3 Steps to Good Nose Hygiene

Can you imagine life without a nose? No more smelling the wonderful scents of freshly cut grass or roasted coffee beans. Not being able to have a proper conversation, since your mouth is on double-duty for breathing as well. Not to mention you’d look pretty funny!
It doesn’t stop there, though. The air you breathe in would be rife with dust and harmful microbes, since the little nose hairs and nasal mucous will not be there to filter them out. Without a nose, you’d have lost a crucial component of your body’s defense mechanisms.

So why is it that we do not properly maintain our noses? everyday, we brush our teeth and wash our faces, but we fail to take time to properly clean our noses, leaving them vulnerable to irritation and infection. Fortunately, it’s never too late to start. Here are three easy steps to go nose hygiene!

Step1 Clean your nose every day

The nose does a great job filtering the dust out of the air you breathe in, but this means that the dust is only confined to you nostrils.
Also in the  nostrils is the mucous secreted by the cells at the back of the nose. All that gunk trapped inside needs to come out, so blow each nostril in turn to clear it out.
Alternatively, use a neti pot filled with a warm saltwater solution. Used widely among Ayurvedic practitioners, this small, shallow pot with a long, tapered spout – it looks like a cross between a teapot and Aladdin’s lamp – can help you do a thorough job of  cleaning and moisturizing your nasal cavities. The answer is poured into one nostril and arrives from the other, rinsing the nasal cavity in between and flushing out excess mucous and irritants that may trigger sinusitis or allergies.
You can easily make your own saltwater solution at home, but be careful not to put too much salt as this could irritate your nose. If you prefer, over-the-counter saline nasal solutions are widely available.

Step 2 Don’t re-use tissues
Rather than a handkerchief, use tissues to blow your nose, Remember that each tissue is good for one time only, so be sure to dispose of it after use. Never re-use it as you could be re-introducing germs to your nose.

Step 3 Don’t overdo it
You’ll only aggravate your nose by rubbing or blowing it too often. Always treat your nose gently.

Try a nasal spray
When you have a cold, the use of a decongestant nasal spray can help relieve some of your symptoms.Under normal circumstances, however, a non-decongestant, saline nasal spray can help keep your nose and nasal passages in tip-top condition by introducing a saltwater mist to moisturize the nasal cells and to clear secretions.
Commercially-available saline nasal sprays are engineered to prevent backflow during use. This is very important to ensure the solution remains sterile and is safe for repeated use.

Hand washing: Do's and don'ts

Hi everyone. Today i wanna share with you an interesting article by Mayo Clinic staff about the guideline of how to wash your hands. Enjoy!!

Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Understand when to wash your hands, how to properly use hand sanitizer and how to get your children into the habit.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Hand washing requires only soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn't require water. Find out when and how to wash your hands properly.

When to wash your hands

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. In turn, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands before:

• Preparing food
• Eating
• Treating wounds or giving medicine
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

• Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
• Using the toilet
• Changing a diaper
• Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
• Treating wounds
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

Of course, it's also important to wash your hands whenever they look dirty.

How to wash your hands

It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Follow these simple steps:

• Wet your hands with running water.
• Apply liquid, bar or powder soap.
• Lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.
• If possible, use your towel to turn off the faucet.

Keep in mind that antibacterial soap is no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soap may even lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product's antimicrobial agents — making it harder to kill these germs in the future. 

How to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require water — are an excellent alternative to soap and water. If you choose to use a commercially prepared hand sanitizer, make sure the product contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Then follow these simple steps:

• Apply enough of the product to the palm of your hand to wet your hands completely.
• Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces, for up to 25 seconds or until they're dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are another option, although they're not as effective as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Kids need clean hands, too

Help your children stay healthy by encouraging them to wash their hands properly and frequently. Wash your hands with your children to show them how it's done. To prevent rushing, suggest washing their hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. You might place hand-washing reminders at children's eye level, such as a chart by the bathroom sink for children to mark every time they wash their hands. If your children can't reach the sink on their own, keep a stepstool handy.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are OK for children and adolescents, too, especially when soap and water isn't available. Make sure the sanitizer completely dries before your child touches anything. Store the container safely away after use.

Hand washing is especially important for children in child care settings. Young children cared for in groups outside the home are at greater risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, which can easily spread to family members and other contacts. Be sure your child care provider promotes frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Ask whether the children are required to wash their hands several times a day — not just before meals. Note, too, whether diapering areas are cleaned after each use and whether eating and diapering areas are well separated.

A simple way to stay healthy

Hand washing doesn't take much time or effort, but it offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness. Adopting this simple habit can play a major role in protecting your health.