Can You Get Sick Again From Your Own Germs
What started with a few sniffles and a sneeze from someone who crossed your path could unleash mayhem, leading to days or weeks of missed work, medico visits, and canceled social events. It goes without maxim that no 1 likes to get sick, and in that location are some germ-ridden situations you merely can't avoid, such as having a child in daycare or sitting on a plane side by side to a traveler who's hacking the whole time. But you tin avoid certain situations that make yous more vulnerable to catching the common common cold, influenza, and other illnesses.
Using an ATM
"ATMs are hotbeds for germs and viruses," says Jock Lawrason, Medico, pulmonary medicine physician at Nantucket Cottage Hospital in Massachusetts. Watch a popular ATM for 15 minutes, and yous'll see the number of people who touch the buttons. If any of those people were recently ill, they can laissez passer on their germs for cold and flu for weeks afterward. "The influenza virus, for example, can stay on an inanimate object for one to ii days, and strep pneumonia can concluding anywhere from two to iii and a one-half weeks," Dr. Lawrason says. "The longer objects are touched without being done, the higher the gamble of someone getting sick," he said. But y'all can take some precautions. "You should be conscious to wash your hands afterwards using them," said Dr. Lawrason, and "keeping hand sanitizer around would be the all-time style to ensure the germs are killed immediately after exposure."
Touching Your Own Stuff
You may exist cautious about touching a grocery cart at the supermarket to avoid a instance of the sniffles, simply you may exist more than likely to get ill from your own things. "People are susceptible to germs that can make them sick everywhere and from everything," says Alexander Tomich, RN, MSN, manager of infection control at Loyola University Health Arrangement, in Maywood, Ill. "Your prison cell phone, car keys, purse or briefcase, gym pocketbook, kids' backpacks, money, and your pets are all germ-infested," he says. Not to mention the germs on your own skin — the more than 200 different cold viruses can live on you lot for a few hours.
Existence in Crowds
Want to avoid flu or that stomach bug going effectually? Avoid crowded places. "Large gatherings of people will always raise a person's chances of getting sick," Lawrason says. "The exposure to flu and other viruses is greater, and shaking a lot of easily or being near someone who is sneezing or coughing will heighten your odds of becoming ill." Viruses like cold and flu are particularly likely to run through offices and daycares because many people are gathered at that place, interacting with one another, but they're not the just germy congregating spots. Grocery stores, hotels, and the gym are also specially germ-infested, Lawrason says.
Staying Indoors in the Wintertime
On the flip side, you can't hole up at habitation all the time either to dodge the sniffles or influenza. Contrary to popular belief, it's non being outside in cold weather without a coat that makes you more likely to catch cold and flu — information technology'southward being bundled up inside. "Illness tends to be seasonal, and people are more likely to become sick when the seasons change," Lawrason says. "For example, influenza tends to strike during the winter months." The reason people are more vulnerable to viruses such as cold and influenza in the wintertime? "People are generally cooped upwards together indoors in an enclosed infinite trying to go along warm, which increases their chances of spreading germs and getting ill," he explains.
Pond or Using a Hot Tub
If you lot think the chlorine and chemicals in pools and hot tubs volition kill everything, think again. Fecal thing tin can make its way into pools and hot tubs, making bathers ill. "In general, bacteria and germs can hands be transmitted around water, so avoid hot tubs and pools if you don't want to go sick," Lawrason says.
Right Later on Being Sick
Talk nigh a double whammy! Yous're more likely to get an affliction after just being sick. "We have cilia lining in our respiratory systems, which are tissues that can control what goes in and out of our bodies," Lawrason says. When you're ill, the cilia can be temporarily damaged or weakened, which allows new bacteria or viruses like cold and influenza to enter. "Furthermore, illness in general can temporarily lower amnesty, creating a better adventure of getting ill after the torso has already been ill," he says.
Neglecting Your Health When You're Well
Don't take your immunity to cold and influenza for granted. "Eating healthfully to maintain a good immune organization, drinking lots of h2o, not drinking also much alcohol, and sleeping appropriately are all common sense ways to avoid getting sick," Tomich says. "It's also very of import to stay up on your immunizations and get an influenza shot during flu flavor. Vaccinations salvage lives."
Not Beingness Mindful of the Germs
It may audio like common sense, but in the hustle and bustle of busy life, it's easy to forget the nigh effective ways to avert getting ill. "Washing your hands is extremely important considering the hands are the most mutual vehicle for transmitting illnesses," Lawrason says. "Hand wipes and bacteria hand sanitizers can as well keep germs and bacteria that can brand you sick off your easily." Just how you use it is of import: If your hand sanitizer dries on your hands in less than 20 seconds, you're not using enough of it to go along from getting sick. "And finally, if y'all yourself are sick, try to avoid public places to forestall others from condign ill," he says.
Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/cold-flu-pictures/unexpected-times-you-could-get-sick.aspx
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