With all the recent outbreaks of diseases and bugs etc, do you think we are turning ourselves into hygeine freaks, obsessed with cleaning and scared to touch things?
Is it necessary nowadays to be like this? Has the fact we are now so clean beginning to destroy our natural immune system?
2006-12-27 09:29:01 · 9 answers · asked by Gillipoos 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
There's so much hype--Bird flu, SARs et. al. More people have died of lightning strikes.
People are obsessed--perhaps they don't have an adequate frame of reference.
But we are increasingly put in situations where "germs" travel fast. Buses, work, etc. But really, if ya shower, wash your hands before eating and after using the toilet, keep your fingers out of your eyes, eat your vitamins, ye shall be happy.
We're probably about five years away from finding out that hand sanitizers cause cancer or something :) And really, how many people have gotten the flu from flu shots, ya know?
2006-12-27 09:44:16 · answer #1 · answered by Gremlin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am totally obsessed with germs because I HATE being sick and frankly, I cant afford it. I dont have insurance and I have to be able to work. So, Im pretty paranoid. Of course, being paranoid doesnt keep me from getting sick.
But then I think about doctors who are coughed on every day and never get sick! They are exposed all the time, day in and day out, and they arent stuck at home with the flu. So, maybe this whole antibacterial phenomenon is truly a turn for the worse.
2006-12-27 09:38:32 · answer #2 · answered by jenniferaboston 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
being clean is not the same as being sterile. And no being clean is not destroying our natural immune systems. But as the world population continues to grow, the passing of infection becomes very much more easy and rapid. If you ask me, being clean, and avoiding contaminated surfaces like public doorknobs etc is a survival mechanism that a great many more people need to adopt. I keep hand sanitizers in my purse or pocket and use it after touching any public surface. Bacteria and viruses can live for hours on such surfaces.
2006-12-27 09:33:14 · answer #3 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most people have to tolerance any longer....I have had this theory of yours for a long time...I remember drinking from the garden hose, brushing dirt off a cookie that fell in my sand pile, and not so concerned with every little germ....But Clo my kids run barefoot in the yard and garden....and get really dirty...and I just clean them up after a long day of play....I have had people (my Mom) tell me I shouldn't let them get that dirty...I think it is healthy myself...and eventhough the boys have been sick...this winter...I still hold to this theory...Once they start getting dirty again...they seem to be doing better... Peace.
2016-03-29 08:38:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is I can't even touch public door knobs. But I also think that there are some nasty dirty people out there and I don't want their monkey spanking hands touching stuff that I touch. Gives me the willys just thinking about it.
2006-12-27 09:41:41 · answer #5 · answered by Rocky The Fearless 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do think that some people are overly obsessed with cleanliness, but it is good to practice good hygiene. I say have a balanced view of everything.
2006-12-27 09:31:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
People survived for thousdands of years without all this nonsense, so we dont really need it now.
2006-12-27 09:31:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
we need germs to be able to fight germs...i believe we need a few germs to keep from getting sick all the time
2006-12-27 09:36:43 · answer #8 · answered by duvalicious 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think we are def. really obssesed....I carry hand sanitizer in my handbag everywhere I go lol
2006-12-27 10:05:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