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Clean as a whistle
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And you do not need to be a medical expert to ward away disease. Infections can be prevented by simple personal hygiene. You know what they say about cleanliness being next to godliness. Well it seems it’s next to wellness, too!
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nfections comprise 8 of the 10 major causes of disease in the Philippines: pneumonia, bronchitis, diarrhea, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, chickenpox, and dengue fever. A clean body and a clean environment can prevent all of these diseases. It all boils down to hygiene. Hygiene refers to the set of practices associated with the preservation of health and healthy living (read: disease prevention). The word came from the name of the Greek god Hygeia, the goddess of health. It was said that her sister Panacea, the goddess of cure, hated her. After all, if everyone remained healthy, nobody needed to be cured! Unknown to many, there are actually many kinds of hygiene. • Personal hygiene - keeping your body clean and healthy • Culinary hygiene - prevention of food-borne diseases • Domestic hygiene - relates to cleanliness and safety at home • Occupational hygiene - cleanliness and safety in the workplace. This issue focuses on the first two, since these are the ones you have direct control over, and are in fact your own personal responsibility.
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes Voltz Olea, MD
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Your body is God’s temple You should be more meticulous about the skin on your hands. You use your hands to hold food, and microorganisms from your hands can easily enter your body through the mouth. Touching your eyes, nose and mouth can also spread viruses and bacteria that can give you colds, flu, pneumonia, mumps, measles, chickenpox and sore eyes (conjunctivitis).
Hair If you are blessed with hair, maintain it. Keep it at a length and style that’s easy to maintain. The last thing you want is hair touching your food. In fact, a person’s hair harbors as much germs as your hands. Wash your hair regularly, and make sure to rinse well. Residue can trap germs. Wash your brush or comb regularly. Skin and hands The skin is the largest organ of the body, and every square inch of skin is home to at least 50 million bacteria. While most of these germs are harmless, it brings down a point: your skin is bacteria haven—good bacteria or bad. Make sure to bathe regularly and wash your hands. A mild soap will do, and then rinse off the soap well.
Keeping your hands clean could be the one most effective thing to ward off disease. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after every meal and after visiting the toilet. If you cannot wash your hands, use alcohol or alcohol-based hand gels. Let the alcohol dry up first before touching anything with your hands. This simple measure of keeping your hands clean could be the one most effective thing you can do to ward off diseases. And while we’re talking about hands, keep your nails short. Dirty fingernails are not only unhygienic—it’s also a major turnoff! Teeth Gone are the days of the five-minute tooth
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Clean and kikay While a kikay kit may not be fashionable to some guys, it can help anyone improve their personal hygiene habits. After all, that’s why it is more formally called a body hygiene kit. This kit includes: • Alcohol • Toothbrush and toothpaste • Safety razor and shaving cream, or electric razor • Hairbrush or comb • Sunscreen lotion, spray or gel • Tweezers (optional)
brushing. It takes only 2 minutes to effectively keep your teeth clean. Brush at least twice a day (thrice is better), and brush before going to bed! Rinse your toothbrush well, and dry after use. A moist brush can harbor bacteria and molds. And then of course, floss!
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Hand wash? Hand rub?
You are what you eat Here are some tips to ensure that your food is indeed safe to eat:
Clean hands prevent infections of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. But to prevent the next leading infection, gastroenteritis, you have to watch what you eat (and no, we’re not talking about fatty foods and heart disease). Food borne diseases are varied. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa (such as amoeba), and intestinal parasites (read: worms, yuck).
• Clean kitchen tops and tables. Disinfect with alcohol or bleach (rinse off afterwards). • Cook meats well. Avoid meats cooked rare. Cooking meats through and through is the only way to ensure that any bacteria or parasites in the meat are killed. • Wash your hands with soap or alcohol before eating (yes, we’re repeating it here because it’s that important.) Make sure you also wash your hands after touching uncooked meats. • Store food properly. Keeping your food inside the refrigerator keeps vermin away and prevents microbes from flourishing on the food. • Do not consume food beyond their expiry date (it is not true that there is an allowance of a few months). • Dispose of leftovers properly. This lessens the chance of someone else eating spoiled food. It will also help keep vermin away.
When your hands are visibly soiled, you should wash your hands for 40 to 60 seconds. But what if your hands “seem” clean?
Then you should do the 20-second hand rub. STEP 1. Apply a palmful of soap or alcohol in a cupped hand. Cover all surfaces. STEP 2. Rub hands palm to palm. STEP 3. Rub right palm over left dorsum (back of the hand), with interlaced fingers. Repeat with the left over the right. STEP 4. Rub left thumb with clasped right hand, then vice versa. STEP 5. Rub fingertips of left hand over right palm, then vice versa. STEP 6. Let your hands dry.
A slice of trivia Viruses can be transferred from one person to another through the hands. Which viral disease of the eye can be prevented through proper hand washing? Freshen up on your researching skills, e-mail us the answer at orange@activelink-consult.com and win a prize!
We’ll include the answer in the next issue of A Slice of Orange.
From those with the correct answer, 50 people will be randomly chosen to receive gift packs from Rhea Alcohol.
Dengue fever can turn deadly once blood platelet counts start going down and the blood begins to thicken. What
Answer to last issue’s question:
blood test can detect these initial but alarming signs of dengue hemorrhagic fever? A test called a complete blood count or CBC can check if blood platelet levels are falling, or if the blood is getting thicker.
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2009 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink 104 VA Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1229 Philippines T: +632 817 4606 / 817 7900 www.activelink-consult.com
Special blood tests that can directly detect the virus can also be performed.
The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.