Monsoon and Your Gut health
Monsoon is a season that offers some relief from the heat. Though the rainy season grants us soothing rains and pleasant weather, still there is something that goes unnoticed is, the increase in abdominal morbidities that the monsoon takes along. So, it becomes a necessity to consult with the doctor on time, and you can come to us to meet the best gastroenterologist in Mohali.
The rainy season brings multiple health problems like poor digestion, jaundice, body ache, cholera, food poisoning, dysentery, flu, cough, cold, etc. The damp environmental surroundings become an easy breeding condition for mosquitoes and other insects, which increases the risk of diseases, such as malaria and dengue. Overall, there are an increase in insect-borne, water-borne, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections because of the excessive humidity in the atmosphere.
PRIMARY GASTRIC AILMENTS DURING MONSOON
As it is very often that people complain about indigestion and stomach aches during the rainy season, it is due to increased bacterial growth in the environment and especially in our food. There are some common minor and major gastric issues that occur in this season, such as Diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, acute gastritis/gastroenteritis, abdominal infections(viral/ bacterial), food poisoning, or acute Hepatitis A.
All aforementioned conditions can be prevented and treated by following accurate eating and living styles.
ESSENTIALS FOR BETTER GASTRO-INTESTINAL HEALTH IN MONSOON
In order to avoid the health issues associated with rainy weather, everyone needs to maintain good hygiene practices. It becomes more important to stay alert because we already know that the health infrastructure of our country is already overstressed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. And, you certainly would not want to put any additional undue burden on our respected doctors and our health system. Everyone should be cautious about preventable health problems on their own.
There are a few general points to be kept in mind during monsoon, to maintain good gut health. If you still feel any of the above symptoms, visit our gastroenterologist in Mohali at the initial stage of infection.
AVOID OUTSIDE/JUNK FOOD
It is noticed that a large number of people have started focusing on home-cooked food recently, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This practice should also be continued during the rainy season. The restaurants are just here for business but your health is solely your own responsibility and should not be compromised just for the sake of convenience and taste. Ill-cooked, raw or pre-cut food may lead to food poisoning. Along with this, consuming contaminated water can lead to various water-borne diseases namely dysentery, viral gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid, etc.
CONSUME SEASONAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Monsoon doesn’t restrict you from freshly produced fruits and vegetables. You can still consume fresh, seasonal vegetables/fruits along with nutritious pulses and cereals. Rather you should avoid highly-processed packaged food and choose to eat fresh, steaming hot food whenever possible. Be more careful while buying or eating green leafy vegetables. Wash all fruits and veggies thoroughly with warm water or even salt water, if possible, to remove dirt and dust.
ESTABLISH CLEAN SURROUNDINGS
A healthy home should be completely pest-free inside out. Try to keep your home and surroundings clean and dry to avoid the growth and entry of pests into your home. Do not let rainwater to be accumulated in open containers or dump holes. Also, remove or clean stagnant water from air and water coolers, flower pots, and other places that might become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. Use mosquito nets if you are sleeping outside and mosquitoes-repellant creams & sprays whenever going out in the evening, to keep diseases away.
STAY HYDRATED
During summer season we feel more thirst but the cold climate in the monsoon often makes us avoid water. However, humidity leads to increase sweating and we lose more water and electrolytes, even if we are not feeling much hot, hence, it is essential to consume plenty of water regularly. An adult individual should drink at least 3-4 liters of water daily to flush out toxins naturally through skin and urine. Always make sure that you are drinking clean water without any impurities. You can also consume boiled water with no pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY
The global outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has taught us very essential hygiene habits. Wearing face masks to wash your hands more often will not only protect you from Novel Coronavirus, but it can also save you from other common bacteria and viruses. Wash your hands thoroughly after coming home from outside, especially before eating something. And, also avoid touching your face with contaminated hands to reduce the chances of infection.
THE FINAL WORDS
In the end, our team requests you follow adequate hygiene practices even after the rainy season ends. Make necessary lifestyle changes and maintain the above cleanliness habits. Further, you can also consult with our gastroenterologist in Mohali for preventive and best interventional care for abdominal ailments.
