Summer Health

Summer comes with many benefits – warmth, sunny skies, a break from cold days and nights, and gardens and parks bursting with colour. But for some of us, the summer months brings heat, pollen, insects and strong sunshine that can create health problems.

If you know that you or a member of your family already has summer health problems, make sure that you have enough of their medication ready. It might be worth asking your GP for a repeat prescription for important medicines in case you run out of them more quickly than expected.

In this section on summer health, we have information on some of the most common causes of summer health problems, their symptoms, and medicines to treat them. We have also included practical steps you can take to avoid your summer being spoilt. Click to read about the condition that interests you most.

Common summer health problems:

• Asthma
• Bright light/sore eyes
• Disturbed sleep
• Insect bites
• Sunburn
• Sunstroke
• Prickly heat rash
• Fear of flying
• Beware of tick bites
• Food poisoning symptoms
• Dehydration: symptoms and tips for staying hydrated
• Top tips for barbecuing chicken safely
• Don't take risks with the sun