FitSugar

Bad News For DEET Users

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:00:47 -0700

With all the rain many areas in the US have been getting this Summer, mosquitoes are out of control. Bug sprays that contain DEET are just about the only thing guaranteed to repel those buggers, but a new study may make you think twice before spraying it all over your body. In scientific experiments on insects, DEET was found to interfere with proper functioning of the central nervous system. The researchers say that testing on humans is urgently needed, since more than 200 million people use products containing DEET. Oddly enough, there hasn't been a lot of research on the effects of this chemical on humans, but if it affects the nervous systems of bugs, it can't be too healthy for us.

Although the EPA has said in the past that if used as directed, bug sprays containing DEET are not harmful to humans, does this new study change your mind?

Does Eating Garlic Keep Away Mosquitoes?

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:30:20 -0700

"If you think you're too small to make a difference, you've never been in bed with a mosquito."

The buzzing of a mosquito can interfere with your sleep and the bites can ruin camping trips and barbecues. If you avoid chemicals found in DEET or other bug sprays, you may be looking for a more natural way to repel skeeters. You may have heard that eating garlic can do the trick. Find out if it's true.

You Asked: Why Do I Get Bit by Mosquitos More?

FitSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

"Hey Fit. I've noticed that mosquitoes are really attracted to me. If I go hiking with my friends, they'll walk out of the woods itch free and I'll wind up with at least 10 mosquito bites. I just assumed I had sweet blood, but there's got to be something more. Any ideas?"
-Sweet Sara

I feel your pain, or rather itch. The same thing happens to me, almost to the point that bug spray doesn't even seem to detract the pesky bites. I did a little research on WebMD so read more to find out what I learned.

It all is a matter, once again, of genetics. Here's why:

"People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin surface attract mosquitoes," Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida, tells WebMD. That doesn't necessarily mean that mosquitoes prey on people with higher overall levels of cholesterol, Butler explains. These people simply may be more efficient at processing cholesterol, the byproducts of which remain on the skin's surface."

Apparently along with cholesterol and steroids on your skin, mosquitoes are also attracted to certain acids (lactic acids, uric acids, etc.), heat, and carbon dioxide - which can all increase with activity like volleyball or hiking. So if you're moving around and exercising outdoors then you become a prime target for the little buggers before they land on your skin. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot you can do if the bugs bite you more than anyone else you know, but loading up on the insect repellent can help. WebMD also suggests keeping activity to a minimum when outdoors, but you can probably guess how I feel about that . . .

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Mosquitoes Prefer Fitness Freaks?

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I now know why I attract mosquitoes, and my dear husband does not. It has nothing to do with "taste." Mosquitoes bite people that are easiest to find. The insects hone in on their victims through signals people emit that are scent and heat related. Body temperature, the amount of carbon monoxide in the breath, and certain skin chemicals like lactic acid all help mosquitoes locate their next meal. All three of those factors are increased with exercise, making you more vulnerable to bites during and immediately after exercise. Simply put, I exercise more than my husband and I have the bites to prove it. I am not tastier, just hotter literally and probably more stinky, at least to the mosquitoes.

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You Asked: Do I Need to Worry About West Nile Virus?

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering.

Dear Fit,
I am a magnet for mosquitoes and a friend said I better watch out for West Nile Virus. Is she right? Is this another disease I need to worry about?
-Bitten, Itchy, and Paranoid

I have been hearing about West Nile Virus (WNV) more and more. It is an illness spread by infected mosquitoes with most cases reported in the Summer and early Fall when infected mosquitoes are more likely to be actively biting us. About 80 percent of people infected with WNV will experience no symptoms (that's good news), but 20 percent will come down with mild symptoms that are similar to a cold - headache, fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes develop a skin rash. The symptoms usually pass after a few days but can linger for up to a few weeks. There are a few unlucky people – one out of every 150 – who develop more severe symptoms, like: high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, muscle weakness, convulsions, vision loss, numbness, and possibly coma.

If you've been bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms appear within three to 14 days. There's no specific treatment for WNV, as it usually runs its course and subsides on its own. If symptoms are serious, a trip to the hospital may be in order.

If you're wondering how to protect yourself from contracting WNV then read more.

Unfortunately, the more time you spend outside, the more you are at risk for becoming a meal for an infected mosquito. You can't live inside forever though, so do what you can to avoid getting bit.

Wear long sleeves and pants in areas that are crowded with these buggers to prevent bites.
Use bug spray especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Look for ones that contain EPA-recommended ingredients such as DEET, picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 (ethyl ester). Be sure to read the bottle carefully and use them as directed.
Since mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, be sure to dump out any water that might have collected in flowerpots, buckets, or barrels. Also, clean out your pet's water dish daily and bird baths weekly.
Make sure the windows and doors where you live or work are either closed or have screens on them.

