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Getting sick is the worst thing that can happen to anyone. We cannot even control it. And, interestingly, nowadays, there are so many ways that can make you sick, and you will never know what hit you.
This is why I felt that there’s a need for such a blog, which can tell you about a few things that are secretly making you sick.
These things are around you, in fact, you use them all the time. You might be even sitting on one such thing. This blog will help you identify those and will guide you about the right thing to do.
So let’s quickly have a look at the things that are making you sick.
1: Your computer and mobile devices
I am sure you use computers/cell phones regularly. But, when was the last time you cleaned it?
According to research done by the University of Arizona, the computer contains 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Similarly, you use mobile every time, and you even take them everywhere, but you totally forget to clean them. That mobile phone remains in touch with the skin, face/ears and that means the bacteria is reaching your skin directly.
What kind of bacteria it contains
Your keyboard and your cell phones may contain Escherichia coli (E. coli), Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonellosis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
As complex as these may sound, these bacteria are very harmful.
These bacteria can cause:
- Skin infection
- Pneumonia
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Low platelets
- Neurological complications- Seizure, stroke, etc.
What to do?
The best thing you can do is soak your computer with the detergent.
Just kidding…..
Well nowadays, there are so many options available with which you can clean your devices easily. You can use a special spray, that can clean your device. You can even use wet wipes to clean your device (just don’t blow your nose with that later).
You can get a special guard for keyboards, which are removable and washable.
Are you guilty of taking your phone to the washroom? Avoid that!!
Wash your hand after every use (if possible), and avoid using dirty hands to style your hair.
Strictly avoid eating while using a computer, mobile, or any other device (like a remote controller, or gaming console).
If you think 400 times the bacteria on a toilet seat is a lot, you need to know how much bacteria your mattress may contain.
Caution!!!! Don’t read the next point before sleeping.
2: Your mattress
Have you ever wondered if a mattress can also disturb your sleep?
Well, this next fact will surely disturb your sleep.
Your mattress contains 17 thousand times more bacteria than a toilet seat or roughly 7-8 million bacteria in your mattress, pillow, etc….. ufff
Mainly pillow & mattress goes ignored, and we often wash only pillow covers and bedsheets.
The bacteria, mainly E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus proliferate very quickly if ignored.
How are bacteria reaching your mattress?
There are many reasons why bacteria can reach your mattress, but a few common ones are:
- Keeping wet towel/cloth on the bed
- Eating on the bed
- Sweat
- Bringing outside shoes/clothes in bed
- Dust
- Keeping unclean things on the bed
What they can cause?
I’ve already mentioned how these bacteria can cause skin infection and diarrhea, but as you, we remain more in contact with the mattress and pillow, these bacteria can cause skin irritation-redness, lung infection, hair infection-hair loss, sleep imbalance, etc.
What to do?
Look, I know it’s very hard to clean a mattress and I won’t tell you that. But, there are some other effective ways that can kill the bacteria.
Like the sun, You can keep your mattress, pillow, and cushions under the sun for a few hours. That will kill most of the bacteria.
If that’s not possible for you, then a vacuum cleaner, cleaning stains specifically can help you as well.
Baking soda can also help. Just put baking soda on your mattress, it will absorb all the unwanted moisture.
Now let’s move to the kitchen
3: Your utensils/dishes
Keeping dirty utensils for long (overnight) not only brings negative energy, but it can also cause loss of money because according to Hindu customs, it is believed that keeping dirty utensils is considered an insult towards the goddess of food.
Strictly talking from a hygiene perspective, keeping dirty utensils for overnights invites germs and bacteria and these can stay alive on the surface for up to 4 days. That means you are getting sick while preparing food.
Unclean utensils also invite cockroaches and rodents, and they bring several other diseases with them.
What happens when these bacteria remain for too long?
Bacteria like Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli can be found in your sink and these can cause food poisoning, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach cramps, etc. These are more common with children below 15.
The best practice is to clean the dishes after use to avoid an unwanted illness.
4: Your outdoor clothes/shoes
Imagine you went to several places, sat in multiple places, and carried tons of bacteria with you. You sweated, you played with your neighbor’s dog. When you returned home you went straight to the bed, because you were very tired.
Then a few days later, you experienced skin irritability, fungal infection-especially in private areas, sudden fever, and allergies to multiple things. But, what could be the reason, I wonder…… Hmm!!
You remember, during the pandemic, people used to change their clothes every time they come from outside (in fact bath). Maybe people are now ignoring these habits. Maybe people are now inviting these bacteria to their beds and home.
Similarly, outside shoes should not be brought indoors.
What I love about Japanese culture is they know they are supposed to remove outside shoes before entering the home. Even my sister does not allow outdoor shoes inside her home.
What to do?
- Strictly separate indoor and outdoor clothes and shoes.
- Wash clothes if you have worn them multiple times or for a whole day
- Keep your shoes/slippers under the sun and/or wash them
Few other things that are making us sick
Unclean glasses, caps, handkerchiefs, sharing water bottles, touching face and hair multiple times with dirty hands are a few other things that can make us sick.
In the end
With this blog, we have learned how some things are making us sick. Proper actions need to be taken if you want to avoid getting sick.
Healthy food and activity can definitely keep you healthy, but today we have learned how hygiene is another factor responsible for our health.
In the comments tell me if you are guilty of any of these or if you think there are a few more things that are making us sick secretly.
I shall wait for your response.
Until next time keep smiling because your favorite blogger is back \^-^/
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