Advice

Tips to be Fit: Most germs won’t hurt us, but 1,400 can

THE PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE — Did you know there are over 65,000 known germs, but only about 1,400 cause disease? The four major types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. They can infect our bodies and cause disease. There is a difference between infection and disease. We can be infected without being diseased.

Published

4 years ago

May 17, 2019

Staff Writer

By Vince Faust

Did you know there are over 65,000 known germs, but only about 1,400 cause disease?

The four major types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. They can infect our bodies and cause disease. There is a difference between infection and disease. We can be infected without being diseased.

An infection is the first step, which occurs when bacteria, viruses or other microbes that cause disease enter our body and begin to multiply. Disease is when the cells in our body are damaged as a result of the infection, and symptoms of an illness appear.

Most germs won’t hurt us. Our immune system protects us against infections. But germs may mutate and breach the immune system. Knowing how germs work will reduce your risk of infection.

Bacteria are one-celled organisms. They are visible only with a microscope. Not all bacteria are harmful. Some bacteria live in our body and are helpful, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, which lives in our intestines and helps us digest food, destroys some disease-causing organisms and provides nutrients.

Disease-causing bacteria will produce toxins that can damage cells and make you ill. Some bacteria directly invade and damage cell tissues. Some infections caused by bacteria include strep throat, tuberculosis and urinary tract infections.

Viruses are much smaller than our cells. Viruses are organisms that contain only genetic material. To reproduce, viruses invade cells in our bodies and change how our cells work. Most host cells are eventually destroyed during this process, which can kill us.

Viruses are responsible for causing numerous diseases, including AIDS, the common cold, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, genital herpes, influenza, measles, chickenpox and shingles.

Antibiotics for bacteria have no effect on viruses.

There are many varieties of fungi. Fungi are organisms that are reproduced by spores. We eat a number of them, such as mushrooms. The mold that forms the blue or green veins in some types of cheese are also fungi. So is yeast, the ingredient that makes bread rise.

Some fungi can also cause illness. Fungi are also responsible for skin conditions such as athlete’s foot and ringworm.

Protozoans

A protozoan is a single-celled organism that acts like a tiny animal. Protozoans eat other microbes for food. A few types of protozoans are found in our intestinal tract and are harmless.

Protozoans spend part of their life cycle outside the host. Protozoans live in food, soil, water and insects. Some protozoans invade our bodies through food or water we consume.

Some cause diseases such as giardia, malaria and toxoplasmosis. The protozoan that causes malaria is transmitted by a mosquito.

Infectious diseases

An easy way to contract most infectious diseases is by coming in contact with a person, animal or object that has the infection. Three ways infectious diseases can be spread through direct contact are:

Person to person: This is the most common way for infectious diseases to spread is when a person infected with the bacterium or virus touches, kisses, coughs on or sneezes on someone who isn’t infected. The germs can also spread through the exchange of body fluids from sexual contact. People who pass germs may have no symptoms of their disease.

Animal to person: Getting bitten or scratched by an infected animal can make you sick. It can be fatal in extreme situations. Handling animal waste can make you sick. You can acquire a toxoplasmosis infection by scooping your cat’s litter.

Mother to unborn child: A pregnant woman can pass germs that cause infectious diseases to her unborn baby. The germs can pass through the placenta connecting mother and baby. Germs in the vagina can be transmitted to the baby during birth.

Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa can enter our bodies through:

Skin contact or injuries.
Inhaling airborne germs.
Consuming contaminated food or water.
Tick or mosquito bites.
Sexual contact.

You should get medical care if you suspect that you have an infection and you have experienced any of the following:

An animal or human bite
Difficulty breathing
A cough lasting longer than a week.
Periods of rapid heartbeat.
A rash, especially if accompanied by a fever.
Blurred vision or other difficulty seeing.
Persistent vomiting.
An unusual or severe headache.
Reducing risk of infection

The CDC recommends the following to help reduce your risk of becoming infected:

Wash your hands. This is especially important before and after preparing food or drinks, before eating or drinking, after using the toilet, and after removing soiled clothes or shoes. Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands, as that’s a common way germs enter the body. Soap and water work well to kill germs. Wash for at least 20 seconds and rub your hands briskly. Disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers also work well. Gel sanitizers and hand wipes should be 70% alcohol-based.

Get vaccinated. Immunization can drastically reduce your chances of contracting many diseases. Make sure to keep up to date on your recommended vaccinations, as well as your children’s.

Stay home when ill. Don’t go to work if you are vomiting, have diarrhea or have a fever. Don’t send your child to school if he or she has these signs and symptoms, either.

