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.

One could argue that we as a society are more cautious about germs than ever before. We wear masks, carry hand sanitizer and wash our hands frequently as an attempt to stave off the virus wreaking havoc on our world. Despite our precautions germs are so small and sneaky that they creep into our bodies without being noticed. Humans have come a long way in terms of how we treat germs. It seems impossible that people once believed that foul odors could create disease or that evil spirits could cause a person to become dangerously ill. We have also forgotten how rare it was for parents to see their children survive to adulthood. Progress in modern science has paved the way for the medical advancements we see today. Let’s take a brief glimpse into the history of modern “germ theory” and how we arrived at where we are today. 

So what is “germ theory”? Developed in the late 19th century by microbiologist Louis Pasteur, English surgeon Joseph Lister, and German physician Robert Koch, germ theory is described as a medical theory stating that certain diseases are caused by the invasion of the body by microorganisms, organisms too small to be seen except through a microscope. Prior to this finding no one knew the cause of infections or how they were spread, although there were many theories. Though these three scientists never directly worked together they were all on the same page about the source of infection. With the discovery of germs lead to development of safe surgical practices. 

Joseph Lister was the first man to develop an antiseptic technique after the discovery of germs. Antisepsis is the destruction or inhibition of microorganisms on living tissues, thereby limiting or preventing the harmful results of infection. Not everyone trusted Lister’s method at first and disregarded his work as a scam. However, as the number of surgery related infections fell, the evidence that antisepsis success became irrefutable and it was widely accepted by surgeons around the world. Wider acceptance of germ theory resulted in the emergence of the science of bacteriology, and new research revealed that antiseptics were not the only way to control infection.

The discipline of bacteriology evolved from the need of physicians to test and apply the germ theory of disease. Bacteriology is a branch of microbiology that deals with the study of bacteria.Thorough study has allowed researchers in the field to not only get a better understanding of bacteria and their characteristics,but also how to prevent and manage diseases caused by these organisms. Robert Koch, as previously mentioned, played a large role in the growth of bacteriology. His discoveries ushered in a ‘golden age’ of scientific discovery and a new era of public health. Koch developed techniques that allowed him to observe changes in bacteria over time, and he was the first person able to link specific bacteria to a disease. 

The discovery of germ theory inspired an entire generation of scientists. Though modern society in high, medium and low income countries still faces the ancient scourges of communicable diseases, but also the modern pandemics, In order to face the challenges ahead, it is important to have an understanding of the past. Although there is much in this age that is new, many of the current debates and arguments in public health are echoes of the past. We are better able to grasp the concept of germs and fight them off at home thanks to human evolution and the heroes of the past. 

Here we are yet again with another blog centered around cleaning. Children love to make a mess, but cleaning? Yea it isn’t their strong suit. It can be a challenge to keep things clean, neat, and orderly when you've got young children at home, but it's not impossible. Start teaching your kids how to clean when they're young and you won’t end up cleaning their room for them when they're 17! 

The Basics 

When teaching your little ones about the world of cleaning you have to start small. Our bodies are amazing!  Day after day, they work hard to digest food, pump blood and oxygen, sending signals from our brains, and much more. However, there are tiny invaders that tend to make our bodies sick. We call them germs. Germs are found all over the world, in all kinds of places!  The four main types of germs being bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. They invade plants, animals, and people, and sometimes they can even make us sick. Once germs are inside of us, they stay there. They eat our nutrients and can produce toxins that can be harmful to us. So how do we protect ourselves from germs? Cleaning! Remember the words that germs fear soap, water, and disinfectants. Now that you know the facts about germs, let’s learn some ways to make your kids part of the solution, rather than the problem. 

Expectations 

 Little kids may not have the coordination or dexterity to neatly make their beds every morning, so a good first effort may be to have them pull the comforter up to the top of the bed! It is important to be proud of the little things and not to expect perfection on the first try. Give kids a timeframe to focus their attention and get the task done. 

Chores can be fun! 

Make housework fun by incorporating games into various chores. If your kids feel like 30 seconds is a lifetime when washing their hands, pick a catchy song to dance and sing to whilst they’re doing it as a distraction to make the time fly by. If your kids are a bit too old to believe the idea of “tiny monsters” that live inside your body, why not turn arts and crafts into a valuable learning opportunity. This will give an accurate enough representation of what germs look like underneath a microscope

Chore Chart 

Chore charts are great as they encourage kids to go above and beyond expectations in keeping the house neat and organized as well as being recognized and celebrated for kind, generous, or helpful behavior! Add a smiley face for every time they washed or brushed teeth or made bed and offer a fun reward at the end. 

No Redo’s 

The last thing you want is to send your child a message that their work wasn’t good enough. They can grow discouraged and defeated by the task leaving them less likely to attempt the same task in the future Try to be as supportive and encouraging as possible when teaching your kids how to clean. Even if the job isn't done precisely, you should thank them for their effort rather than insincerely praising them for a less-than-successful execution. Then practice the task again together and offer helpful hints that will result in more success!