By Gina Bailey, BSN, RN
Infection Preventionist, Quality/Infection Control, Blanchard Valley Health System
Did you know our bodies are always working to fight off viruses and bacteria that can cause us to become sick? Our lungs, stomach, muscles, bones, and nerves are constantly working to fight infection.
For example, a sneeze is a coordinated effort between the lungs, muscles, bones and nervous system that activates when the lining of the nose is irritated. Coughs are a repetitive reflex that helps clear breathing passages of irritants, viruses, and bacteria. When you cough, there are three stages: inhalation, forceful exhalation against closed-up vocal cords and a violent release of air following the opening of the vocal cords.
The average person breathes in about 2,000 gallons of air daily, exposing our bodies to possible infectious pathogens. Everyone is familiar with and likely has had influenza (the flu) and COVID-19, but did you know that there are approximately 200 known pathogens that can cause illness and impact the respiratory system differently?
For instance, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a virus common in children and adults that can often seem like a cold but can become severe and sometimes fatal in those who are very young, over the age of 65, those who have heart or lung disease, or a weakened immune system. Like the flu and COVID-19, one way to protect yourself from RSV is by asking your physician or pharmacist about the RSV vaccine.
Rhinoviruses (the common cold), parainfluenzas, metapneumovirus (hMPV), and adenoviruses are common, contagious viruses that cause symptoms and illnesses like sneezing, coughing, fatigue, congestion, colds, croup, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Most healthy people do not seek medical care and will recover from these viruses. However, individuals under five and over 65 years old, those with a weakened immune system, or chronic conditions are more likely to get seriously ill and may require hospitalization.
How do you stay healthy with hundreds of germs waiting to make you sick? You can stay healthy by washing your hands or using hand sanitizer frequently, staying up-to-date on vaccines, and staying home when you are sick. Also, cover your cough and sneeze, and wear a mask if you are sick. A cough can travel as fast as 50 mph and expel almost 3,000 droplets and sneezes can travel up to 100 mph and create upwards of 100,000 droplets covering a radius of five feet. This makes it easy to expose many people to your germs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should stay home and away from others if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause. You may return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are getting better and you have not had a fever (without using fever-reducing medication). You are typically less contagious at this time, but you may still be able to spread the virus to others, so take additional precautions like masking, hand hygiene, and physical distancing. This will help you to recover properly, prevent future illness, and protect vulnerable people.
