The Importance of Personal Hygiene for Healthy Living

Every person should be made aware of the importance of personal hygiene to everyday living.

From conception until death, humans come in contact with multitudes of other living organisms that share a common living environment. Some organisms can be potentially dangerous to other living beings due to their ability to cause infection.

Infectious or communicable diseases are caused by pathogens and diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through physical contact. The year 2013 recorded 9.2 million deaths caused by communicable diseases which is 17% of total deaths the world over.

Person-to-person transmission of diseases can be largely controlled by following the best practices pertaining to personal hygiene and by keeping surroundings clean.

Here are a few tips to stay healthy and prevent diseases:

1. Wash Hands and Keep Your Body Tidy

Whether you eat with a spoon or enjoy licking your fingers, it is important to bring clean hands to the plate. Fingers carry microbial germs from interaction with infected pets, people, and touching several other non-living things and substances.

Washing hands thoroughly for about a minute, especially before eating, can reduce the spreading of harmful bacteria that cause infectious diseases. After washing, use a clean and dry towel or a tissue to pat-dry the hands and remove excess water.

In the absence of soap and water, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help you get rid of 99.9% germ by killing bacteria, fungi, and a few viruses. Extra care should be taken to wash hands after using public and shared utilities like elevators, public transport, parks, commercial shops, restrooms, etc.

Ensure to clean your hands and have your kids do the same before a snack or a meal, after the use of the toilet, and after play time with pets. Do give your hands a good wash after an intentional or unintentional contact with someone suffering from cold or cough.

 

Apart from washing hands, bathing is also essential in maintaining complete physical hygiene. Indulge in extra care for your feet as they often come in contact with dust and germs. Wash them clean before entering the kitchen and before hitting the sack.

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2. Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

The mouth is inhabited by 200 to 300 bacterial species. A few of these bacteria cause dental decays or periodontal diseases. According to a 2012 report by the WHO, 60% to 90% of school children and almost 100% adults worldwide suffer from dental cavities. Also, 15% to 20% of adults aged between 35 and 44 years have severe periodontal diseases.

Researchers and experts believe that gum diseases have the potential to lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, premature birth, and respiratory disease. Maintaining dental hygiene, thus, is important by regular brushing and flossing.

In addition, mouth wash can be used to rinse the mouth as it kills harmful bacteria. Cleaning the tongue every time after brushing must not be neglected.

Cavity-causing bacteria can be passed on from parents to their kids through physical contact. Mothers with dental cavities must avoid sharing spoons with their kids as the bacteria gets passed on along with saliva.

Above all, following a healthy diet goes a long way in preventing dental infections. It is advisable for adults to keep away from tobacco and excessive alcohol. Children should be discouraged from consuming sugary and fizzy drinks.

A set of healthy teeth is great for a beautiful smile!

3. Cook in Clean Conditions

Cleaning the kitchen and the dining area well are important aspects contributing to personal hygiene. Poor cleaning can cause bacteria to breed, eventually leading to the contamination of the food and the water.

Hands must be thoroughly cleaned before cooking and the cooking area should be kept dry to avoid contamination. Precautions to keep hair from falling into the food must be taken as hair can be a source of potential microbiological infection. Coughing, sneezing, and smoking should be prohibited in the cooking area and one must wash one’s hands upon the completion of the aforementioned activities.

Dirty clothes tend to carry germs and should be replaced by clean and washed clothes or aprons ahead of cooking. It is preferable to keep nails short to avoid accumulation of dirt and germs below them.

One should strictly keep away from cooking if suffering from food poisoning. Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites contaminate food, and those suffering from an illness must take adequate precautions to prevent the spreading of food-borne diseases.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases report declared in 2014 that around 48 million people in America suffer from food-borne illness every year, of which about 3,000 people succumb to the disease annually.

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4. Stay Safe during Travel

Even when on the road, it’s important to keep in mind the importance of personal hygiene.

When traveling, people must bear in mind to take precautions to stay safe from traveler’s diarrhea. Travelers can use bottled water and refrain from drinking tap water. Pasteurized milk and hot beverages can be consumed to stay healthy and consumption of uncooked/undercooked food and meat can be avoided for as long as feasible.

Carrying a sanitizer comes in handy when traveling to foreign places. Clean your clothes yourself or use the laundry service to sanitize them after visiting places of public interest.

Further, safeguard children with full-sleeved clothes and good footwear.

Conclusion

Being clean is the first step towards sustaining good health. Hygienic living conditions are important to control and prevent illnesses. An unhealthy environment not only disrupts one’s health, but also spreads illnesses among other people. People carrying pathogens must be mindful of others’ health and use shared services to take the necessary precautions required to restrict the spread of infections. A healthy body comes from knowing the importance of personal hygiene and following healthy practices religiously.

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