Tag Archives: germs

Kids and thumbsucking

24 Friday Apr 2020

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Kids who suck their thumbs for years can force their teeth out of alignment. But they’d probably need braces anyway. The good news is: It reduces their risk of developing allergies! That’s from a study of over a‑thousand kids in Pediatrics. Because kids’ fingers are disgustingly germy. And by regularly ingesting those germs in small amounts, kids build up a tolerance to pollen, pet dander, and dust. And kids who suck their thumb AND bite their nails get an even bigger immune-boosting effect!

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If you want to ward off flu germs…

03 Monday Feb 2020

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…hug your loved ones more often! Psychology professor Dr. Thomas Joiner from Florida State University says, in studies, people who do the most hugging are less likely to get sick when exposed to a flu virus. It works because regular physical contact with other humans bolsters the immune system – by challenging it through exposure to other people’s microbes, which makes it stronger. Another reason hugs are a flu fighter? They reduce stress, which makes us more resistant to infections. So get hugging!

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There’s an upside to thumb sucking:

06 Friday Dec 2019

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Sure, it can make your kid’s teeth crooked. But they’d probably need braces anyway. In the meantime, it’ll boost their immunity and cut their chances of developing allergies! A study of over a‑thousand kids in the journal Pediatrics found those who sucked their thumbs for years were less likely to develop allergies as they grew. Because kids’ fingers are gross germ factories! But by ingesting germs in small amounts over time, they built a tolerance to things like pollen, pet dander, and dust. And if kids are thumb-suckers AND nail-biters, they get an even bigger immunity boost!

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Wipe down those machines at the gym the right way!

06 Wednesday Nov 2019

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So you bring a towel to the gym and use it to wipe down machines before you use them. Well, if it’s a plain ol’ cotton towel, it’s not doing much good! Microbiologists from the University of Arizona found that a cotton towel just moves MRSA from one spot to another. It hitchhikes on your towel. And if you use it to wipe off sweat, too, you’re transferring the bacteria to your skin. A better bet is to bring a microfiber towel to the gym. It’s less likely to transfer germs and bacteria from one surface to the next because the tighter weave traps germs in the fibers. Just make sure you toss it in a hot-water wash after every gym visit.

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Now that your kids are back in school…

03 Tuesday Sep 2019

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…they’ll be bringing home more than homework. They’ll also be bringing home the germs and viruses they pick up their friends. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, there’s a spike in illnesses among kids every Fall. So, remind your kids to wash their hands frequently. Research shows that kids who wash their hands at least four times a day at school end up being absent fewer days.

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We know our hands are covered in germs.

22 Thursday Aug 2019

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But do most people wash up before eating? Not even close. Only 1‑in‑8 people do, even though our hands carry hundreds of times more germs than a park bench or escalator handrail. And that means the germs already on our hands are more likely to make us sick than any germy thing we touch in a restaurant. So don’t worry so much about the bacteria-riddled menu or the ketchup bottle that hasn’t been cleaned, ever. Instead, before you pick up that burger, ask yourself, did I wash my hands? Since our hands are in constant contact with our mouth – or what we put IN our mouth – it makes them the fastest route to illness.

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Don’t get sick from your next flight!

19 Monday Aug 2019

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Here are a couple important numbers to remember the next time you fly, according to a new study from Auburn University:

First, the number 7. That’s how many days the superbug MRSA can survive in an airplane seat pocket. In other words: Think twice about using that pocket to store snacks and drinks.

Also, remember the number 3. That’s how many days bacteria like e.Coli can survive on tray tables.

The lesson? It’s time to start adding some antibacterial wipes to your carry-on bag.

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Here are a few gross facts about swimming pools…

13 Tuesday Aug 2019

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…from the Water Quality and Health Council.

First: 1‑in‑five adults admit to peeing in the pool.

Also, nearly 70% of swimmers don’t shower before swimming. That just adds to the germ soup already in the pool.

Then, if your eyes are turning red, get out of that pool! It’s NOT a reaction to chlorine, because the only thing that causes pool red-eye is bodily fluids and waste.

Finally, a chemically, chlorine smell doesn’t mean there’s too much chlorine in the pool – it means there’s not enough – and what IS in there is reacting with waste matter.

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We all have a de-germing, sanitizing device in our homes:

11 Tuesday Jun 2019

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The microwave. That’s according to microbiologist Dr. Kelly Reynolds. She says the heat a microwave generates can kill germs. So try it on these things:

Your kitchen hand towel. Dr. Reynolds says get it completely wet. Wring it out as best you can. Then zap it in the microwave on high for 2 minutes.

You can also sanitize your toothbrush.

Place it in a cup of water, bristles down, and heat on high for 5 minutes. Just keep an eye out to make sure it doesn’t melt.

Lastly, you can use your microwave to clean a wooden cutting board. Soak it completely in water for a few minutes. Then put it in the microwave for 4 minutes on high.

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If you’re planning to spend a week at the beach, ask yourself:

13 Monday May 2019

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…is your beach towel a bacteria bomb that needs washing every day? No! Dr. Mehmet Oz says it’s OK to use the same towel for several days running – IF you hang it in direct sunlight to dry. The sun’s UV rays will kill 90% of the germs, leaving bacteria levels too low to make you sick. But, if the towel’s still damp the next day – toss it in the dryer. Because with moisture, bacteria can multiply 100-fold after each use.

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