Prepare food safely. Keep counters and other kitchen surfaces clean when preparing meals. Cook foods to the proper temperature using a food thermometer to check for doneness. For ground meats, that means at least 160 degrees F (71 C); for poultry, 165 F (74 C); and for most other meat, at least 145 F (63 C). In addition, promptly refrigerate leftovers. Don’t let cooked foods remain at room temperature for extended periods of time.

Practice safe sex. Always use condoms if you or your partner has a history of sexually transmitted infections or high-risk behavior.

Don’t share personal items. Use your own toothbrush, comb and razor. Avoid sharing drinking glasses or dining utensils.

Travel wisely. If you’re traveling out of the country, talk to your doctor about any special vaccinations.

If you work out in a gym, be careful. You are exposed to a lot of people. You are using equipment that was just used. Clean the padding before you use it. More than 50% of healthy persons have Staphylococcus aureus living in or on their nasal passages, throats, hair and skin.

Swimming can be dangerous, too. The average swimmer contributes at least 0.14 grams of fecal material to the water within the first 15 minutes of entering the pool. Showering with soap before swimming helps stop the spread of germs by removing fecal material from the body.

You should also make sure your gym has good air circulation. We can’t wash the air in a gym, but the exchange of air should be good.

Pets and other animals

Got a pet? Be careful. To reduce the risk of getting sick from germs your pets may carry, always wash your hands after:

• Touching or playing with your pet.

• Feeding your pet or handling pet food.

• Handling pet habitats or equipment (cages, tanks, toys, food and water dishes, etc.)

• Cleaning up after pets.

• Leaving areas where animals live (coops, barns, stalls, etc.), even if you did not touch an animal.

Going to the zoo this season? Try to make it safe:

• Don’t walk and eat. Your hands will touch a lot of contaminated objects.

• Don’t let your little one use a pacifier. They touch that pacifier with everything. They may even share it with an animal.

• Wipe off any seating or table you use in the zoo.

• Don’t feed the animals from your hand.

• If you have an open wound, cover it completely.

• Try not to come into contact with any animal waste. It’s teaming with germs.

This article originally appeared in The Philadelphia Tribune.

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Advice

Keep Safety in Mind for That Winter Walk at East Bay Regional Parks

Public safety personnel and equipment may not be able to respond easily to emergencies due to road and trail conditions, The Richmond Standard reported. The majority of East Bay Regional Parks have been closed since Jan. 4 due to recent storms and conditions. Only some shoreline and delta parks are currently open. See list at EBParks.org.

Published

2 months ago

January 14, 2023

Oakland Post

Photo courtesy of EBRPD.

PARK IT

By Ned MacKay

Because of the series of heavy storms that have battered the region in recent days, this is a good time to emphasize winter season safety measures for park visitors.

According to the Richmond Standard, the East Bay Regional Parks District is urging the public not to enter closed parks or areas with caution tape due to storm-caused safety hazards such as downed trees, falling branches, flooding and mudslides.

Entering closed parks not only risks your safety, but also those of first responders.

“Help keep yourself and first responders safe by staying out of closed parks,” East Bay Regional Park District Fire Chief Aileen Theile told The Richmond Standard. “It may not seem unsafe, but the dangers and the potential for injury or loss of life are real.”

Anyone entering Regional Parks when closed is subject to citation or arrest for violation of the Park District’s Ordinance 38.

Here are some safety tips for winter activity in the parks:

Check the weather before you go. And go with a friend, so someone can seek help if there’s an emergency. If you go alone, be sure to tell a responsible person where you are going and when you will be back. Then inform them when you have returned. In an emergency, call 911 or 510-881-1121, 24 hours a day.
Be prepared for changeable weather. Dress in layers, carry extra warm clothing, and wear sturdy footgear. It’s better to carry clothing you may not need than it is to need clothing you do not have.
Bring a map and stay on the official trails. Don’t take shortcuts on unmarked paths. Maps can be downloaded from the park district website, www.ebparks.org.

While you are on the trails, watch for rockslides, fallen trees and any other hazards. The rangers try to keep on top of these situations, but there are many trails and there’s likely to be considerable storm damage. Abide by any signs warning of closure or dangers and cooperate with instructions from park district staff.

Take a snack for an energy boost. A thermos full of a hot beverage works well, too.
Trails will likely be muddy. Leave a pair of dry shoes in the car, along with a cardboard box for those muddy boots.
For up-to-date information on park hazards and closures, click on “Visit a Park” at the top of the home page, then click again on “Alerts & Closures.”

With the new year comes the 30^th annual outing of the East Bay Regional Park District’s always-popular Trails Challenge program. It’s free of charge, fun for all ages and levels of ability, and easy to join.

