Washing your hands remains one of the best ways to avoid infections, so kids, I guess “Mom really does know best”.  As children, immunizations are very important and should be kept up to date.  As we get older, we sometimes do not have the time, or so we think, to take care of our preventive health.  Many of us do not seek medical care until we practically have to crawl to the doctors office or call an ambulance.  Our immunizations, as adults, are also important and depending on your profession, certain ones should be kept current.

 

Every other month, we seem to hear about a new resistant strain of bacteria or an old disease that has reappeared.  Medicine still hasn’t conquered all.  Diseases change and new illnesses emerge a phenomena that has occurred since the beginning of time.  It is important to keep media reports in proper perspective and remember our bodies are equipped to offer some basic protections.  Direct exposure to a disease DOESN’T mean you will become infected.

 

Our skin offers major protection against bacteria and viruses.   Bacteria and viruses have the opportunity to enter only if the skin is broken.  The tiny hairs in the nose and the moist mucous membranes of the throat  help ward off airborne diseases.  Nasal hairs trap organisms, when we breathe out, they shuttle them back into the air.  Mucous membranes trap and prevent organisms from entering the lungs, all very basic, yet very effective.  Our immune system also plays a vital role.  If you are healthy, your immune system acts to produce white blood cells and antibodies to fight infections, unhealthy it may not function to its full potential and infections may set in.

 

There are steps you can take to reduce infection risks, many of which were taught to us by our mothers and grandmothers.  These”experts” may have been unaware of the medical rationale behind their teachings but they were nonetheless right on target.

 

The first principle of infection control is good personal hygiene.  Washing with soap and water reduces the number of organisms that reside on the skin.  Getting plenty of rest, eating a well-balanced diet, and exercising also helps resist infection.  Immunization is also important.  Keep track on your medical history, create a personal health record that lists the immunizations you receive, when received, and any communicable diseases you may have had.

 

Measles, mumps, and rubella are some of the early immunizations we receive.  The Center of Disease Control (CDC), states those individuals vaccinated before their first birthday or between 1963 and 1967 should be revaccinated, check with your doctor.  Research found tetanus-diphtheria immunity declines after the age of 40.  The last diphtheria epidemic occurred in the 1920's, it has been kept at bay.  Flu vaccine is recommended for the elderly, ill, and health care workers.  The CDC predicts each year which strains of flu will present the greatest risks and develops a vaccine.  The vaccines are safe and do not make you sick, live virus is no longer used.  Reducing infection risk also means not coming to work when you are ill.  When you are sick you are more susceptible to infection.

 

Basic personal health maintenance sets the stage for risk reduction.  Participation in vaccine and screening programs reduce your risks.  You play an important role in your protection, so take good care of yourself!