And the top 12 infectious places are .

We may not see them, but they’re all around us, ready to pounce on us anytime. We shudder at the mere mention of these microorganisms — viruses and bacteria. But let not the (H1N1) pandemic scare turn you into a germaphobic or a modern-day Howard Hughes Jr., the American aviator/industrialist/filmmaker, who was one of the wealthiest and weirdest people in his time (early 1900s), so OC (obsessive-compulsive) about germs and cleanliness.

Of course, there’s a germ of wisdom in the saying, “Better safe than sorry (or sore).” So, wouldn’t you like to know where you could easily (without really trying) pick up infection? Here are the top 12 places (or things) where you risk exposing yourself to germs, according to Health.com. Some of these places you come across many times a day.

1) Your kitchen sink. Did you know that there are more bacteria (over 500,000 per square inch in your drain) in your kitchen sink than in a typical bathroom? Let this friendly warning sink in: Your kitchen sink basin and faucet are teeming with germs.

2) Airplane bathrooms. This is discomforting news to those who fly: Fret not about the fecal bacteria commonly found on door handles and faucets in airplane lavatories. What you should be wary about is the tornado of germy particles that’s on board the plane, too, and spewed into the air when you flush the toilet.

3) Wet laundry (even after it’s been washed). To make it brief (but not sweet): A dirty pair of underwear contains about a gram of germs, which gets spread around the entire load of laundry very quickly. The germs will only be destroyed when you dry the clothes (or hang them out in the sun, which has antibacterial properties).

4) Drinking fountains. All public drinking fountains harbor an army of germs, but especially those in schools — in the US, for instance, drinking fountains were found to contain anywhere from 62,000 to 2.7 million bacteria per square inch of the spigot. So, think before you drink from a public drinking fountain.

5) Shopping cart handles. Attention, all shoppers! Did you know that those shopping cart handles are loaded with germs? While you’re unsuspectingly pushing your cart shopping for groceries, your hands are grasping a handle covered in saliva, bacteria, and fecal matter from scores of people who used the cart before you.

6) ATM buttons. Think about how many fingers press those keys every day. In fact, a study found an average of over 1,200 bacteria on the average ATM key. Have you ever thought about how often those keys are cleaned (that is, if they’re cleaned at all)? Now, that should make you think twice before touching those buttons.

7) Your handbag: Ladies and gentlemen who tote bags, beware of bagteria! Beware of where you put down your bag —it can pick up thousands, even millions, of bugs like salmonella, E. coli, staph bacteria, and more. Now, that should make you think a million times before putting your handbag on the floor, and then plopping it down on the kitchen counter or dining table.

8) Playgrounds. These places sure are fun, but parents, take note: Your typical children’s playground is covered in bodily fluids like blood, mucus, saliva, and urine.

9) Mats and machines at health clubs. Health clubs may not be that healthy. For instance, a yoga mat or an elliptical machine could house a bacteria factory. These mats and cardio machines have been found to contain antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria and more.

10) Your bathtub. No ifs and baths about it: Bathtubs contain more than 100,000 bacteria per square inch, some of which you have just washed off your own body.

11) Your office phone: Hello! The phone you — and your officemates — use every day at the office gets coated with germs from your mouth and hands, to the tune of over 25,000 germs per square inch.

12) Hotel-room remote control. When you check into a hotel, what’s the first thing you check out? It’s probably the TV, right? And you use that little remote, which was used by hundreds of other people who occupied that room before you. The big problem is, that little remote may not have been thoroughly disinfected in between.

Yes, these infectious agents have infected our own home — our own kitchen, where we prepare food for our family day after day.

How to get rid of these invaders and reduce our chances of getting infected by them? The answer is plain and simple: Wash your hands regularly with plain soap and water.

According to health activist Dr. Joseph Mercola, “It has been shown time and time again that washing your hands with soap and water can kill viruses that cause: the common cold, Hepatitis A, acute gastroenteritis.”

And studies have found that soap and water do work better than the waterless, alcohol-based hand wipes and rubs.

Take this friendly advice from Dr. Mercola: “Please do not make the mistake of using these antibacterial liquids and soaps. These products kill both good and bad bacteria, which is why they are prone to contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”

More, most antibacterial products contain triclosan, an antibacterial agent that kills bacteria and inhibits bacterial growth. Fine, but not only does triclosan kill bacteria, it has also been shown to kill human cells.

But please avoid excessive hand washing — yes, too much of a good thing can be bad. Dr. Mercola hands out this vital warning: “You will want to avoid becoming obsessive about washing your hands; if you wash them too frequently, you can actually extract many of the protective oils in your skin, which will cause your skin to crack and bleed.”

 He adds, “It is important to realize that your skin is your primary defense against bacteria — NOT the soap. It is rare when a germ on your skin will cause a problem — it is typically only an issue when you transfer that to your nose, mouth or an open wound like cracked skin. So please avoid anything but absolutely crucial hand washing as that will actually increase your risk of getting sick by providing an entryway for potentially dangerous pathogens.”

We’re probably hoarding disease-causing bacteria on us right now. A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that a swab of our forearm may reveal 182 species of bacteria, eight percent of which were unknown. Many of these bacteria are good and essential for our very survival. Some, however, are bad and capable of making us sick.

The thing to do, so Dr. Mercola prescribes, is to take the steps necessary to build up your immune system. “A strong immune system is the best defense against any pathogenic bacteria you come across, and will serve you well if you nourish it with the proper tools.”

You can support/ strengthen your immune system by:

• Getting a good night’s sleep.

• Minimizing stress in your life.

• Exercising regularly and effectively.

• Getting enough sun exposure or, alternatively, enough of the right vitamin D (if you live in a cold environment where you can’t stay out in the sun).

• Avoiding sugar and grains, and instead eating plenty of raw foods.

• Taking a high-quality probiotic (good bacteria).

If you ask the good doctor, his foregoing suggestions sound so much better than having to walk around looking oh-so OC wearing cumbersome rubber gloves and carrying a disinfectant spray.–Ching M. Alano, Philippine Star
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