Tips to Prevent the Spread of Infectious Diseases

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Let's admit it, nobody wants to be sick. From the common cold to more serious strains of the flu, many infectious diseases run rampant through modern society. You cannot just stop all contact with the outside world in order to stay healthy, but there are many ways you can help lessen your odds of contracting an infectious disease. If you want to stay healthy even when surrounded by sick people, here are six ways you can help prevent contracting an infectious disease.

1. Wash Your Hands
One of the most important ways you can be proactive in preventing the spread of infectious diseases is by washing your hands. Everything you touch can contain disease causing microbes and the best way to avoid these microbes from causing illness is by washing your hands. To get the most out of hand washing, make sure you washing your hands vigorously for about 20 seconds. This should wash away all the unhealthy germs.

2. Stop Sharing
If you truly want to protect yourself from an infectious disease, refrain from sharing personal items like toothbrushes, makeup, towels and razor blades. Sharing these items can increase your chances of contracting an infectious disease.

3. Get Vaccinated
A wide variety of vaccinations can help you protect yourself from contracting infectious diseases. If you want to eliminate your chances of obtaining one of these horrible illnesses, stay up to date on your vaccinations and get a yearly flu shot.

4. Cook Safely
Many infectious diseases are caused by unsafe cooking habits. Before you cook, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands so to avoid contaminating the food your are cooking. Also, make sure foods like vegetables are washed properly so to clean away possibly bacteria.

5. Safe Sex
Though it is not common in Nepal, because of cultural and tradition. Many infectious diseases are spread through sexual contact, and that is why it is important to wear a condom each time your have sex. If you are in serious relationship, ask your partner about his or her sexual past and if necessary, have that person submit to std testing if you want to engage in sexual acts without the use of condoms.

6. Travel Cautiously
In a variety of countries, there are an abundance of diseases that are not necessarily seen in America. Before you travel abroad, make sure you are aware of the types of illnesses that are common to the country you will be visiting. Be sure to get the vaccinations needed for a health and safe vacation.

Fortunately, the risk of contracting an infectious disease can be minimized greatly if you follow the six above listed tips. In order to protect your health, always remember to wear a condom, be a cautious traveler, cook food properly, wash your hands, get vaccinated, and never share personal items. At that point, you can be certain that you will be doing all you can to help protect yourself from contracting an infectious disease.

This is guest post by Ian Watertown who writes about health, travel & more here.

How the World of Medicine is Changing Today

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Each day the pharmaceutical industry is making further strides in creating medicines to help a variety of different ailments. In the past 100 years, medication has gone from helping people live to be 50 to helping people live until 80 and beyond. Why is this? It is because the pharmaceutical industry is constantly developing even better medications and with better medication comes the possibility of a longer life span. The world of medicine is constantly evolving and here are some of the ways medication is evolving today.

1. Choice
From medications that help control the symptoms of diabetes to inhalers that help asthmatic people breathe, the pharmaceutical industry has created a variety of different medications to help alleviate the symptoms associated with many common illnesses. This means people have more choice when choosing medications. This is a great change from the medications of years past.

2. Availability
In today's world of medicine, it is now possible to help those in disease stricken countries obtain the medications they need for a healthier population of people. Each day, more and more people in poor countries are receiving the medication they need to survive.

3. Vaccines
The pharmaceutical industry is constantly coming up with vaccines that can help protect against a variety of different diseases and illnesses. Since the flu shot to vaccines that helps prevent girls from contracting HPV, the world of medicine is always researching and creating new vaccines. The vaccines of today are more advanced than the vaccines of years gone by.

4. Compounding Results
Because of advances in medicine, people have more options when it comes to taking care of their health. When people realize there are a variety of treatment options for what ails them, it may encourage them to get the help they need to manage their illness. This in turn will create a healthier population of people. In years gone by, people did not have the healthiest options available today and that is a major change in medicine.

5. Where the Heart is
Heart disease is a major problem for many people. Because of this, plenty of research has been done to help make heart surgery more successful. Many people may one day require heart surgery and with changes in medicine, it is more likely that the surgery will be a success.

6. Wellness
One major change in medicine that is certain to gain more attention in the years to come is the ability to monitor at risk individuals before they get sick. Through the use of genomic medicine, it may one day be possible to predict a disease before it occurs so a person can take preventive measures that may stop the disease ahead of time.

Modern-day medicine is changing constantly. As a result, people are experiencing longevity and a higher quality of life. Thanks to advances in medical technology, the world of medicine is evolving for the better on an almost daily basis - as can be seen by the examples listed above. Now all we have to do is wait for whatever is the next :)

This is guest post by Jenna Hayworth who writes about health, current events & more here.