For many, spring is the best time of the year. The temperatures are warmer, blossoms paint the landscape with color and the world is green again. However, along with the charms of spring come a unique set of health issues. These are allergies, injuries and tick borne disease.
Allergies
Pollen is essential to plant reproduction. Unfortunately, it's also an irritant for many people. It can make your eyes red and itchy and cause coughing and sneezing. Depending on your sensitivity, you may barely notice it, or it may cause extreme discomfort. Pollen problems are avoided by staying indoors when the pollen count is high. Pollen tends to be high during the morning hours. For those who must be outdoors during this time, over-the-counter medications are available that help reduce your allergic reaction. If you've been outdoors when the pollen count is high, take a shower and change your clothing when you get back inside to remove pollen from your body.
Injuries
Those who remain physically inactive during the winter are often prone to injury during early spring. Spring cleaning, fixing up the yard and other physical activities may cause injury to out-of-shape muscles and tendons. Muscles and especially tendons must be gradually reintroduced to physical activity. Some problems such as a back injury can become a chronic condition if caution is not exercised. People who only work out during the warm months are especially vulnerable. The runner or bicyclist may get overly ambitious too soon and suffer a tendon injury as a result.
Tick Borne Disease
Of the three health issues, disease from ticks is the most serious. This is particularly true of Lyme disease, which affects many regions in the United States, especially the Northeast. If diagnosed and treated early, Lyme disease is readily treated with antibiotics. However, late stage Lyme disease may lead to chronic health conditions. Sometimes it can be fatal.
Other important tick diseases include:
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This affects many states, but the Southeast and lower Midwest are particularly hard hit.
- Ehrlichiosis. This mostly occurs in the Southwest.
- Babesiosis. Babesiosis affects both the upper Midwest and the northeastern part of the U.S.
- Human granulocytic anaplasmosis. This is found in northern California, the upper Midwest, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic states.
Ticks are common to wooded and grassy areas. Walking through grass, leaves and undergrowth exposes you to ticks. They often cling on shoes or socks and climb up underneath one's garments. Wearing long clothing and pulling your socks over your pants when walking through tick habitat is recommended. After exposure to tick habitat, remove your clothing, inspect yourself and take a shower.
While prevention is the best protection, it doesn't guarantee that the above health issues won't affect you this spring. Make sure that you have sufficient health insurance coverage so that you can get immediate medical treatment without it becoming a financial burden.
Prevent health issues with the right coverage. Call Owen & Associates at (770) 422-0456 for more information on Marietta health insurance.