Don't Ignore These Bug Bites
By Sara Butler
While the weather is nice this season, you want to spend as much time outside as possible. Being outdoors is good for you, with a lot of studies finding that getting out in nature for just a few minutes each day can help to reduce stress and boost your health. But one thing that isn't so great about the outdoors are the bugs, more specifically, the bug bites. If you receive a few bug bites while outside, most of them will heal without a problem. If you notice these bug bites, then it's time to get a medical professional to take a look.
Bites from Bedbugs
Bedbugs are, unfortunately, making a resurgence. While they're not a terrible threat to your health, they aren't something you should simply ignore either. Bedbug bites can be very itchy and an infestation in your bedroom can make for some very poor-quality sleep at night. In other words, you can't sleep tight when the bedbugs bite.
Bedbug bites are small and red bumps that bear a resemblance to mosquito bites. They're different than mosquito bites because they often show in a straight line on your legs, stomach, or back. You can treat bites at home most of the time unless they become infected, but it's very important to get your home treated to get the bedbugs out.
Wasp and Bee Stings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that any time you're stung by a bee that you scrape the stinger away as soon as is possible. The longer the stinger stays in, the more venom can be released and the more painful the sting will be.
Wasps such as yellow jackets and hornets don't leave a stinger behind when they sting you. That's sort of good news except for the fact that it means they can sting you more than once. If you're allergic to wasp or bee stings, then it's important to carry an EpiPen with you so you can treat yourself. If you get stung and have difficulty breathing because your throat is beginning to swell, then you need to get emergency help right away.
If you're not allergic but you get an overwhelming number of stings due to stepping on a nest, you can have vertigo, vomiting, fever, and nausea. That's due to the buildup of venom in your body and also means you need medical care as soon as possible.
Some bug bites are not a problem at all, but don't take chances if something simply doesn't seem right.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. Louis, Mo.