2018 universal health coverage
April 7th is World Health Day, aimed at drawing attention from countries around the world to health issues, improving current health conditions, raising people's health levels, and enhancing quality and awareness in the health sector.
The theme of World Health Day 2018 - Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere.
Spring is a time when everything grows, but it is also a season when many illnesses can easily occur. If you want to be healthy inside and out, let's pay attention to those 'hygiene blind spots' that you have ignored over the years.
It's time for a thorough cleaning at home.
Cleaning and tidying up are fundamental. Items that are piled up at home, which are usable but will not be used again, should also be recycled or disposed of in a timely manner. This 'detoxification' of your space will make you feel refreshed inside and out.
1. Refuse unnecessary items
We always have countless reasons to buy things: 'super cheap,' 'high cost-performance,' 'everyone says it's great'... Any reason can turn you into a 'shopaholic' instantly. If you can't control yourself, you must abandon these thoughts. The only reason to buy something should be: I need it!
Only items that are useful to you are worth buying; otherwise, they will just gather dust in a corner and take up valuable living space.
Ask yourself before swiping your card:
Is it really useful?
How many times will I use it after buying it?
The item is good, but is it suitable for me?
Do I already have something similar at home?
2. Throw away items you can't use
Discarding items requires great courage because even if you can't use something at the moment, you might think: I might need it someday, right? This leads to a cluttered room, as you choose to keep a pile of useless, redundant items because of the 'just in case' mentality.
Stop thinking 'throwing it away is wasteful,' 'a few days past the expiration date is fine,' 'it might be useful elsewhere'... These are all baseless thoughts. You think you are being frugal, but actually, it's foolish! Any item that you can't use is just taking up space. Even if it hasn't expired, it should be cleaned out regularly. The only standard for sorting is: Do I need it now? Items you can't use should be transferred or disposed of promptly.
Ensure regular storage and disposal:
Put daily small items in storage boxes and place them in visible and easily accessible locations.
Items that are not frequently used but necessary should be placed in sealed boxes with labels indicating the item name and expiration date. Clean them out monthly.
Hygiene and health blind spots you easily overlook
Places you touch every day and clean diligently might be the dirtiest. Surprised? Those seemingly clean and harmless items could actually pose a threat to your health.
1. Kitchen sink
Dishes soaked in the kitchen sink, along with food residues on them, create an ideal breeding ground for pathogens. Don't think that using dish soap solves everything. If you're not careful, these bacteria can get on your hands or into your food.
The correct way to clean the kitchen sink is to wash it daily with a bleach solution, letting the bleach water flow down the drain. Remember to clean the drain stopper thoroughly and wash your hands afterward.
2. Toothbrush
Oral bacteria have already contaminated your toothbrush to some extent. You would never guess that when you flush the toilet, many bacteria and viruses are also propelled into the air. These pathogens can float in the air for at least 2 hours after each flush, then settle on surrounding surfaces, including your toothbrush.
What you need to do is place your toothbrush in a well-ventilated area, keep it dry, avoid placing it too close to the toilet, and replace it frequently.
3. Condiment bottles
If I told you that the dirtiest place in your home might be the dining table where you eat every day, could you tolerate it? However, research on 30 adults with cold symptoms found that 41% of the surfaces they touched at home within 18 hours contained cold viruses, with condiment bottles being a major culprit, almost entirely covered in cold viruses.
When wiping down the kitchen counter, don't forget to wipe the condiment bottles as well. The best and simplest way is to remember to wash your hands, both before and after using the condiment bottles.
4. Remote control
Remote controls for TVs and other household appliances are items that everyone in the house touches. They are often placed everywhere, even dropped on the floor. Inevitably, the bacteria on remote controls are numerous.
What you need to do is frequently wipe the remote control with a towel dipped in alcohol or bleach water, and wash your hands regularly.
5. Computer keyboard
If you eat in front of your computer, sneeze on the keyboard, or use the computer without washing your hands, your keyboard could become a health hazard. Research has found that keyboards contain a large number of potential pathogens, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus, with some keyboards harboring five times more bacteria than toilet seats.
Wash your hands before and after using the computer, and try not to eat in front of it. When cleaning the keyboard, gently shake out the crumbs or use a vacuum cleaner to remove them. Wipe the keys and mouse with a damp cloth.
6. Bathtub
Items that help you stay clean are not necessarily clean themselves, and the bathtub is a typical example. Research has shown that 26% of bathtubs tested contained Staphylococcus.
Regularly clean and disinfect the bathtub with bleach, or use a bathtub cleaner after bathing and wipe it dry with a towel. Besides the bathtub itself, remember to clean the drain pipes.
Tips for cleaning hygiene blind spots:
1. Use hot water to wash and soak clothes
Mold is resistant to UV light and chemical agents, but there is a 'tried and true' method to deal with mold in washing machines—use hot water around 60°C to wash and soak. Mold cannot survive in water above 60°C.
2. Use medications safely
Do not misuse antibiotics when sick. Common colds are often not caused by bacteria, and blindly using antibiotics can pave the way for superbug infections.
3. Maintain hygiene when going out
Pay attention to hygiene when going out and develop good hygiene habits. Besides remembering to wash your hands before meals and after using the toilet, avoid using hotel bathtubs and place toilet paper on the toilet seat before use.
Mental health is as important as physical health
Learn to manage your emotions, promptly resolve emotional stress, and learn to de-stress. Give yourself some time each day to relax and let your mind rest, saying goodbye to bad moods.
Stress relief checklist:
Listen to soothing music, read books, and divert your attention
Exercise more, such as running or working out, to release stress through physical activity
Talk to friends when feeling down to vent and resolve your emotions
I hope the above three cleaning plans can help you embrace health and happiness. On World Health Day, let's clean out the internal and external 'garbage' and stay energetic and full of vitality every day.
*Image source: Internet. Please inform us if there is any infringement, and we will delete it.