Fighting Germs: Medical and Surgical Hand Washing

Health care professionals tried their best to prevent transmission of germs from one patient to another. Today, there are a lot of methods on how to prevent cross contaminations. This is through hand washing. This procedure is simple and is commonly applied within our household. Hand washing is one of the most important interventions to combat germs. There are different types of hand washing and these are commonly practiced in all health care institutions (hospitals, diagnostic laboratory, and clinics). These are the medical hand washing and the surgical hand washing. These two types of hand washing are performed differently, and it also has different purpose and rationales.

What is medical hand washing? This is the process of cleansing the hands before and after administering medication and performing medical care to patients. A clean water and soap are the necessary things needed to perform the procedure. The application of clean water alone is not enough to kill the germs on our hands. Make sure that the soap you used has the capability of killing microorganism. Because there are some soap that has a less antimicrobial power but has a good scent. Before performing the procedure, make sure that the water is on the right temperature. Do not use water that is in extreme temperatures. The average time in doing medical hand washing is about 15 to 20 seconds. Always remember that medical hand washing is not the appropriate method to be used before a surgical procedure.

Medical hand washing is performed to limit the germ count on our hands. It does not totally eliminate every microorganism on our palms. Today we can see that health care workers are practicing the modified medical hand washing method. This is by using a hand sanitizer. This can only be done by a matter of seconds. This is by simply applying the solution on the palms with continuous rubbing. An alcohol solution can also be used as an alternative for medical hand washing.  After a long time of using the medical hand washing, health care people tend to modify it through their own style not knowing that they are doing it in the wrong way.

What is the ideal way of doing this method of hand washing? First, you need to grab a piece of paper towels. This is used as a lining to open the faucet. Next is to check the temperature of the water. Make sure that it is warm. Rinse your hands from the palm going up. Next, you need to apply soap solution and rub it for about 10 times. Rinse your hands properly starting from the palm then going up. Grab a clean towel for you to dry your hands.

On the other hand, we have the surgical hand washing. This is performed a lot different than the medical hand washing. This procedure is done only before a surgical procedure. This method is also known as the surgical scrubbing. To perform this procedure you need to have clean water, antiseptic soap, hand brush, and a hand drier (optional). Why do we need to do surgical hand washing before an operation? This is to eliminate debris and microorganism from palms, nails, arms, and forearms. It will also prevent the rapid growth of microorganisms. Before performing the operation make sure that all the surgical members are doing the hand scrubbing. What are the ideal steps for hand scrubbing? First, remove all jewelry. Second, rinse your hands with the running water.  Remember to position your hands upward. Start rinsing from the palm down to your elbow. Apply antiseptic soap and rub your palm and arm. Make sure to clean the interdigit spaces and nails. Next, rinse your hands with the running water. Make sure to rinse it properly. If there is an available hand drier you may use it before entering the operating theater. After performing the hand scrubbing, always remember to, never contact unsterile fields. This will make you harbor microorganisms that will void you from sterility.

Hand washing is very important in our daily lives no matter which method you are using. This is because most diseases are transferred through hand contact. Always perform hand washing before and after ingesting foods. Oral route is the most common entry of pathogens. Remember that germs are everywhere and the best thing to combat them from entering our system is through hand washing.

Healthy Body Breeds Healthy Mind

Most people are just very complacent on their surroundings that, most of the time, they fail to realize that what they are holding or sitting onto are full of germs and bacteria.  It should be taken into the mind always that germs are the number one cause of sickness and indisposition.  It is in this manner that people should fight germs by observing proper hygiene and clean environment. This is the best way to take good care of one’s health – plus, living a healthy lifestyle with well-balanced diet.

In order for someone to have a strong immune system and good health, the following tips should be observed.

1. In order to fight germs in entering one’s body, proper hygiene should be observed. One has to take a bath (if possible daily) in order to keep the body clean and fresh always.  This will also cleanse the body from the dirt and germs one acquired from his/her daily exposure to pollution and other toxic contamination. Also, it helps if one wears clean clothes. There are those people who are fond of always wearing the same clothes (without washing) even though these are already dirty.
2. Wash hands regularly. Our hands are the number one carriers of germs because these are the parts of our body that touch objects first. We do not know if these objects are clean, especially those that are situated in public places – e.g. door knobs, bar handles, public faucets, etc. All kinds of people touch these objects; hence, it is only proper to wash your hands regularly.
3. A healthy body can give a strong combat against germs. Eat healthy food and exercise regularly to improve your immune system.  Healthy food included those that are leafy vegetables and fruits, and not so much on processed food that we buy on fast foods and supermarkets. A regular exercise can also improve blood circulation, and can keep the mind and body alert always. It helps as well if one will maintain in taking vitamins that can supplement the minerals needed by the body.
4. Enough rest. One of the proper ways in maintaining a healthy body is to have enough rest and sleep. Nowadays, people are taking aside rest because of work and other activities that deprive one from getting a good night sleep. This will cause stress – and people should always remember that stress is the number one killer nowadays as this will trigger health-related problems such as hypertension.
5. Positive and happy disposition. This is very true – that a happy disposition is a good stress reliever. It will also condition the mind for doing productive things than settle on stuffs that only breed negative thoughts and poor actions.  A positive mind enables the body to concentrate on things that will do good for it. Also, having a happy disposition will not only benefit the person himself/herself, but it will also influence other people to have such disposition. A good laugh and smile are contagious.  As the saying goes – don’t surround yourself with negative people because they will only pull you down; be with, instead, people who have the sunny disposition and positive mind. Hence, such positivity should start with you.

