Bacteria Lurks In These Common Places, But these Tips Can Help
Say Goodbye to Germs Today There’s no doubt in asserting that your home is the safest place to reside. Protecting you from the cold, heat, and… Trista Smith -
November 29, 2019
Your home is the safest place where you can reside without any threat, stress, and fear. When the outer world can be apprehensive, it’s your home that will make you feel secure. Providing us with a shelter to live and arena where family members can connect, home is certainly where we can live peacefully.
It is essential to maintain our home, whether the terms of its condition or cleanliness. Both are equally important in ensuring that your home is a safe place to live. Cleanliness forms a significant part of home maintenance. Whether you like it or not, you have to keep your home clean. Dust and germs continuously attack your home, making it dirty and unhygienic. It is necessary to clean every corner of your home to keep yourself healthy.
Your house has unseen bacteria. Pexels
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Dust, Germs, and Bacteria — Oh My!
If you think staying inside can safeguard you from possible diseases and infections, then you must know the fact that your home is a hidden world for germs. You are not the only one living inside your home; there are some unwelcomed and surprising guests that reside in your home without your consent. These guests can bring you troubles in the form of diseases and infections. Hence, it is essential to know more about the bacteria and germs found in the home, so that you can take necessary actions to get rid of them.
Some home-based bacteria can multiply every 20 minutes when they get the right temperature and nutrients to feed in. – Society For General Microbiology
Your living space is shared by thousands of microbes and bacteria that can contaminate your home. There are plenty of chances through which these microbes can attack our household. Germs and bacteria can be spread in various ways. Before getting deep into the bacteria found in your house, let’s take a look at the possibly dirty places in your home.
Your kitchen sink is dirty but can’t be seen from the naked eye. Pexels
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Everything Including the Kitchen Sink
A place where your food is cooked and the entire dirty utensil lie can be one of the most polluted places in your house. Food remnants left in your plates can breed bacteria to a whole new level. When it comes to the most prone area for bacteria, the kitchen sink is the dirtiest place in your kitchen. The kitchen sink houses all your dirty dishes, vegetable peels, and remaining drinks that are enough to make your kitchen develop bacteria.
While a majority of people concentrate on cleaning their kitchen area with disinfectant cleaner, they often forget to focus on the sink. It would help if you always wash your sink with a bleach solution that should clean the drain and the water pipe as well. All the kitchen items must be cleaned thoroughly, including cutting boards, refrigerators, coffee makers, and others.
It is one of the most negligent places in your home that often escape from your cleaning regimen. Bacteria and germs can be formed anywhere. It can travel from one place to another through air or water. Our hands always have bacteria and viruses, and when we touch different items in our home, these bacteria tend to spread. Light switches, handles, and countertops are the most obvious places to develop bacteria. We are in constant contact with these items.
Many have a perception that bathroom knob is the most the dirtiest of all things; studies have proven that there are several other places as well that have higher bacterial count. For instance, bathroom light switch, stove knobs, microwave handles, refrigerator. It is essential to clean these places regularly in order to steer clear from any infection. When you clean your home, you must not forget to keep these items clean. It is not necessary that you wash them daily, cleaning them once a week would be sufficient. Use different wipes to clean every spot rather than using the same for every place.
TV remotes are full of germs that you cannot see. Pixabay
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TV Remote Control
Anything that comes in contact with your hands and remains exposed to air is prone to bacterial attacks. Your remote control lies there all day long, even drops on the floor, stays stuffed between the cushions, bears all your cough and sneezes, all these reasons are ample to make it extremely dirty. The reason why we are ignorant of these germs is that we are not able to see them with naked eyes. Anything that we touch a lot has viruses and bacteria on it.
According to a study conducted by the University of Virginia, it was found that remote control’s surface is the dirtiest and need regular cleaning. It is advised to wipe your remote with bleach or alcohol wipe. Cleaning it daily is the ideal way to steer clear from the bacteria that are found on its surface. You can also add a plastic cover over it to safeguard it from the possible attack of bacteria. It is also advised to keep your toddlers away from the remote as they tend to have a habit of taking everything in mouth and taking remote in the mouth can make them severely ill.
There is a galore of germs found in a bathroom. Pexels
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The Beautiful Bathroom
One of the most common places in households that everyone thinks is the dirtiest in the bathroom. Yes, your bathroom is a galore of germs and bacteria, as your bathroom is the place where your scrub your body dirt and germs. When your body dirt comes together with the moisture of a hot shower, your bathroom becomes the perfect arena for rapid germ growth. These germs feed on the soil and moisture, making your bathroom extremely dirty. You might not be able to see the bacteria present in your home, but they are found in infinite quantity.
