DISEASE: HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK
Every day your body wages war
against enemies that are silent and unseen but potentially deadly. Foreign
invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, threaten your health. Most
microbes do not cause disease. This article focuses on microorganisms and other
infective agents that threaten your health.
You are not likely to be aware of
those battles because your immune system repels or destroys most of the
invaders before the onset of symptoms. Sometimes, however, the harmful germs
gain the upper hand. If so, you may need to bolster your defenses with medicine
and other treatments.
For thousands of years, people
knew virtually nothing about the dangers of microscopic or other small harmful
organisms. However, when 19th-century scientists confirmed the link
between germs and disease, we became better equipped to defend ourselves.
Medical researchers have since
eliminated or greatly reduced the threat of some infectious diseases, including
smallpox and polio. Recently, however, others, such as yellow fever and dengue,
have made a comeback. Why? Consider these factors:
1. Every
year, millions of people travel around the globe, often transporting
disease-causing agents. According to an article in the journal Clinical
Infectious Diseases, “virtually all of the contagious virulent infections” can
be spread by international travelers.
2. Some
bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics. “The world is heading
towards a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections … can once again
kill,” states the World Health Organization.
3. Civil
unrest and poverty often hinder government efforts to control the spread of
disease.
4. Many
people lack practical knowledge of how to prevent disease.
Despite these disturbing trends,
there is much you can do to protect yourself and your family. The following
will show that, even if you live in a developing land, simple and effective
strategies may be within your reach.
PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM DISEASE
Many ancient cities were protected
by massive walls. If an enemy breached just a small section of a wall, the
safety of the entire city was at risk. Your body is like a walled city. How you
care for your defenses has much to do with how healthy you are. Consider five
elements that can expose you to disease and how you can put up the best
possible defenses.
[1] WATER
THE THREAT: Harmful organisms can
“march” straight into your body by way of contaminated water.
YOUR DEFENSE: The best defense is
to protect your water supply from contamination. If you know that your water
supply is contaminated or suspect that it is, you can treat the water at home
to make it safe. Store portable water in a closed vessel, and dispense it
hygienically with a clean ladle or through a tap. Never put your hands into a
clean water supply. If possible, you should try to live in a community that
properly disposes of human waste so that it does not contaminate local water
sources.
The World Health Organization
recommends several methods to improve water quality at home, including
chlorination, solar disinfection, filtration, and boiling.
[2] FOOD
THE THREAT: Harmful organisms can
be present in or on your food.
YOUR DEFENSE: Contaminated food
may look fresh and nutritious. So get into the habit of thoroughly washing all fruits
and vegetables. Ensure that food utensils, kitchen surfaces, and your hands are
clean when preparing or serving food. Some foods require cooking at a certain
temperature in order to destroy dangerous microbes. Beware of food that is
discolored or has an unpleasant odor or taste –signs that an army of
microorganisms could be waiting for you. Refrigerate unused food as soon as
possible. Avoid preparing food for others when you are sick.
[3] INSECTS
THE THREAT: Some insects can
infect you with the harmful microorganisms that live inside them.
YOUR DEFENSE; Limit contact with
disease-carrying insects by staying indoors when they are active or by wearing
protective clothing, such as long sleeves and long trousers. Sleep under
treated insect nets, and use personal insect repellent. Eliminate containers of
stagnant water where mosquitoes could breed.
[4] ANIMALS
THE THREAT: Microbes that live
harmlessly inside an animal can threaten your health. If you are bitten or
scratched by a pet or another animal or exposed to its feces, you could be at
risk.
YOUR DEFENSE: Some people choose
to keep their animals outside the house to minimize contact with them. Wash
your hands after touching a domestic animal, and avoid all contact with wild
animals. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly and seek a
doctor’s advice. Injuries from venomous creatures usually require emergency
medical attention.
[5] PEOPLE
THE THREAT: Some germs can invade
your body by riding on tiny droplets in someone’s cough or sneeze. They can
also spread through skin contact, such as hugging or shaking hands.
Microorganisms from other people may lurk on such items as doorknobs,
handrails, telephones, or computer screens and keyboards.
YOUR DEFENSE: Do not share
personal items, such as razors, toothbrushes, or towels. Avoid contact with
body fluids from animals or from other people, including blood and products
derived from blood. And do not underestimate the benefits of WASHIN YOUR HANDS
thoroughly and frequently. It is perhaps the most effective way you can stop
the spread of infection.
If possible, stay home when you
are sick. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that
you cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve, but not into your hands.
The shrewd one sees the danger
and conceals himself. How true are those words today in a world plagued with
potentially dangerous diseases! So inform yourself by consulting local health
services, and conceal yourself from danger by practicing good hygiene. Bolster
your defenses, and reduce the risk of disease!
BEWARE
OF ANIMAL ANTIBIOTICS
For a long time, the World Health
Organization [WHO] has warned about the excessive and unnecessary use of
antibiotics for farm animals that are not sick. According to the Spanish newspaper
ABC, the drugs have been routinely added to animal feed “in order to fatten the
farm animals quickly.” Recently, a Danish study has shown that raising animals
can be profitable without the help of antibiotics.
When the farmers eliminated antibiotics
from animal feed, chicken production were unaffected and the cost of pork
production increased by only 1 percent. WHO has applauded the Danish initiative
and is encouraging other countries to take similar measures. Doing so, says the
paper, “would be beneficial for public health as well”
TAKE
CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH
Whether they are rich or poor,
many people fail to see the link between their habits and their health. They
may regard enjoying good health as a matter of chance or as something over
which they have little control. Such a fatalistic view holds many back from
improving their health and leading a more productive life.
In reality, whatever your
financial circumstances, there are basic steps you can take to protect and
greatly improve your own health and that of your family. Is doing so worth the
efforts? By all means! You can increase the quality of your life and avoid
needlessly shortening it.
By word and example, parents can
teach their children to form good habits, resulting in better health. The extra
time and expense involved will be repaid in reduced suffering, less time lost
to illness, and less money spent on medical bills. As the saying goes, an ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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