The raining season is majorly controlled by wind from the South Atlantic Ocean known as the Tropical Maritime airmass or South West Wind and it is one of two major seasons in Nigeria and the other is dry season.
Generally, raining season in Nigeria starts from the late weeks of February and ends in October. However, it is important to note that the start and end period of raining season in Nigeria differs from the South to the North because the Tropical Maritime airmass cannot cover the whole country at the same time. In the southern part of Nigeria the rain begins around February, while the rain begins in the northern part around June.
It’s the rainy season and there is hardly any day you won’t have some showers from heaven. These days, it has even become very unpredictable to ascertain the time of the day rain would fall. The rainy season is a welcome break from the heat and dryness of earlier months. It comes with lower temperatures, fresher air, and a cozy atmosphere which helps sleep interesting. However, the rainy season comes with a unique set of challenges to your health. Colds, flu, cholera, fever, infections are more prevalent during this season.
To help make this rainy season a great one, here are some tips on how to stay healthy for this season:
Stay Clean & Dry
The first thing to do is to maintain a high level of hygiene at all times. Rainfall is very unpredictable, so if you get caught in the rain, ensure you bathe because rainwater is not clean. Medical science says one of the ways cold gets into the body is through the feet and such body is susceptible to microbes.
Fungal infections tend to thrive in a damp environment, so it’s important to always stay dry. Prevent children from playing in the rain or with rainwater. If they do escape your surveillance somehow, ensure that you give them a good warm bath treated with disinfectant. Avoid wearing damp footwear and remove wet clothes as soon as possible. Don’t also forget to move with an umbrella.
Wash hands before consuming food
Water-borne diseases like diarrhea are quite common during the rainy season. Cleaning your hands before consuming food reduces the chances of their spread; have a sanitizer or alcohol. Further, you should wash your fruit before consuming them. This helps prevent the spread of microbes that spread very fast doing rainy seasons.
Watch what you eat
Water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, etc. food tend to be on a rise during this period. Avoid buying street food or food from vendors whose hygiene levels you cannot ascertain. The same goes for drinking water as well. If you drink water from a well, make sure you boil the water properly before drinking.
Avoid fizzle drinks because they reduce the number of minerals in the body, leading to a reduction in enzyme activities.
Boost your immune system
With the rise of microbes in this season, the immune system has to be boosted to prevent sickness or illness. One of the ways of achieving this is to consume lots of Vitamin C. Vitamin C, either in natural form or as a food supplement. Vitamin C helps to speed up recovery from the cold virus and it helps support your antibodies and reduce the severity of the cold. Green peppers, orange, and pineapple are good sources of vitamin C.
A medical theory says that in a bid to preserve warmth, the body restricts blood flow to our extremities including the nose. This results in a cold nose which cold viruses prefer. Boosting your system with Vitamin C supplements or fruit will help fight against these cold viruses.
Stay Warm
The rainy season is usually cold which we love. Nevertheless, you must protect yourself from diseases that come in this season by dressing warmly and making your rooms warm. The drop in temperature can affect your body’s ability to fight off infections, making you more prone to diseases. Dress warmly in sweaters and turtlenecks. Children are the most vulnerable to disease at this time, because their immune system is still developing. So, keep them warm.
Hot drinks, soup, and diet are awesome in this weather. This can prevent you from catching cold or other infections that occur due to sudden changes in body temperature.
Avoid cold drinks in this season.
Protect your surroundings from mosquitoes
In a tropical region like Nigeria, Malaria is a menace. In this season, it would be on the increase because mosquitoes would keep breeding.
Check your environment for stagnant water and clear them. You can start by examining places that can breed mosquitoes such as the gutter, plant pots, and other areas. Malaria is very common during the rainy season, so clear stagnant water and use mosquito repellant.
Drink plenty of water
During the rainy season, the body doesn’t get dehydrated unlike during hot seasons. However, staying hydrated is one of the most effective ways of fighting microbes in the body. Staying hydrated even in reduced temperatures will help you drain toxins from your body because you’ll feel an even greater need to pee regularly.
Remember it’s good to stay warm & taking warm water helps achieve this in season. Warm water gets your blood circulation going, which leads to a strong immune system that can protect you against getting infections. Keep your hydration levels up by drinking 6 to 8 cups of water.
Conclusion:
Staying happy and healthy this rainy season takes more effort than you think. We have to prepare and protect our health and those of our loved ones, what at work and school in full gear.