It's that season again ... the dreaded cold and flu season. I am no doctor, I'm just a mom of three kids, but I am so sick and tired of hearing the same warnings year after year; "You better button up, you're gonna catch the flu," or "Throw away your toothbrush, if you keep it you'll get sick again," or my all-time favorite, "Here, here, use this." *Squirts a ton of Germ-X or Purell or whatever name brand hand sanitizer there is within arms reach*
First of all, being cold won't make you catch the flu. Yes, being cold may lower or weaken your immune system which could then leave you susceptible to bacterias, but if you're that cold you've got more serious things to worry about. Being outside for 15 minutes in the cold without a jacket won't lower your body temperature that much! Plus, the flu virus is airborne; so wearing a coat outside won't protect you if your friend with the flu virus is coughing in your vicinity without covering his-or-her face. You then might want to ask me, well if being cold isn't the reason you'll catch the flu, then why does everyone seem to get sick in the winter? Well, that's kind of easy to answer (again, not a doctor here; just using a little common sense to answer, and research to back my statement up); aside from the Polar Bear Club members who thrive in the cold months outdoors (you wouldn't catch me running in a bikini in 95 degree weather, let alone 30 below!), people tend to stay indoors during the winter months. They go to places like the Mall, movie theaters, and gyms. There are more chances of catching something while indoors and in close proximity, than outdoors. This is why I tell my kids to go outside and run a few laps in the snow. They have a grand old time, and they feel a heck-of-a-lot better than they would sitting on their rears watching television or reading. Even in the winter you can find me with a book, on my porch, sitting in my favorite white wicker rocker. I like the fresh air (and no, this isn't a stab at my husband, who is a smoker and makes me feel like I'm choking whenever he smokes around me because the stench of cigarettes is nauseating) and as a kid I was always told to go outside and do something, anything.
The next annoying warning is about your toothbrush.
My mom was an RN for many, many years. One of her biggest rants year-after-year was how dirty a human mouth was. "A cesspool. Think of it as a cesspool with every imaginable bacteria and germ known to man," she'd say.
Every six months we were off to the dentist. Every three months we had a new toothbrush, and we were required to do the 2 X 2 (brush twice a day, for two minutes each time). She'd sometimes even give us those minty finger-toothbrushes for school (which, I have to admit were pretty useful before making out behind the school after softball practice ... whoops, I didn't just say that!).
But anyways ... the point is, if you're sick and you brush your teeth, you don't need to throw away that toothbrush. Every virus and bacteria is different, and once you've succumbed to a virus or cold (resulting in some sort of illness), you won't "catch" it again. While most colds appear to be the same (runny nose, sore throat, headache, sinus pressure, cough, etc), they're all very different. Bacterial infections, on the other hand, can re-infect you, such as strep throat. So use discretion.
Also, if you're like me and keep your toothbrushes in the bathroom on the toothbrush stand above the sink and the sink is in front of your toilet, you may want to re-consider where you store your toothbrush. Perhaps get one of those plastic tube toothbrush holders, or store it in the medicine cabinet, anywhere but out in the open where your toothbrush could be exposed to bacterias such as E. Coli and staph. While the mouth may be a cesspool of bacterias, you certainly don't want to add to it, potentially increasing your chances of a bacterial infection.
Despite having sort of contradicted myself a tid-bit there, let me repeat, you do not need to throw your toothbrush away if you've had the flu or a cold. While it's certainly an icky thought, and as I continue to think about it more I'd rather just fork over the $4.79 for a new toothbrush for peace of mind, you don't need to do it.
Last on my little discussion list is hand sanitizer. Every time you go to a hospital, it's no surprise to see dispensers before every door and at every public area. Going to the grocery stores they have them by the shopping carts. Even in restaurants they've got them. As I type this, I look to the left of me and sure enough, I have a green pump bottle of Germ-X beside my monitor. But why?! Why is hand sanitizer so important and everywhere.
Actually ... hand sanitizer is just a backup people! Good, old-fashioned washing your hands with soap and hot water is the best way to clean your hands. Sanitizer is only "good" for when you can't, absolutely cannot, wash your hands. It doesn't actually "clean" your hands and it is not meant to replace hand-washing. The 60%+ alcohol content in hand sanitizers is what kills 99% of the bacteria and germs on your hands, but as soon as you touch something else, you're "re-infected". Hand sanitizers actually can cause more harm than good, especially in the hands of a child.
