Tag Archives: myths

Coronavirus SARS-COV-2 Health Advice From GPDQ’s Dr Gero Baiarda

Posted on by

NHS GP Dr Gero Baiarda is one of the hundreds of GPs currently on-call at GPDQ – the UK’s leading GP-on-demand service. Dr Baiarda has myth-busted 10 common beliefs associated with the SARS-COV-2:

The virus is a living organism that we can kill. It is not alive. It is a protein chain of RNA within a protective layer of fat. Since the virus is a protein super molecule rather than a living organism, you cannot kill it. It will, however, decay spontaneously given enough time. The time it takes to break down depends on the environmental temperature, humidity and type of material upon which it settles.

People are most contagious before they even know they have the virus. This is untrue. Infected cells are invaded and destroyed by the virus, allowing millions of new viruses to burst forth and be shed on surfaces or passed to other people. Spread is most effective, therefore, in coughed droplets. Patients who are asymptomatic can, however, pass on the virus as soon as they are infected.

SARS-COV-2 is a hardy virus. It isn’t. SARS-COV-2 is surprisingly fragile. The only protection it has is a thin outer layer of lipid or fat. That is why any soap or detergent (both of which break down fat) will destroy it – even washing up liquid works well. By dissolving the external lipid layer of the virus, the virus is rendered completely inert and unable to penetrate human cells. Hence why washing hands often with soap and water is so important.

If delivery drivers wear gloves, they won’t spread it. This is wrong. Every item that a gloved hand touches can then be contaminated. According to a recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine, the virus can live up to eight hours on cardboard. To stay safe, the best advice is not to touch the parcel until ideally the following day.

The virus can’t be passed on by food. It can be transferred easily. If someone who has the virus on their hands touches food, it is very likely to become contaminated for many hours. To denature and inactivate the virus, food should either be washed or cooked at 65 degrees celsius at least for 4 minutes or more.

Alcohol-based sanitizer with a 60 percent alcohol concentration is as effective as washing your hands in soap and water. Wrong. Squirting a little bit of alcohol gel on your palms and rubbing them together is not effective. You need to cover the entire surface of both hands including fingers and thumbs, but this should be done only after the hands are free of any residues – such as after sneezing. The small nozzle on bottles of sanitizer are part of the problem, as people assume a small amount is ample.

Drinking alcohol will prevent people getting the virus. This is not true. The only alcohol that will help to prevent the spread of the SARS-COV-2 is that in hand sanitizer. This is only for external use, and even then, it is only effective if it has a concentration of 60 percent or above, if you use enough, and in the right way.

Moisturising hands after washing reduces cleanliness. Incorrect. Moisturizing the skin is very important. The virus can lodge itself in damaged skin on your hands cracked by repeated washing, so it’s important to try to avoid this. Keeping fingernails short will reduce the risk of sheltering and passing on the virus too.

Washing hands isn’t as important when self-isolating, as you’re all virus-free. Wrong. If there are any external items (shopping / deliveries / post etc) entering your home, hand washing remains important. Every time you wash your hands you will break the chain of infection. If in doubt, give them a wash! Do this for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water and if you have paper towels that you can throw away, this is better than using a communal towel. If using towels, dedicate one to each person in the house, keep them separate, and wash them daily.

Vinegar is good for keeping bathrooms and kitchens free of the virus. Incorrect. Vinegar will not work against SARS-COV-2 and is not advised. The cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens and surfaces is still best carried out with hot water from the tap and a surface detergent as you have always done. If you have a case of SARS-COV-2 in your house and want to disinfect common areas, you can use a dilution of household bleach or hydrogen peroxide – this is a mild antiseptic.

Don’t Be Afraid of Disability: A Guide on Acceptance And Inclusion

Posted on by
Down_syndrome_lga guide to inclusion

Credit: wikipedia

There are approximately 40,000 people with Down’s syndrome living in the UK, and over 10 million people with disabilities in Britain*. Therefore, with 15% of the population living with a disability, it is essential that people are understanding and knowledgeable when it comes to inclusion. Inclusion is relevant to everybody through all stages of life, right through from the playground to the workplace, to new social situations. Most people will have felt excluded at some point in their lives, and if somebody has a disability this experience may be heightened.

It is common to be afraid and anxious of disability, not sure how to act or what to say, particularly if you don’t have previous experience. However, it is better to admit nerves and pledge to learn about disability, than remain ignorant and in the dark. Every disability is different, as is every individual, and so there is no ‘one size fits all’ method of knowing how to behave around a person with a disability. However, Carol Boys, CEO of the Down’s Syndrome Association has provided her expert advice for helping make sure that everyone in society is accepted and included.  

