It’s that time of year again when a runny nose accompanied by a cough runs rampant, except those symptoms have been prevalent all year round with the rise of Covid-19 in the U.S. The common cold and flu aren’t the only bugs that will be circulating throughout this upcoming winter. This year we have to worry about Covid too. Unfortunately for you and I many of these illnesses share the same symptoms, making them difficult to distinguish one from another. In this blog most we will go through methods that provide you with an outline in order to stay safe and healthy this winter. 

The Common Cold 

According to the CDC common colds are a significant reason why children and adults miss out on obligations. In the United States, there are millions of cases of the common cold. Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year, and children have even more. Stress and lack of sleep can increase your risk of getting frequent colds. Practicing good hygiene, eating right, sleeping, and reducing stress all help keep colds away. Other steps to avoid catching a cold include;

• Clean frequently used surfaces - Viruses can live on doorknobs and other places people often touch
•  Wash your hands, especially before eating or preparing food. You also want to wash your hands after using the bathroom, wiping your nose or coming in contact with someone who has a cold
• Use hand sanitizers when you don’t have access to soap and water 
• Avoid touching your face - Cold viruses spread from your hands to your eyes, nose and mouth
• Strengthen your immune system so your body is ready to fight off germs. Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise

Influenza 

Influenza is a serious disease that can potentially  lead to hospitalization and on rare occasion even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. It's likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter. The easiest way to fight against the flu is by getting a flu vaccine. Influenza is the only respiratory virus that is preventable by vaccination. Flu risk reduced up to 60% with the vaccine. Other ways to help prevent against the virus include; 

•  Wear A Mask to prevent possible exposure when out in public places 
•  Eat Healthy and balanced meals to strengthen your immune system
• Exercise boosts your immune system and helps to speed recovery from illness 

Acute Bronchitis or simply Bronchitis is a viral respiratory infection causing the inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs. infection. Commonly appearing in the winter acute bronchitis starts suddenly, usually over a few days. At first, you may have cold or flu symptoms such as runny nose,sore throat, tiredness, chills, sore muscles and a slight fever. These symptoms will usually last 3 to 5 days until you get the dreaded cough. Usually doesn't produce mucus at first but may later produce clear, yellow, green, or sometimes even bloody mucus. This disease may make your chest hurt when you cough or breathe deeply. Often lasts 2 to 3 weeks and sometimes even longer. If you somehow catch this virus the best way to treat it is by; 

• Taking over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• If you have wheezing, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler
• Cough medicines almost never make you feel better, but some can help a little at night if your cough keeps you from sleeping.

No matter the time of year, it’s important to practice good hygiene, such as hand washing, and avoiding contact with other people when you are contagious. If you find yourself sick during the winter months, your immune system will often handle it. However, don’t be afraid to go to a Doctor and seek professional help. We hope this blog helped you learn something new about preventative measures to take to stay safe this upcoming winter.

Contrary to what some people may believe, UV light is in fact not purple. Rather, ultraviolet light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye. It is naturally produced by and accounts for 10% of the total radiation output from our Sun. Discovered in 1801 by German physicist, Johann Ritter, the identification of the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum gave humans a new idea of what that spectrum entailed. However, it wasn’t until nearly a century later when Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation or UVGI appeared in the picture as a disinfecting solution. Since then ultraviolet light has been a friend to the disinfection world.

Defined as is the use of ultraviolet (UV) energy to kill or inactivate viral, bacterial, and fungal species, UVGI was discovered by two scientists who figured out that the ability of sunlight to neutralize bacteria was dependent on three main things:

• Intensity, 
• Duration,
• Individual Wavelengths

With this information becoming widely available, scientists began experimenting with different ways to utilize UV light to their benefit. In 1933 an eccentric American scientist by the name of William F. Wells developed a hypothesis elaborating on the concept of airborne infection by droplet nuclei and the use of UVGI to disinfect the air. Following initial success Wells went on to demonstrate that airborne infectious organisms could be efficiently killed in a short period of time, which helped prove the very concept that infections can be spread via the air. With the perceived success of UVGI it began to make its way into hospital rooms across the country. 

UVGI made headway in the medical field with its ability to curb infection rates and safely sanitize hospital operating rooms. UVGI is primarily delivered from three systems: portable, in-duct and upper-room. 

• Upper-room UVGI confines the germicidal radiation to the entire room area above people's heads 
• Portable UVGI units are used in patient, surgical and ICU rooms, and other critical-care settings
• Stationary UVGI disinfection can take the form of either in-duct systems for airstream disinfection or upper-room installations to prevent infection transmission within a room

Today we see UVGI being used all over the world as a weapon against germs and specifically Covid-19. Coronavirus is highly susceptible to germicidal UV irradiation as it is able to inactivate microorganisms by causing DNA damage and preventing replication which can in turn deactivate the virus on surfaces. 

This is what PurLite does. Using UVC light, our PurLite box harnesses that energy in order to eliminate bacteria, fungal and viral particles that linger on the different surfaces within your home. Don’t just clean your home, PurLite it.

There is powerful psychology behind cleaning. For some of us, even the sight of a clean and tidy home, can help blunt the effects of a stressful day. A more organized and clean house can lead to more production. You’re less stressed and more focused without distractions from clutter and dirt. Without distractions in place, your mind can process at a faster pace. It’s time to take a look at the connection between a clean house and mental health. 

Aside from having a cleaner home, the relationship between cleanliness and mental health can help us reduce anxiety and other mental health issues. This may come as a surprise but housekeeping produces endorphins which improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. Regular participation in an aerobic exercise like scrubbing and mopping has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep and self-esteem. Running up and down the stairs, carrying items from room to room, and scrubbing windows can burn calories, release endorphins, and help you blow off steam.  If you incorporate mindfulness into your cleaning, the work can actually be a form of meditation, leaving you more relaxed after you finish. According to Good Housekeeping 70% of Americans say tidying their home offers them a feeling of accomplishment, 61% say it makes them feel de-stressed, and 54% say they experience relaxation. A positive mental state will help you stay on top of your daily tasks. 

Few things are more satisfying than entering a perfectly clean home. Unfortunately, once your house is clean, it becomes easier to slip into bad habits. You might be tempted to leave your jacket on the floor because going to the coat rack feels like too much work. Or you might squeeze a book into an overcrowded bookshelf, because what’s one book anyway? Soon enough, your home will be just as disorganized as before. The process of wiping down your desk counter, washing your sheets, making your bed, going through clutter, taking out the trash, washing the dishes, dusting the shelves, and other hands-on cleaning-related activities can lead to a very blissful, meditative state. By thinking about what you are cleaning you might find an extra appreciation that you didn't realize you were lucky to have before. Inner peace comes more from wanting what you have than from having what you want, unearthing the wonderful haven beneath the dirt and clutter can bring a new level of gratitude for all that you have.

 Stay on top of chores and tasks in order to help yourself from getting in a rut. It’s easy to undermine the power of organizing and decluttering; however, especially while we are all confined to sheltering-in-place, remember the wide-ranging mental health benefits, and embrace your cleaning.