These 3 Mistakes Can Render Hand Sanitizer Ineffective

The use of hand sanitizer has increased greatly in recent months, as it is the best way to keep our hands clean on the go when soap and water are not readily available. Keeping the hands clean is key in the protection against the novel coronavirus, and having a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer is great. However, squirting some on your hands and giving them a quick wipe may not be enough. For the sanitizer to be as effective as possible, it is important to make sure it’s up to the CDC standard (contains at least 60% alcohol), isn’t expired, and that you avoid the following mistakes when using it.

1. Not using enough

According to the CDC, the proper amount of hand sanitizer should cover the entire surface of your hands. Not putting enough sanitizer on your palm is the most common mistake people make. If you’re worried about using too much, you can rest assured it doesn’t hold any risks. According to health experts, using too much is better than using too little. Make sure you get both sides of your fingertips, between the fingers and the outsides of your thumbs. For your convenience, there is an infographic with the proper instructions at the bottom of the page.

2. Not waiting for the sanitizer to dry

The time that the sanitizer is on your hands before it dries is the time it’s working to inactivate certain bacteria and viruses. The CDC says you should rub your hands together for about 20 seconds until they feel dry. If you don’t do so, you can end up wiping the sanitizer off on something you touch, and thus prevent it from doing its job and render it ineffective.

3. You rely solely on hand sanitizer

As mentioned earlier, hand sanitizer is a great resource when water and soap are inaccessible. If possible, washing your hands is proven to be the most effective way to annihilate germs. Moreover, if there is grease or dirt on your hands from handling food or playing sports, for example, hand sanitizer simply will not do the trick. “If there is dirt covering part of your hand, hand sanitizer cannot really effectively get to the surface of your hand,” said a Dr. “People think hand sanitizer is a reasonable replacement for washing your hands, but it definitely is not”.

Recognize that using hand sanitizer properly is an effective way to slow the potential spread of the coronavirus, but it should not be the only preventative measure you are taking.

Step by step guide to applying hand sanitizer correctly:

 
This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Are antibacterial soaps better than regular soaps? We tell you

The coronavirus pandemic has everyone washing their hands and covering their faces with a tissue paper as they sneeze and cough. Sadly, it is something we should all have been practising even without a looming fear of falling prey to COVID19 - as handwashing is the most effective way to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. As the hand sanitizers and toilet papers continue to fly off the shelves, people have also begun stocking the good, old soap.

When you shop for soaps and handwash, you must have noticed that there is a variety of soaps. Some fancy ones claim of providing with enough moisture to make your skin as soft as rose petals, while the others boast of antibacterial properties. While we cannot vouch for the claims of either, it is the latter which is problematic.

​What do the antibacterial soaps contain?
Your typical antibacterial soap is said to be more effective in getting rid of the germs and keeping you and your family safe. While the most common antibacterial ingredient in these soaps is said to be triclosan, some may also contain alcohol, benzalkonium chloride and other antibacterial agents. As a result, there is no dearth of people who gravitate towards antibacterial soaps and handwash in a quest to keep the virus and bacteria at bay.
​
Is there any difference between the regular soap and the antibacterial soap?
The antibacterial soaps and handwashes seem like good options when it comes to lowering the risk of getting sick, spreading germs and getting infected. However, there is a catch. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is “no evidence” that these antibacterial soaps are more effective than the regular ones. Yes, to date there has been no intensive study or research which can prove the benefits of antibacterial soaps and that they do a better job at keeping the germs and microbes away.

Besides the effectiveness of the antimicrobial soaps, the FDA was also concerned whether or not the chemicals and the ingredients present in the soaps were fit for daily use over a long period of time. When manufacturers couldn’t prove either, FDA issued a final rule deeming these ingredients in antibacterial soaps unsafe.

