The Nine Grossest Things Other People Do That Can Make You Sick

This article is not for the squeamish or the easily sickened. This article is for anyone who has ever watched as someone sneezed into his hand and then came at them for a handshake, or wondered if that chef who came out of the bathroom really washed her hands.

That's right. This article, while not all together pleasant, touches on some things that are quite necessary for you to know and avoid at all costs if you are to protect your quality of health. So, forgive us for being a bit direct as we delve into the nine grossest things other people do that can make you sick. This information is especially pertinent to the following groups of people, who are most at risk from germs:

• Young children
• The elderly
• People with compromised immune systems
• Pregnant women
• People with severe illness
• People taking antibiotics or antacids

1. Coughing and sneezing

Serious respiratory illnesses like influenza (the flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Droplet spread" is the term used to describe respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes that are passed from person to person. If someone sneezes or coughs near you, particularly without covering their mouth, droplets will move through the air and can be deposited on your mouth or nose, or on a desk or other surface where they can be picked up later.

Robert S. Baltimore, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine, said, "Cold viruses and more serious illnesses, including pneumonia and meningitis, are spread by the organisms traveling in those little droplets."

Some viruses and bacteria can live for over two hours on tables, doorknobs and so on, which is why it is so important for you to wash your hands frequently (keeping a travel-sized instant hand sanitizer with you is a great way to do this).

You'll be amazed at just how many germs exist in common places like health clubs, computer keyboards and your office.

If you notice someone sneeze into their hands, do not shake them, and be wary of touching things they have touched (pencils, doorknobs, etc.) if they appear to be sick. If you can't avoid shaking someone's "sneezed-in" hand, wash your hands as soon as possible afterward, and don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth in the meantime.

Don't be a Germ Spreader: Cover your mouth every time you sneeze or cough-but not with your hands! Use a tissue or, if one isn't available, your upper sleeve. And, of course, always throw your used tissue in a garbage can, not on the floor for someone else to pick up.

2. Nose Diving

Fingers that have been inside a nose are filled with germs that will be transferred to just about every surface they touch. Though this is particularly problematic among preschoolers and young children, adults can do it too.

If you notice someone wiping or picking their nose, be wary about touching anything they have touched.

Don't be a Germ Spreader: Use a tissue to blow your nose and always wash your hands afterward. Interestingly, picking your nose is a prime way to get yourself sick, since germs on your fingers can easily pass through the nose's thin mucous membrane.

If your child picks his nose, Michal Nissenbaum, Ph.D., a psychologist at the Developmental Disabilities Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center, suggests, "Give him a toy or a book-anything to occupy his hands."

3. Not Washing Hands After the Bathroom

The number of germs on your hands can double after you use the toilet, yet, though most people won't admit it, experts say up to one-third of the population does not wash their hands after using the bathroom.

Unwashed hands can spread not only colds, flus and viruses, as mentioned above, but also diarrhea and other intestinal problems. If you don't think washing your hands is necessary, consider that the CDC says that washing hands is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infections.

There is a misconception that germs are mostly spread via the air (such as through sneezing and coughing), which is echoed by the fact that only 17 percent of Americans wash their hands after shaking hands. But hands can spread germs too!

Don't be a Germ Spreader: No one wants to shake hands with or share a roll with someone who didn't wash their hands after the bathroom … so, always wash your hands after using the bathroom, and not just by running them under water! (See the box at right for details.)

4. Digging for Gold

This popular pastime mostly applies to young toddlers who aren't yet aware that picking underwear out of their backsides isn't socially acceptable, but can also apply to adults who just don't care that it is.

Again this gets into the possibility of spreading germs from one, potentially dirty, area to fingers and then to tables, doorknobs and other surfaces that you may touch. In the case of preschoolers, Parents Magazine says that children under 4 may lack the motor skills to wipe properly, leading to "sloppy wiping" that can be quite messy if a parent doesn't step in to help.

If that child starts gold-digging and then touches other surfaces, numerous diseases and infections can be spread, not to mention that the child can become sick himself if he touches his nose, mouth or eyes.

