Ticks Are Everywhere: Here is What You Can Do About It
Must read summer health tips...
Summer is right around the corner, and if you couldn’t tell already from my social media, I LOVE the warm weather. We spend 90% of our lives indoors, but now, no excuses, it’s time to get outside. Make a commitment to at least an hour a day outdoors, if not more. Take a post-meal walk, dine al fresco, watch the sunrise and sunset which helps to balance your circadian rhythm. All that said, let’s also be safe. From tick bites and poison ivy to sunburns, it’s easy to overlook the small things that make a big difference in your health. That’s why I put together a Prep for Summer series, Dr Tania style, filled with quick, trusted tips to help you and your family stay safe this summer.
1. How to NOT get a tick bite!
This is one of my favorite hacks to avoid getting a tick on you in the first place.
The Eastern Seaboard, and especially Long Island (where I am from), is seeing a huge up-tick (pun intended) in the tick population this year. Lone star, American Dog, and blacklegged ticks are everywhere, and here is the issue: it’s not just Lyme we need to be worried about. These ticks can also transmit potentially fatal bacterial infections including ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. In fact, ticks can cause over 17 different types of diseases. Here is what you need to know:
Not all tick-borne illnesses cause a rash, but they do cause a fever. Other symptoms include headache, fatigue, and achy muscles.
If you do have a bite from a tick it can resemble a mosquito bite but it usually doesn’t itch.
If you remove a tick early and it hasn’t taken a full blood meal (ie. it’s not engorged), the chance of infection is greatly reduced.
Tick bites can even lead to a rare allergy to red meat, known as alpha-gal syndrome.
Ticks cling to grass blades and leaves. It is very important to check for ticks on yourself, your family, and your pets if you are spending time outdoors, even if it’s just a backyard. Do it while you are outside and as soon as you get indoors. Make it a habit of taking a shower as soon as you come inside and please, check your kids head to toe!
Wear protective clothing (I love these leggings) that keep bugs away as an alternative to bug spray.
2. How to identify poison ivy
A rule of thumb — leaves of 3, leave it be. And if you aren’t sure, take out your phone, snap a photo, and use the built-in image recognition on your iPhone to ID it. And this app called Aysa is one of my favorites to help diagnose a rash or skin condition. Snap a picture and it gives you a list of potential diagnoses, explanations, and next steps. The app is completely free and is based off of the same tool that doctors use (and pay for) to help them make skin diagnoses. It’s like having a Derm in your pocket.
3. Sun Protection
Before we even get into sunscreen, start with protective clothing. A wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective swimwear are essentials, especially for children. I prefer sun shirts over coating kids in chemical sunscreens. If you are more of a sunscreen person, opt for mineral with non-nano zinc oxide.
People are also talking about olive oil as a natural sunscreen. As an aside, here is my favorite olive oil to eat (it’s absolutely delicious) but no, this isn’t enough sun protection. It has an SPF of 8 at best, so it’s going to (literally) cook your skin.
4. Choose your kids swimsuits according to these visibility charts
Think solid neon colors like orange. Why? You want to make sure your child is easily seen at all times in a body of water. Drowning can happen in the blink of an eye.
5. Be careful how you clean your grill
Every year, people end up in the ER because of metal brush bristles that come loose, get stuck in food, and end up being ingested. This is the one I use. Or, you can use this hack: the acid from an onion.
Let me know if you enjoyed my Prep for Summer series and what you would like to see next! If you are in a shopping kind of mood, you can you can see my picks here.
With heart,
Dr. Tania
P.S. Share these tips — and let’s all breathe a little easier this season.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
I was out hiking today and found multiple ticks on me. Don’t forget to check behind the ears, in the ears, the back of the neck, and the scalp. And check your pets too! Has anyone noticed the increase as well?
Drop your thoughts and questions below.