The importance of coughing and sneezing etiquette

Image source: blog.medbroadcast.com

Viruses - just because people can’t see them, does not mean they’re not there. When people sneeze, they spew a great number of viruses into the air, enough to infect people in an entire room. As if that isn’t bad enough, a study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology has found out that viruses can survive longer, from 3 to 17 days, on objects such as a dollar bill. Medical professionals, such as Dr. Kinga Vereczkey-Porter and Dr. James Donohue of Sanford Specialty Clinics, also warn that the cold weather increases the concentration of viruses in a specific area.

So what can people do to shield themselves from flu?

The key here is to get an annual flu shot and to brush up on one’s coughing and sneezing etiquette. People must understand that coughing or sneezing directly into their hand is a perfect recipe for contagion.

Image source: nccn.com

Patients are advised to cover their mouth or nose with tissue when sneezing or coughing. If there’s no tissue available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends coughing or sneezing into the upper sleeve or elbow. Other proven and tested rules are frequent hand washing, proper tissue disposal, and sanitizer or alcohol use.

Image source: blog.medbroadcast.com

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