There are many prime places in your bathroom where the bacteria are found in maximum that includes shower tub, faucets, drains, toothbrushes, towels, and more. It is essential to regularly clean your bathroom and keep it dry after a shower to prevent rapid bacterial growth. Periodically wipe the handles, surfaces, rods, shelves, and other surfaces with a disinfectant cleaner. Cleaning daily would be more beneficial, but you have to make weekly cleaning mandatory. You can even use your old toothbrushes to clean the small spaces where you cannot reach otherwise. Don’t be a stickler for using the same towels for months and even years. Replace your bathroom towels once a week and toothbrushes every two to three months.
If you have a terrible habit of eating at your computer or using it with dirty hands, then you must know that your computer keyboard has accumulated thousands of bacteria by now. Using a dirty keyboard can be hazardous to your health, as your hands come in direct contact with the keyboard. A British consumer group conducted a study where they inspected keyboards for bacteria, and surprisingly they found many harmful bacteria, including E. coli and staph.
Four out of 20 keyboards were found contaminated with germs that can make you severely ill. To everyone’s shock, a keyboard had five times higher bacteria count than a toilet seat. Hence, it is a concerning issue that you just pay attention to. If you use your computer regularly, it is vital to keep its keyboard clean and free from a germ attack. You would not want to contaminate your keyboard, so always wash your hands before and after using the computer. Make sure the food crumbs do not fall into your console. At regular intervals, clean your keyboard by shaking off or vacuuming the crumbs. Use bleach wipes to clean the keyboard keys.
Pet bowls, pet toys, everything carries germs. Pexels
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Your Four-Legged Friends
If you have pets in your house, then you must be extra careful regarding the growth of germs. Pets can also bring bugs to your home as they stay outside. A study by the NSF found that pet bowls ranked fourth in the hot spots for bacteria in the households. Along with pet bowls, pet toys also carry yeast, molds, and staph. Your pet, whether dog or cat, plays outside in dirt and mud, no matter if they take a bath after that there would be some amount of bacteria left that they would leave in your home.
It is essential to keep your home clean, especially when you have pets around. It would help if you kept all your dog’s accompaniments clean and tidy. Regularly wash or wipe them. Make sure your pets don’t bring germs and bacteria inside your house by cleaning or wiping their paws with wipes before bringing them. Wash the pet bowls with warm, soapy water, and don’t forget to soak them in bleach every once a week. Clean all the pet toys with warm soapy water. It is essential to keep your house clean and hygienic when your pets are around, as it will help in safeguarding your and your pet’s health as well.
The laundry is a common place where bacteria breed. Pexels
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That Smelly Laundry
If you think your clothes are not as dirty as other items in your house, then you are hugely mistaken. Laundry is one of the most common places where bacteria breed. If you leave your laundry for a long duration in the machine, there are high chances that germs can flourish in your laundry within such a short period. When your clothes remain in the device for more than 30 minutes, then you would probably want to run a second cycle to clean your clothes. Your washing machine is also among those dirty spots where bacteria and germs are found in large quantities.
Along with cleaning other items and appliances in your home, you must also focus on keeping your washing machine. Your washing machine cleans all your dirty clothes, and these germs are left in the machine. Hence, it becomes crucial to keep them clean after the wash. Clean the drum with disinfectant cleaner or wipe. Make sure to wipe the surface ad bottom of the machine regularly. There are plenty of different bacteria that are found in the machine. We will discuss all the types of bacteria found in the device and the possible consequences of neglecting them.
As mentioned earlier, washing machines are also prone to bacteria and germ accumulation. No one ever felt essential to clean their washing machine just because it was vulnerable to bacteria until the findings of a multi drug-resistant pathogen found on the infant’s clothing at German’s children’s hospital. Despite taking all the necessary prevention measures, they were unable to eliminate the exposure to the bacteria.
Later it was found that the consumer-grade washing machines in the hospital were responsible for the bacterial growth on the infants’ clothes. The consumer-grade washing machines are low-temperature machines that are not considered ideal for washing large laundries in hospitals. Fortunately, they were able to tame the situation as the infants were only exposed to the bacteria and not infected from it.
How did people come to discover washing machine bacteria? Pixabay
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The Bizarre History of Washing Machine Bacteria
The hospital started conducting tests on their incubators, healthcare workers, and whoever came in contact with the washing machines, shockingly all the tests were negative. Only the infants who wore the clothes were exposed to bacteria called Klebsiella oxytoca. It is mostly found in hospitals that are responsible for pneumonia, urinary tracts, soft tissue infection, and some blood infections as well. The hospital tested the socks and hats worn by the infants and found the source of bacteria in them.
It was only later that the hospital found that energy-saving household washing machines were being used to wash a large number of clothes. In further investigation, Klebsiella oxytoca was found in the detergent drawer and rubber door seal of the machine. To stop the spread of the infections, the hospital got rid of the household machines and replaced them with the large commercial machines.
What Are The Bacteria Affecting Your Washing Machine?
Only less than 20% follow the recommendations for cleaning and maintaining their washing clothes monthly. In order to understand the severity of the issue, you need to know more about the bacteria, possibly lurking in your washing machine that you suppose are otherwise clean. Let’s delve deep into the bacteria thriving in your washing machine, making it the dirty item in your house.
