Little Things That Can Imporve Heart Health #9

Today's tip may have you asking how in the world can that help my heart health. The tip is to wash your hands often. This decreases your risk of infection from the flu, pneumonia, and things like strep which can directly effect the heart. Strep can actually get into the blood stream and attach the valves of the heart, so it is critical to be careful.

While pneumonia and the flu don't directly attach the heart like strep, the infections can put extra strain on the heart as the lungs are affected. Simply put, wash your hands before you put anything into your mouth. If you have been out meeting people and shaking hands, wash your hands after wards. While this may seem kind of silly, it may be the thing that protects you the most.

Staying Healthy - 6 Things to Keep You Healthier #2

One of the ways to help you stay healthy is to be aware of places where germs and viruses might be. This one might surprise you. Refillable liquid soap dispensers are a wonderful place for bacteria to grow. Hospitals have gone to nonrefillable liquid soap dispensers for this very reason. But the other thing that hospitals have done is to have antibacterial/antiviral foam outside every room. This is a much better way to sanitize hands. Not only should nurses and doctors being using this foam, but all visitors should foam as you go into the patient's room and foam as you come out.

If you really like liquid soap, get the kind of dispenser that is not refillable.

Staying Healthy - 6 Things to Keep You Healthier

We know that contact with microbes either bacteria or viruses is how we get sick. So how do we prevent that contact. Living in a germ free bubble is not the answer!

I know you have all heard this, but the number one thing you can do to prevent illness, is to wash your hands. Almost everything you touch is covered with germs which are looking for a good place to set up and cause infection. So be diligent about washing your hands.

If you are not some place where you can wash your hands, carry around a small bottle of hand disinfectant. This is especially useful when you go into a restaurant, handle the menu, before you eat, just disinfect your hands. You never know who else has handled that menu and what may be on it.

Stayed tuned for the next 5 things that can keep you healthy.

What Grandmother Told You Was Right.

Wives tales or truth. Many of the things that your grandmother told you were right. Let's talk a little about colds and flu. The number one most important thing that you can do to prevent colds and flu is to wash your hands. We don't seem to take this seriously. We know in hospitals that the biggest source of contamination comes from hands. That's why when you go to a hospital now, you will see antibacterial foam canisters outside the rooms. This is so that nurses can not only protect their patient's but also themselves.

I'm not advocating the we need antibacterial foam canisters all over our homes. What I am advocating is that we take the time to wash our hands. If this doesn't concern you, the next time you are in a public restroom, watch how many people don't wash their hands.

Also consider carrying some antibacterial gel that you can use when you are away from home. Like at the restaurant before you eat. This is just a great habit to get into.