcoholic popsicle making and spending as much time as possible near a body of water. Any thoughts of winter and along with it, illness, have been banished to a far-away part of our brains. But getting sick in the summer does happen, and while it’s easier to brush off symptoms in favor of continued carefreeness, doing so can lead to more pain and even a trip to the E.R. (Who wants that?)
To help us decode our summer aches and pains we chatted with Roshini Raj, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at New York University and founder of TULA Skin Care Line. Cross-check your symptoms below to see if whether you need just need to book it to bed or check in with your doc.
TUMMY TROUBLES
With all the summer BBQs, picnic potlucks, and rooftop happy hours on the agenda, it’s not uncommon to experience some mid-section aches in the form of bloating, nausea, or the not-so-cute… gas. The best fix is, of course, to avoid overloading on alcohol and fatty foods, but if the pain continues for more than a few days, it could be a sign of acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome. “Try cutting out caffeine, citrus fruits, and chocolate for a week and see if discomfort subsides. If it does, it is most likely an acid issue, and you should try to avoid foods that can trigger this. Lactose sensitivity can also manifest itself in these symptoms, so cutting out dairy may also help,” Raj explains.
SAND IN THE EYE
Frolicking in the surf can leave us with the feeling of literally having sand in our eyes. Often a quick flush with water or eye drops […]