There are plenty of prominent bacteria that are found in the washing machine. Some of the common names that are hazardous to your health include E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella, and Klebsiella pneumonia.
Coliform Bacteria (E. coli)
Commonly known as E. coli, Escherichia coli is one of the notorious forms of coliform bacteria. It is commonly found in feces, and it contributes to fecal contamination. According to an experiment conducted by Dr. Gerba, a renowned microbiologist, it was found that 100 washing machines were contaminated by 60% by coliform bacteria and had a presence of 10% E. coli. This deadly pathogen bacteria can get inside your washing bacteria and contaminate it severely. There are many possible sources through which E. coli can enter the washing machine. One of the common findings for such contamination can be through your bathroom.
No matter how thoroughly wipes after using the toilet, there will be some amount of fecal matter that will be left in your underwear. When your underwear is transferred into the washing machine, the pathogen bacteria can contaminate your laundry. And when you wear the contaminated clothes, E. coli can breed several diseases. Modern washers use plastics in their body and drummer that becomes a welcoming aisle for biofilms that comprises bacteria. E. coli is the most dangerous and commonly found bacteria in the washing machine.
While many E. coli bacteria are harmless, some can make you severely ill. If you are thinking about what could E. coli possibly do by entering your washing machine, then there are plenty of symptoms of E. coli you must be aware of. Diarrhea, fever, bloody stools, vomiting, and painful stomach cramps are some of the early and common symptoms. In children, E.coli can be extremely severe, resulting in kidney failures as well. Hence, it is essential to safe-keep your washing machine from E.coli bacteria.
Salmonella
A prominent cause of food poisoning, Salmonella is one of the dangerous bacteria that can enter your washing machine. Salmonella is commonly spread by coming in contact with a person who hasn’t washed hands. It is a stubborn bacteria and can be found in clothes that are cleaned at 55° C. Just like E. coli, Salmonella can also result in severe diseases.
The travel path of E. coli and Salmonella are quite similar. Hence, it is crucial to close all the loopholes through which these deadly and notorious bacteria can enter your washing machine. It is essential to clean your machine thoroughly after the laundry. The common symptoms of Salmonella are vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea. Salmonella can easily stick on your clothes, making them contaminated. When you wear such contaminated clothes, salmonella bacteria come in contact with your skin generating several diseases.
Staphylococcus Aureus and S. Epidermidis
Better known as Staph Infection, Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of skin infection. It is one of the common bacteria that can be found in your washing machine then in your clothes generating several skin diseases. It generally only result in skin irritation and boils, but Staph, at its worst, can develop blood and bone infections.
Staphylococcus and S. epidermis survive in the laundry at 50° C, as well as making cold water washes more vulnerable to these dangerous bacteria. Scientists advise that you need a temperature of more than 60° C to steer clear from the risks of these bacteria. Practice a regular cleaning regimen for your washing machine to make sure that your clothes and apparatus are not affected by the deadliest washing machine bacteria. There’s nothing you can do to make sure that they don’t enter your machine, you can only prevent them from causing a severe medical issue in your life.
Low-Temperature Responsible For Bacteria Transmission
When it comes to finding the possible causes of such widespread bacteria, the temperature setting of your washing machine can be one of the significant reasons. There is a specific temperature at which your machine wash clothes. Higher the heat, the lower the bacterial transmission. The high temperature will help in killing the bacteria at the early stage, while the low temperature will give them ample opportunity to thrive inside your machine. It is essential to ensure the temperature of your washing machine to determine whether it is prone to bacterial transmission or not.
Ordinary household washing machines are functioned at lower temperatures making your laundry prone to bacteria. Generally, they work at 40° C that is ideal for bacteria to grow in your washing machine and later on your clothes. These household detergents can only remove the dirt and stains; they are not capable of disinfectant cleaning. Commercial machines that are used in big industries, hospitals, public laundries, come with high temperature and have disinfectant cleaning.
They are considered ideal for eradicating the possible bacteria from your washing machine. If you are using your household washing machine, it is advised to avoid cold water washing in order to prevent the bacteria transmission as much as possible. You would not want to contaminate your washing machine. Though the modern washing machines come with the feature of disinfectant cleaning at lower temperatures as well, it is vital to keep checking the temperature. Washing at a lower temperature is also safe for the environment as it saves power and energy. Let’s take a look at the different temperatures at which your washing machine works differently.
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20° C: The most energy-efficient temperature at which you can wash clothes and also contribute to a cleaner environment. 20° C washing reduces running costs but does not work on the bacteria. It is ideal for washing delicate clothes, especially. There are high chances of developing molds in the washing drums while washing at this temperature.
30° C: Best washing temperature for wools, silks ad dyed fabrics, 30° C is also an energy-efficient temperature to wash clothes. A majority of households wash clothes at this temperature. You would need a good detergent to get thorough cleanliness at this temperature.
