The rains are coming
The rains come with a lot of dangers not to mention providing ideal breeding grounds for all kinds of pathogens.The dangers may come in the form of infectious bacteria and viruses that become active due to the high humidity brought about by repeated spells of rain.
This post will provide simple precautions you can take immediately to stay in peak health condition.
- Keep mosquitoes out
Mosquitoes grow rapidly during rainy season because stagnant water – their choice breeding ground — becomes more common. They cause malaria and malaria can be deadly.
To keep mosquitoes out,clean up and cover up flower pots, ditches, nooks and crannies that may be holding stagnant water. Slather on mosquito repellent, especially when you go outdoors and use insecticides safely for indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands regularly
Bacteria and viruses come alive during the rainy season and you can come in contact with them easily by crossing the road to shaking hands or even getting sneezed on.Ugh. Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water. It’s a great idea to have a sanitizer handy as well.
- Avoid touching your face
The virus that causes the common cold enters our body through the eyes, nose and mouth.Resist the urge to scratch your eye or wipe your sweaty forehead. Use a clean handkerchief instead.
- Protect yourself from dirty water
Clogged gutters and dirty puddles are common sources of water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and fungal skin infections. Walking through rain water on the ground is a sure-fire way to get fungal diseases on your feet. Please avoid that.
Aside from a rain-proof jacket or rain coat, invest in a good pair of rain boots. Many pedestrians like wearing rubber slippers because they dry fast and are easy to move around in but slippers leave your feet at the mercy of contaminated elements. Get light rain boots instead and you can take them indoors, store in lockers or under your desk after use. Get light ones so you can easily carry them in a backpack when not in use.
- Be wary of street food
Food cooked and sold in the open air is likely to come in contact with airborne and waterborne diseases like typhoid. It is advisable not to consume food and snacks from roadside stalls. The humidity also inhibits the ability of your body to digest food so indigestion may be on the rise.It’s best to eat healthy home-cooked meals.
- Increase your Immunity
One reason people fall ill during the rainy season is the reduction of their immunity. Some home remedies like adding a clove of garlic to meals, drinking herbal tea with ingredients like cloves, ginger, pepper, basil and mint can help boost your immunity.
- Make eucalyptus oil your best friend
Ah, the aroma is just heavenly and helps us breathe easily.This, in turn, relaxes the entire body and can be your best friend during the rainy season when noses get clogged or even just dealing with just the extra strain of commuting in the rain.
You can add to boiling water and inhale the steam or put a few drops in a handkerchief and take it wherever you go. You can also just dab it on your neck and temples.
- Keep the children away from the rain
If you have kids, and elderly people, at home, keep them away from the rain because they are really susceptible to developing allergies, coughs etc.
- Keep as dry as possible
Avoid going into air conditioned rooms with wet hair and damp clothes. Dry your feet when they get wet.
