As I write this, I have a box of Kleenex next to my computer…..yes, I seem to have come down with the proverbial holiday season cold. I haven’t had one in a couple of years, so I guess I’m due. And, of course, like everyone else, I just spent much of the Thanksgiving holiday indoors, socializing with people, some of whom who were probably carrying viruses. The main reason our immune systems are more vulnerable in the colder months is that we’re indoors more with greater exposure to germs and the carriers of those viruses – namely each other. We’re also more likely to party this time of year, with ample occasions for handshakes, hugs and kisses - offering germs as well as holiday cheer. While you don’t need to be a Howard Hughes about hygiene, the number one thing you can do to stay well this winter is to WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.
How many people wash their hands every time they should and are there gender differences? Researchers wanted to know so they asked men and women whether or not they wash their hands when using a restroom. While 92% of men and 97% of women said yes, when the researchers secretly observed the subjects, they discovered that only 58% of the men and 75% of the women actually washed their hands! So what does this tell us? (That perhaps we’re a nation full of dirty-handed liars?) Actually, it suggests that many more of us aren’t just picking up germs – we’re also spreading them.
So, other than after using the restroom, when is it critical to wash your hands?
- before preparing food
- before eating
- after blowing your nose or covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze
- after shaking someone’s hand
- before touching a cut on your skin
- after touching any bodily fluid
- before/after touching or caring for a sick family member or friend
While it’s not necessary to wash with anti-bacterial soap, you should wash with some form of disinfectant. Better yet, carry with you a pocket-size hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol and a moisturizing agent such as Aloe Vera to prevent dry, chapped hands. (Applying lotion after sanitizing your hands only makes them even better magnets to collect bacteria).
If you need another incentive to carry a hand sanitizer, researchers from the Children’s Hospital in Boston looked at 292 families for five months and found that those who used hand sanitizers – properly – had 58% fewer stomach viruses than those who didn’t. When using portable sanitizers, squirt enough gel into your hands to make them damp and then rub them together for 15 seconds.
Additional Tips
Some of the most popular places for bacteria to colonize are the handles of shopping carts, money and the steering wheel in your car. All the more reason to carry a pocket-size hand sanitizer with you when you’re out in public and keep one in your car.
After washing and drying your hands in a public restroom grab an extra paper towel to use to open the door when exiting (or pull the sleeve of your clothing over your hand). Finally, don’t forget to launder regularly gloves and mittens you wear. They can also become a storehouse of germs.
Next time I’ll talk about foods that can boost your immune system. In the meantime…
Be Well (and Stay Well!)….Achoo!
-Carolyn
As I write this, I have a box of Kleenex next to my computer…..yes, I seem to have come down with the proverbial holiday season cold. I haven’t had one in a couple of years, so I guess I’m due. And, of course, like everyone else, I just spent much of the Thanksgiving holiday indoors, socializing with people, some of whom who were probably carrying viruses. The main reason our immune systems are more vulnerable in the colder months is that we’re indoors more with greater exposure to germs and the carriers of those viruses – namely each other. We’re also more likely to party this time of year, with ample occasions for handshakes, hugs and kisses - offering germs as well as holiday cheer. While you don’t need to be a Howard Hughes about hygiene, the number one thing you can do to stay well this winter is to WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.
How many people wash their hands every time they should and are there gender differences? Researchers wanted to know so they asked men and women whether or not they wash their hands when using a restroom. While 92% of men and 97% of women said yes, when the researchers secretly observed the subjects, they discovered that only 58% of the men and 75% of the women actually washed their hands! So what does this tell us? (That perhaps we’re a nation full of dirty-handed liars?) Actually, it suggests that many more of us aren’t just picking up germs – we’re also spreading them.
So, other than after using the restroom, when is it critical to wash your hands?
- before preparing food
- before eating
- after blowing your nose or covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze
- after shaking someone’s hand
- before touching a cut on your skin
- after touching any bodily fluid
- before/after touching or caring for a sick family member or friend
While it’s not necessary to wash with anti-bacterial soap, you should wash with some form of disinfectant. Better yet, carry with you a pocket-size hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol and a moisturizing agent such as Aloe Vera to prevent dry, chapped hands. (Applying lotion after sanitizing your hands only makes them even better magnets to collect bacteria).
If you need another incentive to carry a hand sanitizer, researchers from the Children’s Hospital in Boston looked at 292 families for five months and found that those who used hand sanitizers – properly – had 58% fewer stomach viruses than those who didn’t. When using portable sanitizers, squirt enough gel into your hands to make them damp and then rub them together for 15 seconds.
Additional Tips
Some of the most popular places for bacteria to colonize are the handles of shopping carts, money and the steering wheel in your car. All the more reason to carry a pocket-size hand sanitizer with you when you’re out in public and keep one in your car.
After washing and drying your hands in a public restroom grab an extra paper towel to use to open the door when exiting (or pull the sleeve of your clothing over your hand). Finally, don’t forget to launder regularly gloves and mittens you wear. They can also become a storehouse of germs.
Next time I’ll talk about foods that can boost your immune system. In the meantime…
Be Well (and Stay Well!)….Achoo!
-Carolyn