Good hygiene: A means of preventing disease

BY NKEREUWEM VICTOR

Maintaining personal hygiene is necessary for many reasons;  personal, social, health, psychological or simply as a way of life. Keeping a good standard of hygiene helps to prevent the development and spread of infections, illness and bad odours. Most people are very conscious of personal hygiene because, we are taught of the importance of hygiene from early age, it is considered a way of making ourselves more attractive to the opposite sex, it is off-putting to our friends and colleagues if we smell unpleasant, and also we are aware of health problems that can develop as a result of poor personal hygiene. 

Body image influences self-esteem, confidence and motivation. Those who already have low self-esteem and especially those with depression often neglect personal hygiene which perpetuates the problem of poor body image. Most people hate to be talked about, especially in a negative manner. By ensuring that our body is clean and well presented, we are more assured of projecting a positive body image that reflects our personalities. Children should be taught the importance of hygiene and how to achieve good hygiene very early to keep themselves and others healthy at all time. 

Poor hygiene can lead to poor health. Hand washing cannot be emphasized enough as this simple action can prevent a plethora of illnesses and disorders developing. Many people “forget” to wash their hands after using the toilet or before handling foods, this can cause a great deal of illness and even death. By being well presented, clean and tidy, people can feel more confident, especially in social situations. Our chances of succeeding sometimes either in work or social settings, or even with the opposite sex can be altered by maintenance of good hygiene.

Being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, cleaning things that you tough if you are unwell, putting item such as tissues that may have germs into a bin, and using protection like gloves or condoms when you might be at risk of catching an infection. Personal hygiene, such as bathing, is very much dependent on the culture in which you live. In some cultures, it is expected that you will wash your body at least every day and use deodorants to stop body smells. Other cultures have different expectations. Body odours are caused by a number of factors working in combination, including: chemicals in sweat, including pheromones, which are made by the body and sexually attract or repel other people. Wastes excreted through the body such as metabolized alcohol.

The actions of bacterial that lived on the skin and feed on dead skin cells and sweats, and unwashed clothes, such as underwear and socks. Most infections, especially colds and gastroenteritis, are caught when we put our unwashed hands, which have germs on them, to our mouth. Some infections are caught when other people’s dirty hands touch the food we eat. Hands should be washed with clean soap and water, using a brush if your fingernails are dirty. Dry your hands with something clean such as towels or hot air dryers. Hair and teeth are good places to also think of together with those areas of the body that might smell or which are more prone to fungal and bacterial infections. 

In general sense, personal hygiene may be described as the principles of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. People have been aware of the importance of hygiene for thousands of years. Personal hygiene products are a billion dollar business in the commercial market, with many high profile celebrities endorsing products that aim to keep us looking out best. In fact, hygiene is actually as scientific study. Maintaining a high level of personal hygiene will help to increase self-esteem and confidence, while minimizing the chances of developing imperfections. Failure to keep up a standard of hygiene can have many implications. 

Poor personal hygiene in relation to preventing the spread of disease is paramount in preventing epidemic or even pandemic outbreaks. Social aspect can be affected, as many people would rather alienate themselves from someone who has bad personal hygiene than to tell them how they could improve. It can also have significant implications on the success of job applications or the chance of promotion, no company wants to be represented by someone who does not appear to be able to look after themselves.

As earlier noted, children should be taught the importance of hygiene as early as possible, with oral care, washing, toilet hygiene and hair care being taught as part of everyday routines. Singing songs or making a game out of the activities will help to ensure that they enjoy looking after themselves. Both time can provide an ideal opportunity for spending quality time together, and for teaching about the importance of cleanliness. Toys such as dolls can be used to educate children in correct hygiene practice techniques.