40° C: A slightly warmer temperature to wash clothes, you can clean all your cotton, acrylic, wool mixes, and polyester blends at this temperature. You cannot clean your delicate fabrics at this temperature.
50° C: An ideal temperature to wash of stubborn stains and keep your clothes safe from bacteria, scientists advise to wash clothes at 20° C or higher temperature to steer clear from the bacteria transmission.
60° C: The perfect temperature to kill bacteria, viruses, and remove stains, this temperature is ideal for catering to all your washing requirements. 60° C is best suited for washing bedding and towels.
The higher temperature is recommended to kill the bacteria and removing the molds on the washing machine and clothes as well. According to NHS (National Health Survey), the ideal temperature to wash linen, towels, and underwear is 60° C, as it will help in killing all the possible and deadly bacteria. Especially when you are washing soiled clothes that have stubborn dirt and stains, you would need to use high temperature. Hence, it is advised to use public laundry if you need to wash more dirty clothes and avoid the risks of bacteria.
Can you stop the spread of bacteria in your washing machine? Pixabay
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Washing Machine Bacteria
So far, you must have learned how washing machine bacteria are harmful and how they possibly enter your washing machine, now the most important thing is to understand the ways to stop such widespread. There’s no second thought in saying that you need to keep your machine clean to prevent germs and bacteria from lingering in your machine and causing severe health issues. Take a look at the below methods of cleaning the washing machine to avoid the risks of bacterial growth.
For effective and long-lasting cleanliness, you must do a little extra work in your weekly cleaning regime. Run an empty cycle once a week with a cup of vinegar or bleach. This barren run will make your washing machine disinfectant. Follow this method regularly to keep your washing machine free from bacterial accumulation.
Mold growth is another major cause of dirt and bacteria growth in the washing machine. To avoid mold spores from developing in your device, keep your machine door open after the wash, so that it can get ample air supply. The moisture after the wash makes your device more prone to molds.
Rubber or plastic ring of your washing machine door is also the hot spot for bacterial growth. Hence, it is crucial to wash them properly with an anti-bacterial cleaner at regular intervals. Cleaning after every wash is considered beneficial to control bacterial growth.
There’s a lint filter in your washing machine that collects all the fabric lint that is shredded from your clothes during the wash. It is essential to empty that filter after every wash as it can develop bacteria and germs from the lint. Empty the screen every time and clean the filter thoroughly at least once a week.
Another brilliant way to keep your machine safe from the contamination is to sort the laundry according to the fabric. Underwear and towels are most likely to have pathogen bacteria that are significant causes of skin disease. Hence, they must be washed separately in order to avoid bacterial growth. It was found that a load of just underwear would have 100 million E.coli, which can further contaminate another laundry as well.
Is detergent strong enough to kill bacteria that is already inside of the washing machine? Pixabay
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Can Detergent Kill Bacteria?
Detergent alone cannot impart much effect on the stubborn bacteria, but when combined with hot water, detergent can tackle bacterial growth. There are two factors that you need to consider while using detergent to kill the bacteria, high temperature, and the fabric you are washing. For instance, a wool cloth washed at 80° can make it shrink. Hence it is essential to check the label of your clothes and read the instructions for washing.
Using hot water with detergent at a temperature of 40°C and more is considered ideal for killing the stubborn bacteria. For better results, you can also add oxygen bleach into it. For a deep clean, soak the clothes in the solution of oxygen bleach and water for half an hour before running it.
The ideal method to complete disinfectant cleaning is by skipping the tumble dry step of washing. Please don’t tumble dry your clothes, instead of spread them in the sun. It is one of the effective methods to eliminate the germs from the clothes. Give your clothes ample exposure to the sunlight, as the UV rays of the sun can kill all the possible bacteria and viruses present in your clothes.
There’s no doubt in asserting that your home is the safest place to reside. Protecting you from the cold, heat, and rain, your house keeps you from all the possible threats. But have you ever imagines that whether your sweet home is safe from bacteria and germs? Probably not, because though you clean your house, you cannot see the possibly harmful viruses. There are plenty of chances through which bacteria and germs can attack your home. From the kitchen sink to the toilet seat, every tiny corner of your home is brimming with bacteria that can make you severely ill.
A washing machine is one such item in your home that houses thousands of bacteria. Though with the advent of technology, the latest washing machines come with germ and dirt free technology and auto-clean feature, they cannot get rid of the germs completely. Various studies and research have found that washing machines can become a haven for bacteria. Though it’s your machine that cleans clothes, it is essential to understand that your washing machine needs cleaning too to remain bacteria-free.
The guide as mentioned above is everything that you would need to know about washing machine bacteria and the ways to steer clear from it. Prioritize your family’s health and make t a mandatory habit to clean your washing machine just like any other item in your house.
