COVID-19: Surfaces Don’t Need To Be Disinfected As Often

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic began, we've all been following the safety advice of infectious disease experts in an attempt to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the virus. While masking up and maintaining hand hygiene remain as important as last year, experts now say that we can lighten up by cleaning hard surfaces in our home. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently revealed that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, doesn’t appear to live as long on surfaces as was initially suspected. “Based on available epidemiological data and studies of environmental transmission factors, surface transmission is not the main route by which SARS-CoV-2 spreads, and the risk is considered to be low,” the CDC wrote in their findings.

What do these findings mean?

This is great news, and it means that the risk of surface transmission remains low (although still feasible) in most settings. So, we can all relax a little on sanitizing surfaces and disinfecting items like groceries, countertops, and door handles. Ever since the pandemic began, most of us have been spending a lot of time and energy on disinfecting every part of the house. While being cautious is important, going overboard doesn't serve any purpose. 

 

“Disinfection is only recommended in indoor settings, schools, and homes where there has been a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 24 hours,” says the CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. So, unless any of these categories fit your case, you can ease up on disinfecting every part of your house every day.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you should lower your guard completely. We should and must continue to be vigilant against the coronavirus and try and maintain all hygiene practices. Even if you lighten up on cleaning all the surfaces of your home, you should continue practicing hand hygiene. 

 

Hand washing is still the best way to eliminate any possible chance of contamination from surfaces. So, wash your hands with soap and water frequently, and use hand sanitizer gels and wipes when out in public. Also, avoid touching common surfaces when you are out, and refrain from putting your fingers in your mouth or rubbing your eyes.

What items should you continue cleaning?

While the recent study shows us that the risk of COVID-19 transmission through contaminated surfaces is low, experts recommend that high-traffic areas in the home should still be cleaned once a day; particularly if you have several family members in your house. Businesspersons and those who work in office environments should be particular about sanitizing high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, handles, stair rails, elevator buttons, desks, keyboards, shopping carts, phones, and sinks.

You don’t need to invest in a disinfectant spray to clean these surfaces. Using soap and water or dish detergent, without disinfecting them, is sufficient enough to kill the virus when you have no people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in your living space. 

 

“Cleaning with products containing soap or detergent reduces germs on surfaces by removing contaminants and may also weaken or damage some of the virus particles, which decreases the risk of infection from surfaces,” the CDC has said recently. 

 

These little findings, as the pandemic continues to rage on, will not just help reduce our stress a little, but they will also help us make our way back to a normal life.

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

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Antibacterial soaps may do more harm than good

We all try to buy the best soap/hand wash to keep ourselves and our family free from germs. And when the cold and flu season revs up, we become even more cautious and might opt for antibacterial soaps to keep ourselves flu-free. 

But turns out, the antibacterial soap is not any better than the regular soap and might even contain harmful chemicals. This is why the food and drug association has made it a rule that would require the manufacturers to give data showing the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial soaps.
What does the antibacterial label mean?
If the product is labelled as antibacterial, it means it has a specific agent that can kill bacteria. This chemical in most cases is triclosan also called triclocarban. Experts say all soaps kill germs and not only the ones with these ingredients as soaps are already antibacterial and do not need anything extra. The additional antimicrobial substance in the soap can do more harm than good. 

The Food and Drug Administration requires the antibacterial soap making company to prove that these soaps are safe and better. As per the FDA, experts warn about the potential risk these harmful chemicals in your antibacterial soap.
The study
The lab study have found that these chemicals work as endocrine disruptors (interrupt with the way your hormones work) and can lead to antibiotic resistance. The study was done on mice and there is no clear evidence about the effect on humans.
Bottom line
Switch to normal soaps that do not have any anti-bacterial chemicals. Many labels won’t mention antibacterial but triclosan or triclocarban, be careful to and do not buy these products. 

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement     

10 Everyday Habits That Can Undermine Your Health

Sometimes, we want to make our lives easier by breaking certain unwritten rules. What harm would it cause if you skipped just one dentist’s appointment, after all?

At other times, we make certain choices that, as we sincerely believe, are better for our health, but really aren’t. For example, the majority of the population in developed countries take dietary supplements. It may surprise you to find out that, contrary to popular belief, taking supplements you don’t need can affect your health.

For a detailed explanation of how these 2 and 8 other everyday habits could potentially make you sick, continue reading.

