Wrath of the Microbes
Awareness is Key, Prevention is King: Practical Contagion Prevention Options & Strategies
There is an enemy among us, a vicious force destined from birth to invade our flesh; a relentless drone evolved through time to keep up with our advancement, and a resilient hulk we could never fully destroy. Worst of all, this persistent hazard consists of a network of invisible, disaggregated entities hiding in every conceivable corner of the world, amassing, waiting, lurking, and preparing.
It is the gems ladies and gentlemen, the harmful microbes — bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and the viruses that are so small to be seen, yet so deadly if in, so ubiquitous they live in us full time. It never occurred to me that I may be a germophobe, granted, I am always in the mood to sanitize; and yes, I ran away when someone coughs; oh, and yes, I never touch food with bare hands. But then again, I also work in a biomedical field, hardwired to observe the seemingly invisible, how can I not react when I am among the few with the means to see and understand this vicious enemy. The threat is very real, and you certainly do not need to be labeled to have a health-conscious mindset.
To combat this enemy, here are some approaches that I would take to minimize exposure to this invisible force of microbes. These are prevention techniques that are tried and true, some you may have heard of, some may be fresh, either way, it is my sincere desire to instill a sense of health awareness in you that all aspects of your life can benefit.
1. Seeing and avoiding. Best prevention strategy there is. Learn to identify sources of microbe production. It is in the voice, hear the congested nasal acoustics. It is up the nostrils, look for the hints of drooping liquids. It is in the eyes, see their listless eyelids and tearing edges of redness. It may be an allergy, but why take the risk. Importantly, if it is in the motions: wiping, sneezing, coughing, and drooping equals you leaving. In the game of avoidance, distance makes a difference, but not all.
2. Crowd Control. The probability of viral transmission increases drastically with large crowds, it will be difficult to track every individual, let alone tailor your actions toward each potentially opened pandora’s box. As a motivation, think of the fresh air being shared amongst many in a tight space, you are getting more than just their partially metabolized oxygen and carbon dioxide, but more. Get a clear space, make friends with ventilation, and track air flows.
3. Humidification. The virus survival rate in free space significantly increases when air is dry. Humidity or the existence of the percentage of water droplets in the air slows down viral transmission. Think of insects’ hard time in flying in the rain, micro-organisms are more than 1000-fold smaller. Water is your ally, it creates more blockage along the way, so fewer microbes can traverse this free way to your inners. A humidifier is very affordable and comes in all sizes and shapes to match your lifestyle. So, don’t be cheap, your recovery will cost a lot more. Levoit is a major brand, I own three in the house.
4. Moisturization. It is not the same as humidification, but rather a localized and more personalized trap created for your enemy — the micro-organismic contagions. I am talking about moistening your nasal cavities, the primary entries to your internal space (where your throat usually takes the first hit, remembering that itchiness and pain from a cold/flu?). By applying nasal gels, you effectively created a barrier in which airborne particles get trapped in your nose rather than a dry passage freeway to the throat. This goes along with the idea of hydration that can do more than just bolster your immune defenses but also immobilize potential threats like a cold virus from reaching further into your vital organs and subsequently compromising your health. So, apply saline nasal gel which lasts longer than the solution, drip the eyes, and drink plenty of water. A Nasal solution with salt in it also has disinfectant effects to a certain limited degree.
5. Create a Trap. Another neat little way to immobilize and trap flying micro-organisms, particles, and even allergens is the application of electrostatic gels across the exterior edges of the nose. I came across this product some time ago on Amazon and recognize the principle and the working mechanism is sound but not at all a universal solution, but many people have supported its claims in reducing allergens, hence potentially beneficial for microbe trapping as well. It works by recognizing the charge affinity of allergens or micro-organisms, and by creating a sticky surface for such charged species, there is an increased probability of capturing fly-by objects, but not all. Because it is a transparent gel, no one would notice it and there is only a cooling sensation upon application, the risk and hassle are minimal, but the potential benefit may be game-changing. Amazon — NASALGUARD Allergy Relief and Allergen Blocker Nasal Gel.
