How to Stay Healthy and Happy During the Caribbean Carnival

It’s obvious your health can get ignored as you will be completely engaged in the festivities. Hence, keeping health your priority is crucial. Let’s learn about a few of the healthy tips to follow during the Caribbean carnival:  

Sun Exposure  

The sun’s rays can harm your skin. It can tan your skin, or it can even cause sunburn. Short-term sunburn can make your skin red and itchy. On the other hand, the long-term effects of sunburn can lead to severe issues. You can head to our previous blog for in-depth information about sunburn. Sun exposure can even lead to exhaustion, which, if ignored, can cause heatstroke, also referred to as sunstroke, a potentially fatal illness that occurs when the body overheats.  

Tips to prevent sunburn: 

• Apply sunscreen at regular intervals (after every 2 hours) and after sweating and swimming.  
• Find shade and take a break for a while.  
• Direct exposure to sunlight can even harm your eyes. Wear sunglasses or a hat to protect them.  

Dehydration 

Getting dehydrated during such times is quite common. Spending lots of time in the sun, not drinking enough water and consuming alcohol can cause dehydration. 

Signs of dehydration  

• Extreme thirst  

• Fatigue  
• Dark colored urine  
• Dizziness  
• Less-frequent urination  

Ways to combat dehydration  

• Try to ignore sugary drinks and instead drink sufficient water.  
• Excessive consumption of alcohol might also lead to dehydration. To combat this, try to consume in moderation.  
• You can even set a reminder on your phone to get notified about drinking enough water. 

Alcohol  

Excessive amounts of alcohol consumption in a short period can lead to an emergency situation—alcohol poisoning. It can impact your body temperature, heart rate and breathing.  

Tips to keep in mind while consuming alcohol: 

• Try to eat a meal before drinking alcohol. 
• Drink water in between while consuming alcohol. 
• Prevent combining alcoholic drinks.  
• Set a limit and keep monitoring your alcohol intake.  
• Don’t drink and drive!  
• Notice the changes in your mind and body while drinking. These are the warning signs to stop! 
• Do not take any pills or medications while consuming alcohol. If you have any concerns regarding this, speak with a healthcare professional. 

Food  

You often eat excessive food and some of them might be unhealthy, during the Caribbean carnival season. Late-night parties and celebrations make it easy for you to ingest fast food. Eating unhealthy food can cause digestion problems. If it is prepared in unsanitary environments, can lead to food poisoning. This is an emergency, and one should immediately seek help from a healthcare professional.  

Signs of Food Poisoning:  

• Vomiting  
• Nausea  
• Stomach cramps and pain  
• Headache  
• Fever  
• Diarrhoea  

Tips to avoid food poisoning: 

• Purchase food only from certified vendors  
• Avoid eating junk foods  
• Eat sufficiently, as dancing under the sun for longer can lower your energy levels.  
• Don’t buy the food if it’s prepared in uncleaned surroundings.  
• Notice the personal habits of a food vendor.  

Sanitization  

Sanitization is vital not only for you but also for the people around you and even more critical during the Caribbean carnival. Unhygienic conditions can cause different respiratory tract infections (RTIs). RTIs can be tough to deal with; you can learn more about RTIs in our recent blog.  

To avoid spreading infections, carry sanitizers with you and stay safe.  

Sexual Health  

Sexual health safety is crucial for everyone who participates in the Caribbean carnival. As per the resources, the STIs and unplanned pregnancy rates increase straight after the carnival. Therefore, you and your sexual partner need to be aware of sexual health safety during the carnival.  

Here are a few tips for sexual health:   

• Use condoms every time you have sex. It can help you prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and unwanted pregnancies.  
• Get yourself tested before and after the Caribbean carnival. Learning about your status can help you make detailed decisions related to your sexual health. A few STIs don’t show any signs or symptoms at first, so getting tested is the only way to be sure.  
• Don’t create any sort of confusions among you and your partner. Try talking to them openly about your expectations. Don’t pressure anyone or make them feel uncomfortable.  
• Try to urinate immediately after intercourse, as it can help prevent UTIs.  
• If you encounter itching or burning after having sex, book an appointment with a healthcare professional on Cellmaflex.