Medical secrecy: why health workers tolerate illnesses more easily
The season of colds is in full swing, which children generously "share" with their moms and dads. The exchange of viruses drives home to despair: babies need care, and parents themselves feel unwell. This happens most often because adults miss the very beginning of the disease. Izvestia found out which children's diagnoses are most dangerous for mature people, and learned the secrets that make doctors and teachers less infected and easier to tolerate diseases.
What to do at the very beginning of the disease
If a child has just "brought" an illness from kindergarten or school, action should be taken immediately, warns Maryam Saifulina, pediatrician at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic).
— Isolate the child. If possible, put him in a separate room. If not, at least set aside a separate bed and individual dishes, change bed linen and towels more often," Saifulina comments. Adults are advised to wear masks, especially when caring for patients. The mask should fit snugly to the face, and it should be changed every two to three hours.
The pediatrician reminds you to wash your hands frequently with soap, and for at least 20 seconds. It is especially important to do this after contact with the patient and before eating. An antiseptic can replace hand washing, but it is important to choose an alcohol-based liquid (at least 60%).
— Ventilate the room at least three to four times a day for 15-20 minutes: a draft kills viruses in the air. Keep an eye on the humidity in the room, because viruses live longer in dry air. The optimal humidity is 40-60%,— Maryam Saifulina continues.
The doctor advises treating door handles, switches, smartphones, remotes and faucets with chlorine-containing or alcohol-based wipes two to three times a day. Do not touch your face — especially your eyes, nose, and mouth — without first washing your hands. All these measures, according to the pediatrician, reduce the risk of infection by 60-80%, even if the virus is already in the house.
When you can't kiss and hug a child
Not everyone has the time and conditions to follow the doctor's instructions in full. But in order not to get sick themselves, Maryam Saifulina advises parents to apply at least the "minimum of survival" available even in conditions of lack of resources.
What not to do with a sick child:
— kissing, hugging, tickling — especially in the first 3-5 days of illness, when the viral load is at its maximum;
— using shared dishes, towels, and toothbrushes is a direct route to infection transmission;
— neglect sleep and nutrition. A tired, hungry body is an easy prey for viruses. Even if time is short, you need to drink water, eat protein and fortified foods, and sleep for at least six hours.;
— ignore the first symptoms of the disease: sore throat, weakness, aches. In this case, you should immediately gargle, take vitamin D and zinc, and do not neglect warm drinks.
The minimum that, according to the pediatrician, will save you from the risk of infection:
— mask on contact plus hand washing;
— separate dishes and towel;
— airing at least once a day;
— sleep and water.
The pediatrician equates disease prevention with lifestyle. Hardening and physical activity will help strengthen the immune system. Even moderate exercise is useful: walking, swimming, yoga. Contrast shower is an excellent stimulant of local immunity. Vaccination is also necessary — an annual flu shot, revaccination against measles and chickenpox (if you have not had to get sick), whooping cough. The latter is especially important for parents of infants.
According to Maryam Saifulina, chronic stress and lack of sleep reduce the production of interferon, so you need to find ways to sleep for eight hours.
And for peace of mind, it's good to practice breathing exercises and meditation.
Proper nutrition
Clinical nutritionist Alena Vavilova, in addition to stress and lack of sleep, also names bad habits and accumulated viral load among the causes of private illnesses in adults. The situation is also worsened by a violation of the microbiota, an unbalanced diet, as well as nutritional deficiencies.
— The first thing that the immune system needs is a sufficient amount of protein, because all immune cells and antibodies are proteins. Equally important is the presence of whole foods in the diet: vegetables, fruits, berries, greens, legumes, cereals, eggs, fish, meat," comments the clinical nutritionist.
But the more processed foods on the plate (sweets, sausages, semi-finished products), the less space there is for sources of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, warns Alyona Vavilova.
Nutrition is directly related to the health of the microbiota and the intestinal barrier — up to 80% of immune cells are concentrated in the intestine.
But there are also more direct, though, at first glance, unexpected connections.
— For example, the health of the stomach and the condition of the tonsils. If a person has chronic problems — heartburn, reflux — then the contents are thrown into the esophagus, the microbiota of the mouth and nasopharynx changes. This can trigger chronic tonsillitis with congestion. In practice, I see such cases quite often, but people don't even connect these conditions," the nutritionist continues.
According to Alena Vavilova, correcting the diet in such cases helps to remove problems that at first glance seem far from a "cold" or "runny nose."
Nutritionist, specialist in preventive integrative medicine Elena Konovalova advises to include fermented foods in the diet, for example, sauerkraut and natural yogurt. They support the microbiome and the immune system.
— It is useful to add reishi mushrooms, chaga and cordyceps to the menu, which contain beta-glucans, as well as seasonal vegetables, such as pumpkin and root vegetables rich in carotenoids. Fatty fish and seeds will provide the body with omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and support brain activity, says Elena Konovalova.
