health-radio-header

Bug Off: How to Prevent Insect Bites this Summer

From the Show: Health Radio
Summary: What are the dangers of being bitten by bugs during the summer months?
Air Date: 7/8/15
Duration: 10
Host: Melanie Cole, MS
Guest Bio: Clifford Bassett, MD
cliffDr. Clifford Bassett, is an adult and pediatric allergy and asthma specialist, and Founder and Medical Director of Allergy and Asthma Care of NY.

He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and is on the teaching faculty of the NYU School of Medicine as well as the Weill Cornell University Medical College.

US News and World Report has consistently honored Dr. Bassett with a position on the National Top Doctor list, which includes those whom Castle Connolly has determined to be in the top 10 percent of the region's physicians as well as by Who's Who Honors Edition. Additionally, Dr. Bassett was recently selected by Castle Connolly as one of New York's "Top Doctors" in the 8th Annual New York Magazine "Best Doctors Issue" released in June 2015.

He has authored scientific articles and chapters in such esteemed journals as the Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Annals of Pediatrics and Chest.

Additionally, Dr. Bassett has contributed to articles on the "allergic epidemic," as well as wide ranging subjects about consumer-friendly wellness topics in the Huffington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes, Men's Health and Women's Health, among others.

He has also been featured across the television media landscape including TV appearances on CNN, MSNBC, CBS This Morning with Charlie Rose, NBC's The Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, FOX News Network, Anderson Cooper 360, Fox and Friends, The Weather Channel with Al Roker and he has been a frequent guest of The Dr. Oz Show, among others.

His focus and goal with his media appearances is to provide practical, impactful advice on a variety of emerging and relevant health and wellness topics.
Bug Off: How to Prevent Insect Bites this Summer
During the hot and humid dog days of summer, do you ever feel like you're a human magnet to bugs?

Mosquitoes, ticks and other insect bites are increasing, and according to researchers, an insect can spot you from 150 feet away.

According to Dr. Clifford Bassett, Medical Director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, there are 400 compounds in your skin that are attractive to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide in breath, sweat, higher body temperature, certain perfumes and scents, and pregnant women because they exhale more carbon dioxide than other people and have more blood circulating through their bodies.

What are the health dangers of bug bites?

Even though you may experience mild symptoms like itching, redness, and swelling, you may also run the risk of West Nile Virus, Chikungunya virus, Lyme disease, and other health illnesses.

What are ways you can prevent insect bites?

Dr. Bassett shares why insect bites can be dangerous and how you can fight them off this summer.