Tips for Staying Safe and Healthy in the Cold Winter Months
Health should always be a priority. Whether physical or mental, ensuring well-being must be the foremost task in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Human bodies are vulnerable… Trista Smith -
November 29, 2019
Health should always be a priority. Whether physical or mental, ensuring well-being must be the foremost task in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Human bodies are vulnerable to diseases and ailments. Bacteria and microbes are always prepared to attack human bodies, and it is the immune system that helps in safeguarding the body from such attacks.
There’s no doubt in asserting that maintaining the well-being of mental and physical health is more important than ever. Be it anytime, any season, health should be prioritized on the first basis. Whether it is healthy eating or physical activeness, we all should practice healthy habits to keep ourselves fit and fine.
As mentioned earlier, there is no particular time when you must start taking care of yourself, but there are some instances and periods when you must concentrate a little extra on your health. For example, the winter season is the time when you should be extra concerned about your health as it can bring diseases and ailments that your body might not be prepared for.
Winters can be exciting and fun with festivals, events, and cozy family dinners. There are plenty of distractions that can divert our focus from ensuring our health. Winters can bring several troubles to our health, both physical and mental.
Winter and health are closely related. Pixabay
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How Winter Affects Health
Apart from hiking up the heating bill and chilly bones, winters can affect our mental and physical health in many ways. Winter season is also known as the influenza season, wherein many illnesses and diseases are spread on a full scale. Let’s learn how winters can affect your health and why you should primarily focus on your health when the weather gets chilly.
Winters can make your eyes extremely dry. Pixabay
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The Winter Months Can Dry Your Eyes
Winters can bring trouble to eyes. From itching, burning to grittiness, the cold weather can make your eye dry. The extremely low temperature restricts the eye to develop ample tears to keep the eyes hydrated, resulting in dryness and itchiness.
When your eyes come in contact with chilly winds or the dry air from the heater, it tends to dry the moisture in your eyes. Often eye dryness results in several other severe ailments such as redness and sores. It is vital to keep your eye safe from the chilly winds in order to avoid dryness.
Chilly winds and dust contribute to asthma in winter. Pixabay
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Winter Triggers Breathing Issues
People who have asthma would know how hard it is to survive the season. Winters are not ideal for asthmatic people as the cold weather directly affects breathing. People who are suffering from asthma find it difficult to breathe. Winters also mean less outing and more indoor hangouts. Staying indoors also makes people prone to dust, dander, and mold that can instantly trigger an asthma attack.
It is advised that people who have asthma must keep themselves safe while winter and take necessary medications to keep their asthma in control. Keep your home as clean as possible to avoid contact with dust. Whenever you move out, make sure that you have protected your body from the cold weather outside.
SAD is more common in winter. Pixabay
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The Winter Months Can Make You SAD
Not implying to sadness, SAD (seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression witnessed in people in winter. It generally begins in the fall and continues till the winter. This unique form of depression includes extreme sleepiness, loss of interest, increased appetite, sensations in limbs, social awkwardness or withdrawal, and hopelessness. All these symptoms can make the person irritated and frustrated.
The reason why SAD is witnessed in winter because it is the season when people feel lethargic and tend to stay indoors for a long that can culminate in the SAD symptoms. There are several treatments and therapies for SAD. Doctors recommend that light therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exercise can help tame the symptoms of SAD.
Winters take out the moisture from your skin. Pixabay
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It Cracks Your Skin
One of the significant concerns of entering the winter season is your skin condition which tends to get worse with the dipping temperature. The chilly cold winds can dry your skin developing cracks and burns. When humidity gets low, cold weather tends to take a toll on your skin health. Your skin will start becoming dry if you are not keeping them moisturized.
The dryness can also result in several other skin ailments such as dry skin can create silvery scales on your skin or give burning sensations. It is advised to keep your skin moisturized every time. Use a good moisturizer that can keep your skin hydrated for longer hours. Take short showers rather than extensive ones to avoid dryness. Use a humidifier in your room to keep your skin hydrated while indoors. Cover your body with winter clothes as well.
Cold and chilly weather will always keep you inside. Pixabay
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Winter Can Make You Lethargic
Staying physically active is one of the essential criteria to keep the body fit and healthy. But, winters won’t even allow you to get out of bed. Lack of physical exercise can make you prone to several muscle and bone ailments. Staying indoors will develop sedentary habits that can weaken your immune system and expose you to contagious diseases.
Also, germs spread quickly when people are nearby. It is advised to do as many physical activities as possible to keep your pump your body with energy. Though it might be challenging to get out in the chilly cold weather, it is just a starting trouble, and once you decide to get out, the weather won’t be a problem. If you can exercise in open, try hitting the gym every day.
Winter will increase your hunger. Pixabay
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Winter Can Change Your Eating Habits
Just like physical activeness, your diet plays a significant role in enhancing your well-being. Winters can also bring significant changes in your eating habits, as well. In winter, your body tends to go through several changes in terms of metabolism, energy levels, and appetite. That can completely change your food preferences.