Fit's Tips: If you think you may be coming down with a serious case of WNV, contact your doctor to see what they recommend.

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Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch When You Scratch Them?

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:30:00 -0700

'Tis the season for mosquitoes and annoying bug bites. If you love to play outside, trail run, hike, or camp, it's inevitable that you'll get your fair share of bites. They're just so itchy, and it seems that when you scratch them, the more they itch.

When the female mosquito stabs her needle-like proboscis into your skin to suck out your blood, she injects you with her saliva. This is filled with digestive enzymes and anticoagulants, and it helps her drink more quickly. Your body reacts to the saliva by producing histamine. This makes the blood vessels near the bite enlarge, and so a pink, swollen, and itchy bump appears.

Since the bite is so itchy, you can't help but scratch it. The problem is, this irritates the bite, which makes it inflamed, and causes it to itch more. The best thing to do is avoid scratching at all costs. Wash the area with soap and water, and apply an anti-itch cream, like Cortaid. I have found that applying an ice pack helps too.

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Garlic: Does it Repel Mosquitoes

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Darn those little buggers! I went to a BBQ the other night and was getting eaten alive by pesky mosquitoes. Someone at the party said, "Just eat garlic and they won't come near you." Reminds me of vampire folklore.

It's true - mosquitoes and garlic don't mix. If you flavor your food with a lot of garlic or take garlic supplements, the compounds are released from your body through your skin and your breath. Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale, and to certain smells like sweat and the bacteria on our feet. The sulfur in garlic is what's believed to repel those buggers.

There are actually many natural bug repellents that include garlic, but some people's skin can have a bad reaction to it (not to mention there are social side effects to rubbing yourself with garlic - who's going to want to be near you when you smell like that?).

While there is no scientific evidence to back this up, it's worth a shot since garlic is so good for your health anyway.

Fit's Tips: I'd still use DEET-free bug repellents though so you're doubly protected from mosquito bites.

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Protect Yourself From Bugs With Herbal Armor

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Don't let a bunch of nipping mosquitoes keep you from enjoying your evening BBQ.

Here's a 100% DEET-free bug spray called Herbal Armor made by All Terrain. It was clinically tested at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada to be 100% effective at repelling bugs for 2 hours, 95.8% effective for 3 hours, and 77.1% effective for 4 hours. So it's recommended that you apply it every 2-3 hours to stay fully protected against those buggers.

It's made of 6 essential oils recognized by the EPA as bug repellents including Citronella, Soybean, Peppermint, Cedar, Lemongrass, and Geranium. It's water and sweat resistant, and it works! (I speak from experience.)

Even though it has Citronella Oil in it, the other oils mixed in there give it this lovely lemony scent. It's safe to spray on your skin and on your clothes. If you want to protect your face, just spritz some on your hands and rub them on your face, to avoid getting it in your eyes.

If you don't want the 4 oz spray (for $7.99), they also make a 4 oz lotion (for $7.99).

This stuff is safe for your skin, won't damage your clothes, and protects you from mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, flies, ants, black flies and other pesky insects, so bugs beware!

Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch So Much?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:45:00 -0700

How much do you love that the weather has warmed up? It puts me in such a great mood, since I am spending so much time outdoors. I have to say though, those pesky mosquitoes buzzing around, trying to bite me, send me running indoors to safety more often than not!

I don't know what it is about me, but I must have pretty tasty blood because I get eaten alive. What I want to know is why mosquito bites itch so much!

Did you know that it's only female mosquitoes that bite you? They eat mostly nectar, but when it's time to make eggs and lay them, they need to eat protein (aka - your blood). When the mosquito stabs her needle-like mouthparts through the skin of her victim, she injects her saliva, teeming with digestive enzymes and anticoagulants to help her drink more quickly. Your body sees that as an enemy and produces histamine to ward off infection. That little pink bump left on your skin is an allergic reaction to the mosquito's saliva.

Fit's Tips: After you realize that you've been bitten, try with all your might NOT to scratch that annoying itch - it'll only make it itch and swell more. Wash the area with soap and water, then apply calamine lotion, cortisone, or any other anti-itch cream to the infected area. An ice pack may also help.

If you have any other remedies for dealing with itchy mosquito bites, tell me below.

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B Vitamins and Mosquitoes

FitSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I try to eat a healthy balanced diet all the time, so I know I get all the vitamins and minerals I need without having to take supplements. Recently, I heard the suggestion that getting extra B vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine), deters bugs and mosquitoes. This idea made me hopeful, but I approached it with a healthy dose of skepticism.

While getting enough B vitamins is great for your health, I'm sorry to say that mosquitoes will still find you just as tasty, even if you up your dosage. One thing to think about is that B vitamins are water soluble. This means that they are not stored in the body and must be taken every day. Even if you take extra, your body can only handle a certain amount, so you'll just end up peeing it out, which won't deter mosquitoes and other pesky bugs.

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