Carnival & Your Health

When we think of carnival, we think freedom, fun, music and endless island culinary favorites. Carnival has become an international phenomenon with people worldwide traveling to participate in this West Indian festival. Regardless of location, during any carnival, the weather is almost always a scorcher. People eat, drink and dance to the sweet, pulsating rhythms and sounds of soca music during the hottest periods of the day. Trinidad carnival launches the season of carnivals around the world. The season begins for revelers in February or early March and ends in October with Miami’s Carnival.

Protect your carnival experience with good healthy, common sense tips.

Drink fluids in anticipation of your carnival experience. Although sorrel and mauby will give temporary hydration advantage, nothing takes the place of good old-fashioned water. Fluid intake is essential to preventing dehydration and complications resulting from this process. During excessive heat, the body loses water through various means, the most noticeable is sweat. Other means of water loss include breathing, urination, and defecation. Dehydration occurs when the amount of water leaving the body is greater than the amount being taken in.

Although it may seem difficult, one should try to limit the amount of alcohol consumption in warm climates. Its inebriating (the state of being drunk) and dehydration effects are exacerbated in the heat. Alcohol interferes with balance, coordination and judgment. These effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat. Instead, drink at least 16 ounces of non-alcoholic fluid each hour. Avoid liquids that contain large amounts of sugar since sugar can exacerbate or speed up the dehydration process.

Another obvious precaution is to avoid direct exposure to the sun. Take any opportunity to rest in shady or covered areas. Lightheadedness, confusion, weakness, or difficulty breathing may be signs of dehydration and should prompt immediate cessation of activity.

Be aware of foods available for purchase. Use your observational skills, if the vendor station looks unsanitary, it likely is. Don't eat from vendors who don't use gloves or from vendors who use their bare hands to prepare food. The lack of running water makes consumption of roadside food dangerous since the vendor’s access to hand washing is often compromised and curtailed.

Carnival is no fun when the actions we take threaten our health and well being. See you in Washington DC, Toronto, or Miami!

(Asante Dickson, M.D. is a contributor to Island Vibes Magazine and writes about wellness. For comments, please feel free to contact him at drdickson@islandvibesmag.com.)

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