With the first splash of water, we really find ourselves refreshed during the day when the monsoon starts. We all would like to jump in the rain as and when we get a view of it. Teenage individuals and kids are more than happy to see rain and explore the splashes of rain.
But, while enjoying the rainy days, they can come across a variety of diseases and serious health issues. Some of the common illnesses to suffer from in the rainy season are dengue, flu, cold, water infection, food infection, leptospirosis, and cholera.
Leptospirosis is a condition caused by the bacteria and the germ is either carried by an animal or a man. This is the sort of disease which can immensely damage the kidney. It can even cause severe disorders like a failure of the liver, respiratory problems, meningitis.
Monsoon is the season when different types of snacks and tasty foods are consumed by people. But, the water bore and airborne diseases can easily attack them. Jaundice is one more common monsoon disease you can suffer from. This is a viral disease and it is caused by contaminated food and water.
When you have jaundice you feel extremely weak and the color of the urine becomes yellow. You even have the tendency of vomiting and there is improper functioning of the liver. During monsoon, water logging is a common phenomenon which helps in the breeding of mosquitoes.
You can be affected by malaria and dengue prone mosquitoes during this season. These days, viral fevers are quite common. Rather, it has become more common than that of bacterial infection. Fungal infection is another illness that is very common in this season. This is the reason it is best that you keep yourself dry.
Some preventive measures to stay disease-free during monsoons are as follows:
- Avoid eating junk and street food- During monsoon, street foods are more prone to virus and bacteria and consequently damage the health of a person who eats it. So stick to home made fresh food to avoid stomach allergies. Also, say no-no to all oily food as during monsoon, humidity is more which leads to weakening of digestion capacity and oily food eventually upsets stomach.
- Avoid storage of water nearby house to avoid breeding of mosquito and its bad effects on our health which comes as malaria and dengue. Spray strong insect repellent so as to keep mosquitoes away and prevent ourselves from being bitten.
- Try to avoid walking through dirty water as much as possible as it can be the cause of numerous fungal infections of the feet and nails.
- Keep your feet dry whenever they get wet so as to avoid cold and cough. Hence try to keep your body dry and protected in this moist weather.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially leafy ones and cauliflower.
- Avoid entering air conditioner room with wet hair and damp cloth.
- It is suggested that asthma or diabetes patients must avoid staying in the room or anywhere which is having damp walls as it supports the growth of fungus which can be seriously harmful to them.
- Drink herbal tea having antiseptic properties which would help the growth of bacteria within a person and promotes the immunity.
If your immune system is weak, you are supposed to catch these diseases instantly. So to maintain a healthy diet and protect you from such diseases during the rainy season, the following countermeasures have to be taken.
- Use plenty of garlic, pepper, ginger, asafoetida, turmeric, coriander and jeera, all of which enhance digestive power and improve immunity.
- Eat foods that are dry in nature. The most popular are makka (corn), chana (chickpea), besan (gram flour) and jow (oats).
- Eat light foods like vegetables, fruits, cereals etc and reduce consumption of meat or fish.
- Avoid sour foods like tamarind (imli), chutneys and pickles as they promote water retention.
- Also avoid eating cut fruits and vegetable outside home because there are more chances of bacterial growth and infection.
- Drink plenty of water, only boiled or filtered.
- Honey is an excellent tonic that helps keep the intestines sterile. It also assists in digestion.
- Eat bitter vegetables like karela (bitter gourd) and herbs like neem (basil), methi (fenugreek) seeds, haldi (turmeric) as they prevent infection.
- Fresh is the best for monsoon, so eat freshly cooked food.
- Eat fruits as they help you restore energy. Apples, mangoes, pomegranates, and pears are best suggestible. Avoid watermelon and muskmelons.
- Consume lots of Vitamin C through Amla and citrus fruits to boost immunity.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar Budhiraja, Sr. Consultant, Internal Medicine at Asian Institute of Medical Sciences advised about the health tips and preventive measures for monsoon diseases.