Don't be a Germ Spreader: If your child has a tendency to "dig for gold," be sure to assist them in the wiping process until they are fully able. Discourage them from the activity by telling your child about how germs are spread and teach them to wash their hands from an early age.

If you're an adult-invest in a more comfortable undergarment immediately!

5. Spraying it Not Saying It

How many times have you been in a close conversation with someone when all of a sudden you feel a spray on your face? Those tiny drops of saliva that land on your lips, chin, nose, cheeks or eyes could be full of flu and other respiratory diseases like tuberculosis.

Spitting on the ground can also transmit disease, particularly when the saliva dries and particles are swept up into the air where they can be inhaled.

Don't be a Germ Spreader: Take special care to keep your saliva in your mouth, especially if you're sick. And, don't spit indiscriminately on the ground, unless you are choking and really have a reason to do so!

6. Teeth Pickin'

You finish a tasty meal only to look over at your companion who's picking away at their molars. Similar to coughing, sneezing and spitting, this practice has the potential to transfer germs from the mouth onto the fingers and then onto any surface the person touches.

Even if a toothpick is used, though preferable to a finger, saliva can creep up over the stick and onto the hand.

Don't be a Germ Spreader: If you need to pick something from your teeth, use a toothpick and be sure to wash your hands afterward. And if you want to impress your guests-don't do it at the table. Sue Fox, founder and president of Etiquette Survival, calls picking your teeth the second most common dining sin.

7. Double-Dipping

Dip a chip, bite it, dip again ... germs! All it takes is one person to double-dip a chip and the entire bowl of guacamole becomes ridden with germs and bacteria.

Not surprisingly, a survey by Kimberly Clark tissue makers found that 13 percent of holiday partygoers said they would avoid foods that could have been plagued by double-dipping.

Don't be a Germ Spreader: Germs from your mouth are inevitably transferred onto anything you bite-even if it doesn't look like any saliva is present-so avoid the urge to go back for more. The best bet is to put some dip on your own plate using a serving spoon. That way you can double-dip all you want without sharing your germs with everyone at the party.

8. Clipping Nails in Public

Some estimates say that 95 percent of the bacteria on your hands is found under your fingernails. So while keeping your nails short is a good thing bacterially speaking, cutting them in a public place is not. It is, however, a good way to spread that bacteria all around.

Margaret Martin, director of infection services at Presbyterian Hospital, puts it simply, "They [Fingernails] really are not clean, and they carry germs."

Don't be a Germ Spreader: Scrub, don't wash, under your fingernails using a fingernail brush. Keep your nails short-Martin says, "If you can see your nails over the tip of your finger, then your nails are too long"-and when you clip them, do it in the privacy of your own bathroom where you can dispose of the nail clippings properly.

9. Doused in Perfume

People who wear TONS of perfume or cologne are not just unpleasant to be around-they represent a real health hazard for people with allergies, asthma or multiple chemical sensitivities.

Chemicals used in perfumes (read this past article for more on the little-known dangers of chemicals in cosmetics) are almost entirely synthetic, as these are cheaper than natural fragrances, and only about 1,500 of the more than 5,000 materials used in fragrances have been tested for safety.

As many as 30 percent of the public say they have some sensitivity to chemicals, including fragrances, according to the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. Even more serious than that, the American Lung Association reports that exposure to fragrance chemicals may result in dangerous and painful asthma attacks in which muscle spasms, fluid and excess mucous obstruct the airways.

About 14.6 million Americans suffer from these attacks, and 5,000 Americans die, each year as a result. People with sensitivities to fragrances report symptoms including:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Lungs tightening and burning
• Headache
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle aches and weakness similar to the flu
• Brain fogginess
• Difficulty concentrating

Don't be a Germ Spreader: If you wear perfume, don't use half the bottle at once-just spray it on lightly-and don't spray it in a public place. Also, be considerate of those around you. If you know you'll be in a confined space, such as on an airplane or train, consider not using it at all.

Sources

Cover Your Cough

The All-Time Grossest Kids' Habits

Germs: They're Everywhere

Double Dipping to be Avoided

Health Alert: Fingernail Germs