Why Are Some People More Prone to Mosquito Bites?
Summer is on the way, and mosquito season is extra early for the majority of the U.S. If you’re one of those unlucky people who always ends up getting tons of mosquito bites when nobody else in your crew does, then you might wonder, why are some people more prone to mosquito bites than others? What’s extra great is that there are some things you can also do to make yourself less attractive to mosquitos this season.
Why Are Some People More Prone to Mosquito Bites Than Others?
Mosquito season is already here for many Americans. With the extra warm winter, many states are seeing mosquitos pop up months earlier than usual. Edward Walker, an entomology professor and expert at Michigan State University, tells Bridge Magazine that the change in climate is giving these mosquitos the ability to get out there and be a nuisance earlier than normal. “It just happens to be that we’ve had these incredibly unseasonably warm temperatures, which has allowed those mosquitoes to come out early,” he told the outlet. “It’s been plenty warm enough for them to fly and so they’ll start to bite.”
So, why are some people more prone to mosquito bites? It could literally be in your blood. According to Goodrx.com, experts believe that people with Type O blood are more likely to get bites from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and those with Type B blood are more likely to get bites from Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. What’s more, VeryWellHealth.com says that people with type AB blood attract the marsh mosquito, or Anopheles gambiae. Another reason is size. VeryWellHealth.com notes that mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, and “larger people exhale more, so they’re more likely to receive bug bites.” Mosquitoes also love body heat, Findado.osteopathic.org notes, so if you’re someone who works out and breaks a sweat outdoors, you might be more likely to attract the pesky insects. “Sweat, heat and lactic acid can attract mosquitoes, hence a propensity for people to get bitten when they are exercising versus those who are sedentary,” Ann T. MacIntyre, DO, a Miami-based osteopathic physician and expert tells the publication.
The good news is that you can do a few things to make yourself less attractive to mosquitoes. For one, it could possibly help to avoid beer and bananas, according to Goodrx.com, but they also note that the evidence comes from small studies, so the jury is still out. Goodrx.com also notes that wearing certain colors might attract mosquitoes, such as orange, red or even darker colors. Lighters colors are a better choice. I once got my legs totally eaten up by mosquitoes searing black yoga pants, so I believe darker colors attract them. Of course, wearing insect repellent with the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-approved products also helps. Good luck avoiding mosquito bites this season.
Most Common Summer Illnesses and How to Avoid Them
1. Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease is a big one in the summer. Lyme disease is transmitted through tick bites, which are often living in areas with tall grass or the woods. Some common symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache and a bullseye rash. To help avoid getting tick bites, try to avoid areas with tall grass and wooded areas; wear long sleeves and pants outside; use insect repellent; and look for ticks on your skin and remove them if you find them.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is super prevalent in the summer. Just think about it. If you go to a picnic, chances are, that potato salad is going to be left out in the sun a long time. So, beware what you eat at outdoor events. Also, be clean with how you handle food, cook food thoroughly, wash your hands when handling food and don’t have perishable foods unrefrigerated for too long.
Dehydration
Dehydration can really be serous. It sounds like no big deal, but severe dehydration can actually lead to death. Don’t freak out too much, though. Severe dehydration usually happens if you are vomiting or have diarrhea for an extended time. In the summer months, however, being outside in the hot sun for too long and not drinking enough can lead to dehydration. Drink plenty of water. If you’re working out, sports drinks are a good choice, too.
Colds
You don’t just get a cold when it’s cold out. “Some viruses and other bacteria thrive under the extreme heat of the sun, thus increasing your risk of infection,” notes unilab.com.ph. To avoid spreading it, “Always cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze and dispose your tissues in the right receptacle.”
Flu
The flu often ticks up in the winter, but it’s around in the summer, too. Often times, if people are traveling and in close areas, the flu virus can spread. To avoid it, the CDC suggests to get vaccinated, practice good hand hygiene and avoid close contact with sick people.
Getty Images / Paul-Bradbury
Enterovirus
Enterovirus is commonly called the “summer flu.” It can cause fever, coughing, runny nose and nausea. It can also cause a rash, like with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. To prevent it, as always, good hygiene is key.
Getty Images / Dr_Microbe
More tips to avoid getting sick
“Frequent hand washing and avoiding exposure to people who are sick with fever can help prevent the spread of infection,” Dr. Michael Pichichero, a pediatrician and infectious disease researcher at the Rochester General Hospital Research Institute in New York, tells Newsinhealth.nih.gov. Dr. Pichichero adds that the best way to avoid getting sick is to block viral transmission. You can get sick by coming into direct contact with an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as saliva or mucus, so the frequent hand washing really helps. Also, protect yourself from the sun and beware of picnics where food that’s left out in the sun can go bad.
