Lurking germs
Germs lurk everywhere, and some are in places you least expect, such as on your cell phone. A feature in the June Men’s Health lists six common sites where germs hang out and what you can do to keep them from infecting you. Here are some of them:
– Cell phone–Its mouthpiece and keypad are teeming with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to most antibiotics. Clean your phone weekly with disinfecting wipes, which won’t harm the phone.
– Shower–Germs such as Methylobacter and Sphingomonas love this warm, steamy environment as much as you do. Molecular biologist Norman Pace of the University of Colorado at Boulder found millions of microbes on every square inch of plastic shower curtains. Limit bacterial growth by closing the curtain all the way after showering or, better, replacing the plastic with a fabric shower curtain, which you should wash in hot water once a month.
– Airplanes–Besides cruise ships, the norovirus enjoys hitchhiking on planes, often piggybacking on the hands of unsuspecting flight attendants, according to emergency-medicine specialist Mark Gendreau, who studies aircraft infectious disease for the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. When handed a beverage, ask for a straw. After opening a prepackaged snack, disinfect your hands with a product such as Purell.
Roller-coaster hearts
A roller coaster that gets your heart beating faster isn’t all bad. For people with healthy hearts, the speedier heart rate can have some cardiovascular benefits. But stay away from thrill rides if you have an infirm heart, warns a report in the June Harvard Health Letter.
German researchers studied the heart rates of 55 people (average age 28) who took a relatively tame ride that peaked at 75 m.p.h. Halfway through the ride, their heart rates kicked up to an average of 153 beats per minute (compared with a resting rate of 60 to 80 beats).
Also, half the riders had irregular heartbeats several minutes after the ride ended.
This increase in heart rate could be dangerous for those with a heart condition or high blood pressure. Two people have died after riding Mission: SPACE at Disney’s Epcot–a 4-year-old with an undiagnosed heart condition and a 49-year-old who had a stroke that may have been linked to high blood pressure.
Handy treatments
What do banana peel, honey, papaya and aloe vera have in common?
All these natural substances can be used for summer first aid, notes a story in the June issue of Self. For insect bites and stings, apply the inside of a banana skin. It has a starchlike substance called polysaccharide that can reduce the itch and pain.
Honey can help to disinfect minor scrapes and help them heal faster. Warm it for 20 seconds in the microwave, then apply a tablespoon to a sterile gauze pad that you tape over the wound.
Papaya can help reduce the swelling of a sprained ankle. Just peel off the skin and secure it around your ankle.
Aloe vera long has been used for its anti-inflammatory properties. Use over-the-counter aloe products or just crack open a leaf and put the fluid directly on your skin.
Helping dyslexics
If your child struggles to read, he or she may have dyslexia, which affects about 10 million U.S. children. Concerned parents should do the following, says dyslexia specialist Sally Shaywitz, a professor at Yale Medical School, in the June 20 Women’s Day:
– Have the child evaluated by a qualified specialist.
– Involve the child in an Individual Education Program, which outlines the skills he needs to improve and offers strategies to get there.
– Build your child’s self-esteem by focusing on her strengths or talents.
Get information and resources from the International Dyslexia Association, interdys.org.