Understand everyone is different

There are a broad range of disabilities, encompassing mental and physical, and therefore, it is important to remember that everyone is different. People with Down’s syndrome have a learning disability, but even within this specific type of disability, this can be mild or severe. Interacting with people who have a learning disability is likely to be different to interacting with people who have a physical disability, and acknowledging that everyone is different is the first step of working towards a society that promotes inclusion, after all, the world would be very boring if we were all the same! Understanding that the different people we encounter throughout our lives can enrich our experiences, and help us to learn new things and make new friends is so important. There is still a lot of work to do to ensure people with Down’s syndrome, and other disabilities, have many of the same life chances that the general population take for granted, and this is why we at the DSA work to educate the general public and show that people with Down’s syndrome have the same feelings and moods as everyone else, and thus, should be treated as individuals.

Ask questions

As there is such a broad spectrum of disabilities, it would be very difficult to be knowledgeable about every disability you come across. Some disabilities aren’t visible, nor would you necessarily realise someone had a disability until a certain situation occurs, therefore it’s important to not to be afraid of asking questions to help you understand. If you don’t feel comfortable asking questions to the person with the disability directly or you think it would be inappropriate, do look at resources online to assist you. The DSA website has an extremely useful FAQ section which will help offer some clarity http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about/general/.  Fear often comes from the unknown, and therefore they more we know, the less scared we will be of disability.

Be respectful

This is probably the most important piece of advice to take on board. Being respectful to anyone, whether they have a disability or not, is the best way to interact with others. Every individual has a different personality type (some we might click with and others we may not!) but never be disrespectful by talking down to or patronising someone with a disability. It’s important to note, for example, that everyone with Down’s syndrome needs some level of support at some point in their lives, whether this is a couple of hours help a week on their schedule, or 24/7 care. It can be difficult to get your heads around the balance of how much support to offer without treating people ‘differently’. However, being respectful, sensitive and considerate will always be appreciated no matter the situation.

Clue up on the terminology

To ensure you are sensitive in any situation, it is important to never use offensive terminology when discussing disability, either to the person with the disability themselves or with others. Assigning people with a label can be ignorant at the very least and highly upsetting at the worst. At the DSA, one of our objectives focuses on educating the public and the media on the correct way to talk about Down’s syndrome. For example, you should never say ‘this person suffers from Down’s syndrome’, as the word ‘suffer’ has negative connotations of illness. Instead, people ‘have’ Down’s syndrome. Alongside this, it is important not to define people by their disability. Don’t introduce people by name and their disability – a simple ‘this is my friend Sophie’ is sufficient – just like other people in your life.

Do what you can to help

Trying to make sure people aren’t afraid of disability can come in all different forms. This may start with informing people if they use the wrong terminology or volunteering at groups to provide support and assistance. If you are keen to get more involved, this year for World Down Syndrome Day, you can purchase ‘LOTS OF SOCKS’ socks to show your support of people with Down’s syndrome and raise awareness on World Down Syndrome Day (21st March). https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/lots-of-socks

For more information visit: http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk  

* http://www.dlf.org.uk/content/key-facts

 

Down’s syndrome:  Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome.  Around one in every 1,000 babies is born with Down’s syndrome. There are over 40,000 people with the condition in the UK.

Everyone with Down’s syndrome will have some degree of learning disability. The most important thing to remember is that everyone with Down’s syndrome is an individual, with their own strengths and weaknesses and personality traits that make them who they are.

 

The Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) is a registered (1061474) national charity that exists to provide information and support for people with Down’s syndrome, their families, carers and those with a professional interest. The DSA seeks to improve knowledge and understanding and champion the rights of people with Down’s syndrome. To find out more about the work of the DSA visit our website www.downs-syndrome.org.uk 

 

Terminology: Down’s syndrome – What to say (and not to say)

 

We rely on the media to speak about issues relating to Down’s syndrome in a way that is both factually accurate and inoffensive to the general public, including people with Down’s syndrome and their families.

We are sure you share our concerns so please take a minute to check that your copy is in line with the following language guidelines and that you are not perpetuating any myths about the condition.

 

DON’T SAY DO SAY
Suffers from OR is a victim of Down’s syndrome Has Down’s syndrome
A Down’s baby/person/child A person/baby/child with Down’s syndrome or who has Down’s syndrome
Retarded/mentally handicapped/backward Learning disability
Disease/illness/handicap Condition OR genetic condition
the risk of a baby having Down’s syndrome (in relation to pre-natal screening and probability assessments) the chance of a baby having Down’s syndrome
Down’s (as an abbreviation) DS (as an abbreviation if necessary)
MYTHS FACTS
People with Down’s syndrome don’t live very long. Today, people with Down’s syndrome can look forward to a life of 60 years plus.
Only older mothers have babies with Down’s syndrome. Although older mothers have a higher individual chance of having a baby with Down’s syndrome, more are born to younger mothers, reflecting the higher birth rate in this age group.
People with Down’s syndrome cannot achieve normal life goals. With the right support, they can. The vast majority of people with Down’s syndrome learn to walk and talk, and many are now attending mainstream schools, passing GCSEs and living full, semi-independent adult lives.
People with Down’s syndrome all look the same. There are certain physical characteristics that can occur. People with Down’s syndrome can have all of them or none. A person with Down’s syndrome will always look more like his or her close family than someone else with the condition.
People with Down’s syndrome are always happy and affectionate. We are all individuals and people with Down’s syndrome are no different to anyone else in their character traits and varying moods.

