better
H E A L T H
A V O I D T H E A N T I B A C T E R I A L ?
If every cough, sniffle, or sneeze has you reaching for the antibacterial hand
cleanser or soap, that just might be part of the problem. Experts agree that
antibacterial agents don’t have any effect on viruses—which cause colds and
flu—and could even make us more vulnerable to germs.
Certainly we should wash our hands diligently. However, “soaps and hand
cleaners that contain triclosan or other antibacterial agents should be
avoided,” says Dr. Christopher A. Ohl, associate professor of infectious
diseases at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina. “These agents have been shown to pressure bacteria to
become resistant to antibiotics and really are unnecessary.”
To kill most germs, simply wash your hands with plain soap and hot water
for 30 seconds. “If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand
hygiene products are an alternative for adults and older children,” says Ohl.
Spring means the return of outdoor activities like hiking, biking,
and running. You can track your mileage online at
M a p M y H ike
.com x M apM .yR an.com ,
or
M apM yR ide.com .
Chart your course by
clicking on the interactive maps, then save or print it.
E S S E N T I A L L Y Y O U R S
The next time you get a burn or cut, give essential
oil of lavender a try. The sweet-smelling healer
takes the pain out of bug, bee, or ant stings, says
Gayle Eversole, Ph.D., a master herbalist and
doctor of naturopathy. Simply dab a bit onto the
skin or add several drops to your bath.
M . D . T V
Daytime television
was once the realm of soap
operas and talk shows.
Now real-life doctors—
T h e
Doctors
and
T h e Dr. O z S h o w
—dominate
the ratings.
“ I think we
hit
a
perfect storm where people
were in search of
better medical information,
and we’ve been able
to provide it in a way that’s
practical for their lives,”
says Jay McGraw,
creator and executive
producer of
T he
Doctors.
For both
shows, viewer questions
make up
the most popular segments—
the
more
embarrassing, the better.
T h e D o c to rs
recently tackled
morning breath (it’s normal,
but scrapingyour tongue
helps), while Dr. Mehmet
Oz (pictured) reassured
viewers that drinking
wine won’t result in
“wine bellies.” See more
tips at
T h e D o c to rsT V
.co m
and
D o cto rO z.co m .
' I
thei percentageof
college-age males
who are drunk
every day while
on spring break.
According to the same University
of Wisconsin study, their female
counterparts come in at 43.6
percent. The way to break this
cycle is to be realistic with your
children—and yourself—before a
spring break trip. "Dire warnings
about the dangers of alcohol use
are tuned out," says Richard
Shadick, Ph.D., director of the
Counseling Center at Pace
University in New York. "Instead,
use harm reduction as a method
for limiting problems associated
with alcohol abuse. Tell them:
'Don’t drink with strangers, never
drink and drive, keep an eye on
your drink at all times, and eat
something before you drink.’ All of
these suggestions limit the
likelihood that harm may occur
while drinking." 1®
