Hygiene for healthful living

Hygiene is a set of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." It is a concept related to cleanliness, health and medicine. The terms cleanliness and hygiene are often used interchangeably, which can cause confusion. The word ‘hygiene’ is derived from ‘Hygeia’, the goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation in Greek mythology. Hygiene is a subject or science that embraces all factors that contribute to the healthful living. It refers to the set of practices associated with promotion and preservation of health and healthy living. In medicine and everyday life settings, hygiene practices are employed as preventative measures to reduce the incidence and spreading of disease. Cleaning processes, such as hand washing remove infectious microbes as well as dirt and soil, and are thus often the means to achieve hygiene. Many people equate hygiene with 'cleanliness,' but hygiene is a broad term. Hygiene includes personal hygiene, medical hygiene, culinary hygiene, etc.

Personal hygiene

Personal hygiene refers to maintaining the body's cleanliness. It includes such personal habit choices as how frequently to bathe, wash hands, trim fingernails, and change clothing. Good personal hygiene is the base for a healthy life, a disease free life. Personal hygiene practices include:

Hand hygiene is defined as hand washing or washing hands and nails with soap and water or using a waterless hand sanitizer. Hand hygiene is central to preventing spread of infectious diseases in home and everyday life settings. Regular hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases. Washing hands with soap and water after defecation and before taking food is very important.

This simple practice can prevent so many diseases like hepatitis A, hepatitis E, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, influenza, common cold, dysenteries and diarrhoeal diseases including cholera. In situations where hand washing with soap is not an option, such as when in a public place with no access to wash facilities, a waterless hand sanitizer such as an alcohol hand gel can be used. They can be used in addition to hand washing to minimize risks when caring for "at risk" groups.

The World Health Organization recommends hand washing with ash in developing countries if soap is not available. Hand washing with soap and water includes five steps: wet your hands, leather with soap, scrub vigorously, wash with water and dry your hands.

Regular body washing to keep the body fresh and the skin clean.

Healthy eating to get balanced nutrients for keeping oneself well nourished. A balanced diet with more fruits and vegetables is to be taken at regular hours when there is appetite.

Brushing teeth at least teeth twice a day - after breakfast and before going to bed, to maintain good oral and dental hygiene.

Regular exercises to keep the body fit and prevent diseases. Walking, bicycling, games should be regular and systematic. Exercise for at least 2½ hours a week is essential.

Timely rest, recreation and sleep to boost the body and mind. Taking rest for a while after work will boost the body and mind. Six to nine hours of sleep a day is essential for the body. A mid day nap is refreshing.

Suitable dress

Care of nails and hair. Trimming nails once a week. Regular washing and combing hair. To keep scalp and hair clean, regular washing, massage and combing is needed.

Healthy habits of spitting, coughing, sneezing to help prevent spread of infectious diseases. Good habits are assets. Habits once formed are very much resistant to change.

Seeing a doctor when feeling sick.

Seeing a dentist regularly for oral and dental check up.

Healthy personal hygiene can be practiced by using personal hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, tooth brush, tooth paste, cream, lotion, nail clipper, razor, shaving cream, toilet paper, etc.

Medical hygiene

Medical hygiene pertains to the hygiene practices that prevents or minimizes disease and the spreading of disease in relation to administering medical care to those who are infected or who are more "at risk" of infection in the home. Medical hygiene practices to prevent spread of infectious diseases include:

Isolation or quarantine of infected persons from healthy individuals.

Sterilization of instruments and materials used for treating patients.

Disinfection of materials soiled by a patient or person.

Scrubbing up hands.

Use of protective clothing and barriers such as gown, apron, mask, eye ware, gloves, caps, etc.

Safe disposal of medical wastes.

Safe water supply and safe sanitation.

Most of these practices were developed in the 19th century and much improved in the subsequent centuries.

Hygiene in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet

Routine cleaning of sites and surfaces such as toilet seats and flush handles, door and tap handles, work surfaces, bath and basin surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet reduces the risk of spread of pathogens. Pathogens can survive in the scum or scale left behind on baths and wash basins after washing and bathing. Water left stagnant in the pipes of showers can be contaminated with pathogens that become airborne when the shower is turned on. If a shower has not been used for some time, it should be left to run for a few minutes before use.

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Thorough cleaning is important in preventing the spread of fungal infections. Molds can live on wall and floor tiles and on shower curtains. Mold can be responsible for infections, cause allergic responses, deteriorate or damage surfaces and cause unpleasant odors. Primary sites of fungal growth are inanimate surfaces, including carpets and soft furnishings. Air-borne fungi are usually associated with damp conditions, poor ventilation or closed air systems.

Disinfectants and antibacterials in home hygiene

Chemical disinfectants are products that kill pathogens. Not all disinfectants kill all types of pathogens. All disinfectants kill bacteria. Some also kill fungi, bacterial spores or viruses. The term sanitizer has been used to define substances that both clean and disinfect. More recently this term has been applied to alcohol-based products such as alcohol hand sanitizers that disinfect the hands. Alcohol hand sanitizers however are not considered to be effective on soiled hands.

Culinary hygiene

Culinary hygiene is related to management and cooking of foods to prevent food contamination and food-borne diseases including food poisoning. These can be done by safe ways of handling, storing, preparing, serving and eating foods. Culinary hygiene includes:

Care in preparing foods to prevent nutrient loss and contamination.

Washing of dish with soap and water to prevent contamination.

Washing of hands thoroughly before touching any food to prevent transmission of infectious diseases.

Washing of hands after touching uncooked food to prevent spread of diseases. Storage of foods properly to prevent contamination by vermin.

