Hygiene

Hygiene DefinedWorld Health Organization • The conditions and practices that help to maintain

health and prevent the spread of diseases.

Dictionary Merriam and Webster • 1. A science of the establishment and maintenance

of health • 2. Conditions or practices (as of cleanliness)

conducive to health

PubertyWhat should you do about it?

• Puberty causes all kinds of changes in your body.

• Your skin and scalp may suddenly get oily very easily.

• Every day it seems you have new hair growing in different places.

• At times, you seem to sweat for no reason and you may notice there are odors where you never had them before.

Body Odor (BO)• Perspiration, or sweat, comes

from sweat glands that you've always had in your body.

• At puberty, these glands not only become more active than before, they also begin to secrete different chemicals into the sweat that has a stronger smelling odor.

• You might notice this odor under your arms in your armpits. Your feet and genitals might also have new smells.

Some say BO is the smell of bacteria growing on the body, but it really is the result of bacteria breaking down the proteins from sweat into certain acids.

Although when bacteria grow from feeding on the proteins they will divide.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

Get Rid of the BO• Try using a deodorant or deodorant with

antiperspirant. • Deodorants get rid of the odor of sweat by covering it

up, and antiperspirants actually stop or dry up perspiration.

• They come in sticks, roll-ons, gels, sprays, and creams and are available at any drugstore or supermarket. All brands are similar.

Get Rid of the BO• The best way to keep clean is to bathe or shower every day

using a mild soap and warm water. • This will help wash away any bacteria that contribute to the

smells. • Deodorant soaps do not interfere with sweat secretion, but

contain hexachlorophene which destroys the bacteria that causes body odor.

In a small victory for cleanliness, England’s medieval King Henry IV required his knights to bathe at least once in their lives—during their ritual knighthood ceremonies.

HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY!

Get Rid of the BO• Wearing clean clothes, socks, and underwear each

day can also help you to feel clean. • If you sweat a lot, you might find that shirts, socks,

and underwear made from cotton or other natural materials will help absorb sweat more effectively.

The human body is home to some 1,000 species of bacteria. There are more germs on your body than people in the United States.

SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE!

Wash Those Hands!• The world around us swarms with micro-organisms. Bacteria are

found on our bodies. • When food is eaten and prepared with bare hands extra attention

has to be paid to the cleanliness of hands. • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after

every meal and after visiting the toilet. • Soaping and rinsing should cover the areas between fingers, nails

and back of the hand. • Hands should be dried with a clean towel after wash. The towel at

the wash stand has to be washed and changed everyday.

Keep Washing Those Hands!• While cooking, especially when packing lunches, you

can prevent food from spoilage and minimize contamination by keeping your hands clean.

• While handling food avoid scratching, or touching the ears, nose, mouth or other body orifices.

• If you need to use a handkerchief or tissue, wash your hands after that. Keep your nails short.

• Nail Polish users should see that it does not chip off into the food.

Dandruff• Dead skin on the scalp comes off in tiny flakes.• Associated with some disturbance in the tiny glands of

the skin called the sebaceous glands. They excrete oil, or sebum.

• Causes1. There is too little oil, so the skin becomes flaky and dry. 2. There is too much oil, which forms Dandruff that has a

slight yellow tint to it.

Cure Dandruff• Wash hair daily, or every other day. • Combs and brushes must be washed. • Hair should be brushed daily. • A wholesome diet and overall cleanliness will help. • Massage the scalp everyday to improve circulation.• A shampoo with selenium sulfide or salicylic acid

helps.

Bad Breath

• Poor oral hygiene and infection of gums often results in a bad odor emanating from the mouth. This is called halitosis.

• Smoking can make this worse. • There can be other reasons for bad breath. Colds,

sinuses, throat infections or tonsils can cause bad breath.

• Diseases of the stomach, liver, intestines or uncontrolled diabetes are also possible causes.

Curing Bad Breath• Proper brushing of the teeth and oral care can get rid of bad breath.• Stop using tobacco products.• Have infected tonsils removed.• When certain foods are absorbed into the bloodstream, the smell is

expelled through the breath. The odors remain until the body processes the food, so there’s no quick fix.