The Quest against Germs

Take a time capsule to the 19^th Century in Eastern Europe. France and England have joined forces to battle Russia, who is hell bent on invading Crimea (modern day Ukraine) into its already formidable empire. It was the first war in history covered by the media with photos being shipped back to Western Europe and war accounts being published in newspapers.

Months into the war, the number of casualties had been appalling. Eyewitness accounts show soldiers dying by the hundreds with little regard and effort in saving them. It was this dreadful picture that forced a young Englishwoman named Florence Nightingale to sail for the front and help care for the soldiers.

Such a heroic tale is being told in medical schools at present. The legend of Florence Nightingale led to saving of the lives of thousands of soldiers. However, Nightingale did not make any miracles. For all her accolades, all she did was clean up the aid stations, sanitize everything near the wounded soldiers, and fight germs and infections that eventually led to the saving of many lives.

After the war, the English Army established its first medical school and all armed forces of the world implemented strict sanitation and cleanliness in their field hospitals – a great contribution by a woman that was novel for its simplicity.

Sanitation is one of the most basic health care regimes but is often the most neglected. Germs are everywhere and human hands, the most overworked of all body parts come in contact with these microscopic organisms every second. These germs are then transferred and transmitted to other places. If we are not careful, germs land in food, in cooking utensils, on children.

Bacteria, small as they are, travel through almost anything – by air, through water and through contact. The bad bacteria, commonly called germs thrive in areas that are not clean and multiply rapidly. They thrive by killing good cells that is why after some time, their hosts become weak and die. Too many germs in the body cause illnesses and disease. Like the soldiers in the battlefield during Nightingale’s time, too many germs caused infection and led to death of so many soldiers.

It is very essential that each person adopts a clean and sanitized lifestyle. Frequent washing of the hands with water and soap and with sanitizing solutions would go along the way. Adopting a clean lifestyle, from the household to the car and the office prevents the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the environment that may carry diseases and illnesses.

Germ killing goes in hand with a health lifestyle. Although keeping our bodies and our environment clean is a good step, we must also support with a healthy diet that will make our bodies stronger to fight germs. For germs will never disappear, they will always be around, in little things. And they will attack once we let our guards down.

How NOT to Lose Weight

A lot of people nowadays are conscious about health and fitness.  The fact remains that appropriate weight loss is no longer just a matter of looking and feeling good, but it is important to attaining good health.  With the risk of heart disease, obesity and other diseases greatly increased, a lot of people are keeping watch over their own weight.

As such, the topic of losing weight is a hot one and there have been a lot of myths and misconceptions that have arisen over the years.  If you are bent on losing weight effectively, then make sure to take note of these no-nos.

1. Going on a fad diet

Fad diets come in different forms and may involve different techniques and tips on losing weight.  Generally, however, fad diets promise instant and incredible results like losing 50lbs in just one week.  More often, fad diets advice you to abstain from certain types of food like a low protein or low carbohydrates diet.

The Skinny: While fad diets may be effective in making you lose weight in a short time, they may be very difficult to follow because of the stringent limitations on what you could eat.  As such, many people find themselves getting tired of the diet regimen and go off the fad diet.  What’s worse, they easily gain back the weight they lost.

Fad diets may also be dangerous to your health because you are not giving your body all the nutrients you need.  Without enough protein, for example, you will feel weak, and you will have problems developing muscles.

Another danger of fad diets is the increased risk of having gallstones, because of the rapid weight loss.

2. Following a high protein / low carbo diet or a low carbo / high protein diet

Depending on who you listen to, a diet that has high protein and low carbohydrates foods or vice versa can be beneficial for your health and can aid in losing weight.

The Skinny:  Always strive to eat a balanced meal.  Having too much or too little of certain types of food can cause problems for you.  Eating too much protein may mean that you are eating too much fat, which increases the risk of obesity and heart disease.  You might also be shorting yourself on fruits, vegetables and grains, which may lead to a deficiency in dietary fiber leading to constipation and other gastrointestinal problems.

Other problems that might crop up are nausea, fatigue, ketosis, gout and arthritis.

3. Avoiding starch at all cost

You have probably heard about the myth that starch is fattening and should be avoided when trying to lose weight.

The Skinny: A lot of food has high starch content but are actually low in fat.  These include pasta, rice, beans, fruits and bread.  The problem is that most people like to eat these with fattening food like butter and mayonnaise.  As with everything else, moderation is the key.  Besides, experts recommend that you should eat at least six to eleven servings of starchy foods daily.  That translates to six to eleven slices of bread, or 3 cups of pasta, among others.

4. Going “natural”

Most people think that herbal and natural products that purportedly help you lose weight are safe.  Also, there is a widespread belief that certain fruits and food like cabbage soup and celery can help you burn fat.

The Skinny: The sad truth it, there is no magic food that can burn fat.  There are types of food that increase your metabolic rate, but these are usually temporary.  As always, you should eat food with low calories that would easily be burned off by exercise.

Also, not every product that claims to be natural or herbal is safe and effective, unless it is scientifically proven to be such.  Before taking any dietary supplements, consult your doctor or fitness specialist to ensure that they are not harmful to the body.

5. Believing in the low-fat and non-fat myth

Foods and drinks labeled as low fat or non-fat is believed to contain no calories whatsoever.

The Skinny: The truth is, there are certain processed foods that have the same calories, whether they are low fat, non-fat or the regular version.  That is because of the additives put into them like sugar, flour or thickeners.  Always check out the nutrition facts that are to be found on the label to see just how many calories are present in the low fat or non-fat product you want to buy. You would be surprised.