1. Touching Your Face

People often fail to notice when they rub their eyes or scratch their chin, especially when they’re too preoccupied with work or some other activity. In fact, most people don’t even suspect that this seemingly-harmless and very intuitive habit can actually make them sick.

Doctors point out that, in most cases, viruses get into our bodies through the mouth and nose, and we’re the ones introducing them to our bodies. By rubbing your nose and eyes, or by biting your nails you are letting the bacteria and viruses migrate into your body, especially when you’re in a public space.

Apart from introducing the flu and other infections, touching your face can cause acne, as well as worsen already-existing acne by spreading it to other areas of your skin. So, be mindful, notice when and where you’re touching your face and avoid it whenever possible.

2. Taking Vitamins & Supplements That You Don’t Need

It is common sense that depriving your body of essential vitamins and other nutrients is a terrible idea, but did you know that having too much of the good stuff can also make you sick? Because most people's diets are already so rich in nutrients, we can easily overdo it by adding even more vitamins and other supplements to our diet. 

The fat-soluble vitamins are usually more likely to cause adverse symptoms when taken in excess, as they are more difficult to filter out of the organism. If you take too much vitamin D, for example, it can manifest the following symptoms: vomiting, weakness, frequent urination, bone pain and kidney problems.

Water-soluble vitamins can also cause adverse effects. If you consume more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C in a day, for example, it can lead to heartburn, vomiting, headaches and insomnia. Finally, watch out for possible interactions of over-the-counter supplements with other medications you are taking, and never decide to take a supplement without consulting with your doctor.

3. Not Introducing Good Hygiene Habits When Interacting With Your Pet

Cuddling and playing with our beloved pets is one of the main reasons why we have them to begin with, but it is important to remember that even a healthy and vaccinated pet can have some potentially-dangerous cooties. We’ll use the example of dogs, but keep in mind that cats, ferrets and birds can also have different contagious diseases that you could catch.

The main culprit in dogs are parasites, like roundworms, hookworms and scabies, all of which can be passed onto you from your pet. Fortunately, you can’t catch the flu from a dog, but infections, such as leptospirosis and salmonella are a potential concern, even though they are less common and can be transferred only through dog urine or feces.

That’s why it is important to wash your hands before and after playing with your pet or handling their toys, litter boxes or bedding.

4. Washing Your Hands With Antibacterial Soap

The disadvantage of most antibacterial agents is that they don’t discriminate against good bacteria, but they majority of bacteria in our body (and on the surface of our skin) are essential for our health. In 2016, the FDA even banned several antibacterial ingredients used in soaps because their investigations showed that these ingredients promoted bacterial resistance and affected people’s endocrine health.

By regularly washing your hands with antibacterial soap, you are wiping out the beneficial microorganisms that live on your skin and protect you from harmful bacteria. In fact, it was estimated that our skin hosts over 500 species of good bacteria, and they are a vital element of our immune defense system.

While it may be beneficial or necessary to wash your hands with an antibacterial soap when your immune system is compromised, or when you know you’re in a contaminated environment, it is crucial not to do so at home, as it can cause frequent colds, the flu, and other infections. Just stick to regular soap and water.

5. Drinking From a Public Water Fountain

Drinking fountains are a known source of contagious viruses and bacteria, since its users, often unknowingly, can contaminate it. Because the problem isn’t with water quality, in most cases, you can still drink from the water fountain by simply avoiding contact or cleaning the tap.

Still, some germs can withstand cleaning, so it’s always the safest choice to carry around your own multi-use water bottle.

 6. Following the 5-Second Rule

For those of you who are lucky not to know that "the five-second rule" is, let us explain first. According to this rule, it is safe to eat fallen food if you picked it up from the floor within 5 seconds because it takes more than 5 seconds for the germs to contaminate your food.

This rule has no scientific basis behind it, and, frankly, it’s just an excuse. By eating food that fell on the floor or any furniture, you may be risking your health.

The truth is that bacteria get on your food the moment it reaches the ground, and there’s nothing you can do about it, so if you want to play safe, just toss the unfortunate ice cream into the trash and satiate your craving with a different treat.

7. Defrosting Food at Room Temperature

If you’re used to defrosting your meat, fish or fruit and vegetables on the kitchen counter, you may want to reconsider this decision. The USDA warns that any perishable foods (foods that spoil fast, both frozen and not, such as meat, dairy, fish, fruit, vegetables, etc.) should not be left to thaw at room temperature, as after the 2 hour mark, as it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

In fact, this process starts at 42°F (5°C) and most pathogens can continue to multiply up to a temperature of 135°F (60°C). So, instead of defrosting your foods on the counter, use the microwave or let it thaw slowly in the fridge.

