Weekly Tips for Your Peak Fitness and Wellness

This Week's Tip: Bite Bugs Back

Summer is almost here, and soon you’ll be hearing the soothing sounds of crickets singing on a warm night. Of course it also means you’ll be hearing the buzz of mosquitoes, too. And other silent pests like ticks and gnats will be around. It’s important to protect yourself from insects. Besides the itchy bites they leave behind, many insects carry diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

Avoid mosquitoes by staying away from areas with standing pools of stagnant water and keeping your skin covered up as much as is practical. Put the nix on ticks by wearing long, loose layers on walks, rides and hikes, especially if you are venturing into areas with tall grass. Always check for bites and “hitchhikers” once you return home.

Don’t forget to protect yourself with bug spray, too. There are lots to choose from, so read labels carefully. We like natural insect repellents as a safer, DEET-free, alternative. Buzz Away Extreme and other products from Quantum Health are good choices. They can be found at Whole Foods. Besides being better for you, you’ll get the bonus of smelling like citronella instead of Off!

And if you do get bitten, natural anti-itch remedies, Benadryl cream or lotion or hydrocortisone cream can all provide relief. Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure that absorption of these topical treatments won’t interfere with any other medications you may be taking. And of course, if a bite is unusually bad, looks like a red spot with a red ring around it, or seems infected, you should have a doctor look at it right away.