A healthy perspective: Good habits, wise choices help keep your family safe

ROCKWALL, TX (November 13, 2014) A catchy C-diff commercial is one of most popular new commercials on TV right now.  Have you seen it? The message – “I wash my hands with soap. Do you wash your hands with soap?” It’s simple, yet powerful.  (C Diff is an easily spread intestinal bacteria that causes unpleasant illnesses.)

Despite recent news reports suggesting otherwise, commonplace illnesses are still the greatest threat to your family. Healthcare is a complicated topic and sometimes it is difficult to know how concerned we should be or what precautions should be taken. The good news is that most of the time taking care of yourself and your family really is quite simple.

What is the concern? We are accustomed to the appearance of influenza each year and the common cold is so common we don’t even think about it. However as a mobile, global and socially connected world we have recently been introduced to Enterovirus, MERS and Ebola amongst others – which can be unsettling.

According to government reports, 20% of the American population will be affected by the flu this year resulting in many hospitalizations. But other diseases and illnesses should not be forgotten. Take, for example, cardiac arrest. While not “seasonal” it is well documented that holidays are prime time for heart attacks, largely due to stress levels.

How do I keep my family healthy? Flu, Enterovirus, C-diff and others are ordinary airborne or contact illnesses that are easy for others to catch. Four simple steps can make a difference:

1. Wash your hands. This one act can destroy many germs ready to attack your immune system. Remember, “I wash my hands with soap. Do you wash your hands with soap?”
2. Cover coughs and sneezes.
3. If sick, remain at home so you don’t infect others.
4. Vaccinate against flu.

Other simple tips focus on habits and choices. Make time for exercise to keep weight and stress levels down, build cardiovascular health and improve strength and flexibility.  During holidays we tend to indulge in more in food and drink so just try to keep indulgences to a minimum and balance with healthy options.

How much should I worry about outbreaks of rare, deadly diseases? The simple answer is – not much. Your biggest concern should be common and/or controllable illness and disease. In theUnited States, thousands will die of the flu annually but the odds of contracting one of those new, terrifying diseases is extremely small. In fact you are much more likely to die from a well-known disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 5 of us will die of heart disease and 1 in 7 from cancer.

Let’s keep everything in perspective. Because, simply put, your family’s health has much more to do with how you live your life and the little things you do each and every day.

Submitted by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall. Their Good Health guest columns cover a variety of topics at BlueRibbonNews.com.

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