8. Ignoring Minor Cuts and Scratches

Even the smallest cat scratch, a paper cut or a skinned elbow can become infected. Doctors explain that this is because all of us already have germs on our skin, but the skin barrier prevents them from entering our bodies.

An injury is the chance for the bacteria to get into our bloodstream, so it’s necessary to disinfect each and every minor wound you get. Dry and clean the wound and make sure you’re touching the affected area only with clean hands. Then, bandage the wound and let it heal. If any itching, redness or swelling occurs, get it checked by a doctor.

9. Washing Raw Meat

A surprising discovery I’ve made while writing this article is that by washing raw meat, you are actually increasing the likelihood of getting food poisoning.

Yes, it is true that contaminants may sit on the surface of the meat, but because you’re going to cook it and destroy most of them in the cooking process, you might actually be better off not washing raw meat. When you wash the meat, the bacteria can spread all over your sink, cooking gear and nearby food through water.

That’s why you should have a separate cooking station for meat and the rest of the food, use separate cooking utensils and keep the meat as far away from foods you’re not going to cook. Also, wash your hands thoroughly when you’re switching from handling meat to other foods.

10. Dismissing Oral Health & Hygiene

As we’ve mentioned above, our mouths are, unfortunately, the gateways for infection. The infection doesn’t have to come from the outside, however. Often, poor or inconsistent oral health may worsen certain conditions, or even cause others in various body parts and organs.
For example, heart disease and type-2 diabetes were both linked to gum disease. According to the National Health Service, developing periodontitis, a type of gum disease, can even increase your risk of stroke. Furthermore, certain dental procedures can even cause endocarditis, a type of infection of the inner heart lining, in immunocompromised patients. So, don’t skip dentist’s appointments and have a steady schedule of brushing and flossing your teeth.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                         FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Quick And Effective Home Remedies

Some excellent tips will teach you how to make the most out of your kitchen when you’re feeling sick.

1. Horseradish

To ease stiff muscles, make a paste from a cup of oil and a tablespoon of horseradish, then massage it into the sore spot.

2. Vinegar

Bruises can be faded quickly by soaking a piece of cotton wool in vinegar and applying it to the bruised area for about an hour.

3. Mouthwash

To prevent popped blisters from getting infected, soak them in alcoholic mouthwash, and then wrap them in a Bandaid.

4. Olive oil 

Eczema bothering you? Massage the area with olive oil. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants that fight the effects of eczema.

5. Soap

If your dog has fleas, a simple bath with water and some dish soap will get rid of them.

6. Glue

Got a splinter you can’t pull out? Pour some school glue on it. Once the glue dries, peel it off and watch as the splinter comes out with it too.

7. Honey and vinegar

You can make an easy sore throat medicine by mixing equal amounts of honey and vinegar and swallowing a spoonful six times a day.

8. Honey

Painful zit? Dab some honey on it and cover with a Band-Aid. The honey disinfects the skin, helping it heal faster.

9. Licorice sticks 

If the soles of your feet are very calloused, you can grind 2-3 licorice sticks, mix them with half a teaspoon of Vaseline, and then rub into the soles.

 

10. Oatmeal 

To ease arthritis pain, mix two cups of oatmeal with a cup of water, warm up for a minute in the microwave, allow the oats to cool down, then apply to the sore joints.

11. Extra-strong mints

If you’re suffering from a congested nose, you can get extra-strong mints instead of a spray that’s full of chemicals. Mint has powerful decongestive properties.
 

12. Baking soda 

To effectively fight a urinary infection, drink a cup of water with a tablespoon of baking soda (or Alka-Seltzer). The infection needs an acidic environment to thrive, and the solution is a base, making your bladder inhospitable to the bacteria.

13. Listerine

Suffering from an infected toenail or fungus? Soak your feet in a bath of classic Listerine (or other such mouthwash), diluted with a little water.

14. Tomato paste 

Infected zits and sores can be treated with a compress of tomato paste. The tomatoes’ acidity helps kill the infection and heal the area.

15. Corn oil 

If your cat is suffering from ear mites, gently rub corn oil into the cat’s inner ear. The oil soothes the skin while suffocating the mites.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                        https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com