Germs are invisible things that can be brutal when they penetrate our lives. It doesn’t matter if they are associated with super bugs that can take you out for a week or more, bacterial microbes, or viral infections.
That being said, we do happen to live in a world that is full of germs that are just waiting for the opportunity to attack us. In fact, many of us pass them between ourselves without our even realizing it with a variety of common daily habits. Let’s take a look at a few infectious conditions and how to prevent them.
Pink Eye
What do you think? Is pink eye contagious? Yes, it is extremely contagious. No, it isn’t exactly life threatening, and you won’t even feel sick if you have it. That said, it can be painful, itchy, and uncomfortable. Pink eye can be caused by irritants, allergens, bacteria, and viruses. The symptoms include things like discharge from the eye, an increase in the number of tears produced, itchiness or burning in the eye, feeling as if there is grit in the eye, a sensitivity to light, and crustiness on the eyelids or lashes. You can prevent the spread of this condition by thoroughly washing your hands on a frequent basis and keeping your hands away from your eyes. Also, don’t share things like washcloths, hand towels or tissues. Never share anything that goes in or around the eye, such as makeup or contact lenses.
Respiratory Infections
This is a type of infection that can occur in your lungs, nose, or throat, and if you get one, you need to see a doctor, whether you think you have the time or not. These infections can be the result of either bacteria or a virus. Upper respiratory infections tend to be more common than lower respiratory infections. They can affect you regardless of your age and might be something as common and simple as a cold, or as profound as pneumonia. If you smoke or suffer from asthma, you might be more susceptible to an infection of this nature. If you want to steer clear of this type of infection, you might want to avoid sharing space or anything else with someone when they are suffering from one. However, while pneumonia is not something that is contagious, other types of respiratory infections are.
Infections of the Skin
You might not realize it, but aside from more common types of infections, you can also get infections of the skin while you are at the gym trying to be healthy. In fact, gyms can be a veritable breeding ground for germs of all types. The thing is, germs that can cause fungi, viruses, and bacteria actually thrive in the sweat that is produced when you work out. These germs can get on the towels and equipment, and breed in warmer places such as saunas, and showers, and even on the decks around swimming pools. This includes the germs that cause MRSA. This is an antibiotic strain of staph infection. If you want to work out at the gym while minimizing your chance of getting any sort of skin infection, you can make sure that any scrapes or cuts you have are covered by bandages and clean while you are at the gym. You might also want to do your own laundry and bring your own mat for exercise. Good hygiene such as washing your hands is also recommended, as is not sharing your things and knowing what common skin infections look like so that you can avoid contact with them.
Avoiding the Common Ways that Infections can be Spread
You don’t have to be a complete germaphobe to want to stay healthy. However, there are some common ways that germs that can cause infections can be spread. You can avoid those things. Things like travel in an airplane can expose you to the germs that cause norovirus. If you will be flying anywhere, avoid any type of hand to hand contact, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands often, and drink your beverages with a straw. Of course, those tips are good to use anywhere to avoid coming into contact with germs that can lead to infections.