What Can You Do To Reduce The Risk Of Getting The COVID-19 Virus?
Dr. Bradley Aylor is a physiatrist practicing in Bozeman, MT. Dr. Aylor is a medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. As a physiatrist, Dr. Aylor focuses on a patients ability to function, and can treat multiple conditions that affect the brain, nerves, spine, bones, muscles, joints, ligaments... more
A lot of attention has been placed on the 6-foot rule for social distancing. There has also been a lot of talk about washing your hands. But I believe there has not been much stated as to why to wash your hands. It is all about the mucous membranes. The only way the virus can get inside us to provoke havoc is to enter one of our orifices, eyes, nose, and mouth to be more specific. Washing our hands breaks down the lipid (fatty) membrane that surrounds the virus and will kill it. However, if you wash your hands and then open the door, you may have just contracted the virus again. It is not a problem for you unless you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
By wearing a mask you set up a barrier to prevent yourself from inadvertently touching your nose or mouth. You also reduce the distance that airborne particles can escape from you while breathing or talking. As for your eyes, get rid of the contacts, and put your glasses back on. Even if you don't wear glasses, putting glasses on may put a barrier up to prevent you from touching your eyes. Now for your handwashing, washing your hands all day with soap and water will kill the virus but may make your hands dry and cracked. We do not know if this is an avenue that the virus can enter our body and cause an infection, but cracked hands are no fun.
Cracked hands are due to the removal of the oils from the hands, caused by continual handwashing. Try wearing tight-fitting nitrile gloves and washing those instead. This will not only help keep your hands clean, but you won't have to worry about the skin drying and cracking. Additionally, you will become more aware of exactly where you are putting your hands. Visit us at sportandspine.com to learn more about ways to improve your quality of life and potentially turn back the clock. There, we also share how to keep your body healthy in order to reduce the consequences of an illness.