According to the expert, vitamin D3 in combination with K2 is especially important in autumn. They help protect the cardiovascular system, strengthen the immune system, and enhance the body's defenses.
"Magnesium is needed for restful sleep, zinc is needed for immunity, and probiotics will help maintain the balance of microflora, but such drugs should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor," explains Konovalova.
Konovalova recommends reducing the use of sugar and refined butter in order not to provoke inflammatory processes. Alcohol also becomes a dangerous enemy during the cold season, as it disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters, depletes the reserves of B vitamins and magnesium, weakens the microbiome and even knocks down thermoregulation.
Why doctors and teachers get sick less often
Many moms and dads dream of a defense mechanism, which, in their opinion, is developed by doctors and teachers. In their opinion, people in these professions are less susceptible to diseases, otherwise there would be no one to work in schools and clinics during epidemics. According to Maryam Saifulina, such a mechanism does exist, but it works differently than parents imagine.
Teachers and doctors are more likely to encounter viruses and get sick more often at the very beginning of their careers, and over time, the body "learns" to recognize and suppress infections faster. Thus, they really develop the so-called professional immunity. However, according to the pediatrician, it is not necessary to say that teachers and doctors get sick less often. They just tolerate diseases more easily: lower fever, shorter duration of illness, fewer complications.
— We do have immunity, but not to all viruses. For example, if you get sick with a certain strain of influenza or SARS, you get short-term immunity for 6-12 months. But viruses also mutate, and new ones come every year," explains Saifulina.
Doctors' Life hacks that you can use:
— mask + glasses — protection of the mucous membranes of the eyes (viruses also penetrate through the conjunctiva);
— nasal rinsing and gargling after each contact with the patient;
— change of clothes and shower immediately after returning home;
— regular intake of vitamin D and zinc during the cold season;
— sleep and rest are sacred, doctors know that a tired body is a guaranteed disease.
— No heroism: at the first symptoms of malaise, immediately "prescribe" bed rest for yourself. Warmth, vitamins, and sometimes antiviral drugs (as prescribed) are the best helpers in the early stages.
What childhood diseases are dangerous for adults
Even the most self-confident parents should not ignore the advice of doctors. Izvestia asked the pediatrician if her mother's words, "I won't get infected because I love you," which have been known since childhood, have a scientific basis.
Maryam Saifulina explained that from a scientific point of view, there is no direct connection here: love does not create a physical barrier to viruses. But, nevertheless, the psychoemotional state affects the immune system.
— Mothers who say such words are most often in a state of high motivation ("I have to be healthy to take care of the child"). They are less susceptible to panic and stress, suppressing the immune system; they better follow the rules of hygiene, daily routine and nutrition, because they are focused on results. So, although viruses don't read minds, a positive attitude, discipline, and self—care is a powerful immunomodulatory cocktail. You can say: "Love does not protect against viruses, but it helps to turn on all the body's defense mechanisms," the pediatrician is sure.
Parents also need to take good care of themselves because there are diseases that are more dangerous to endure in adulthood. Maryam Saifulina lists the diagnoses that are best avoided:
— chickenpox (chickenpox) is particularly severe in adults. It is accompanied by high fever, abundant rash, and the risk of pneumonia and encephalitis. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women because of the risk of fetal defects. Prevention for an adult, if he has not been ill, will be vaccination. Upon contact, the introduction of immunoglobulin in the first 96 hours will save;
Measles in adults causes severe intoxication, pneumonia and encephalitis, while mortality is higher than in children. Vaccination of those who have not had measles provides lifelong immunity;
— rubella in adults is easy, but it is very dangerous for pregnant women. This disease causes severe fetal malformations: blindness, deafness, and heart defects. The prevention will be an IgG antibody test. If they are not present, you need to be vaccinated three months before the planned pregnancy.
— rotavirus is also easier in adults than in children, but it can cause severe dehydration. It is especially difficult for the elderly or people with chronic diseases to get sick. There is no vaccine against the virus for adults, hand hygiene, separate dishes, boiling water, disinfection of surfaces will be the prevention.;
— whooping cough in adults is disguised as a prolonged cough, but it can cause pneumonia and seizures. The disease is especially dangerous for infants who are infected by their parents. Prevention: ADS-M revaccination, which adults need to do every 10 years;
— scarlet fever. Although this disease is rare in adults, the risk remains. The disease can cause complications in the form of rheumatism, kidney and heart damage. The prevention will be isolation of the patient, antibiotics prescribed by a doctor and monitoring of the condition.
If there is no certainty that a person was not ill in childhood, the pediatrician advises to do a blood test for antibodies (IgG) to measles, rubella and chickenpox. In the absence of immunity, you need to be vaccinated, which will be the most reliable way to protect yourself.
— Being sick with a child is not a feat, but a miscalculation. Your task is to be healthy, to take care of, not to lie next to. Hygiene, sleep, vaccination, and common sense will save you more often than "love" or "habit." Take care of yourself — for the sake of the child," sums up Maryam Saifulina.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
