Seasonal Health
Seasonal changes affect a range of health conditions. The information on this page shows how to manage these seasonal changes for better health outcomes.
Cold Weather
Viral Illnesses (Influenza/Flu/Cold)
The best way to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year. Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, including types A and B.
Seasonal Mood Disorders (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that has a cyclical pattern. It happens at the same time each year. Most people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) experience symptoms that start in the fall and last through the winter months. The symptoms often leave the person feeling tired and low in spirits. Symptoms often get better during the spring and summer months. SAD can sometimes cause depression in the spring or early summer, but it usually ends after the fall or winter months.
Medications, psychotherapy, and light therapy (phototherapy) can help treat SAD. If you have symptoms of SAD, please call your healthcare provider.
Radon Testing
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. It is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water. In outdoor environments, radon levels are very low and generally not considered harmful. However it can get into homes or buildings through small cracks or holes and build up to higher levels. Over time, breathing in high radon levels can cause lung cancer. The good news is that this is preventable.
Warm Weather
Air Quality
Air quality has improved, but many challenges remain. Particles in the air like dust, dirt, soot, and smoke can play a role in causing health issues such as asthma attacks; eye, nose, and throat irritation; heart attacks and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Water Quality
The water quality at Lighthouse Point Park, the only public beach within the City of New Haven, is monitored throughout the summer bathing season (Memorial Day – Labor Day). We work with the State of CT Department of Public Health Laboratory in Rocky Hill during this time to collect samples twice a week (Mondays and Wednesdays) for analysis.
Allergies
Airborne allergens like pollen can affect our health. The amount and type of allergen in the air depends on the season and geographic region. In New Haven ragweed, outdoor mold, and pollen are the most common. If allergens affect you and your family, be sure to take preventative measures and limit time outside.
Heat Exhaustion
High temperatures can be dangerous for your health, especially for the elderly, young children and people who work outside. When temperatures reach 80-90 degrees you should take preventative measures to prevent illness.
Skin Protection
Spending time outdoors is a great way to stay physically active, reduce stress, and get vitamin D. Protecting your skin from the sun’s UV rays is important all year round, and the UV Index forecasts the strength of UV rays each day. If the UV index is 3 or higher, take steps to protect your skin from too much exposure to the sun.
- Sun Safety
- Live UV Index Forecast (New Haven)
- The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer
Tick Bites, Lyme Disease & Mosquito-borne Illnesses
Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, grasslands and coastal areas. When a human is bitten by an infected tick, they can contract Lyme disease. Though Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, symptoms may remain even after treatment.
Asthma & Pneumonia
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. Certain asthma triggers can cause an asthma attack or repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine, avoiding triggers, and removing triggers in your environment.
Health Observances
January
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Cervical Cancer | National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
National Stalking Awareness Month
Stalking: Know it. Name it. Stop it. | Intimate Partner Violence
National Birth Defects Awareness Month
Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities | National Birth Defects Awareness Month
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Sex Trafficking, Sexual Violence, and Violence Prevention | Human Trafficking
National Folic Acid Awareness Week (First Week)
Folic Acid | Folic Acid & You
February
International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
10 Tips for Preventing Infections Before and During Pregnancy
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
Dating Matters | Youth Violence Prevention
American Heart Month
Women and Heart Disease | Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women | The Heart Truth | Million Hearts | Assessing Cardiovascular Risk
National Wear Red Day (February 3)
National Wear Red Day | The Heart Truth | Million Hearts
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Last Week)
Eating Disorders | Feeding Hope
March
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
Endometriosis | Reproductive Health
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal Cancer Tests Save Lives
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10)
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
April
STI Awareness Month
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month
Sexual Violence
Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Keep an Eye on Your Vision Health | Eye Safety at Work
Black Maternal Health Week (2nd to Last Week)
Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality
National Infertility Awareness Week (Last Week)
Infertility FAQs | Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
May
American Stroke Month
National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program | Stroke Information | WISEWOMAN Program
Lupus Awareness Month
Lupus in Women | Be Fierce. Take Control.
