Cedars-Sinai Health Forecast: Stay Safe

In the Cedars-Sinai Health Forecast, distinguished medical experts from across the institution share practical tips for navigating seasonal health challenges and offer critical guidance to help us feel our best.

How to Beat the Heat

Southern California seasons typically progress from hot to hotter. With summer just around the corner, increased outdoor temperatures mean adapting our activities and behaviors to accommodate the risks of warmer weather. One area of particular concern: heat illnesses.

“The name of the game is hydration,” said Piyumika de Silva, MD, an internist and medical director for Primary Care Education at Cedars-Sinai. “When temperatures spike, one of the best things you can do is drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you’re sweating heavily or exercising outdoors, using electrolytes is also a good idea, as well as limiting alcohol and sugary drinks, which act like a diuretic and can accelerate dehydration.”

Symptoms of heat-related illnesses can include dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and fatigue.

“If you start to experience any of those things, you should immediately move to a cool place, hydrate and rest,” de Silva said. “Seek medical care if symptoms worsen.”

Staving Off the Sun

The seasonal rise in temperature is a direct result of more intense exposure to the sun, which can cause a host of other unwelcome issues, such as sunburn, inflammation and even cancer. Comprising about 16% of a person’s mass, the skin is the largest organ in the human body. According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to UV rays is a risk factor for all types of skin cancer.

“UV exposure is one of the most preventable causes of skin damage,” said Logan Ramsey, MD, a Cedars-Sinai primary care doctor located in Beverly Hills. “To combat it, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as safe and effective. They are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and work by sitting on the skin’s surface rather than being absorbed into it.”

There are a wide variety of sunscreens—featuring a broad range of sun protection factors, or SPFs—available on the market, but Ramsey advises his patients not to focus too much on the brands or the numbers.

“Broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of between 30 and 50 is ideal. Higher SPF values don’t necessarily offer better protection and can give people a false sense of security,” he said. “In addition, application is what matters most. Use about an ounce of sunscreen and reapply it every two hours. The best sunscreen is the one you actually use consistently.”

Alleviating Allergies

Spring and summer typically see a big reduction in endemic viruses like flu, but they can drive an increase in respiratory symptoms caused by seasonal allergies. Warmer weather signals trees and plants to start their reproductive cycles and release large amounts of pollen, which can trigger both cutaneous (skin-based) and pulmonary (lung-based) allergic reactions.

“If you’re noticing symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing or itching during the summer months, allergies are likely to be the culprit, and you can treat them with over-the-counter antihistamines,” said Sam Torbati, MD, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and the Levin/Gordon Chair in Emergency Medicine in honor of Joel M. Geiderman, MD.

While most seasonal allergies can be treated with over-the-counter medications, others treatments may be needed for severe symptoms.

May is National Asthma Awareness Month, and for patients with asthma, allergies can cause an increase in asthma symptoms.

“Research shows that 75% of adults aged 20-40 with asthma, 65% of those with asthma aged 55 and older, and up to 90% of children with asthma have at least one allergic trigger—something that can make their asthma worse,” said Lyne Scott, MD, a pediatrician and allergist-immunologist at Cedars-Sinai. “It’s important to have a treatment plan that focuses on allergy treatment and an asthma plan for what to do if asthma symptoms worsen.”

Torbati said a treatment plan might include the use of maintenance therapies, such as inhalers.

“Inhalers that have a bronchodilator and corticosteroids to keep inflammation in the lungs low can be particularly effective,” he said. “Asthma sufferers may also need some rescue therapy with a drug such as albuterol.”

Mitigating the Mosquitos

Another result of hotter summers is a boom in the local mosquito population. This uptick can have potentially disastrous results in the form of mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus. About 20% of West Nile virus cases become symptomatic. Milder versions of the virus can mimic the symptoms of a bad flu—muscle aches, fever, headaches and fatigue—but more severe cases can cause dangerous infections, including meningitis.

“The best way to avoid West Nile and other serious mosquito-borne illnesses is to avoid getting bitten, which means taking preventive measures, such as discarding any standing water—where mosquitos like to breed—as well as wearing long sleeves and using insect repellant,” said John Wear, DO, an internal medicine doctor at Huntington Health, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate. “The old standby is DEET, but it can be caustic and corrosive. Instead, I suggest products with picaridin, which is gentle, effective and safe for infants and adults, including pregnant women.”

Mosquito bites can also lead to skeeter syndrome—large, itchy, swollen welts that appear on the skin and are caused by an inflammatory reaction to proteins in the insects’ saliva.

“Imagine how you typically react to a mosquito bite. Skeeter syndrome is a more severe version of that,” Wear said. “Cold compresses can be helpful in reducing some of the body’s allergic response, and so can over-the-counter antihistamines and topical steroids like hydrocortisone cream.”

LA County Officials Issue Flea-borne Typhus Warning

Mosquitoes aren’t the only pests that need monitoring. Los Angeles County public health authorities have issued an alert about flea-borne typhus, which is currently at an all-time high. The county identified 220 cases in 2025—continuing an upward trend from previous years—and nearly 90% of affected patients have required hospitalization.

The disease is typically transmitted via fleas carried by pets, rodents or stray animals. Symptoms usually develop within one to two weeks and often include headache, fever, rash, and muscle aches or pains.

The good news: Flea-borne typhus is treatable. Early recognition is crucial, as the disease responds well to antibiotics when treated promptly. Medical professionals also recommend an emphasis on prevention, including consistent flea control for pets, avoiding contact with stray animals and minimizing wildlife exposure around the home.

Squashing Summer Stress

Many people are familiar with the “winter blues”—seasonal depression most often associated with shorter, darker days and colder weather. Less well examined are the stress and anxiety that can accompany the summer months, as beaches and barbecues beckon and bodies are more explicitly on display.

“We want to look our best during the summer, as we lounge, swim and play in our shorts and bathing suits,” said Joseph Sleiman, MD, a pediatrician at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s. “This naturally generates worries among many people, who may perceive a gap between how they want to be seen and how they actually appear.”

Sleiman suggested the best approach—summer, fall, winter or spring—is to focus on adhering to a healthy diet and consistent exercise regimen.

“The important thing is to maintain a healthy weight, and I always tell my patients to stick to the numbers: 5 (fruits and vegetables per day), 2 (hours maximum of screen time per day), 1 (hour of exercise per day) and 0 (sugary drinks). If you’re doing that, you’re giving your body what it needs, and you should feel good about how you look,” he said. “For body image issues that lead to more persistent anxiety and depression, I work with patients to find the right resources for effective counseling.”

Have Fun, Be Fastidious

Whether splashing in the water or picnicking on the grass, celebrating summer with food and friends is a time-honored tradition. To maximize outdoor enjoyment, medical professionals recommend keeping a few basic guidelines in mind:

Focus on food safety. “Don’t leave food out for longer than two hours, or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees,” de Silva said. “Always store perishable items in coolers with ice packs and be sure to keep hot and cold foods separate—any interaction can promote bacterial growth. Also, remember to wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food and eating!”

Prioritize personal hygiene. “Gastrointestinal bugs can be prevalent during the summer, and many of those infections are transmitted via the oral/fecal route,” Sleiman said. “Swimming in community pools can accelerate spread, so it’s important to make sure we’re as clean as possible before jumping in. Pink eye is caused by bacteria that can thrive in water, as well, so it’s a good idea to wear googles in the pool—and to stay out of the water if you already have it!”

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