 

 

3 Beauty Myths Shattered

Posted on by

amandaeliasWe are all guilty of believing old wives tales or taking myths to the extreme when it comes to beauty. Thanks to the facial therapist, skincare expert and Bravura London founder -Amanda Elias – you can now put these 3 beauty mistakes to bed.

 Blemishes are caused by oily skin 

FALSE. Dry skin can suffer from bacterial breakouts too. Particularly when the skin is dry and flaky as this excess skin will block the pores and cause bacteria to multiply, therefore creating a spot.

Collagen creams will help put collagen back in your skin 

FALSE. The natural collagen in your skin is too deep for any cream to penetrate. A collagen based cream will help nourish your skin but it won’t stimulate the collagen production. Products such as glycolic acid and lactic acid increase skin turnover which in turn can also stimulate collagen.

 Facial oils are only suitable for dry skin 

FALSE. Even oily skin can become dehydrated; but the oil you use is very important. Opt for oils such as Jojoba which has similar properties to your skin’s natural oil, or Castor Oil which can help to clear blocked pores.

 

Amanda Elias is the founder of Bravura London, which prides itself on providing the best quality, effective pharmaceutical skincare products at affordable prices.

Why men aren’t like frogs, and dating isn’t a numbers game

Posted on by

By Jenni Trent Hughes. Relationship Expert at eHarmony.co.uk

 

 

There are so many myths out there about love and dating that when I talk to both singles and couples, I’m always amazed by the power these old sayings wield over us. A phrase that’s been passed on by a parent or trusted friend is often taken as gospel. And the one such myth I hear trotted out the most is that you have to kiss a rather depressing amount of frogs before you find a prince.

 

We’re certainly lucky to live in a world full of options. From takeaway coffee to sandwiches or TV channels, we’re so spoilt for choice it’s easy to think quantity is a good thing when it comes to dating too. That there’s a cornucopia of men out there, and if we dine out with enough of them we’ll hit upon that perfect needle in the haystack.

 

But as Plato very wisely said: “a good decision is based on knowledge, not on numbers”. If we know a bit about what we’re looking for then we won’t waste lots of time and energy on those so-called frogs. Here are my thoughts on dating myths I think are at best a bit silly and at worse damaging to our self-esteem and chance of finding real love:

 

“You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince”. The majority of women I meet with that attitude tend to wander the streets aimlessly kissing a heck of a lot of undesirables.  In many instances their frogs turn into lizards but almost never a prince. A prince is born a prince; he is not born a frog. So make sure you kiss princes with potential, not frogs, and if a frog should come along disguised as a prince, then learn from the experience ready for the next time.

 

“Dating is just a numbers game…”

Numbers games rely on chance. Would that then mean that finding love should be compared to roulette or poker? I think we can agree that all of those are tremendously risky activities over which you have and little control over the outcome. The idea that the more people you date the more chance you have in succeeding is misleading; laying a few pounds on which horse wins a race won’t make too much difference in your life if it goes wrong. However an overly cavalier attitude towards dating will provide less than stellar results. It’s about quality not quantity; dates with people that you have instant chemistry with, not endless dates with people because you ‘might as well’.  While it shouldn’t be approached with the precision of a military campaign it deserves more respect and attention than thinking of it as a game or a gamble.

 

“There are plenty more fish in the sea.”

We’ve most likely all heard this one before, delivered as good news from well-meaning friends when we’re emerging from a break-up or trying to get over someone. Though meant as a positive, it does seem to suggest that there are so many people out there that it’s easy to move swiftly on to the next ‘fish’. In fact, break ups or disappointments take time to get over, so don’t let yourself be rushed. Reflect on what’s best for you, and what you can learn from your relationship. Then, when the time comes to return to the dating scene, you’ll be able to use this knowledge to your advantage.

 

“Men are like parking spaces, all the good ones are taken and the others already have ‘Mother & Child’ painted on them” Absolute nonsense. This sort of self-defeatist attitude means that you are crying over the end of the movie before you’ve even bought your ticket. There are just as many wonderful available men out there as there are women. You just need to know where to look and probably even more importantly how to look.

 

“I can’t go on any more bad dates. I would rather be home alone than out with some guy who sells socks on the internet” Never give up. Your next date might turn out be your last ‘date’ because he might be The One. Don’t stop dating, just start dating differently. Don’t go out on any old date just because you’ve been asked. Accept or initiate dates only when you genuinely believe there is an opportunity for an enjoyable time. If you think there is little or no chance that you will have a good date then don’t go in the first place, what’s the point? Find the middle ground where you’re giving a person a chance just be sure they’re worth it in the first place.

 

We should never stop sharing beliefs and thoughts with our friends as we help them along that road, but let’s just make sure these are helpful and positive pearls of wisdom that will keep us enthused and optimistic on that journey.