Airborne diseases are spread by pathogens in the air, and you can contract them quickly by breathing infected air. If you’re close to an infected person, their cough, sneeze or laughter could cause the bacteria or virus they’re carrying to remain in the air long enough for others to inhale. Alternatively, you could contract the disease if you touch a surface where the pathogen settles and transfer it to your mouth, nose or eyes.
To limit your chances of airborne pathogen infection, consider taking the following precautions.
The easiest way to minimize your chances of airborne disease infection is to keep your distance from people showing symptoms of illness. However, while this action reduces your risk of infection substantially, it is often impractical. People may not show their symptoms immediately after contraction, and it is often difficult to avoid public places like grocery stores and offices.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, washing your hands with soap is one of the best ways to stay healthy. While not as beneficial as washing your hands, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol in a pinch.
Cleaning your household and office surfaces can reduce your risk of contracting an infectious airborne disease. You can also wipe down items you buy or bring from elsewhere before packing them away or using them — however, this is not as necessary as frequent hand-washing. Use a disinfectant when cleaning to cleanse the surfaces effectively.
Working, living and socializing in well-ventilated areas reduces your chances of contracting airborne diseases. A reliable HVAC system provides constant airflow, guaranteeing warm, cool and dehumidified air. A dependable system can also increase indoor air quality and cleanse the area of pathogens.
While wearing a face mask may bring back memories of more trying times, it is an effective way to reduce the inhalation of airborne bacteria or viruses. If you start feeling sick yourself, wearing a mask can also help protect those around you.
Showering or bathing after a day in public will cleanse your body, and changing into fresh clothing afterward eliminates any lingering pathogens that became attached to your body and clothes while you were out. Regular vitamins and supplements won’t assist with exposure but can help minimize the symptomatic effects of airborne diseases.
Whether you contract the common cold or COVID-19, no one likes being sick. Here are some airborne illnesses to be wary of this year.
As its name suggests, the common cold is likely the most frequently contracted airborne disease. Usually caused by rhinoviruses, the cold causes minor discomfort, such as a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and a mild cough. There is no known cure for the common cold, but treatment with decongestants, antihistamines, cough syrup, bed rest and increased fluid intake typically clears the infection within days.
Should you contract the cold virus, cough into a facial tissue and wash your hands immediately. Assess your condition and invest in suitable over-the-counter medication to combat the symptoms.
Many people erroneously believe that the common cold is a precursor to the flu. Flu viruses are entirely different from the rhinoviruses widely associated with a cold, although the presence of one won’t discourage the other. Influenza type A is the most notable flu virus, but many other sub-strains and types exist. People who get the flu experience symptoms similar to the common cold, but coughing, headaches, fevers and body aches may be worse.
Health care professionals often suggest bed rest and the same combination of nonprescription drugs as a cold for flu patients. They might add headache medication to reduce fevers and prescribe antiviral medications to reduce the duration and effects. Flu vaccines are available annually and widely encouraged by most professionals.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. COVID-19 reached global pandemic status in 2020. It is the most devastating airborne disease in recent times. While entirely unrelated to the common cold and influenza, the virus exhibits many similar symptoms, often on a more extreme scale. COVID-19 also led many people to experience breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, loss of taste and diarrhea.
The most effective way of preventing the COVID-19 virus is with vaccination. While several treatments now exist to treat the virus, many require intravenous administration. Two oral medicines, the Paxlovid and molnupiravir antivirals, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration under specific conditions.
Many other airborne diseases bear a mention. Measles, tuberculosis, chickenpox, mumps, whooping cough and diphtheria carry varying risks for people — they all have established vaccines that prevent regular contraction.
The old adage, “prevention is better than the cure,” applies well to airborne diseases — especially in uncurable pathogen infections like influenza and the common cold. The best way to avoid contracting an airborne disease is to exude caution in environments where it may be prevalent. Reduce your exposure to viruses and bacteria to stay healthy this year.
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