Researchers have recently have out that washing your hands after digging in beach sand, could greatly reduce risk of ingesting bacteria that could make you sick.
Based on their study, the researchers have determined that, although beach sand is a potential source of bacteria and viruses, hand rinsing may effectively reduce exposure to microbes that cause gastrointestinal illnesses.
Dr. Richard Whitman, the lead researcher of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study explained simply rinsing hands may help reduce risk, but a good scrubbing is the best way to avoid illness.
To get the data they are looking for, the researchers measured how many E. coli bacteria could be transferred to people’s hands when they dug in sand.
They analyzed sand from the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.
Using past findings on illness rates, scientists found that if individuals were to ingest all of the sand and the associated biological community retained on their fingertip, 11 individuals in 1000 would develop symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.
Ingestion of all material on the entire hand would result in 33 of 1000 individuals developing gastrointestinal illness.
In a further laboratory experiment, the researcher also discovered that submerging one’s hands four times in clean water removed more than 99% of the E. coli and associated viruses from the hands.
Previous studies have shown that concentrations of E. coli bacteria in beach sand are often much higher than those in beach water.
Recent analysis of seven beaches across the nation by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency showed that beachgoers digging in sand were more likely to develop gastrointestinal illness after a day at the beach compared to those not digging in sand.
To keep you free bacteria and stomach aches make it a habit to do hand washing in a regular basis.
The association with these illnesses was even stronger for individuals who reported being partially covered up in sand. Because children played in the sand more frequently and were more likely to get sand in their mouths, they were more likely to develop gastrointestinal illness after a day at the beach.
According to medical facts, E. coli is an indicator of recent sewage contamination and if it is present, pathogens harmful to human health are also likely present.
The origin of these bacteria is often unknown. They can persist throughout the swimming season, remaining a potential contamination source to beach visitors.
The researchers said through these studies there is a need to intensify efforts to determine sources of microbial contamination to beaches and associated risk of playing in beach sand.
According to medical experts, one of the best ways to cope up with tress in work is to forge a smooth relationship with your family and friends.
Based on a study, it was uncovered that a smooth relationship with our love ones reduces the negative effects of work-related stress on our health.
In a research conducted by Ann-Christine Andersson Arntén, a faculty of University of Gothenburg, Sweden she found out that a positive approach and successful stress-management techniques also help to reduce the negative effects of work-related stress.
However, Arntén said when there are stressful experiences both at work and in the relationship, the risk of burnout and poor health increases dramatically.
To get the data, the researcher examined 900 persons took part in her survey.
The survey consists of those who felt they had a good relationship experienced that they enjoyed better health than those who had a more problematic relationship, women with a poorly-functioning relationship experienced more anxiety, mental stress reactions and sleeping difficulties than women who had a good relationship, and men who had a mediocre relationship had a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, psychological and somatic stress reactions than men with worse or better relationships.
Arntén said although the study shows some gender differences, differences amongst individuals belonging to a gender were much greater than the difference between the genders.
Being happy in a relationship is a great way to cope up with work-related stress.
Arntén explained after having been exposed to stress, the body must recover and recharge itself.
She said if there is no opportunity to recover because the work does not allow for breaks and lunches, the body’s reserves are emptied, and poor health ensues.
She added the same principle applies when a person takes work home, frequently works overtime or has recurring quarrels and problems in his or her relationship.
According to her, the effects of the sometimes small but recurring stress situations of everyday life sneak up on a person, who at first does not even notice them.
Furthermore, Arntén revealed the person under stress adapts and tries to accommodate the demands and changes he or she face, until one day, there is such a great imbalance, that massive efforts are needed just to manage everyday life.
She said not taking time to recover can lead to impaired physical and mental health and cognitive and concentration problems, which reduce performance and problem-solving ability and this leads to consequences both at home and at work.