When we were young, we were often told by our parents or caretakers to wash our hands before and after eating, shower at least twice a day, or brush our teeth to prevent yellow teeth and bad breath. While these may seem like menial and boring labour, there is wisdom in their advice. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), personal hygiene is defined as the practices and conditions which help to prevent diseases and maintain the health of a person’s body. Good hygiene forms the basic principle barrier which prevents fecal-oral diseases and numerous communicable diseases and involves a myriad of simple actions such as hand-washing, bathing, dental care, and many more.
With the advent of the recent global Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of personal hygiene is becoming even more apparent than ever and our parents’ teachings about personal hygiene suddenly do not seem so annoying to listen to anymore.
With that being said, how well do you know about personal hygiene? Here is a quick refresher course on how to go about staying healthy and clean:
1. Was your hands
Your hands come into contact with about 10 million bacteria and viruses a day! Given the rate of multiplication of bacteria and how much our hands come into contact with our faces, it is no wonder that we see infections and diseases spread so rapidly out in public. That is why a simple act of effective handwashing is vital in slowing down the spread of many preventable diseases. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO has advocated handwashing as one of the main cornerstones of prevention of the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Since the disease can be spread through direct contact, indirect contact, or close contact with infected individuals via nose or mouth secretions, the practice of handwashing at regular intervals is a must. Effective handwashing can be achieved by following the proper handwashing steps and the use of moisturizing soap. Practice regularly and you will be experiencing fewer visits to your doctor.
2. Dental hygiene
While you may not think much about brushing your teeth and your visits to the dentist, they are actually very important in maintaining dental hygiene. The main aim of maintaining good dental hygiene is to prevent the build-up of excess plaque on your teeth, which in turn causes an increase in bacterial population and resulting in serious health consequences, such as tooth decay and gum diseases. If left unattended for too long, it can even jeopardize your overall health, leading to pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases. So pick up that toothbrush and brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste, floss your teeth once a day and pay a visit to your friendly neighbourhood dentist every six months.
3. Body hygiene
Bathing is a routine activity that is done by many of us daily to keep ourselves clean. Some of us may even find ourselves feeling weird if we are not able to take a bath on any given day. There is a reason why the activity of taking a bath is so deeply rooted in the culture LOREM IPSUM of most societies. Not only does bathing keeps us feeling fresh and clean, but it also helps to reduce muscle tension, improves blood circulation, and boosts your immune system. A study done in Japan has even shown that routine immersion bathing is beneficial to both physical and mental health. Now don’t be lazy. Hop into that shower or bathtub and get yourself cleaned up with a bottle of body foam daily for a fresher, healthier you.
4. Fingernail & Toenail hygiene
As we all know, long unruly fingernails and toenails are not only a big no-no in terms of fashion and societal norms, it is a hotbed for the growth of many harmful microorganisms. Trim those nails whenever they are getting longer and you will be doing a great service to your health and improve your general impression of others.
5. Wash your hair
What is just as important as washing your own body? Washing your hair, of course! Your hair could become a trap of oil, dirt, and bacteria when you go about your daily life. Left to their own devices, you will be left with dirty, greasy, dull, and smelly hair, and you definitely do not want that. So wash your hair daily with an invigorating shampoo and feel your hair coming to life again with vigor and your scalp feeling refreshed and clean.
Personal hygiene is an important step in protecting oneself and the people around you from contracting prevent- able diseases and maintaining general overall wellbeing. With these tips in mind, let us all do our part and continue practicing these crucial habits so that the chances of a global pandemic happening again can be greatly reduced.
Source: DXN Life 22 / 86