Tag Archives: germs

How can hospitals make sure people wash their hands to prevent the spread of infections?

27 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

wash-hands-hospital-wp

Place a picture of a set of eyes near sinks. According to a study of people entering an intensive care unit, when there was a picture of eyes posted near the sink, people were twice as likely to wash their hands on the way in. That’s because the feeling of being watched makes people behave better and act more honestly. Researchers from Newcastle University in the U.K. say our brains are wired to lock in on faces and facial features. And we’re quick to tune into the feeling of someone watching us – and when they are, we automatically adjust our behavior.

Follow me on Facebook

On your next flight…

07 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

airplane-tray-table-wp

…you may want to leave that tray table in the upright and locked position. That’s because disease-causing germs like MRSA and E. coli can linger on airplane armrests, window shades, tray tables, and toilet handles for days, according to scientists from Auburn University. Plus, contact with those pathogens could lead to antibiotic resistant infections and a gut bug that can cause kidney failure. And that’s not an exaggeration… the MRSA found on a cloth seatback pocket lasted 168 hours — which is a week… and the E. coli on an airplane armrest hung around for 4 days. So wash your hands frequently when you’re flying, and don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth until you do.

Follow me on Facebook

To avoid a cold or the flu – do this!

23 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

wash-hands-germs-wp

You know that one of the most important things you can do to avoid catching a cold or the flu is to wash your hands frequently. The problem is, most people concentrate on washing their palms – when it’s the fingertips that really matter. Dr. Neil Schachter is a respiratory specialist at Mount Sinai Medical Center. And he says our fingertips are more likely to come into contact with germy surfaces – and we’re most likely to stick a fingertip in our mouth, nose or eyes, the main entry points for germs. So when you wash your hands, make sure you focus on those fingertips!

Follow me on Facebook

If there’s a loofah in your shower, toss it.

05 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

loofah-wp

Because it’s a germophobe’s nightmare. Here’s how bad it is, according to dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. She says, with every use, you’re transferring the bacteria from your skin to the loofah. And because the scrubber has so many nooks and crannies, your dead skin cells get trapped, and bacteria starts multiplying, thanks to the moisture and a lack of air circulation. That means, every time you scrub with a loofah, you’re just spreading around the bacteria you washed off yesterday.
Plus, scrubbing too hard can literally make tiny scratches in your skin, forcing the bacteria through the wounds, which can make you sick or give you an infection. If you can’t give up your loofah – make sure you use a natural one… and sanitize it the same way you would your kitchen sponge. Zap it in the microwave while it’s wet for 20 seconds once a day.

Follow me on Facebook

Tissue germs!

30 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

sick-blow-your-nose-wp

If you’re sick – and you’ve been using the same tissue to blow your nose all morning – is that a problem? Well, according to Dr. Wendy Bennett, an internist from Johns Hopkins, that ratty tissue won’t hurt you – but it could hurt those around you. Because each time you touch the tissue, you’re touching your germy mucus – and wherever your hands land afterward will be contaminated with your virus. So grab a new tissue. Or sneeze into your elbow, since that’s less likely to touch other surfaces or people.

Follow me on Facebook

This is how germs are spread!

22 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

cough-sneeze-sing-wp

We know that coughing and sneezing spreads germs. Now, researchers say, so do singing, whistling and laughing!

Virologists at Singapore’s National University Hospital say singing produces an even stronger, “more penetrating plume of infection” than coughing. How do they know? Because the researchers used a gigantic mirror and high-speed camera to watch the splatter of saliva… and they figured out exactly how far those flu droplets flew when someone was singing!

So what’s the point of this research? Researchers can apply it to how far apart hospital beds need to be to prevent airborne infection. But for us, we should steer clear of strangers who are whistling on their way to work – and maybe avoid close contact with singers on karaoke night! Keep a minimum distance of 20 feet… and know that viral droplets can stay suspended in the air for up to 10 minutes.

Follow me on Facebook

Worried about germs?

09 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

dirty-cards-wp

Start cleaning your debit and credit cards! Because they’re constantly being touched by cashiers, and shoved into card readers and ATMs… picking up tons of germs along the way. So, what’s the best way to clean your credit cards? Grab some disinfecting wipes, clean them thoroughly – then let them dry completely before putting them back into your wallet.

Follow me on Facebook

Traveling and no hand-sanitizer?

01 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

travel-mouthwash-5.1.18-wp

If you’re traveling and don’t have any hand-sanitizer – an antiseptic mouthwash can sub for it in a pinch. So if you have one of those mini-travel-size bottles, just put a few drops on your hands and rub them together. The alcohol in the mouthwash will kill bacteria just like hand sanitizer.

Follow me on Facebook

Toothpaste tip!

04 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

cap-on-toothpaste-wp

It’s okay to leave the cap off the toothpaste.
In fact, it’s better! According to the Daily Dentist Dose blog, putting the cap back on your toothpaste is detrimental. Because the moisture trapped in the cap encourages bacterial growth.

Follow me on Facebook

There’s a reason your face is breaking out.

14 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Intelligence for Your Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

pimples-winter-wp

It’s Winter. Dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur says acne gets worse in Winter – and it’s down to the dry weather. She says cold outside air has significantly less moisture than the warm or hot air from Spring and Summer. Combine that with windy conditions, and your skin is stripped of natural fats and oils. Those oils usually act as a barrier, keeping bacteria out – and holding moisture in. So without them, it’s a lot easier for dirt, pollution and bacteria to access our pores. The next thing you know: Hello, zits! Another problem in winter are the hot showers we love. They also strip skin of its natural moisture. Add to all of that a dirty scarf rubbing against your chin – and it’s a recipe for skin flare-ups. So wash your scarf once a week, try to take lukewarm showers, and moisturize your skin more in winter than any other season to avoid breakouts.

Follow me on Facebook