Vanguard Allure

Top Menu

  • Vanguard

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
  • Vanguard

logo

Vanguard Allure

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Hilda Baci: The Rising Star of Nigerian Cuisine

      March 25, 2023
      0
    • Female Influencers Cashing Out

      March 19, 2023
      0
    • IWD: Young Women Driving Tech

      March 12, 2023
      0
    • Buogo Obi-Oloketuyi: The Chic Carpenter

      March 5, 2023
      0
    • BOLANLE AND BUNMI NINALOWO: To Love And To Hold

      February 14, 2023
      0
    • Vanguard Personality Of The Year Awards 2022

      January 29, 2023
      0
    • Ruky Ogbetuo: From Fashion Writing To Prolific Designer

      January 21, 2023
      0
    • Bisola Alabi: Tech Savvy

      January 15, 2023
      0
    • Wumi Jubril - Providing Ultimate Wellness Experience

      January 13, 2023
      0
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
    • Porsche Executive reportedly divorcing partner of 16 years due to dementia

      Porsche Executive reportedly divorcing partner of 16 years due to dementia

      March 23, 2023
      0
    • 'Teni made people criticize me on social media' - Monalisa Stephen

      March 21, 2023
      0
    • Renowned English guitarist, Mick Slattery dies at 77

      Renowned English guitarist, Mick Slattery dies at 77

      March 21, 2023
      0
    • Whitemoney to sue BBN, real estate company over unfulfilled promise

      March 20, 2023
      0
    • Stop making statements that are oppressive and divisive -IK Osakioduwa urge Nigerians

      March 20, 2023
      0
    • How my dollar cash was stolen at Delta hotel -BBNaija's Phyna

      How my dollar cash was stolen at Delta hotel -BBNaija's Phyna

      March 17, 2023
      0
    • Olu of Warri, wife, joins world leaders to celebrate Commonwealth Day in ...

      March 16, 2023
      0
    • Amandla Ebeye reveals why she is changing name

      March 14, 2023
      0
    • Mercy Johnson's husband dedicates his Certificate of Return to her

      March 13, 2023
      0
  • Red Carpet Rules

  • REVIVING YOUR SEX LIFE @ LACK OF CASH PACT

  • TIPS ON USING FAUX PLANTS IN YOUR INTERIOR

  • Smell Good All Day Long

  • Mary Dinah: Stopping Hunger

Healthy LivinglifestyleWellbeing
Home›Wellbeing›Healthy Living›10 ways to prevent infections

10 ways to prevent infections

August 19,2021
Share:

Joy Onuorah

y

Wash hands frequently

Did you know that microbes can live on inert surfaces anywhere from a few minutes to several months? Imagine these disease-causing microorganisms living on your computer keyboard, your light switch, or even on the elevator button! Surprisingly, most people don’t know the best way to effectively wash their hands! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing thoroughly and vigorously with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, followed by hand-drying with a paper towel. In the absence of running water, an alcohol-based hand gel or wipe will suffice, although nothing beats good old soap and water.

Don’t share personal items

Toothbrushes, towels, razors, handkerchiefs, and nail clippers can all be sources of infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, and fungi). In kindergarten, you were taught to share your toys, but keep your hands to yourself. Now try to remember to keep personal items to yourself as well! Remind children often about the types of items they should NOT share with others.

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze

In a similar vein, good personal hygiene includes not only personal cleanliness, but also the age-old practice of covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Why is this important if you aren’t sick? For most infections, the disease-causing microbe has already started growing and dividing long before any symptoms begin to show. Coughing or sneezing can spread these germs through microscopic droplets in the air. The current recommendation is to cover your mouth with your arm, sleeve, or crook of the elbow, rather than using your hands.

Get vaccinated

Your immune system is designed to have a “memory” of previous infections. When your body encounters a microbe that has previously caused an infection, it enhances its production of white blood cells and antibodies to prevent infection a second time. However, by getting vaccinated, you “trick” your body into thinking that it has been infected by a particular microbe, hence enhancing its own defenses against subsequent infection. Of course consult your clinician about receiving vaccinations, especially the annual influenza vaccination. 

Use safe cooking practices

Food-borne illnesses frequently arise from poor food preparation and dining habits. Microbes thrive on virtually all food items, and more so on foods left at room temperature. Refrigeration slows or stops the growth of most microbes. Promptly refrigerate foods within 2 hours of preparation. Use separate cutting boards for raw meats and vegetables, keep clean countertops, and wash all fruits and vegetables well prior to eating.

