How to avoid the struggles of summer

The warmer months bring many joys, but it's not all sunshine, beer gardens, and barbecues.

For many, the start of summer ushers in annoying and difficult health-related issues that can really put a dampener on sunny celebrations.

We've put together five of the most common summer blights and explain how your local pharmacist can help...

Picture this...

You wake up, it's a beautiful morning, the sun is shining, everything is good. That is, until you realise you left the window open overnight.

Right on time, the sneezing begins, your eyes begin to itch, and the days of an unblocked nose seem like a distant memory.

Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. It's estimated that there are more than 10 million people with hay fever in England.

You can get it at any age, although it usually begins in childhood or during the teenage years. The condition is usually worse when the pollen count is high, between March and September.

Lincolnshire Co-op's Superintendent Pharmacist Chris Kenny says: "Hay fever varies among individuals, and it can be affected by where you live."

Our pharmacists can help with symptom control and prevention.

Chris says: "Localised knowledge is key - we can discuss your needs and create a personalised plan."

Unfortunately, if you want to enjoy the great outdoors, you've got to put up with the bugs. Sorry, we don't make the rules.

And although you may do your best to avoid them, those pesky mosquitos have absolutely no regard for personal boundaries and will be ready to make a meal out of you at the first opportunity.

Avoid becoming the dish of the day by speaking to your local pharmacist about our range of insect repellents. If the bugs pip you to the post, our pharmacy teams can recommend treatments for any itchy or sore bites.

For those of us lucky enough to be travelling further afield, our pharmacists can also advise on any vaccinations you might need before travel and how to arrange these.

With holidays back on the cards, many of us are packing our bags ready to head off on well-deserved breaks.

But whether you're travelling by land, sea, or air, you could fall victim to motion sickness...not the best way to kick off your trip!

Our pharmacists can help you prevent and treat this common sickness.

"We have options that include non-drug treatments, such as travel bands," says Chris. "Tell us your plans and we'll support you to get the best out of the summer."

We all know that a gloriously sunny day in the UK is rare. So it's easy to get carried away when you see a promising weather forecast.

Without the proper sun protection, you can end up with scorched shoulders and a bright red nose from sun burn.

It’s easy to underestimate your exposure to the sun when outside, as the redness doesn’t usually develop for several hours.

While sun burn is often short-lived and mild, it's important to try to avoid it, because it can increase your chances of developing serious health problems in later life.

Don't end up red in the face! Speak to your local pharmacist for recommendations of good sun protection and aftercare for sun burn.

Although your mate Dave might look like he knows what he's doing with a pair of tongs, barbecues bring out the amateur chefs who might not be able to tell 'rare' from 'raw.'

During the hot summer months, the chances of food poisoning increase because bacteria multiply faster in warmer temperatures, and preparing food outdoors makes safe food handling more difficult.

If you're unlucky enough to fall victim to food poisoning, our pharmacists are able to provide advice on the best way to look after yourself and offer treatments that can help with rehydration, for example.

If you need advice from our expert pharmacists, find your nearest Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacy here.