The soap story
The statement read, “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, we, or the Agency) is issuing this final rule establishing that certain active ingredients used in over-the-counter (OTC) consumer antiseptic products intended for use with water (referred to throughout this document as consumer antiseptic washes) are not generally recognized as safe and effective (GRAS/GRAE) and are misbranded”

Another important factor to be noted that both antibacterial and regular soaps are most effective when warm water is used to build a lather. So, why should we choose a costlier alternative?
 
​The takeaway
While using antibacterial soap may provide you with peace of mind, the golden rule still remains the same i.e. you have to wash your hands thoroughly for at least 30 seconds to get rid of the dirt, grime and germs. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Coronavirus prevention: Safety tips for kidney patients

The coronavirus pandemic that is currently ravaging the globe is especially risky for the elderly and also for people with underlying health conditions. In fact, according to Dr. Ravi Shekhar Jha, HOD and Senior Consultant, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, COVID-19 does not affect only the lungs. It may affect your kidneys too. According to him, the virus sneaks into your system through your mouth and nose via the hands. The novel coronavirus can survive on various surfaces, which is why you need to practice the safety measures diligently. But if you are a kidney patient, you need to take a few extra precautions. Many experts, after studying cases in China and South Korea, also say that coronavirus infection can cause protein leakage in urine in about 30-40 per cent of patients and Acute Kidney Injury in 15-20 per cent of patients. They also say that patients with chronic kidney disease are more prone to infection and kidney damage. This also holds true for kidney transplant patients.

Let us see how patients with kidney problems can keep themselves safe for coronavirus infection.


Stay hydrated

This will help your kidneys deal with the virus properly. Another Advantage of sipping water is that if you sip water, you may swallow these viruses into your gut and prevent them from getting into your lungs. The human stomach has an acidic ph. which destroys bacteria and viruses.

Include vitamin C to your diet

Make sure that your diet contains enough vitamin C. You can add more citrus fruits to your diet. If this is not possible, take supplements.

Follow a healthy diet

A high protein diet will help your body produce the antibodies needed to fight off invading pathogens. This will also help your kidneys. Include natural foods rich in probiotics and antioxidants like yoghurt, ginger, turmeric, cabbage. This will improve immunity and help you fight off infections like the coronavirus.

Wash hands properly

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. This will get rid of pathogens and germs from your hands. You can also use an alcohol-based sanitizer in case you don’t have access to soap and water.

Practice Social distancing

Avoid meeting people and keep away from crowds. Always maintain a safe distance if you have to go out or meet people. This will keep you safe.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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5 Ways to Manage Your Anxiety During the Coronavirus Outbreak

It’s borderline impossible to do anything right now without hearing the word "coronavirus." Social media's buzzing with mentions of COVID-19; news sites can't keep up with the ever-developing updates; even stores and online retailers are running out of household items like bleach wipes and hand sanitizer.

The developing panic is real, especially when the only news being disseminated seems to be coronavirus news. And for people who already struggle with anxiety disorders, the daily reminders and updates about coronavirus sweeping the globe is only adding insult to injury.

Of course, coronavirus fears aren't entirely unfounded: According to Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 tracker, more than 511,000 people worldwide have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, including more than 76,000 in the US. More than half of the states in the nation are now experiencing community-spread, meaning people in an area are developing the illness, even though they don't know how or where, says the CDC.

While the CDC insists that your overall risk of contracting COVID-19 is low, that information alone is enough to trigger anxiety. But it turns out, what makes the coronavirus so anxiety-inducing is what we don't know about it, Gail Saltz, M.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and host of the upcoming Personology podcast, tells Health. "Unfortunately, COVID-19 is exactly the type of thing that increases anxiety disproportionately in terms of its actual danger," she says. "This is because it’s new, therefore history with it is not there, making it feel more unknown and uncertain."

And given its newness, there are constant updates about the virus in the news—something that can make it feel extra threatening, says Saltz. "It is also invisible, which frightens people more than visible things…if you don’t know where and how you may get it, then it feels even less in your control,” she adds.