As mentioned earlier, overeating in winter is a common thing now. When people are bound to stay indoors for an extended period, their boredom compels them to eat more and shift to food items that are easy to digest but harsh on your health. Winters are the time when people start inclining towards junk food. The intake of unhealthy food and physical inactivity together can result in a malicious winter lifestyle. The change in eating habits or, more precisely, overeating leads to sudden weight gain and obesity in some people.
Winter will bring inescapable allergies. Pixabay
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It Makes You Prone To Allergies
Along with chilly winds and lethargy, winters can also bring irritating allergies. There are plenty of allergies that are only developed during the winter season that you must be aware of. If you think that staying indoors can save you from all the possible consequences of the winter season, then you are unfortunately wrong. Your safe indoors actually accommodates severe allergic elements that can trigger ailments.
People usually think that spring is the prime time for catching allergies due to the high count of pollen found in the season. But, winters are also the welcoming aisle for many allergies that you need to keep yourself guarded against.
Weather irritants like pet dander, mildew, and mold are found all around the year, but during winter, people tend to remain ignorant of those often leads to allergic reactions. It is essential to stay vigilant about the dust and dirt in your house. Air furnaces also circulate dust that contains lint, fabric, fiber, bacteria, and everything that can make you extremely ill. Common symptoms of winter allergies majorly include itchy eyes, runny nose, postnasal drip, coughing, and a sore throat. It is essential to keep your surroundings clean in order to steer clear from possible allergies.
Migraines intensify during the winter months. Pixabay
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Winter Triggers Migraine
Similar to physical ailments, the winter season is also a prime time for frustrating migraines, Research has found that people suffering migraines have witnessed that the winter season tend to enhance the severity of their migraine. Extreme weather, cold storms, fluctuating temperature, barometric pressure anything can be the possible reason for winter migraines. Some studies have shown that many people have found the connection between what’s happening outside and inside their brains. That means, the outer weather condition directly affects our brain.
If you have been dealing with migraines for quite a long time now, then it is necessary to keep all the medication handy before winters raise its intensity. Try to jot down all the instances of your migraines along with their intensity to determine if they are higher during the winter season, Seek assistance from your doctor as well to know more about the winter migraines.
Winters are the harbinger of arthritis. Pixabay
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Winter Brings Arthritis
Physical inactivity can lead to several muscle and joint-related ailments, and arthritis is just one among many. Arthritis can affect people all through the year, but it is found that its intensity increases during winter. The cold winters can make it harder to tame the symptoms of arthritis.
There are many types of arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of arthritis that is intensified in winter. It is found that inflammation of the joints witnessed during arthritis tends to take a severe turn in winter. The cold weather starts affecting joint pain. Even doctors claim that every arthritis patient experiences extreme pain in joints in the winter.
The rise in barometric pressure during the winter season is claimed to be the reason for the increased arthritis pain. It is advised that arthritis patients must focus on stretching and tension-release exercises in order to get relief from chronic joint pain during the winter.
Adopt healthy life choices for a healthy winter. Pixabay
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What Should You Do to Keep Yourself Safe and Healthy During the Winter?
As you have been already acquainted with what winters can do to your health, it is crucial to understand what you can do to prevent that. With shorter days and longer nights, winters often make it impossible to keep yourself motivated to stay fit and healthy.
Such lethargy can make your immune system weak and prone to severe ailments in the winter. No wonder there are winter blues that makes a person less excited about doing anything.
Don’t feel tempted by carbs during the winter. Pixabay
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Calm Down Your Carb Cravings
Maintaining a well-balanced diet is the first habit towards a safe and healthy winter. The cold weather can compel you to turn towards carbs and other comfort food that can cause possible damage to your health.
Try hard to curb these cravings in winter and shift towards a wholesome and nutritious diet. Divide your meals into tiny sections. Take small meals at regular intervals to trick your brain that you’re eating the whole day.
Keep your skin hydrated with a humidifier. Pixabay
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Humidify the Air
While staying inside is the most common escape plan to safeguard your body from the cold weather, it is essential to make your indoors warm and humid to avoid the chill to ruin your comfy home space. Make air humidifier a necessary component in your winter essentials.
It helps in adding moisture back to the air, prevents skin from drying, and keeps it hydrated for long. It also reduces the risk of virus and bacteria transmission. It is essential to keep your skin hydrated even when you’re at home, and a humidifier is a great means to keep your skin moist.
Spice up your life and diet during winter — literally. Pixabay
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Spice Up Your Life
If you have been keeping yourself away from the spices, now is the time to make friends with them. Spices are great energy boosters in the winter. It strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation, balances the mood, and rejuvenates your senses as well.
Lemon, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon are some of the everyday spice staples that you must include in your winter diet. You can add spices in your dishes, smoothies, coffee, or tea. Spices are also known to provide your body with the required inner warmth. Hence, including it in your diet during winter is the best way to keep your body radiated.
