Summer is a great time for family celebrations and increased physical activity. Yet, with an increase in outdoor living comes a few dangers that must be considered for the protection of your family. It seems a good time to check out the latest health news headlines, to ensure your own health, and that of your family. As a continuing feature of our work here at the blog, we hope to be able to offer further glimpses into what is going on in the world of health and wellness in succeeding months, as well.
Lyme Disease Prevention: You can decrease your risk of getting Lyme disease with some simple precautions: Cover up. When in wooded or grassy areas, wear shoes, long pants tucked into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat and gloves. Try to stick to trails and avoid walking through low bushes and long grass.
Of course, life being what is, a single tick-borne illness to cope with isn’t enough…
Bourbon Virus, a New Tick-borne Illness: There’ve been just five confirmed case of Bourbon virus, which was first discovered in 2014, when a man from Bourbon County, Kansas caught it and subsequently died. There’s so little known about the Bourbon infection – except that it is extremely deadly – it’s unclear how long a tick needs to be attached for the virus to be transmitted. For instance, with Lyme disease, a tick needs to be attached for at least 24 hours.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism: over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. Not only can mosquitoes carry diseases that afflict humans, they also transmit several diseases and parasites that dogs and horses are very susceptible to. These include dog heartworm, West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). In addition, mosquito bites can cause severe skin irritation through an allergic reaction to the mosquito’s saliva – this is what causes the red bump and itching. Mosquito vectored diseases include protozoan diseases, i.e., malaria, filarial diseases such as dog heartworm, and viruses such as dengue, encephalitis and yellow fever. CDC Travelers’ Health provides information on travel to destinations where human-borne diseases might be a problem.
There is some good news out there, however…
Better Diet, Longer Life: A large study suggests you’re never too old to benefit from a commitment to eating healthier. The findings, reported in the July 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, might not sound surprising. Health experts said they basically reinforce messages people have been hearing for years. But the study is the first to show that sustained diet changes – even later in life – might extend people’s lives.
Stay tuned for more important snapshots of such timely information and health headlines in future posts, when it’s available and has value to our readers.
