The importance of good personal hygiene goes beyond looking, feeling and smelling fresh. It's potentially a matter of life and death. Failing to wash your hands, for example, may spread food-borne illnesses such as E-coli, which can result in life-threatening complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says regular bathing, showering and hair washing, along with frequent hand washing throughout the day, can help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses.
Considerations
Numerous hygiene-related diseases exist, according to the CDC. Some of the more common afflictions include head, body and pubic lice, also known as crabs; chronic diarrhea; and hepatitis A, which is a contagious liver disease that typically improves on its own without treatment.
Inadequate cleansing of the feet may contribute to athlete's foot, or tinea pedis. This skin infection can be caused by a variety of different fungi.
Effects
Many food-borne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands, notes the CDC.
Salmonella is a common food-borne disease that causes fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. E-coli is a more serious disease that frequently results in acute and bloody diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps. Although most people make a speedy recovery from E-coli, it's possible to develop a serious form of kidney failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Poor contact lens hygiene, such as failure to properly disinfect lenses, is linked to developing an eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis, according to the CDC. Acanthamoeba keratitis can cause permanent visual impairment.
Significance
Consistently practicing good personal hygiene can help control the spread of pinworm, the most widespread worm infection in the U.S., according to the CDC. These half-inch long white roundworms can dwell in the colon and rectum of humans. Female pinworms escape the intestine through the anus and leave their eggs in the colon.
Daily morning showering and changing of underclothes helps remove pinworm eggs and can stop infection and re-infection.
Health and Oral Hygiene
Lack of proper oral hygiene can lead to periodontal (gum) disease, which develops when a sticky film of bacteria called plaque continuously builds up on the teeth. These bacteria create toxins that can harm gum tissue.
Advanced stages of periodontal disease may be connected to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and the bone degenerating disease osteoporosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. In fact, the initial stages of bone loss first appear in your teeth.
Prevention/Solution
Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness, according to the Mayo Clinic. At the very minimum, you should wash your hands before eating and after using the bathroom.
Regular and thorough washing of your hair and body can prevent or control conditions such as head and body lice.
You may help prevent athlete's foot by keeping your toenails clean and clipped short. Wear sandals rather than walking barefoot in public showers or locker rooms.
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once to remove bacteria and food particles can keep periodontal disease at bay, according to the American Dental Association.
Member Comments