Today is Start of Summer, the first solar term of summer, marking the beginning of the long summer season. So, what should we pay attention to in terms of health preservation during Lixia? Let's take a look.

　　Beware of four common diseases during the Start of Summer

　　1. Conjunctivitis

　　During the summer solstice, it's important to take precautions against conjunctivitis (pink eye). This disease has a short incubation period, with symptoms appearing within 24 hours of infection. Symptoms include severe pain in both eyes, photophobia, tearing, and a foreign body sensation. If you get conjunctivitis, it's crucial to prevent transmission and seek timely treatment.

　　The key to preventing conjunctivitis is to pay attention to personal hygiene and eye care during the hot and humid early summer, avoid crowded places, and avoid contact with sources of infection.

　　2. Be careful of damage to the spleen and stomach.

　　Many people experience various gastrointestinal problems in the summer. One reason is that people's appetite naturally decreases after the start of summer, and their digestive function is affected by the weather. Another reason is that people crave cold and icy foods, which irritate the stomach and intestines. When the stomach is subjected to strong low-temperature stimulation, blood vessels suddenly constrict, reducing blood flow and affecting the secretion of digestive juices, leading to physiological dysfunction.

　　3. Heatstroke

　　Summer colds are commonly known as "summer colds." In hot summer weather, the body's blood vessels and sweat glands dilate to dissipate heat, resulting in profuse sweating. Falling asleep at this time makes the body more susceptible to chills and catching a cold.

　　4. Headache

　　High temperatures, muggy weather, thunderstorms, strong winds, and sudden weather changes in summer often trigger or worsen headaches. In addition, lack of sleep, emotional excitement, and mental fatigue can also induce headaches. To cope with summer headaches, one should not rely too heavily on medication. Conservative treatments can be implemented through adjusting diet, replenishing fluids, cooling down, limiting cold foods, managing emotions, and ensuring adequate rest.

　　How to maintain health during the Beginning of Summer

　　1. Go to bed early and get up early

　　After the start of summer, the climate changes significantly, so one should go to bed later and get up earlier to align with the changes in yin and yang. Getting up earlier at this time does not mean "getting up earlier than the rooster," 7 a.m. is fine; going to bed later does not mean staying up until the early hours of the morning, in ancient times, going to bed later was around 11 p.m.

　　Meanwhile, people should develop the habit of taking a nap after the start of summer. The duration of a nap varies from person to person, but it is generally advisable to take half an hour to an hour. Napping for too long can make people feel tired.

　　2. Reduce desires to nourish Yang

　　Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the four seasons and the five elements correspond to the five internal organs of the human body. After the start of summer, the weather turns hot, and people's minds are easily disturbed, leading to restlessness.

　　Therefore, at this time of year, people should pay special attention to mental well-being and strengthen heart health. In particular, the elderly should avoid excessive emotions, maintain a cheerful mood, and be at ease and happy, avoiding excessive joy that could harm the heart.

　　3. Avoid raw and cold foods.

　　After the start of summer, temperatures are high, and many people eat large amounts of frozen fruits, ice cream, etc. While they may enjoy temporary coolness, they are unaware that this not only damages their spleen and stomach but also puts a strain on their heart. Indulging in coldness in summer can easily lead to increased cold and dampness in the body and cause acne on the face.

　　4. Avoid exposure to wind.

　　During the Beginning of Summer solar term, people often wear light clothing and use thin blankets, and even healthy individuals should be wary of catching a cold. In particular, some young people rush to turn their backs to air conditioners or fans after exercising, claiming it's to "cool down their bodies," unaware that at this time, cold winds can easily enter the body through acupoints such as Fengchi (GB20). In summer, it's best to avoid or use air conditioning and fans only moderately.