It’s amazing how basic lifestyle changes can save a person from a lot of trouble healthwise. Infectious diseases are a major scourge around the world and are becoming increasingly easy to pick up.
To stay safe from infectious diseases which are literally flying around in every environment, it is important to imbibe healthy habits during daily activities. When a person incorporates healthy habits, from the simpler ones to the more demanding ones, they are less likely to pick up infections and more likely to live more productive lives.
Hand hygiene
With the hand, a lot of infections are picked up. It is thus important to maintain high hand hygiene. Hand washing is a healthy habit which should be incorporated into daily activities. More specifically, it is important to wash one’s hand after specific occurrences or visits. Situations, where it is necessary to wash one’s hands, include after visiting the restroom, before and after touching food, after visiting someone that is ill and playing with a pet. Hand sanitizers also disinfect the hands and keep infectious diseases at bay.
Nose and mouth hygiene
Microorganisms from one’s nose and mouth could be spread and cause infections if one does not adopt good health hygiene. When a person sneezes or coughs, microorganisms in their mouth and nose can travel as far as 3 meters. Thus, when sneezing or coughing, it is important to cover one’s nose and mouth. Covering one’s nose and mouth with the elbow rather than the hand is preferable. When the hand is used, the organisms could be spread faster since a lot of persons make contact with one’s hand.
Coughing and sneezing into one’s elbow is only preferred when there is no handkerchief or tissue paper. Remember to dispose of handkerchiefs and tissue papers after use.
Food hygiene
When foods are not properly prepared, they could become sources of infectious microorganisms. Serious infectious diseases such as meningitis can be picked up from food. Before handling food, it is important to wash one’s hand with soap and water. It is also important to cook foods and rinse fruits and vegetables appropriately.
Foods should also not be left uncovered. When cooking, the separation of cooked foods from uncooked foods can help to prevent cross-transmission of infectious microorganisms.
Vaccination
Vaccines are some of the best inventions of science helping humans to combat infectious diseases. Vaccines build up the immune system against certain infectious diseases and thus prevents the infections. Some vaccines are given specifically during childhood. Parents and guardians should ensure that their wards participate in all recommended vaccinations. Adults should also ensure their safety by partaking in necessary vaccinations. Pets are also very much part of households and could be sources of infectious microorganisms; their vaccination is thus as important as that of their owners. Before making trips to new areas, regions or countries, it is important to find out the infectious diseases one could pick up and take appropriate vaccinations.
With the right preventive measures incorporated into daily activities, the frequency of picking up an infection can be reduced drastically.
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