Complete Guide to Staying Healthy During Monsoon

Monsoon is one such season people eagerly wait for, especially in tropical regions like India. These monsoon showers bring relief from scorching summer heat but also invite several health problems. Various waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera, along with skin infections, allergies and even stomach related problems, become common during this period. The wet weather helps germs like bacteria, viruses, and fungi grow. Dirty water, poor hygiene, and still water around your home can cause serious illnesses. But the good news is most of these diseases can be prevented with awareness and precautions.

In this blog, let’s explore the common health problems people face during the monsoon, along with precautions and preventive tips to keep you safe from serious health complications.

7 Tips to Stay Healthy This Monsoon

Drink Only Boiled or Filtered Water: A lot of health problems during the monsoon are caused by contaminated water. So avoid drinking water directly from the tap. Drink only boiled or filtered water and carry a water bottle while travelling outdoors.

Avoid Street Food: Most street foods are unhygienically prepared or served. These food items can easily get contaminated during the monsoon due to moist weather. So, eat only freshly cooked meals.

Clear Stagnant Water: Monsoon is also a season of mosquito-borne diseases. These mosquitos breed in still water. So check plant pots and buckets, for stagnant water and drain it.

Wash Your Veggies: Scrub fruits and vegetables under clean water to remove germs.

Allergies: Moist weather and wetness can lead to mould growth inside your house. This can cause sneezing, itchy eyes, and breathing issues.

Maintain Hygiene: Wash hands before meals and after coming from outside. Because during the rainy season, germs spread faster through water, surfaces and food.

Avoid Insect Bites: Most insects stay active and multiply during the monsoon, especially mosquitoes, ants, and flies. Use effective mosquito repellents and wear full-sleeved clothes to avoid serious infections like dengue and malaria.

9 Most Common Monsoon Diseases

Waterborne Diseases

Following are some of the most commonly found waterborne diseases and their symptoms that spread through contaminated water or food, especially during the rainy season.

Typhoid: It’s a disease which is caused by bacterial infection. Typhoid spreads through contaminated water and food. This bacterial infection can cause high fever, weakness, abdominal pain and digestive issues like diarrhea and if not treated on time, it can lead to serious complications and longer hospitalisation.
Cholera: It’s a waterborne disease caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Cholera also spreads through polluted water and food. Symptoms include sudden, watery diarrhea, dehydration, and weakness.
Hepatitis A: It’s a serious infection that affects your liver in particular. It basically spreads through consumption of contaminated food or water or through close contact with an infected person. Most people infected with hepatitis A experience symptoms like yellow skin, fatigue, nausea, and dark urine.
Dysentery: This infection causes extreme diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It’s caused by bacteria or parasites in unclean water and food. Symptoms can range from mild to severe if not treated with proper care.
Giardiasis: This is a parasitic infection that spreads through contaminated water. The most common symptoms of giardiasis include diarrhea, bloating, cramps, and fatigue.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Malaria: It’s a disease which is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. This parasite spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. People with malaria often experience high fever, chills, and feel extremely unwell.
Dengue: It’s a mosquito-borne viral infection, primarily spread by the Aedes mosquito. Dengue can cause sudden high fever, intense headache, joint and muscle pain, and skin rashes.
Chikungunya: It is also a mosquito borne infection, common in tropical areas, especially during the monsoon season. It can lead to high fever and severe joint pain that can last for weeks.
Zika Virus: It spreads through mosquito bites and can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy. In some cases, it can lead to birth defects.

Skin Problems During Monsoon and How to Treat Them

Fungal Infections: During the monsoon due to warm and wet weather, fungal infections are common. Especially in areas like underarms, groin, and toes. These fungal infections can cause uncomfortable itching and redness.

Prevention Tip: Keep these areas clean and dry. Use antifungal powders or creams prescribed by the doctors.

Sweat Rash (Miliaria): It’s a common skin problem during the monsoon, caused by blocked sweat glands. These blockages trap sweat beneath the skin, causing redness, itching, and bumps.

Prevention Tip: Try to wear loose cotton clothes during the rainy season and stay in a cool, well-ventilated area.

Acne breakout: During monsoon season humidity in the atmosphere increases. This makes your skin produce more oil, especially on the face. If you have oily skin, you may notice more pimples or acne during this time.

Prevention Tip: Try to wash your face twice a day with a gentle face wash. Avoid oily moisturiser, if your skin is prone to acne.

Eczema: It’s a chronic skin condition that can get worse with sweating. It often leads to dry, itchy, and inflamed skin, especially during humid monsoon days.

Prevention Tip: Keep skin dry and moisturized. Avoid scratching and use a doctor-recommended ointment.

Hair Problems And Their Prevention Tips

Humid and warm atmosphere during the monsoon can not only affect your internal health and skin but your hair too. Here are some tips to prevent major hair problems during the rainy season.

Hair Fall: High humidity along with dandruff during the monsoon can weaken your hair follicles, leading to an increase in hair fall.

Prevention Tip: Use a mild shampoo to keep your scalp clean and dry. Eat a balanced diet and avoid unnecessary dyeing and hair styling to prevent breakage.

Scalp Infection: Due to the moist atmosphere, your scalp becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and fungal infections. Causing issues such as itching, lice, dandruff and hair fall.

Prevention Tips: Try to wash your hair regularly with a mild shampoo, especially after getting wet.

Frizz Hair: The humidity causes hair cuticles to swell, disrupting the hair’s natural moisture balance and leading to frizz and tangles.

Prevention Tips: Use a moisturising shampoo and make sure you avoid overwashing.

Foods to Include and Avoid During Monsoon

Food shouldn’t only just satisfy your taste buds but also boost your immune system to fight against diseases in all seasons, especially in monsoon. Here’s what food items to include and avoid during the monsoon:

What to Eat in Monsoon?

Seasonal Fruits: Add seasonal fruits such as jamun, plum, papaya, pomegranates, lychees and bananas into your diet. These fruits are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These seasonal fruits will not only improve your digestive health but also improve your immune system.

Vegetables: During the monsoon you get to see a variety of gourds like bitter gourd, bottle gourd, etc. These fresh veggies promote gut health.

Dry Fruits and Nuts: Add dry fruits into your diet, such as almonds, walnuts, dates or cashews. They boost immunity and keep your cells healthy.

Probiotics: Curd can be your good friend during the monsoon, especially if you have stomach related issues such as bloating, constipation or diarrhoea.

Herbal Tea: Drinking tulsi or ginger tea during the monsoon can keep your cold away and strengthen immunity.

What to Avoid in Monsoon?

Street and Fried Food: These food items can easily get contaminated and can upset your stomach and cause food poisoning.

Avoid Green Leafy Vegetables: It’s best you avoid green leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage, and lettuce. As these vegetables tend to retain more moisture, making them suitable for bacterial and fungal growth during the rainy season.

Avoid Juice From Roadside: During the monsoon you should skip juices, shakes and other drinks from street stalls. As unhygienic preparation can lead to waterborne diseases.

Seafood: Avoid fish and prawns during the monsoon. This is their breeding time, and the risk of infection is high.

Monsoon rains not only bring much-needed relief from heat but also bring many illnesses along with it. Your body becomes more prone to waterborne diseases and infections such as dengue and malaria. That’s why staying alert and taking simple precautions is important. Using mosquito nets, repellents, coils, and eating light, healthy food during the rainy season. Follow these simple tips and precautions, because prevention is always better than cure.