While my youngest was in the hospital recently, I noticed that the hand sanitizer dispenser was empty and I asked one of the nurses why. She told me most hospitals now are removing the sanitizer dispensers because it's a false sense of "clean". Most hospital staff are being retrained to wash their hands with hot, soapy water before seeing patients instead of using the "easy, way out". Not to forget to mention that when using the alcohol based hand sanitizers, they can dry out your skin as it strips away important and sometimes necessary oils (supposedly to "block" bacteria). This can lead to the breakage of skin, open sores (imagine pouring 60 proof alcohol on an open wound, OUCH!), and permanent dry skin (because it essentially can strip the sebum entirely from certain areas of your skin).
So before you nag someone about using hand sanitizer, remember, good, old fashioned hand washing is actually healthier and more beneficial.
More Info
Hand Washing vs Hand Sanitizer
Even More Useful Info
Well ... I'm done with my blabbering about nothing important, and remember I'm only saying what I've said because I'm constantly nagged about it and it got a little annoying. I am not a doctor, never plan on being one (though I'd love to be a nurse), and while I've tried to backup my statements with links to facts - those facts could be outdated, partial, and/or loose interpretations of the "real story". Gotta love the 'net!
The next annoying warning is about your toothbrush.
My mom was an RN for many, many years. One of her biggest rants year-after-year was how dirty a human mouth was. "A cesspool. Think of it as a cesspool with every imaginable bacteria and germ known to man," she'd say.
Every six months we were off to the dentist. Every three months we had a new toothbrush, and we were required to do the 2 X 2 (brush twice a day, for two minutes each time). She'd sometimes even give us those minty finger-toothbrushes for school (which, I have to admit were pretty useful before making out behind the school after softball practice ... whoops, I didn't just say that!).
But anyways ... the point is, if you're sick and you brush your teeth, you don't need to throw away that toothbrush. Every virus and bacteria is different, and once you've succumbed to a virus or cold (resulting in some sort of illness), you won't "catch" it again. While most colds appear to be the same (runny nose, sore throat, headache, sinus pressure, cough, etc), they're all very different. Bacterial infections, on the other hand, can re-infect you, such as strep throat. So use discretion.
Also, if you're like me and keep your toothbrushes in the bathroom on the toothbrush stand above the sink and the sink is in front of your toilet, you may want to re-consider where you store your toothbrush. Perhaps get one of those plastic tube toothbrush holders, or store it in the medicine cabinet, anywhere but out in the open where your toothbrush could be exposed to bacterias such as E. Coli and staph. While the mouth may be a cesspool of bacterias, you certainly don't want to add to it, potentially increasing your chances of a bacterial infection.
Despite having sort of contradicted myself a tid-bit there, let me repeat, you do not need to throw your toothbrush away if you've had the flu or a cold. While it's certainly an icky thought, and as I continue to think about it more I'd rather just fork over the $4.79 for a new toothbrush for peace of mind, you don't need to do it.
Last on my little discussion list is hand sanitizer. Every time you go to a hospital, it's no surprise to see dispensers before every door and at every public area. Going to the grocery stores they have them by the shopping carts. Even in restaurants they've got them. As I type this, I look to the left of me and sure enough, I have a green pump bottle of Germ-X beside my monitor. But why?! Why is hand sanitizer so important and everywhere.
Actually ... hand sanitizer is just a backup people! Good, old-fashioned washing your hands with soap and hot water is the best way to clean your hands. Sanitizer is only "good" for when you can't, absolutely cannot, wash your hands. It doesn't actually "clean" your hands and it is not meant to replace hand-washing. The 60%+ alcohol content in hand sanitizers is what kills 99% of the bacteria and germs on your hands, but as soon as you touch something else, you're "re-infected". Hand sanitizers actually can cause more harm than good, especially in the hands of a child.
While my youngest was in the hospital recently, I noticed that the hand sanitizer dispenser was empty and I asked one of the nurses why. She told me most hospitals now are removing the sanitizer dispensers because it's a false sense of "clean". Most hospital staff are being retrained to wash their hands with hot, soapy water before seeing patients instead of using the "easy, way out". Not to forget to mention that when using the alcohol based hand sanitizers, they can dry out your skin as it strips away important and sometimes necessary oils (supposedly to "block" bacteria). This can lead to the breakage of skin, open sores (imagine pouring 60 proof alcohol on an open wound, OUCH!), and permanent dry skin (because it essentially can strip the sebum entirely from certain areas of your skin).
So before you nag someone about using hand sanitizer, remember, good, old fashioned hand washing is actually healthier and more beneficial.
More Info
Hand Washing vs Hand Sanitizer
Even More Useful Info
Well ... I'm done with my blabbering about nothing important, and remember I'm only saying what I've said because I'm constantly nagged about it and it got a little annoying. I am not a doctor, never plan on being one (though I'd love to be a nurse), and while I've tried to backup my statements with links to facts - those facts could be outdated, partial, and/or loose interpretations of the "real story". Gotta love the 'net!
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