Wash the dishcloth daily and thoroughly dry the cutting board.
Reheated food, discard leftovers immediately
Excessive air conditioning has a negative effect on patients with arthritis
The official summer monsoon has begun. In particular, this monsoon is expected to bring record-breaking heavy rains in some regions, with high precipitation and intense rainfall, according to weather experts.
During the rainy season, humidity can rise up to 90%. It creates an ideal environment for various fungi to thrive. Food is easily spoiled, leading to a high incidence of food poisoning. Due to the high humidity, even though sweating increases, it does not evaporate well, increasing the risk of skin diseases. Patients with arthritis experience increased joint pressure caused by humidity and atmospheric pressure, leading to pain and swelling. The rainy season is also a dangerous period for diabetics. High humidity and heat can cause loss of appetite, and frequent rain makes outdoor activities difficult, making it hard to maintain condition and complicating blood sugar control.
▶Be cautious with raw foods to prevent food poisoning=Food poisoning (foodborne illnesses) occurs when the digestive system becomes infected through the ingestion of contaminated food, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea that can appear acutely or chronically. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rash.
The fastest symptoms appear in food poisoning caused by staphylococcal bacteria. When consuming food contaminated with this bacteria's toxin, vomiting and diarrhea occur within 1 to 6 hours. In this case, it is better to first provide sufficient hydration rather than taking antibiotics or antidiarrheal medications.
When infected with typhoid fever, there is a latent period of about 1 to 2 weeks, followed by symptoms such as high fever around 40°C, headache, and diarrhea. Early symptoms include shivering and aching in the head, limbs, and joints, similar to a cold. In severe cases, complications such as intestinal bleeding and meningitis may occur. The primary cause of domestic cases is 70-80% transmitted through contaminated water. To prevent typhoid fever, it is recommended to boil water and cook food thoroughly. Getting vaccinated in advance is also advisable.
Salmonella bacteria are most commonly transmitted through poultry such as chickens and ducks. Eggs can also be a source of infection. Salmonella bacteria are sensitive to heat and are destroyed when heated at 62-65°C for 30 minutes. Cooking eggs can prevent infection, but secondary contamination from other foods during food preparation can be a concern.
Dysentery is highly contagious and is transmitted through contaminated water and spoiled food, such as during bowel movements. The dysentery bacteria can survive in water for 2 to 6 weeks and in soil for several months. They are resistant to stomach acid and can cause dysentery even if only a small amount is on the hands or if about 200 bacteria are ingested. In children and the elderly, dehydration can occur, leading to a risk of coma. Therefore, if diarrhea persists or dehydration symptoms appear, it is important to visit a hospital promptly.
Vibrio septicemia is a deadly disease among infectious diseases, with more than half of the patients dying even with treatment. It mainly occurs in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis who consume raw seafood such as sashimi or raw oysters. Over 90% of the patients are men in their 40s and 50s. People with these underlying conditions must ensure that seafood is thoroughly cooked before eating.
Cholera is a representative infectious disease to watch out for after the rainy season. Cholera is transmitted through contaminated water, food, and vomit. It can also be contracted when preparing food or eating rice with contaminated hands. Proper hygiene practices such as hand hygiene, boiling food before eating, disinfecting cooking utensils, and not storing food for long periods can prevent a significant number of cholera outbreaks.
The key to preventing food poisoning is properly managing the selection, preparation, and storage of food. Professor Jeong Ji-won of the Infectious Diseases Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center said, "Bacteria mainly reproduce between 0 and 60 degrees Celsius. Storage should be below 4 degrees, and heating should be above 60 degrees."
▶Ensure that wet shoes and clothes are thoroughly dried=During the rainy season, high humidity makes mold outbreaks easy. Additionally, the skin is at increased risk of damage due to various chemicals and impurities mixed with rain and sweat. Common skin infectious diseases that frequently occur during the rainy season include fungal infections such as athlete's foot, tinea cruris (jock itch), and intertrigo.
Athlete's foot fungus breeds well in hot, humid, and enclosed skin conditions. During the rainy season, prepare two or three pairs of shoes and wear them alternately. Wet shoes should be thoroughly dried before wearing. Intertrigo, an inflammatory dermatitis that occurs in areas where two skin surfaces touch, also develops easily in hot and humid summer. It can occur anywhere skin touches, including the neck folds, behind the knees, between fingers, buttocks, groin, and between toes.
Professor Jeong Joon-min of Seoul Asan Medical Center's Department of Dermatology said, "In particular, if you leave it untreated for a long time after contact with rainwater, various chemicals mixed in the rainwater can irritate the skin," and "this leads to an inflammatory response resulting in contact dermatitis symptoms such as red spots."
Areas where the skin folds should be kept dry and maintained in a cool environment. If the symptoms are mild, applying mild steroid or antibiotic ointments can lead to improvement.
▶Keep indoor and outdoor temperature differences within 5 degrees Celsius = People with arthritis tend to experience more pain when the weather is cloudy or rainy. Although not definitively proven medically, it is said that joint pain tends to become more noticeable when humidity is high or during low-pressure systems. Among various types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease caused by immune dysfunction, tends to react sensitively to high humidity and low pressure, resulting in more severe pain.
When the rainy season arrives, the surroundings change to a hot and humid environment. To reduce the high humidity, people habitually use air conditioners or fans. However, leaving the air conditioner on for a long time can worsen pain for arthritis patients. Cold air tightens the muscles around the joints, further pressing on the nerves. The ideal indoor humidity for joint health is around 50%. If the indoor humidity is high and the air conditioner is used excessively, the humidity can drop below 50%, which may be harmful to arthritis patients. If you cannot directly operate the air conditioner, reduce exposure to cold air by wearing long-sleeved outerwear or knee blankets. The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors should not exceed 5 degrees Celsius.
Professor Kim Won of Seoul Asan Medical Center's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine advised, "To improve pain, it's best not to strain the joints. Avoid exercises that put stress on the joints, such as squatting or running. Applying heat packs can help alleviate pain."
▶Wounds from walking barefoot, risk of diabetic foot = According to statistics from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of diabetes patients in 2022 was approximately 3.687 million, an increase of about 150,000 from the 3.537 million recorded in 2021. As the number of patients increases each year, managing diabetes in daily life has become more important, but the rainy season is a particularly risky period that requires special attention to blood sugar control. Humidity and heat can cause loss of appetite, making it difficult to maintain a healthy diet, and frequent rain and high humidity make outdoor activities challenging, making it hard to exercise consistently.
Diabetic foot is a term that collectively refers to neuropathy, structural deformities, skin calluses, changes in the skin and nails, foot ulcers, infections, and vascular diseases that occur in the feet of patients with diabetes. As diabetic foot progresses, even minor wounds do not heal and can develop into ulcers, and in severe cases, poor blood circulation can cause the tissue to turn black and decay. Even minor injuries can rapidly worsen, leading to serious complications such as ulcers or gangrene. In the worst cases, amputation of the foot may be necessary.
Professor Jo Yoon-kyung of the Department of Endocrinology at Seoul Asan Medical Center said, "Initially, patients feel cold, tingling, and burning sensations in their feet," and "As the symptoms worsen, they may experience sensations such as feeling like something is attached to their feet or walking on sand or marbles when they step on their feet, leading to various abnormal sensations."
During the rainy season, the surroundings change to a hot and humid environment, and in summer when it is easy to walk barefoot, foot injuries occur frequently. Sudden changes in the feet should always be monitored carefully. If the color of the feet turns red or black, it is advisable to visit a hospital early, even if minor wounds such as blisters or ulcers appear.
Kim Tae-yeol Senior Medical Reporter