Be a smart traveler

Infectious diseases can easily be picked up while traveling, particularly when traveling to underdeveloped countries. If your travel destination is one where water is questionable, make sure to use a safe water source such as bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Eat foods that have been cooked, and avoid raw vegetables and fruits. Finally, be sure to update all immunizations that are advised or required for your travel destination. 

Practice safe sex

Sexually-transmitted diseases are probably the most easily preventable infectious disease. By being smart about safe sex (using condoms), transfer of infectious bacteria or viruses from one person to another can be prevented.

Don’t pick your nose, mouth or eyes

Not only is it a social taboo, but it also leads to the spread of a number of infections. Look around, and you’ll notice how many people have their hands next to their faces. Many microbes prefer the warm, moist environment inside your nose, as well as other mucous-covered surfaces such as your eyes and mouth. Infections can be easily prevented by avoiding touching of these areas.

Exercise caution with animals

Infections that can spread from animals to people are called “zoonotic diseases” and are more common than most people realize. If you have pets, make sure they get regular check-ups and that their vaccinations are up-to-date.

Watch the news

A good understanding of current events can help you to make wise decisions about traveling or other recreational activities. 

Tagshealthy livinginfectionswell being
Previous Article

5 symptoms of food poisoning

Next Article

Italian baked chicken thighs

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Food

    Tips to cook vegetables

    February 28, 2019
    By allure1
  • FoodHealthy LivingWellbeing

    Best cream of broccoli soup

    August 13, 2021
    By joy onuorah
  • FoodHealthy LivingVideos

    Learn how to make Pasta from scratch

    February 3, 2021
    By Dami
  • BeautyWellbeing

    Beauty tips for the albino lady

    June 24, 2019
    By allure1
  • 12 Things to do when having a bad day at work
    Healthy LivingWellbeing

    12 Things to do when having a bad day at work

    July 22, 2019
    By RITA
  • Healthy LivingNewsWellbeing

    Coconut Oil: 3 Surprising Side Effects That You Probably Didn’t Know About

    December 17, 2019
    By Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele
0

  • RelationshipsTrending

    Two women can be in your life and bring different things to your life – Yul Edochie

  • Allure WomanEntertainmentRelationshipsTrendingWeddings

    Shade Ladipo shades Mercy Aigbe after she unveiled her man

  • EntertainmentRelationshipsTrending

    Bimbo Ademoye, silent over rumoured engagement to VJ Adams

  • 5312
    Followers
  • 12744
    Likes

Timeline

  • March 26, 2023

    Red Carpet Rules

  • March 26, 2023

    REVIVING YOUR SEX LIFE @ LACK OF CASH PACT

  • March 26, 2023

    TIPS ON USING FAUX PLANTS IN YOUR INTERIOR

  • March 26, 2023

    Smell Good All Day Long

  • March 26, 2023

    Mary Dinah: Stopping Hunger

Categories

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with our magazine!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Red Carpet Rules

    By RITA
    March 26, 2023
  • REVIVING YOUR SEX LIFE @ LACK OF CASH PACT

    By RITA
    March 26, 2023
  • TIPS ON USING FAUX PLANTS IN YOUR INTERIOR

    By RITA
    March 26, 2023
  • Smell Good All Day Long

    By RITA
    March 26, 2023
  • Chioma Jesus, Sammie Okposo, Midnight Crew set for #THUGGLA2018

    By RITA
    April 24, 2018
  • American rapper, Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer prize for 2017 ‘Damn’ album

    By RITA
    April 17, 2018
  • Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti drops new album titled ‘Black Times’ 

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018
  • Actor, Yul Edochie declares intention to run for presidency

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018

Entertainment

  • March 24, 2023

    I make 40k$ from YouTube monthly – Broda Shaggi

  • March 21, 2023

    ‘Teni made people criticize me on social media’ – Monalisa Stephen

  • March 21, 2023

    Singer Davido returns to social media, announces date for new album

  • March 21, 2023

    ‘Never give up’ – Yul Edochie writes open letter to Funke Akindele after election loss 

  • March 16, 2023

    Burnaboy to perform at Champions League final in Istanbul

Follow us