6. Air Circulation. Like a river, air (along with its riders) moves from an area of high pressure to low, bringing along its “friends” with it. Learning to recognize the flow pattern gains you a strategic advantage in pathogen avoidance. If a compromised individual sneeze, oral opening dictates initial propellant direction, but air draft determines the downward flow of trajectory and area of coverage. So, don’t assume you are in the clear because you are some distance away, learn to recognize flow circulations, and find shelter in the wake of such assisted projectile. Also, see my post on air-borne illness prevention on an airplane which provides a deep analysis of dynamic airflow patterns and particle transmission profile. In a home setting, an investment in a stand-alone air purifier is a sound choice. Germ Guardian is a great product.
7. Carry a Shield. Capital America does it to fight crimes, and so can you too. Game changes, challenges arise, the situation becomes tense when the avoidable becomes unavoidable, and a shield is a friend in the midst of a sneeze storm. In our case, a viral storm rages through your air space. Having an antiviral mask or respirator such as the N95 or more popular the KN95 in your pocket is a smart and precautionary move, they are quite affordable now, portable, and foldable, and you can manage to carry them. A mask may not necessarily block out all microbes, especially when it isn’t tightly fitted to your face, viruses that are much smaller can still find a way in. However, some coverage is better than no coverage where everything travels freely in the air. N95 respirator in this case provides more protection as it is well fitted and employs electrostatic fabric to trap small particulates, which greatly increases your chance of viral deterrence. Don’t mind what others think of you, you are doing yourself and them a favor. Check out my other post here about the kinds of masks and respirators out there.
8. Pasteurization. Since the dawn of human civilization, eating cooked food has prevented us from certain doom incurred by the laden micro-organisms in raw food. They are the bacteria, such as E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, or parasites that have made a home in the raw material you brought from the markets. By ingesting them untreated, you have signed the waiver to subject yourself to be their new home, a paradise for them to grow and perpetuate, and wreak havoc in you. So, heat up your food, and don’t be naïve in believing the food handlers actually monitor the temperature of your food ingredients. They are underpaid as it is. Do perform what pasteurized milk and juices industries have already done as well, eliminate those organisms before they get to your precious real estate. Consume well-cooked food.
9. Acidity Rescue. What about fruits or veggies that you don’t want to be heated up? Well, acidity treatment is the answer. Just like stomach acids that dissolve organic materials into their constituents or into pieces, including microbes. White Vinegar — a common food-grade low-pH solution typically diluted to 5% is sufficient to minimize/destroy microbial colonies. However, the fruits or veggies must be subjected to more than a dip, at 5% pH vinegar, you need a soaking time of roughly around 5 minutes. Or you can further dilute the vinegar to reach 1% or even less but be aware the soak time must increase as well to account for the loss of acidity. Follow by a good water rinse, your meal is much cleaner than before, and safer to be consumed.
10. Washing and Cleansing. Wash your hands frequently is a given, you touch potentially infected surfaces all the time, albeit unknowing the condition of those surfaces. Microbial survival large depends on surface conditions, but for most, they can live up to hours at a time, enough to spread by one hand or another and eventually onto you. Up to this point, it is okay as long as you don’t stick the same infected hand to the opening gates of your body — eyes, nose, mouth most notably. Then it is a fast ride to internal invasion by the microbes. In addition, do humanity a favor, and don’t use antibacterial soap if you can, every time you do, we help to make the millions of harmful bacteria stronger and more resistant to antibacterial drugs. Try using simple liquid soap instead, give a 20-second rub, they are just as effective with proper washing routines.
11. Mind the Environment. Not a case made for “clean site, clean mind”, but a well-organized and sanitized environment is a sure way to discourage microbial growth and imminent invasion. Don’t live in filth, otherwise, you have given up yourself to the enemy who lurks among the crumbs of nachos on the carpet or corners of the keypads on your laptop. When sickness follows, you will know the suffering and pain that came with such negligence. Change the filters in your ventilation regularly or better: get a stand-alone air filter that costs around $80, a practical investment for your health that is worth it. The one I recommend is made by Germ Guardian with UV-C sanitizer.
Look after yourself, with the above recommendations, I hope you can be better equipped to deal with this invisible force of nature that many have turned away, admitting defeat and enduring needless suffering, agony, and pain. Think about that cost, or better, ponder upon the cost-benefit curve, does the benefits of your action outweigh the cost, is it worth it to be ignorant? Take heed, and be well, my friends. Check out this other post where I elaborate on some neat means to suppress microbe and viral infestation.