Hand-washing is essential to stay away from diseases in the winter. Pixabay
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Frequently Wash Your Hands
Hygiene starts with your hands. Though it might sound like the most cliché health tip of all time, hand washing is one of the critical criteria to ensure your well-being. Make sure to wash your hands properly in winter. It will help in protecting the immune system and prevent you from catching a cold and flu. With proper hand washing, you can safeguard your health from possible contagious diseases as well.
It does not take much effort to adopt a healthy hand wash habit. Not just hand washing before and after a meal, you must wash your hands properly even before going out and coming back. Frequent hand washing will only help you steer clear from winter-related diseases. It is also advised always to keep a sanitizer in your bag.
Your skin will love the steam or sauna anytime, but especially during the cold months. Pixabay
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Treat Your Body With Steam or Sauna
Winter is the ideal time to treat your body. As mentioned earlier, winter tends to increase the chances of depression, joint pains, and other physical and mental ailments; it is advised to rejuvenate your body and soul with a hot sauna or steam therapy. When the tension and stress start taking a toll over your health, book a sauna or steam room, and relieve all the pressure there.
The high temperature and heat therapy helps relax the tensed muscles because they offer the required heat for the paining joints. It is essential to pamper your skin through all the seasons. In winters, you need to make some extra efforts to make it love your skin. If you can go out for a sauna or steam therapy, you can create your own steam at home and enrich your body with the heat and warmth.
Rest for longer to wake up fresh in the morning. Pixabay
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Sleep Longer and Better
Winters are the time when the days get shorter and nights get longer, and this would make your body crave more sleep. Your body will automatically adjust to the pattern of the hours of daylight. It is advised to take a good night’s sleep in the evenings to wake up fresh and rejuvenated.
Use the longer evenings to take short naps to relax your mind and body and keep your body energetic in the daylight by getting good sleep during the night. Rest is an essential process to keep our mind, body, and soul fresh, be it any season. But, the winter season, in particular, requires extra energy and zeal to steer through the day. So, do practice to take proper sleep in the winter so that you can wake up all charged for a sunny winter morning.
Meditate to keep your senses active during the winter. Pixabay
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Make Meditation Important
When depression and stress start running your winter, meditation can bring an abundance of positivity and rejuvenation to your life. Mediation is the ideal escape from the winter blues as it helps beat lethargy, stress, anxiety, and everything that can possibly make your winters unexciting. Take some time out from your morning schedule to practice meditation.
If you start practicing meditation regularly, you can witness significant changes in your stress levels and anxiety. Meditation is also great to increase concentration. You can practice meditation even in your home, and you need a quiet place where you can meditate peacefully. Take an escape from your busy life and engage in reflection, and the returns will be magnificent.
Don’t compromise your social life due to the winter months. Pixabay
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Stay As Social As Possible
As mentioned earlier, winters can make you lazy and lethargic. You would only want to stay inside your comfy bed and embrace the warmth. Trust me that would do no good to your life. Winters can cut short your social life. Don’t let that happen. Don’t compromise on your social life just because of cold weather. Go out, meet friends, make a plan, and escape the chilly weather with ample companionship. You can even plan vacations with your friends and family as well.
As winters are the time of holidays, please make the most of it by staying socially active throughout the season. Being socially restricted and pulling yourself apart from social life is not a great option to spend your winters. Not being socially active can also bring mental issues like depression and stress. So, if you are not planning to delve into that stress, get out and explore.
Make your home part of the gym during the winter. Pixabay
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Exercise At Home
Staying physically active is extremely important to keep up with the winters. Don’t just stay in your bed and look for some motivation to get up. If you are not able to hit the gym, make your house your gym arena and conduct workout sessions there. You can do a wide variety of workouts from the comforts of your home — for instance, practice yoga, strength training, aerobics, cardio activities, or bodyweight exercises.
Whatever you do, make sure it gives positive results to your body. You can even consult your gym instructor regarding the tasks that you can do at home. Staying physically active will fill your mind, body, and soul with the required energy to beat the chill. Working out at home is the ideal practice to stay inside yet engage in physical activities to keep your body charged in the winter.
Keep your vehicle winter-ready before the snow falls. Pixabay
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Get Your Vehicle Inspected
Winters are the prime time when a majority of accidents happen. Around 480,0000 injuries are caused due to winter-related accidents each year. Apart from driving safely in the winter, it is essential to make sure that your vehicle is reliable for driving around in the winter season. Make sure to apply winter tires to your car so that they are safe for driving on slippery and snowy roads. Ask your mechanic to inspect the vehicle thoroughly before hitting the road.
The safety of your family lies in your hands. Don’t gamble with your family’s safety during the winter and get your vehicle inspected at regular intervals during the winter. Winter servicing of your car is another important task you must do to keep your vehicle winter-ready always. Please don’t hold your vehicle stationary for a longer period in winter, as it will lose its functionality due to the cold weather.
