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Summer Health Directory
Summer -- a time of vacations, summer break, camps, grilling, and the beach. Also, a time of sunburn, heat exhaustion, bug bites, food poisoning, and travel-related illness. But there is good news! You can prevent almost all the negatives by following some simple guidelines. Be safe about staying in the sun, eating food that is well-prepared, staying hydrated, and practicing other safety measures. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about how summer can be a time of fun, relaxation, and healthy activities.
Medical Reference
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Summer Safety for You and Your Kids
Learn more from WebMD about summer safety, including everything from preventing sunburns to treating bee stings to recognizing Lyme disease.
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Want Healthy Skin? Avoid Sun Damage
Sun damage can age your skin before its time -- and carries serious health risks. WebMD tells you how to prevent sun damage and have better-looking skin.
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Skin Cancer and Sun Exposure
WebMD explains how sun exposure ages the skin and raises the risk for skin cancer. Learn more about protecting yourself.
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Dog Water Safety: Tips to Keep Your Pet Healthy
Does your dog love to play in the water? Find out how to keep him safe.
Features
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Summer Safety Tips for Outdoor Fun
Whether you’re heading to a national park, a beach, or hiking the trails near home, these tips will help you enjoy the great outdoors and stay safe.
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Summer Health Risks vs. Realities
The news media are so full of warnings about potential summer health hazards that you may wonder, as the season wears on, how anyone ever comes through unscathed.
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How to Avoid Summer's Health Woes
Experts explain strategies for preventing 6 common maladies from ruining your summer fun.
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Summer Pregnancy
Hot, humid -- and heavy with child. Pregnancy can make the summer seem hotter. But following a few simple guidelines can keep you cool.
Video
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Making the Most of Summer Travel
Here are some tips for planning ahead, lifting heavy bags, and fighting stress when you travel this summer.
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Video: Flesh Eating Bacteria
There’s a deadly bacteria lurking in waters. How afraid should you be?
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Healthy Grilling
It’s cookout time! Yet meat cooked at high temperatures is linked to cancer in animal studies. Learn how to decrease your risk.
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What Attracts Mosquitoes?
Are you a mosquito magnet? Research shows carbon dioxide, heat, alcohol, and genes could play a role.
Slideshows & Images
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Slideshow: Summer Health Hazards: Bears, Sharks, Heatstroke, and More
Some summer problems, like sunburn and heatstroke, are common. Others are rare -- think bears and sharks! Are you prepared?
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Slideshow: Fattening Foods of Summer
Summertime living may be easy, but if you're not careful, summer's fattening foods - including fried chicken, ribs, potato salad, ice cream, hot dogs, and beer - can really pack on the pounds.
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Slideshow: 25 Ways to Get Ready for Swimsuit Season
Bypass the foods that bloat and see the best swimsuit for your shape in this pictorial guide to looking your best on the beach.
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Slideshow: Summer Skin Hazards -- Stings, Bites, Burns, and More
Don’t let spider bites, sunburn, poison ivy, chigger bites, and jellyfish stings sabotage your healthy skin. This slideshow illustrates what to watch for -- so you can stay safe this summer.
Blogs
Quizzes
Expert Commentary
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Low-Calorie Summer Sippers
Let's drink to summer -- the healthy way
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Cool Summer Drinks: Your Best Bets
What are the healthiest summer beverages? Here are your top choices for hydration, refreshment, and pure enjoyment.
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Some Assembly Required: No-Sweat Summer Meals
Get cooking tips for summer meals.
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Quick Cooking Tips to Get You Out of the Kitchen
Read six tips on quick cooking for summertime.