{"id":14043,"date":"2018-10-23T02:03:42","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T02:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=14043"},"modified":"2018-10-24T02:06:04","modified_gmt":"2018-10-24T02:06:04","slug":"why-washing-your-hands-well-is-so-important-to-protect-your-family-from-the-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/why-washing-your-hands-well-is-so-important-to-protect-your-family-from-the-flu\/","title":{"rendered":"Why washing your hands well is so important to protect your family from the flu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michelle Sconce Massaquoi<\/a>, University of Oregon<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

During my second year of graduate school, I moved in with my sister\u2019s family to save money. \u201cYou must get the flu shot if you are going to live here,\u201d my sister declared. Both of my nieces were under the age of 5, putting them at a high risk of flu complications<\/a>; therefore, it was critical that I do my part in, first, getting vaccinated to minimize my risk of getting the flu, and second, not passing the flu<\/a> to a vulnerable population. A key part of this was, and still is, washing my hands regularly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is serious business. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 900,000 people were hospitalized from the flu last season and more than 80,000 people died<\/a> in the U.S. As the flu season approaches, it\u2019s important to marshal all our defenses against influenza.<\/p>\n

As someone who has a history of fainting after shots, including an experience that resulted in multiple stitches just shy of my temple, I understand high anxiety when it comes to needles. But in the evenings when my 4-year-old niece is looking at the intriguing images within my microbiology textbook and asks with each turn of page, \u201cAuntie Chelle, what\u2019s that?\u201d I couldn\u2019t fathom putting her at a higher risk of the flu or any sickness by not getting vaccinated or not washing my hands regularly.<\/p>\n

How does the flu virus spread?<\/h2>\n

The flu virus spreads by droplets made from a cough, sneeze or talk of people who are infected. These droplets can land<\/a> within the mouths, lungs or noses of people up to 6 feet away. Heavily populated places, such as schools or airports, could increase the transmission of the virus and put people at higher risk of getting the flu. It\u2019s also possible to get the flu by touching a surface, such as chairs, tables or door handles that has flu virus on it and then touching your own mucous membranes<\/a> in your mouth, nose or eyes. A behavioral study of medical students at the University of New South Wales found that of the 26 participants, students touched their face an average of 23 times per hour and 44 percent of the time<\/a> it was in contact with a mucous membrane.<\/p>\n

With flu season ahead of us and also our holiday travels, do we really stand a chance of preventing the spread of the flu and other germs by keeping our hands clean? Yes, but it takes some work.<\/p>\n

Two-fisted approach<\/h2>\n

There are two main strategies in hand washing. <\/p>\n

The first is to decrease the overall biomass of microbes \u2013 that is, decrease the amount of bacteria, viruses and other types of microorganisms. We do this by lathering with soap and rinsing with water. Soap\u2019s chemistry helps remove microorganisms from our hands by accentuating the slippery properties of our own skin.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that effectively washing with soap and water<\/a> significantly reduces the bacterial load of diarrhea-causing bacteria.<\/p>\n

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\n Washing hands with warm soap and water is the best way to keep your hands clean.<\/span>
\n r.classen\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The second strategy is to kill the bacteria. We do this by using products with an antibacterial agent<\/a> such as alcohols, chlorine, peroxides, chlorhexidine or triclosan. <\/p>\n

Some academic work has shown that antibacterial soaps<\/a> are more effective at reducing certain bacteria on soiled hands than soaps without them. <\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s a problem. Some bacterial cells<\/a> on our hands may have genes that enable them to be resistant to a given antibacterial agent. This means that after the antibacterial agent kills some bacteria, the resistant strains remaining on the hands can flourish. <\/p>\n

Further, the genes that allowed the bacteria to be resistant could pass along to other bacteria, causing more resistant strains. Together, the \u201ctake-over\u201d of resistant strains would render the use of the antibacterial agent essentially ineffective.<\/p>\n

Also, the long-term use of some antibacterial products<\/a> may harm your health. <\/p>\n

For example, animal studies investigating the antibacterial agent triclosan, which used to be in soaps, toothpastes and deodorant, has been shown to alter the way hormones work in the body<\/a>. The Food and Drug Administration has prohibited the use of over-the-counter antiseptic wash products containing triclosan and many other antibacterial active ingredients. <\/p>\n

Nonetheless, the flu is caused by a virus, rendering products with antibiotics useless.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, you may want to stick with plain old soap and water.<\/p>\n

Best practices<\/h2>\n
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\n Kids traveling during the holidays often have a hard time keeping their hands clean, just as adults do.<\/span>
\n NadyaEugene\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To clean our hands, the CDC recommends<\/a> that we: <\/p>\n