Experts: Good Hygiene Can Ward Off Flu

Associated Press ^ | October 9, 2004 | LINDA A. JOHNSON

[television is just wrong]

I have never had a flu shot, and never intend on getting one. Just try to take care of myself. Lots of good food, vitamins, and living right including Washing your hands will protect you.

If all else fails, lots of hot tea and homeopathic stuff help get you over it faster.

[ErnBatavia]

Wash your hands BEFORE you pee...(afterwards is a good idea, too)

[Calvin Locke]

...wash your hands, eat your vegetables,

Um, washing your hand AND vegetables might ward off certain bacterial infections. Just ask the management at Chi Chi's.

[Redcoat LI]

Yes, it's B.Y.O.B.
(Bring your own burka.)

[walford]

Then why is it that people who are clean tend to get sick more while the families who let their children with the ever-present mixture of sugar, cheese and snot on their faces run screaming in the street all day only seem to be carriers?

[ElizabethTara]

It's true, such a simple thing as washing your hands can save you a week of a sore throat and stuffy nose!

[KateatRFM]

Don't touch the door handle of the public restroom with your freshly washed hand. Carry baby wipes with you to clean surfaces that are in public areas, such as telephones and the ATM keyboard, before you handle them. Use kleenex and throw them in the paper can, not on the ground.

My daddy grew up in northern Wisconsin and he said that clean water, screens and proper siting of cess pits (followed by indoor plumbing) did more for public health than all the medicine invented or discovered before the Korean War.

[the Deejay]

And stay away from kids as you can.

And old dudes in the check out line at Wal-Mart, coughing on me! today!

[varon]

I worked as a waitress 5 years. I went from cold to cold couldn't figure out why I was sick all the time.

Sticking your thumb in people's soup will do it every time ;-)

[tubebender]

Mom said...'Make sure your kids eat a table spoon of dirt every day.'

[mtbopfuyn]

We use Listerine and have been sick as dogs the last couple days.

[Inspectorette]

The one about cleaning telephones is SO important. If you have to share a phone with co-workers, it's crucial.

I once insulted a co-worker who was using my phone, coughing and snorking, etc., I took some spray disinfectant, sprayed it on a cloth and wiped the phone.

I didn't get sick.

[FITZ]

Actually it's better to have a healthy immune system that's been exposed to a wide variety of antigens --- they say that kids who grow up with many different kinds of animals are healthier than those growing up in spotless overly clean homes. It's like those farm kids you'd see who never had allergies or asthsma.

[agere_contra]

I recommend 1000+ mg of effervescent Vit C a day and cut sugar out of your diet. I've have no sick days for three years and I used to get throat infections all the time.

[walford]

Actually it's better to have a healthy immune system that's been exposed to a wide variety of antigens...It's like those farm kids you'd see who never had allergies or asth[]ma.

Yes, from what I understand health workers tend to have tougher immune systems because of their constant exposure. I rarely got more than the sniffles when I drove a cab.

One thing that helps me in the winter is to make sure that there is adequate humidity. If you are waking up with your nostrils dry, you need to get a WARM mist humidifier for the bedroom.

[Some of the farm kids did get sick during the Civil War, WWI and WWII, because they were exposed to pathogens from the city folk, however.]

[mewzilla]

Speaking of Wal-Mart, if I have to tell one more clerk at Wally NOT to lick his/her fingers before trying to separate those blue shopping bags of theirs....

[the Deejay]

Isn't that the epitome of spreading germs to Wally-World customers!

I always wash my hands (a few times) after I get home and put purchases away.

[FITZ]

and I used to get throat infections all the time

You probably built up your immune system from those sore thoats --- once you get exposed to enough viruses, you get good antibody titers and some cross-immunity.

[mewzilla]

Isn't that the epitome of spreading germs to Wally-World customers!

You'd think :) Earth to Wally....

[the Deejay]

LOL!