The goal is to complete any five Trails Challenge trails or 26.2 miles (same distance as a marathon) of non-challenge trails. Record the trail names and distances and submit your log to reservations@ebparks.org by Dec. 1, 2023. You’ll be rewarded with a 2023 Trails Challenge pin, while supplies last.

The program is a great way to become reacquainted with familiar regional parks or explore new ones. It’s also an incentive for enjoyable and healthy outdoor exercise.

You can download the Trails Challenge guidebook at ebparks.org/TC. It contains a list of 20 trails, graded as easy, moderate or challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and dog walkers. Trails Challenge 2023 also offers increased accessibility, with trails that are usable by people with mobility limitations.

Here are some examples. There are easy hikes listed for Bay Point Regional Shoreline in Bay Point and Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline in San Leandro.

For a moderate hike, there’s a trail at Sunol Regional Wilderness in southern Alameda County, and one at Lake Chabot near Castro Valley.

Challenging hikes include trails at Morgan Territory north of Livermore and Wildcat Canyon in Richmond.

Besides the detailed trail descriptions, the Trails Challenge guidebook contains useful information about trail safety, etiquette, and essential equipment.

The 30^th Anniversary Trails Challenge program is made possible by support from Kaiser Permanente and the Regional Parks Foundation.

The cultural history of the Ohlone Peoples is the theme of a program from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in the visitor center at Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve with naturalist Kristina Parkison.

Drop by the Ohlone cultures informational table to learn about the rich culture and thriving present-day lifestyle of the first people who lived in what is now the park.

Sunol Regional Wilderness is at the end of Geary Road off Calaveras Road, about five miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle; the program is free of charge. For information, call 510-544-3249.

With the rains come mushrooms and other fungi. Learn more during a naturalist-led “Funky Fungi” program from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14 at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.

Find out why mushrooms grow in circles, why mushroom rings have been historically associated with fairies, and other mushroom lore. Then make your own fairy craft.

The program is free of charge and registration is not required. Ardenwood admission fees apply.

Ardenwood is at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., just north of Highway 84. For information, call 510-544-2797.

“Old Skool Skillz” is the title of a program from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at the Environmental Education Center in Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley with naturalist Anthony Fisher.

Make an elderberry flute and gain appreciation for the accomplishments of the first people to inhabit the lands of the East Bay and beyond.

The center is at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive, accessible via Canon Drive from Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley. For information, call 510-544-2233.

Topics related to the ecology of the Delta will be explored during a hands-on, naturalist-led “Afternoon Adventure” program from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at Big Break Regional Shoreline near Oakley. The program is free, and registration is not necessary.

Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. For information, call 510-544-3050.

It’s a good idea to check the park district website before heading out, to be sure your park is open. And stay safe when out enjoying the parks. For a full list of activities and programs planned in the regional parks, visit www.ebparks.org/things-to-do.

The Richmond Standard contributed to this report.

Activism

Conversations About Cancer Screening Should Be Priority This Holiday Season – It Can Save Your Life

Now is the time to start having conversations about cancer screening and having them often. Be an example for your friends and family. It’s OK to say, ‘Hey, as your buddy, I want us to be together 20 years from now. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself. That includes going to the doctor and getting screened for cancer.’ It may be a tough conversation to have, but you may be the one that could make a lifesaving difference.

Published

3 months ago

December 26, 2022

Oakland Post

David Ford, is a two-time cancer survivor.

By David Ford

The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family for food, fun, and great conversations. But imagine those conversations not going as planned and the joy of being with your loved ones has been overshadowed by someone sharing that they have cancer.

You may not have been ready to have that discussion, yet it was happening. And you may not be prepared to talk about screenings with your loved ones, but it’s necessary. As someone who has had two different cancers in my life, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting screened.

It was 2015 when I first heard those earth-shattering words, “it’s cancer.” I thought back to a conversation with my doctor just a few months earlier when they recommended a routine colonoscopy screening.

Instead of getting it done right away, I kept putting it off. My life was busy. I had a family and was in the midst of a successful career. It just wasn’t a priority for me, and all the while, I was unknowingly putting myself at risk. Then flash-forward to a critical moment with my doctor. It was too late; surgery was needed to treat my cancer.

If I’d gotten my colonoscopy, a screening for colon cancer, when it was recommended, it’s possible that I could’ve avoided surgery, treatment, and the emotional toll I put on my family.

Even though the treatments saved me, I had to learn the hard way not to take unnecessary risks with my life. So, three years later, when my doctor recommended screening for prostate cancer, I did not wait. I completed the screening immediately, and we were able to find and treat my second cancer at an early stage. Now, I am once again cancer-free and sharing my story to help others understand why they should be getting screened.

