Many are well aware of the health effects of cold weather. During the fall and winter, colder weather increases risks of developing hypothermia pulls moisture from the skin, and even elevates blood pressure. There’s also a higher risk of contracting the flu during this time.
Fortunately, the difficulties of winter are washed away as spring sets in. Spring is often considered a time for renewal. With the colder seasons coming to an end, this may certainly feel like a true statement.
The warmer climate brings forth blooming flowers, sunny skies, and lively critters. Everything seems brighter and more colorful once spring is in full bloom.
Although spring releases us from the hardships of the colder seasons, it still has difficulties of its own. From allergies to dehydration, the health effects of spring and its warmer weather range from mild to severe. However, there are plenty of things you can do this spring to stay healthy and happy.
1. Keep Yourself Hydrated
Although it may not be summer, temperatures can rise well above 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the spring. With warmer climate conditions taking effect, we may be at a higher risk for becoming dehydrated.
If you have an active lifestyle, you may be at an even greater risk than those with a sedentary lifestyle. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will ensure that you stay refreshed, happy, and hydrated.
2. Protect Your Skin
Warmer climate conditions in spring are the result of more sunlight reaching the earth. This can also mean more UV rays as well. UV light is a wavelength of light between 10 nm and 400 nm. This kind of light has shorter wavelengths than visible light and cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Extended exposure to UV rays can cause mild to severe sunburn. According to experts, UV rays can also damage DNA, increasing the risk of developing cancer.
UV rays are stronger during the spring and summer, so you should keep this in mind before heading outdoors at these times. A great way to practice skin safety is to wear sunblock or another skin protectant. It’s recommended to wear a skin protectant with a sun protection factor (spf) of at least 15.
3. Bust those Dust Bunnies
Your exposure to allergens also increases during the spring and summer months. From pollen to dust, there’s more than just spring in the air. This can lead to seasonal rhinitis, which causes symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and runny nose.
Over-the-counter medications are available for seasonal rhinitis, but it would also help to limit your exposure to allergens. Exposure to allergens doesn’t just happen outdoors however.
There are also allergens in the home. Pet dander and dust mites are two primary sources of indoor allergens. You can find natural allergy relief by limiting your exposure and clearing your home of dust and pet dander.
4. Improve your Diet
Spring is a great time to take care of your nutritional needs. A balanced diet should be complete with healthy sources of protein, fats, fruits, and vegetables. Spring is a great time to take advantage of the abundance of produce in order to improve your diet.
A few healthy meal options you can try this season are chicken salad, Broccoli soup, or grilled plums. From Strawberries to artichoke, there’s plenty of produce hitting supermarket shelves. Take advantage of this by making newly available produce a part of your diet.
Although spring may be a time for renewal, it’s also a time to stay happy and healthy. With warmer weather now in effect, were at a higher risk for sunburn, allergies, and dehydration.
However, there’s plenty you can do to even the odds and enjoy yourself while spring is still in bloom.
Identity Magazine is all about guiding women to discover their powers of Self-Acceptance, Appreciation, and Personal Achievement.
We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written. In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re not talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.
I have accepted that I will never find perfect balance at as a mom, and no matter how others perceive me as a working mom, both being a mom and a professional help me to progress as a woman.
2. Appreciation is everything. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
I’m grateful for the resilience that my trials have instilled in me. As hard as my trials have been they have helped me empathize with others more and to become a better person.
3. Share with us one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not only what makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
Becoming a mother and feeling the love of my children has been the most rewarding experience of my life. That love coupled with a desire to maintain their love and respect is one of my biggest motivators in life.