• An extremely dry mouth cannot wash away excess food particles and bacteria, which can cause an unpleasant smell if they build up on the teeth.

• If bad breath persists despite good dental care, you need to see a doctor. You may have an infection or other ailment.

Teeth• Brush teeth twice a day and rinse well after every meal. Brushing

before going to bed is important. • While brushing, pay attention to the fact that you are getting rid of the

food particles stuck in between the teeth and in the crevices of the flatter teeth.

• Brush down on the upper teeth and brush up on the lower teeth. Use a circular motion. Pay attention to the tongue and the inner surface of teeth as well.

• The brush should have resilient bristles. It should be rinsed well and left to dry after use.

• There are no perfect toothpastes or powders. Use one without harsh abrasives & strong antiseptics.

Each year, Americans spend over $10 billion on oral hygiene products (i.e. mints, gums, mouthwashes, toothpastes, etc.) to mask and cover up the problem.

9 out of 10 bad breath sufferers spend in excess of 72 hours and $400 a year just battling their condition, and see barely any results.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

Foot odor• Foot odor is caused by the bacteria growing on the

feet breaking down the proteins from sweat into certain acids.

• Dark, damp shoes are the perfect environment for bacterial growth.

• Different types of bacteria can produce different odors and symptoms.

• When foot odor is unusual or foul, a medical professional should be consulted.

Curing foot odor• Give your feet a good scrub with a sponge, pumice stone or foot

scrubber that is not made of very abrasive material when having a bath.

• Dry after bath between toes. Keep toenails clipped.• Those who use shoes constantly need to slip them off now and

then. This airs the socks a bit and makes them less smelly. • Wear a clean pair of cotton socks everyday. • Powder your feet before wearing socks. • If possible do not wear the same pair of

shoes every day. • Antiperspirants can be applied to the soles

of the feet to reduce sweating.• Use a heal cream for dry cracked heals.• Extra foot care is required for diabetics.

Athlete’s Foot• Infection is caused by a fungus that breeds in warm

wet places. • The skin becomes scaly and itches. There can be sores

or blisters between toes. • Often it spreads to the soles of the feet.• A minor irritation often disappears by itself. But

sometimes these cracks and sores become the site for other infections.

Curing Athlete’s Foot – “Ditch the Itch”• Rub off peelings gently. • Wash feet well and apply powder. • A mild fungicidal ointment at bedtime will help. • Keep feet exposed. • If you have to wear shoes, wear cotton socks.• Sometimes the blisters begin to ooze. If this happens soak

feet in a potassium permanganate solution of recommended strength. Soak your feet in a warm bath for 10 minutes and then apply calamine lotion.

• If the problem persists consult a doctor.

Nails• It takes five months for nails to replace themselves. • Short nails are less trouble. • Clip nails short, along their shape. Don't cut them so close

that it pinches the skin.• Clean on and under your nails to keep them clean.• A healthy body ensures healthy nails. Brittle and/or discolored

nails are signs of deficiencies or disease conditions.• Do not keep your nails painted continuously. It causes the

keratin, of which nails are made, to split. • Choose a good manicure kit.

Sridhar Chillal has clawed himself into the Guinness Book of World records with nails on each finger of his left hand measuring about 3½ feet.

With nails like that his hand must be pretty useless!

CURRENT RECORD! CURRENT RECORD! CURRENT RECORD!

Ear Wax• Cerumen or ear wax accumulates in the ear canal that

leads from the outer ear to the ear drum.• It is a yellowish waxy substance secreted in the ear canal.• As the secretion comes out of the ear it collects dust

particles, which might have got in from outside. • It’s purpose is to protect the skin of the human ear canal,

assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, insects and water.

• It can accumulate and plug your ears and interfering with hearing.

Dealing with Ear Wax• Daily wash with soap and water is enough to keep

the outer ear clean. There are ear wax removal kits.• Do not reach farther than you can with your little

finger into your ear. Putting in hairpins, safety pins or blunt edged things for cleaning purposes might harm the ear.