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, yet the discussion of cancer screening remains taboo in our community.

Cancer wasn’t something I was prepared to factor into my life. But through my experience, I learned some tough lessons. It is important to listen to my doctor. I need to take the time to share with others, so they don’t make the same mistake. It’s necessary to go to the doctor on a timely basis. It’s OK to have scary conversations about health with loved ones. And if a doctor recommends cancer screening, get screened.

Through my work with the American Cancer Society, I have seen that cancer doesn’t discriminate. It’s not just older people getting cancer; anyone can be at risk. This is the reason why it is so important for you to talk to a doctor about the type of health care and screening you may need.

You can’t play around with your life. It’s more than just a cancer screening, it’s a way to help ensure that we will be around for our families. The longer we are around, the more opportunities we have to live our dreams and to see our loved ones achieve their goals.

As we prepare to gather for the holidays, whether it’s a large gathering or with immediate family, I encourage you to have a conversation with your loved ones about regular cancer screening.

I hope that you take the steps yourself to schedule an appointment to get screened. If you need cancer screening recommendations, resources, as well as tips to start the conversation visit cancer.org/get-screened. A small discussion can make a lifesaving difference, so please don’t wait.

David Ford, is a two-time cancer survivor, Senior Government Relations Manager at Southern California Edison, and member of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Board of Directors.

Advice

Ready to start a business? Here are six steps before opening your doors

As your business grows, you’ll need to hire people you can trust to get the job done and reach the next level. Assemble a team who brings a strong work ethic and diverse expertise. It’s also essential to hire against your weaknesses and find team members who can make you smarter, more strategic, and more effective as you start down the path of growing a successful business. We also recommend seeking out mentorship.

Published

3 months ago

December 26, 2022

Oakland Post

Starting a business requires planning. You may already have a great business concept, but, before you start selling products or opening stores.

By Nykole Prevost, Senior Business Consultant, JPMorgan Chase

Nykole Prevost, Senior Business Consultant, JPMorgan Chase

Black business ownership is surging, fueled by Black women as the nation’s fastest-growing demographic of entrepreneurs. In fact, over one million new businesses started over the last decade are owned by entrepreneurs of color. It’s a promising trend, as local Black-owned businesses play a significant role in building wealth, creating job opportunities, and celebrating diverse cultures.

Starting a business requires planning. You may already have a great business concept, but, before you start selling products or opening stores, consider these six steps to lay a strong foundation for growth:

1. Make it official…legally

The first step is establishing your business by choosing between a limited liability corporation (LLC), a limited liability partnership (LLP) or a corporation. Registering your business as an LLC, LLP or corporation is crucial because it makes your business a separate legal entity and forms a financial protection barrier between you as the owner and your business.

2. Make your business account work for you

Once the business is established, it is essential to determine your business’ spending needs and financial resources. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recommends all incorporated businesses have a business banking account, and there are several benefits to opening one up. For example, separating your personal finances from those of your business allows you to take full advantage of tax deductions, automate your bookkeeping, protect yourself from business debt liability and establish business credit. Consider speaking with a business banker for more information and available resources.

3. Fund your business idea

Business credit is one of most common ways for entrepreneurs to fund a new business. It’s also a great way to access the capital that you need to start, run, and grow your company. Much like personal credit, business credit signals to lenders how your company handles its debt. Stronger credit scores can increase your purchasing power by potentially making it easier — and, in some cases, cheaper — to secure loans and other forms of financing to cover day-to-day expenses, invest in inventory, hire additional staff, and conserve liquid cash. It’s important to remember, though, that using credit responsibly is a crucial component of building any business.

4. Take inventory of your financial resources

What are your income streams and how much could you invest in your business to create more customers, increase sales, and produce opportunities for growth? Make a list of all your assets, including savings, retirement, business accounts, or home equity. Next, list out your liabilities, including credit cards, rent, mortgage, or car payments. Then, find out your net worth by subtracting what you owe from what you own. Work with your financial, legal and tax advisors to run through best and worst-case scenarios and find out what your options are. Financial resources like cash management solutions can be helpful when setting up your business.

5. Create your online presence

Whether you have a brick-and-mortar business or you’re digital only, your customers need a way to find out more about your business and what you offer. Think about your target customer and what you want them to know about your brand. If you don’t already have a website, creating an online hub for your business is critical to getting your message out there and building a customer base.

6. Build your dream team

Visit a local Chase branch and speak with a business banker or check out educational materials at chase.com/business/next-level-biz to learn more about starting and managing your business.

Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.