Refrigeration of foods to prevent putrefaction of foods and to prevent the chance of food poisoning.

 

Hygiene for healthful living

Hygiene is a set of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. It is a concept related to cleanliness, health and medicine. The terms cleanliness and hygiene are often used interchangeably, which can cause confusion. The word hygiene is derived from Hygeia, the goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation in Greek mythology. Hygiene is a subject or science that embraces all factors that contribute to the healthful living. It refers to the set of practices associated with promotion and preservation of health and healthy living. In medicine and everyday life settings, hygiene practices are employed as preventative measures to reduce the incidence and spreading of disease. Cleaning processes, such as hand washing remove infectious microbes as well as dirt and soil, and are thus often the means to achieve hygiene. Many people equate hygiene with cleanliness, but hygiene is a broad term. Hygiene includes personal hygiene, medical hygiene, culinary hygiene, etc. Personal hygiene Personal hygiene refers to maintaining the bodys cleanliness. It includes such personal habit choices as how frequently to bathe, wash hands, trim fingernails, and change clothing. Good personal hygiene is the base for a healthy life, a disease free life. Personal hygiene practices include: Hand hygiene is defined as hand washing or washing hands and nails with soap and water or using a waterless hand sanitizer. Hand hygiene is central to preventing spread of infectious diseases in home and everyday life settings. Regular hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases. Washing hands with soap and water after defecation and before taking food is very important. This simple practice can prevent so many diseases like hepatitis A, hepatitis E, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, influenza, common cold, dysenteries and diarrhoeal diseases including cholera. In situations where hand washing with soap is not an option, such as when in a public place with no access to wash facilities, a waterless hand sanitizer such as an alcohol hand gel can be used. They can be used in addition to hand washing to minimize risks when caring for at risk groups. The World Health Organization recommends hand washing with ash in developing countries if soap is not available. Hand washing with soap and water includes five steps: wet your hands, leather with soap, scrub vigorously, wash with water and dry your hands. Regular body washing to keep the body fresh and the skin clean. Healthy eating to get balanced nutrients for keeping oneself well nourished. A balanced diet with more fruits and vegetables is to be taken at regular hours when there is appetite. Brushing teeth at least teeth twice a day - after breakfast and before going to bed, to maintain good oral and dental hygiene. Regular exercises to keep the body fit and prevent diseases. Walking, bicycling, games should be regular and systematic. Exercise for at least 2 hours a week is essential. Timely rest, recreation and sleep to boost the body and mind. Taking rest for a while after work will boost the body and mind. Six to nine hours of sleep a day is essential for the body. A mid day nap is refreshing. Suitable dress Care of nails and hair. Trimming nails once a week. Regular washing and combing hair. To keep scalp and hair clean, regular washing, massage and combing is needed. Healthy habits of spitting, coughing, sneezing to help prevent spread of infectious diseases. Good habits are assets. Habits once formed are very much resistant to change. Seeing a doctor when feeling sick. Seeing a dentist regularly for oral and dental check up. Healthy personal hygiene can be practiced by using personal hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, tooth brush, tooth paste, cream, lotion, nail clipper, razor, shaving cream, toilet paper, etc. Medical hygiene Medical hygiene pertains to the hygiene practices that prevents or minimizes disease and the spreading of disease in relation to administering medical care to those who are infected or who are more at risk of infection in the home. Medical hygiene practices to prevent spread of infectious diseases include: Isolation or quarantine of infected persons from healthy individuals. Sterilization of instruments and materials used for treating patients. Disinfection of materials soiled by a patient or person. Scrubbing up hands. Use of protective clothing and barriers such as gown, apron, mask, eye ware, gloves, caps, etc. Safe disposal of medical wastes. Safe water supply and safe sanitation. Most of these practices were developed in the 19th century and much improved in the subsequent centuries. Hygiene in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet Routine cleaning of sites and surfaces such as toilet seats and flush handles, door and tap handles, work surfaces, bath and basin surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet reduces the risk of spread of pathogens. Pathogens can survive in the scum or scale left behind on baths and wash basins after washing and bathing. Water left stagnant in the pipes of showers can be contaminated with pathogens that become airborne when the shower is turned on. If a shower has not been used for some time, it should be left to run for a few minutes before use. Thorough cleaning is important in preventing the spread of fungal infections. Molds can live on wall and floor tiles and on shower curtains. Mold can be responsible for infections, cause allergic responses, deteriorate or damage surfaces and cause unpleasant odors. Primary sites of fungal growth are inanimate surfaces, including carpets and soft furnishings. Air-borne fungi are usually associated with damp conditions, poor ventilation or closed air systems. Disinfectants and antibacterials in home hygiene Chemical disinfectants are products that kill pathogens. Not all disinfectants kill all types of pathogens. All disinfectants kill bacteria. Some also kill fungi, bacterial spores or viruses. The term sanitizer has been used to define substances that both clean and disinfect. More recently this term has been applied to alcohol-based products such as alcohol hand sanitizers that disinfect the hands. Alcohol hand sanitizers however are not considered to be effective on soiled hands. Culinary hygiene Culinary hygiene is related to management and cooking of foods to prevent food contamination and food-borne diseases including food poisoning. These can be done by safe ways of handling, storing, preparing, serving and eating foods. Culinary hygiene includes: Care in preparing foods to prevent nutrient loss and contamination. Washing of dish with soap and water to prevent contamination. Washing of hands thoroughly before touching any food to prevent transmission of infectious diseases. Washing of hands after touching uncooked food to prevent spread of diseases. Storage of foods properly to prevent contamination by vermin. Refrigeration of foods to prevent putrefaction of foods and to prevent the chance of food poisoning.