Sharing moments Young adults Bye bye Hotel Mum How you feel at home Semester abroad Language course abroad or work as an au pair? Be prepared Grassrooted The world’s calling Make an impression Planning a family Tracking fertility The right time? How men can help Fertility and diet Medical check-up What you need to know about ovulation What to do if you don’t conceive straight away Three electronic fertility and cycle trackers in comparison Pregnancy Examinations during pregnancy Diet and nutrition Is my pregnancy progressing normally? Tips for daily life Important points for travel and holidays Is my pregnancy progressing normally? What items do I need for my baby? Where and how do I want to give birth? What do I need to pack for the hospital? How should I prepare my home for my child? Is my pregnancy progressing normally? How can I best prepare for my baby? How can I best prepare for the birth? Nutrition Parent-child relationship Preparing for breastfeeding | Sanitas Magazine Insurance Stretch marks Sleep Rupture of membranes Baby blues High-risk pregnancy Braxton Hicks & false labour Formalitites Morning sickness Our baby Bathing baby – what you need to know How babies hear Infant first-aid kit Baby care Is my baby developing normally? Month-to-month overview of baby development Is my baby developing normally? Month-to-month overview of baby development Baby care Celebrating and enjoyment Christmas and New Year’s Eve with a twist A philosophical take on pleasure Pleasure can also be found in the soup kitchen in Zurich Tips for a peaceful and stress-free Christmas Living better with cardiac insufficiency Alejandro Iglesias Hana Disch Patrizio Orlando Other countries Hay fever Everyday help In pursuit of happiness Seven tips for a happier daily life Kids in lockdown Be active Active during pregnancy Sport and exercise during pregnancy Antenatal exercise classes Standing properly Healthy eating Green smoothies Vitamin D Good eggs, bad eggs Diet plan Healthy fats Feed your muscles How much sugar should we eat a day? How much fat should we eat a day? Lactose intolerance Healthy diet, strong immune system Low Carb Healthy heart Interview with Christophe Wyss Heart-friendly sports How the mind affects the heart Taking blood pressure correctly High blood pressure: what you need to know Changing habits Interview Stortpsychologie 10-step guide to changing habits Try, try, try again Running coaching Running ABC Race in Sarnen Factors affecting condition Weekly planner Running shoes Strengthening exercises Running nutrition Complementary sport Warm-up Stretching Functional clothing Fitness tracker Shopping – sportswear Running tips for women Relaxation technique Recovery New lease of life thanks to Sanitas running coaching Running training The first half marathon Training and heart rate Running Ticks Sport after childbirth Postnatal exercise Taking the strain off your shoulders Kangatraining Workout while walking Expert tips Stress and relaxation Moving air Fight stress with yoga What is stress Learn how to relax Dealing with stress What is burnout? “The first step was to create boundaries” Juggling family and a career Reduce stress Stressor factors The most beautiful Swiss saunas Sweating in the sauna Trend sports Fitness boxing Slackline Bouldering Fascia training Stand Up Paddling Keeping fit efficiently Swing with a smile! Vertical workout Hiking Altitude sickness Seven stroller-friendly hikes Needed: a hiking-friendly pushchair There goes the other sole! Tips on hiking with a baby Mountain lakes Planning a family: Fertility and exercise Stair climbing Pumptrack Your back Kids’ back Back exercises Sitting properly at work Forest fun Playing for life Promoting health and fitness Motivation Sledging Curling glossary What do you get if you cross a kite with snow? Snowshoeing Preventing falls Inline skating Swimming Swimming Wings for Life Stretching Bike tips Stretching exercises for cyclists koerper-und-kaelte Healthy teeth thanks to dental hygiene and preventive care Putting wishes into practice Tips for healthy teeth Hometraining Investigating teeth-related myths 10 tips to ease anxiety Hand care Living together today Digital life Online addiction Digital temptation Children and digital media Smartphone neck Our brains love habit Change my habits? You’re joking! Planning a family: Difficulties trying to have a baby Planning a family: Myth vs fact Solidarity study Newcomers Living together tomorrow Digital nomads Giesserei multi-generation house The blind film director Help instead of rent Working on the move Medical practices of the future Our skin – layer by layer Generational discussion: wishes for life Hausarzt und Corona Safe return to work Corona crisis: singing together Corona crisis: Working in intensive care Corona crisis: working in a nursing home Rest and recovery: learning from children Corona crisis: voluntary work for the needy Developments for the future App check Aqualert SRC blood donor Codecheck Forest Freedom Freeletics Moment Sleep Better PeakFinder Findery Six fitness apps reviewed Internet use High-tech trousers Prostheses Hospital of the future New skin for burns victims Online-Therapien Sanitas newsletter
Dossier: Running training

Beware of ticks

Between the months of March and October these pesky parasites are a real plague for runners jogging in the woods and crossing meadows. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid getting bitten.

Ticks love any kind of warmth and humidity, in particular sweat, which is why runners should take some extra precautions when running outdoors:

  • Run in the middle of paths to avoid contact with grass and twigs.
  • Wear long-sleeved tops, knee socks or full-length trousers when running in the woods.
  • Choose bright colours – ticks are easier to spot on a bright background.
  • Use a tick spray

If you’ve been jogging in the woods or have crossed a meadow, check your body for ticks after your shower. These mini bloodsuckers are particularly attracted to your lower legs and thighs, hollows of your knees, groin, inside of your elbows, armpits and genital area. 

How dangerous are tick bites?

How dangerous are tick bites? Medgate, the leading telemedicine centre in Switzerland, says: Now the days are warm, ticks are more active again. You should take precautions to prevent tick bites, because they can transmit diseases. Two common infections in Switzerland are:

  • • TBE (tick-borne encephalitis), a viral infection with flu-like symptoms that can cause inflammation of the brain
  • • Borreliosis, a bacterial infection that can affect the skin, nerves, meninges, spinal cord, joints and heart

How to significantly reduce the chance of being bitten:

  • • wear long-sleeved tops, full-length trousers and closed shoes.
  • • Children in particular should also cover their head and neck.
  • • You should also apply an insect repellent that is effective against ticks.
  • • After spending time outdoors, check your whole body for ticks, particularly your head, neck, armpits, groin, pubic area and behind the knees.

Remove the tick quickly.

In Switzerland, around 1% of ticks carry the TBE virus and between 5% and 30% (in some places up to 50%) borreliosis. There is therefore quite a high risk of falling ill, and quick action is essential. The faster a tick is removed, the lower the risk of transmission.

Use tweezers or a tick card to carefully remove the whole tick without applying liquid (e.g. oil or alcohol) beforehand. Observe the bite area over the next few days. If the skin reddens or you have headaches, sore joints or flu-like symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.

A vaccination in three doses is available against TBE. It is recommended for people who live in high-risk areas. You have the first two vaccinations a month apart and the third five to twelve months later.