Guess How Many People Don't Wash Their Hands After Using a Hospital Toilet
Or: Why you should wash your hands, since so many others do not
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness, written by Wise & Well’s editor, Robert Roy Britt. Below you’ll find several informative and actionable stories by our team of journalists, topical experts and practicing professionals. First, this week’s news brief:
Many disease-causing viruses, such as the common cold, influenza and the coronavirus, spread mostly through the air. But these and other sickening microbes can still get around via human contact with surfaces. The norovirus (which induces violent vomiting) and other bugs that you don’t want to catch spread easily, often in poop, via bathroom fixtures and surfaces and through food prepared by people who use restrooms and don’t wash their hand.
And a lot of people don’t wash their hands.
New research this week finds 43.7% of people using a toilet at a hospital in Denmark didn’t wash their hands afterward. How do we know that, you might ask. The scientists installed monitoring devices… on the plumbing pipes, to see if the faucet was used after the toilet was flushed.
“People may assume handwashing is second nature by now — especially in hospitals and post-Covid-19 — but our data paints a different picture,” said the study’s lead author, Pablo Pereira-Doel, of the University of Surrey. “In medical settings, not washing hands can directly affect patient safety.”
We can only imagine the rate of hand-washing in other settings.
Actually, there’s some data on that, but it’s rather old, as I’ve written previously:
In a 2013 study, Michigan State University researchers trained college students to covertly observe hand-washing in the restrooms of bars, restaurants, and other public places. 15% of men and 7% of women didn’t wash at all, and among men who did wash, half failed to used soap, while 22% of women skipped the soap.
The observations, detailed in Journal of Environmental Health, found that only 5% of people washed their hands long enough, and with soap, to kill the germs that cause bad health.
One last fact to motivate more handwashing:
A quarter-teaspoon of infected diarrhea can have 5 billion norovirus particles, but it only takes 20 of them — which can fit on the head of a pin — to infect you.
Here are this week’s feature stories:
Lost Childhood Memories: Gone Forever or Just Hidden?
I remember almost nothing from before age 5 or so. Scientists say that’s normal, owing to “infantile amnesia” and then the rewriting of limited memory space during toddler years. But this scientist explains how parents can do a lot to help kids retain childhood memories and also hold on to the good feelings that stem from their earliest experiences, fostering a sense of security and well-being. Dr CJ Yatawara
The Declining Art of Friendship
Ever think about calling an old friend but you just don’t? Do you sometimes lean on friends too much? Ever back away from a friendship because your friend has opposing political views? They say it takes about 200 hours of time together to develop a best friend. A hundred to make a good one. Why would we walk away from any of them? The author has deep thoughts on this modern problem. By Niall Stewart
So What if Science Funding is Cut?
People appreciate science and medical research when it aligns with their thinking or helps them deal with a health issue. But when scientific understanding evolves — as it is supposed to — some people are quick to distrust the establishment. That reveals a profound misunderstanding of how science works. As this writer puts it: “Fundamentally, science is a process, not a product.” By John Kruse MD, PhD
Sitting Too Long After a Heart Attack Could Be Deadly
People who survive heart attacks often emerge feeling like they have a new lease on life. They might quit their jobs, go to Disneyland or otherwise make big change. One change they ought to be thinking about: Physical activity. Many studies have shown exercise to be vital to good health, in just about all situations. Including after a heart attack, new research reveals. Even light activity goes a long way. By Annie Foley
The Truth about ‘Incels’ and the Manosphere
If you’re unfamiliar with the terms “incel” or “blackpilling,” you’re gonna get an education about men who are involuntarily celibate. If you think you know all about incels and the hate they spew at women, then you’re about to get a serious re-education on the tragically wrong public characterizations and the “profoundly fatalistic” views of incels, and why a better understanding is so important. By Jeff Nesbit
Best Insomnia Remedies, Based on the Latest Science
When I hear people complain about insomnia, they talk only about what goes wrong at night. But insomnia is a product of what happens during the day. It’s almost always rooted in identifiable, often fixable causes, ranging from sedentarism to poor diet, chronic pain to prescription meds. Or anxiety. Or alcohol. If you’ve tried everything, don’t give up just yet. I’ve got a challenge for you. By Robert Roy Britt
Parents Who Oppose Sex Ed in School Often Don’t Discuss it at Home, Either
I’ve no recollection of getting any formal (or informal) sex ed prior to college. Some basics would have greatly changed my childhood for the better. You’d think parents would appreciate schools running point on this topic — the very act that brings us into being. Rather, many prefer nobody tell their kids about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, consent, or how to avoid diseases and pregnancy. By Robin Pickering
Why Americans Feel Guilty for Taking Vacations They Earn
I’ve always been lousy at taking vacations, leaving vacation days on the table at every company I’ve worked for. With age and hindsight, I see how stupid I was. Science shows everyone needs time off to rest and rejuvenate, to maintain sanity and be productive in the long run. Yet American culture is unique in making us feel guilty for anything that might resemble relaxation. It’s a psychology we must learn to overcome. By Karen Tan
I hope we’ve helped make your tomorrow a little better than today. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends.
Cheers,
Rob