Living in the desert raises unique health issues. Understanding how to safely live in the desert climate is important for Arizonans. One major desert health risk is sun exposure. Excessive sun exposure can lead to dangerous sunburns, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, premature aging, and skin cancer. It is important that desert dwellers use sunblock, drink plenty of water, wear loose long-sleeved clothing when outside for prolonged periods of time, and avoid the sun during the hottest parts of the day. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are all dangerous possibilities in the desert. Those who must be outside during the hottest part of the day should take care to drink plenty of water and avoid the sun as much as possible. Each year, such heat illnesses claim the lives of many Mexicans who are unprepared for the desert heat as they try to cross the border into Arizona.
The most popular way for Arizonans to cool off from the desert heat is to go swimming. However, in 2004, 97 people died in Arizona from accidental drowning and submersion. The highest drowning rate (4.4 out of 100,000) in Arizona is for children ages 0-4. The drowning rate for all ages is 1.8. The drowning rate in Arizona has always been higher than the national rate, sometimes almost double.1 To help prevent drowning, state fencing requirements around pools have been instituted.2 Meeting the requirements is an essential contribution to keeping pools safe.
Bites and stings are also of concern to Arizona dwellers. Desert creatures such as bees, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, Gila Monsters, the Arizona coral snake, and rattlesnakes pose threats to humans as well as pets. Knowing what to do in case of being stung or bitten is very important. For this reason, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center provides “accessible poison and medication-related emergency treatment advice, referral assistance and comprehensive information on poisons and toxins, poison prevention and the safe and proper use of medications.”3 In 2006, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center received 6,000 calls regarding bites and stings. While most bites and stings can be treated at home, snake bites necessitate immediate professional medical treatment.
Valley Fever is a respiratory disease caused by the fungus Coccidioidomycosis and has a higher prevalence in Arizona and other southwestern states. The fungus grows in soils that are exposed to high summer temperatures, mild winter temperatures, and little rain fall. Wind, farming, and construction that disturbs the soil cause the fungi to become airborne and breathable. Infection is most prevalent during June through July and October through November.4 Anyone traveling through Arizona is susceptible to the infection. The chance of infection is 3% a year, increasing with the amount of time spent in the area.5 Common symptoms include fatigue, cough, chest pain, fever, rash, headache, and achy joints. Less than 1% of Valley Fever infections are fatal.6 Valley Fever skin tests identify prior exposure to the infection but are not very useful in identifying the presence of a current infection.7 Most Valley Fever cases require no treatment, though severe cases require medical intervention and sometimes hospitalization.8
Many people believe that moving to Arizona will help alleviate allergies and asthma due to Arizona’s dry climate. Depending on the severity of the asthma and the type of allergies, Arizona’s dry climate may or may not be a beneficial change. Those considering trying the dry climate should also consider that Arizona itself has many allergens, especially during the spring when the wildflowers and desert bloom. These allergens are mostly the result of introduced plant species not native to Arizona. As a result, allergic rhinitis occurs in 35% of the Arizona population.
Nevertheless, desert living can be a beautiful and enjoyable experience during much of the year. Although it can get very hot in the summer, Arizona’s mean average daily temperature is under 70 degrees Fahrenheit.9 In spite of Arizona’s vast desert topography, we also have an extremely wide array of climates, foliage, and wildlife. A day’s drive can take you from the spectacular beauty of the Grand Canyon, to forests with ski-resorts, to desert, and finally to the Mexican border. Our unusually sunny and hospitable climate is a wonderful place to live and provides ample opportunities for healthy outdoor recreations such as biking, boating, bird watching, walking, running, river rafting, hiking, hunting, swimming, and yes, even snow skiing!
For further information, click on the following topics: Child Health; Bites and Stings; Infectious Diseases; or Poisoning.