• If you feel wax has accumulated and is plugging your ears and interfering with hearing, consult your doctor.

Did you know that a constant buildup of ear wax overtime can cause hearing loss?

What did you say?

SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE! SCIENCE!

Cover your Mouth when you Cough or Sneeze

• Influenza (flu) and other serious respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are spread by coughing or sneezing.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or

elbow, not your hands.• Wash your hands with soap and warm water after a coughing, or

sneezing incident in which you used your hands to cover your mouth.

Studies have shown consistently that 1 out of every 4 people observed in a public setting fail to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

Flush the Toilet• One of the most apparent problems with un-flushed toilets is the odor

left behind. It can infiltrate the whole house or school and even soak into the clothing of the occupants.

• The smell of decaying feces can actually attract other life forms, such as: cockroaches and beetles.

• Organic matter left in the moist toilet will cause mold and mildew to form. Some molds can cause severe respiratory problems in humans and pets.

• Mold spores can make occupants more susceptible to infection. They can settle on toothbrushes or other toiletries.

• Sewage can lead to diseases such as gastroenteritis, hepatitis, occupational asthma and even Weil's disease, which is characterized by jaundice, cramps and severe headaches.

Excrement dumped out of windows into the streets in 18th-century London contaminated the city’s water supply and forced locals to drink gin instead.

At least that is there excuse!

HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY! HISTORY!

Don’t spit in the water fountain• You might want to think twice about drinking from a

fountain which you suspect has been the subject of unsanitary practices.

• Spigots where someone has recently coughed, sneezed or spit on could be harboring bacteria.

• If you suspect a fountain to be unclean, run the water for 15 seconds before drinking to help wash away contamination.

Head Lice• Lice are tiny insects that live on the human scalp that make a

pinprick like puncture on the scalp, emit an anti clotting substance and suck blood to nourish themselves.

• Lice thrive on hair. Children are especially prone to lice infestation. • Lice spread from one head to another when there is close contact as

in school environments: or by clothing, furniture, drapes or stuffed animals.

• Lice eggs are wrapped in a shiny white sheath and these show up on the upper layers of hair as the infestation increases.

• They make the scalp itchy and are a cause of annoyance and embarrassment.

• A female louse must mate witha male louse in order to lay eggs.

• A female louse lays 50 – 150 eggsIn her lifetime.

Getting Rid of Head Lice• Anti lice shampoos are available at the store. • Nit picking is painstaking and requires patience. A fine toothed

comb and regular monitoring can get rid of the problem. • If a child contracts lice, then the family are advised to use the

shampoo also.• Coats, clothes, couches, chairs, bedding, pillows, drapes, carpet

and anything made of a fiber must be cleaned.• Be prepared to spend around $50 - $70 on cleaning supplies and

about 20 hrs cleaning your house.• A doctor's advice can be sought for difficult cases.

Round Worms• Round worms are parasites that can infect people by living in the

intestines. • Several species of worms exist, ranging from 1 mm to 1 meter long. • Eggs or larvae live in the soil and get into the body when a person

gets them on their hands and transfers them to the mouth, or allows an infected animal to lick them in the face.

• The eggs hatch in intestines. The worms feed off of digested food.• Worms come out of the anal opening to lay eggs at night. This leads

to intense itching , disturbed sleep, mild pain and diarrhea.• When scratching the anal area, eggs stick to the hand, and under

the nails and infect anything the person touches. The eggs can pass through air, or by contact with infected food or bed linen.

Getting Rid of Worms• The eggs are not affected by disinfectants and remain

active in the dust for a long period.• A doctor has to be consulted to rid a worm infestation. • Scrub hands well with soap before eating.• Bed clothes, undergarments and nightwear of the

infected person must be washed thoroughly, if possible in hot water.

• All member of the family are advised to take de-worming medication when one member is affected.

Healthcare Professionals states that an estimated 4 million people in the United States have an Ascaris (Round worm) infestation.

The illness most commonly occurs in areas with poor sanitation and crowding, with children disproportionately affected.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

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