Incorporate omega-3 fatty acids in your diet for a healthy winter. Pixabay
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Include Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Your Diet
There are plenty of food nutrients that are required in winter, and omega-3 fatty acids are one among them. It is a type of fat that is majorly found in plant seeds, nuts and fish. Adding omega-3 fatty acids in our diet has many benefits. It is known to treat the stiffness and inflammation of joints. It works as an anti-inflammatory ingredient that relieves arthritis, inflammation, and pain. Studies have even found that omega-3 fatty acids can help in lowering depression and stress levels. If you want to keep yourself fit and healthy, both physically and mentally, it is advised to add this fantastic fat nutrient in your diet.
Drink more green tea now, and always. Pixabay
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Make Green Tea Your Companion
During the winter season, it is crucial to keep yourself warm and hot. Drinking hot beverages is the ideal way to consume the hotness and keep your body warm for long. Though you can consume any hot beverage, be it tea or coffee if you want some added benefits to getting addicted to green tea.
Brimmed with antioxidant properties and flavonoids, green tea can benefit your health in more than one way green tea is ideal for reducing the risks of various winter-related ailments like cold, flu, influenza, or allergies. Drinking a cup of green tea every day can steer clear you from the possible. Green tea is also beneficial for treating many severe diseases, as well. It is counted among the herbal teas that are even used in ayurvedic treatments and therapies.
Treat your skin differently during the winter months. Pixabay
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Modify Your Skincare Regime
Your skin is primarily affected by winter weather. The cold chilly winds tend to take out all the moisture from your skin, leaving it dehydrated. Unlike your summer skincare regime, winters need a more rigorous and practical regime. Your skin needs extra hydration and moisture to prevent skin dryness.
Winters can be harsh on your skin. The cold temperature and less humidity can make your skin lose the required moisture. Do not take longer baths as it can make your skin lose moisture. You must use good-quality moisturizers to hydrate your skin during the winter. Skin tends to lose moisture faster in winter than in any other season. Hence, it is vital to make sure you are using the best moisturizer and serum to treat your skin. Start using facial oils, hyaluronic acid, and balms to layer your winter skin with moisture.
Always apply sunscreen, even in the wintertime. Pixabay
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Don’t Skip the Sunscreen
The sun’s UV rays are harmful in all seasons. If you think that exposing your skin to the sun’s rays in winter will give you the required warmth, then, unfortunately, you are wrong. It is essential to apply sunscreen, even in winter. Usage of good SPF should not be limited to summers only; your winter skin also needs to be treated well. Researchers have found that ice and snow reflect 80% of rays, making them even harsher for our skin.
Make sure to coat your skin with moisturizer and sunscreen before stepping out in the sun. If you don’t want to ruin your skin and develop sunburns or rashes due to the sun’s harmful rays, then make sunscreen an essential component in your handbag. Invest in quality sunscreens when you are buying it in the winter season. There are plenty of products available in the market, go for the best SPF that would be ideal for your skin.
Feel safe and secure thanks to handrails. Pixabay
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Install Handrails for Security
The cold and chilly weather can make your stairs slippery and highly dangerous. Even in the home, winters can bring possible threats. With slippery and wet floors, there are ample chances of severe falls that can bring drastic trouble to your health. It is advised to install handrails along your stairs to safeguard you and your family from the unpredictable falls.
Bars are essential if you have any seniors or arthritis patients in your home. It will give them added support and balance while using the stairs. Prioritize the use of handrails to make your household safer. Keeping your stairs open from both sides is dangerous in the first place, and winters would only make the situation worse. Before the winters are around the corner, install handrails on your stairs to steer clear from the possible falls.
Make the most of the chilly season by safeguarding your health. Pixabay
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Don’t Wait for the New Year to Make a Change
Stop being a couch potato in the winter and take control of your health. In order to shape a healthy lifestyle during winter, it is essential to follow some healthy life practices that will undoubtedly whelp you in safeguarding your health during the winter. There are infinite winter wellness tips that can possibly save your life and ensure that you have a safe, healthy, and fit holiday season. Adopting these healthy winter habits will help you recognize the drawbacks of your health and the ways you can fill in the gap to make things perfect.
Take a look at below healthy winter habits that you must follow in the winter. It won’t take much effort and time to imbibe these life practices into your daily routine. Just a little dedication towards your life and a sense of responsibility towards your health are all you need to steer clear from all the possible consequences of winters. After all, it’s all about keeping you safe and healthy during the winter.
For some, winters can be the most exciting and enthralling part of the year that brings joy to their lives. Whereas there are many, often in the majority, that tend to suffer all through the winters bearing its consequences. As mentioned earlier, there are several ways through which winters can take a toll on your health. From increasing arthritis pain to making you more lethargic, winters can make significant changes in your lifestyle.
To safeguard yourself from accidents and ailments in the winter, it is essential to follow some healthy practices that will help you sail smoothly in the winter. The above-mentioned were some of the best healthy habits that you must adopt in your life, especially during winter months.
Enjoy the weather to its most, but make sure to keep yourself safe, healthy, and sound. Do not forget to make these healthy habits a part of your daily life.
