Longevity by Jennifer Cox Longevity and personal hygiene Do people who have better personal hygiene live longer lives? It seems that the clear answer would be “yes.” However, while there are links between the two, it only partially affects our overall life expectancy. Obviously, handwashing plays a huge role in our susceptibility to colds, viruses and other illnesses. Did you know that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing: ▶Reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40%; ▶Reduces diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58%; ▶Reduces respiratory illnesses, such as colds, in the general population by 16-21%; ▶Reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29-57%? Handwashing can prevent about 30% of diarrhea-related sicknesses and about 20% of respiratory infections (e.g. colds), and antibiotics are often prescribed unnecessarily for these health issues. Reducing the number of these infections by washing your hands frequently can help prevent the overuse of antibiotics, which is the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance around the world (CDCP). Handwashing can also prevent people from getting sick from germs that are already resistant to antibiotics and which therefore can be difficult to treat. Other aspects of our personal hygiene play a role in our longevity. Our dental well-being can have a huge impact on our overall health. As the Mayo Clinic points out, your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of the bacteria that grow there can cause diseases such asendocarditis(an infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves), cardiovascular disease, pneumonia and more. Additionally, plaque in our mouths can spread to elsewhere in the body, bringing with it a whole host of life-threatening ailments. Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, HPV infection, mouth cancers, diabetes and kidney failure (Business Insider). CBC News highlighted a study that was done several years ago which purported that a simple daily ritual such as flossing your teeth can add 6.4 years to your overall life expectancy. The basic component of hygiene is water and, without it, personal cleanliness is impossible. The WHO estimates that a daily minimum of 20 litres of water is required to maintain basic hygiene for bathing and brushing teeth. They go on to point out that average water use ranges from 200-300 litres a person per day in most countries in Europe, to fewer than 10 litres in countries such as Mozambique. So, those who don’t have access to a minimal amount of water aren’t even able to maintain basic personal hygiene. So, what does this all mean to you? Well, first and foremost, hygiene is imperative to how long you live. Beyond general cleanliness, it’s important to always wash your hands in a thorough manner and on a regular basis. This is the best way to prevent getting sick. It’s also crucial to stay on top of your oral health – see your dentist at least once every six months, and make sure to have any dental problems looked after immediately. Paying close attention to your overall personal hygiene will not only serve you well, it will help those around you stay healthy too. 42 | www.snowbirds.org
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