National Arthritis Awareness Month
Arthritis
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
Osteoporosis
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
About Teen Pregnancy
Preeclampsia Awareness Month
High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy | Pregnancy Complications
National Women’s Health Week (2nd to Last Week)
National Women’s Health Week
National Women’s Check-Up Day (May 8)
Regular Checkups
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (May 12)
Fibromyalgia
Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28)
Menstrual Hygiene Day
World No Tobacco Day (May 31)
World No Tobacco Day | Smokefree Women | Tips From Former Smokers® Campaign | Tobacco Use and Pregnancy | Commit to Quit CT
June
Diabetes Awareness Month
American Diabetes Association
Scleroderma Awareness Month
Scleroderma
National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Congenital CMV Infection
National Men’s Health Week (2nd Week)
National Men’s Health Week
National Women’s Health & Fitness Day (June 27)
Women’s Health | Physical Activity
July
International Group B Strep Awareness Month
Group B Strep (GBS)
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Prioritizing Minority Mental Health | National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
August
National Breastfeeding Month
Breastfeeding
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month | Vaccines/Immunizations | Maternal Vaccines: Part of Healthy Pregnancy
World Breastfeeding Week (First Week)
Breastfeeding
September
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer | Gynecologic Cancers
Healthy Aging Month
National Institute on Aging | Healthy Brain Initiative | Depression is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older
National Preparedness Month
Reproductive Health in Emergency Preparedness and Response | Emergency Preparedness and Response | New Haven Emergency Preparedness
National Sexual Health Awareness Month
Sexual Health
National Sickle Cell Month
Learn More About Sickle Cell Disease
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Month
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) | Reproductive Health | Common Reproductive Health Concerns for Women
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Childhood Overweight and Obesity | Progress on Childhood Obesity
National Suicide Prevention Week (Second Week)
Suicide Prevention | National Helpline | Suicide: Prevention Strategies
Falls Prevention Week (Second to Last Week)
STEADI – Older Adult Fall Prevention | Older Adult Falls
World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)
Suicide Prevention | National Helpline | Suicide: Prevention Strategies
National Women’s Health and Fitness Day™ (September 28)
Physical Activity for All Women | WISEWOMAN
World Heart Day
Women and Heart Disease | Prevent Heart Disease | WISEWOMAN | Million Hearts®
October
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness | National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Intimate Partner Violence | Prevent Domestic Violence in Your Community
Health Literacy Month
Health Literacy
Mental Illness Awareness Week (First Week)
Learn About Mental Health | Tobacco Use Among Adults with Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
Bone and Joint Health National Action Week (Third Week)
Osteoporosis
National Depression Screening Day (October 10)
Mental Health | Depression Among Women | Depression During and After Pregnancy | Diabetes and Depression in Older Women (Podcast) | Diabetes, Distress, and Depression (Podcast)
World Mental Health Day (October 10)
Mental Health | Aging and Mental Health | Improving Cancer Survivors’ Mental Health
International Day of the Girl (October 11)
International Day of the Girl | Elevating the Health of Girls, Worldwide
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13)
Breast Cancer Awareness | National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
National Mammography Day (October 20)
What Is a Mammogram and When Should I Get One?
November
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness | Basic Information About Lung Cancer
National Family Caregivers Month
Care Plans Help Both Older Adults and Caregivers | Families with Special Needs: Caregiving Tips | Caregiving for Person with Alzheimer’s Disease or a related Dementia
American Diabetes Month
Diabetes | Prediabetes | Diabetes and Women | Diabetes and Pregnancy
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging | Minorities and Women Are at Greater Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
Great American Smokeout (November 11)
How to Quit
National Family Health History Day (November 23)
Family Health History
December
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Substance Use | Impaired Driving
National Handwashing Awareness Week (Second Week)
Handwashing
World AIDS Day (December 1)
World AIDS Day | HIV Among Women | HIV and Pregnant Women, Infants, and Children | HIV and Transgender People