All of that's to say, of course, that anxiety surrounding the coronavirus outbreak is understandable, and while you can't control how the outbreak will pan out in the US, you can control how you react to it, while keeping yourself as safe as possible. Here are a few things you can do to keep your anxiety in check during the coronavirus outbreak.

1. Assess your own personal risk for contracting the coronavirus.

You can take a proactive role in your health (and anxiety levels) by figuring out your own personal risk for developing coronavirus. That means determining whether there have been confirmed or presumptive positive cases of the virus in your community, whether you've been exposed to anyone who's been ill recently, and whether you have immune issues or breathing problems that could put you at risk of complications if you were to contract the virus, Alicia H. Clark, PsyD, psychologist and author of Hack Your Anxiety, tells Health.

Those steps aren't to make you even more anxious, but rather, give you a sense of control over your health and susceptibility to the illness. "This analysis of learned information and how it applies to you is important because it puts you in control," says Clark. “You aren’t just a passive recipient of scary information, but an active participant in judging what you’re learning."

2. Try to limit your coronavirus news consumption.

It's true: You should at least be aware that coronavirus is currently an issue, and know where it's showing up in relation to you. However, there is such a thing as too much news, and constantly reading coronavirus update stories isn't going to help your anxiety levels. "Limit your overall news intake to once every day or so if you find yourself triggered by news, and limit your attention to only reputable news sources," says Clark. "The more you expose yourself to a scary topic over which you feel limited control, the more you will feel anxious."

If you're unsure about which news sources are truly reputable, you're likely safest sticking to large, national, trustworthy media brands—newspapers like The New York Times and the Washington Post, and online outlets including CNN and NBC News are all constantly updating their coronavirus content, while the CDC refreshes their COVID-19 Situation Summary daily. As far as keeping track of possible outbreaks in your own region goes, stick to your trusted local news stations or newspapers, which are likely getting all of their information from other reputable sources.

3. Realize that it's totally OK to be worried about the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus is scary and it’s OK to realize that. “Recognize that your anxiety is normal, but resist inflaming it,” Clark says. Stressing out over the fact that you’re stressed over coronavirus will only make your anxiety worse, she says.

Also important: If someone gives you grief for being anxious about coronavirus, it’s perfectly OK to call them out on it, Ken Yeager, PhD, a psychiatrist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Health. “Respond with, ‘Well, what are you doing to be prepared?’” he says. If they still insist on minimizing your fears, try to brush them off. “You can ignore them or not make it bigger than it needs to be,” says Yeager.

4. Follow the correct preventive methods to protect against the coronavirus.

If you find yourself feeling panicked each time you see a stranger wearing a face mask in public, remember this: The general public truly won't benefit from wearing face masks (yes, even those N95 respiratory masks—and even less so from surgical masks). The CDC does, however, recommend that people do the following to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and other respiratory viruses:

    Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
    Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
    Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. (If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.)

Doing all of those things can help you feel more in control of the situation, Yeager says, which can help ease your anxiety.

5. Remind yourself that you're doing the best you can in this situation.

If you find yourself starting to get worked up over the virus in any given moment, Yeager recommends doing a “grounding technique” to calm down. That involves looking around you, recognizing when you’re in a safe space, like your home, and reminding yourself that you’re doing the best you can. “Know that you’re keeping your home clean and remind yourself that the coronavirus is not in a lot of states now,” he says.

If that doesn’t work, try to think about something that’s in front of you, like noticing a bird flying outside your window or how your desk at work feels beneath your hands. These can serve as good distractions to help break up the negative chain of anxious thinking.

If, despite trying these tips to help quell your coronavirus anxiety, you still feel overwhelmed with anxiety or that your coronavirus fears are interfering with your ability to go about your daily life, Saltz says it’s not a bad idea to talk to a mental health professional. “Some therapy can make a big difference in managing anxiety about all kinds of things, including the coronavirus,” she says.

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using  the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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