Are we too health cautious?

**Russ** · 11-02-2010, 12:21 PM

Just a curiosity question really. Do you think we as a society are too health conscious and well, basically germ phobic? I mean, when I was growing up there was no such thing as antibacterial soap, chlorine wipes and such things.

Are we actually doing harm to our immune systems by not letting them combat some of these germs?

**2ndGenGranola** · 11-02-2010, 12:33 PM

I think those with a hand in our pocketbook have taught us to fear germs. IMO it goes waaaay beyond just soap.

People run to the dr for every little headache, fever or tummy ache.

Our pantries have more drugs than our great grandparents had food.

There is a shot for this and a pill for that (even though they cause more problems then they cure).

You should hear some of the comments I get when I don't take my kids into the dr for every little fever. We had the flu last year and MIL went ballistic because they didn't go to the dr. What's the dr going to do? Tell me they have the flu?! Even my dr says to stay home unless they need life saving intervention. I even just call in for nebi meds. The friends who had the same thing didn't get over it any faster with rx meds.

**frugal is fun** · 11-02-2010, 12:57 PM

I agree to a certain extent.

I find myself not calling the doctor for a cold or flu because he's not really going to do anything for me. If I miss more than a day of work I get the question...did you call the doctor. Um no, why did you?

About a month ago I had a stomach bug or something. I had never been in so much pain so I did call the doctor. he did nothing, didn't even want to see me, told me to avoid caffeine. um fine, but what about the pain....no response.

I have friends in my moms group that sanitize EVERYTHING that their child touches every week. I don't think I've ever sanitized anything when my son was a baby. And they look at me like I'm not the norm.

I can see schools wiping down desks and things with wipes but unless I see someone sneeze on something, I clean my house like I always do and we are no sicker or healthier because of it.

**imagine** · 11-02-2010, 12:59 PM

On the one hand I do think we have become overly big gremaphopis in our society and are not letting our immune systems practice.

On the other hand the children at school have been healthier since anti-bacteria gel has been installed in the school. The teachers also wipe off the desk and chairs better. Sick children are not brought to school.

**Libby** · 11-02-2010, 01:10 PM

Our society today is not what it was 'back in the day' if you know what I mean. We now have more processed and convenience foods then we did while growing up causing us to have weakened immune systems more susceptible to germs. Pair that with more technology as well and that adds in a laziness factor. Less exercise and improper diet does not create a great healthy germ fighting body ... so yes we are prone to getting sick more easily. And with every new germ...more people will catch it b/c of this.

The other huge misconception people seem to think about drugs - thanks to sad pharmaceutical marking tactics - a pill will cure everything. Headache? Take this pill. Body ache? Take that pill. Runny nose AND stuffy sinus - take THIS pill. Duh - how can people not question this one miracle cold tablet that makes your nose run so you feel relief YET stops it from running? How is a pill supposed to know which symptom you're suffering from? People fail to recognize that these drugs only help with symptoms not make you better.

BTW: Russ - thanks for calling me a germophobe

When people choose to travel w/o feeling 100%, they don't realize that they are putting others at risk especially in a recycled air environment. Thats a bit selfish if you ask me.

**Russ** · 11-02-2010, 01:24 PM

Wife and I had this discussion this morning because of our septic system taking anti bacterial soap. Should we use it on a septic sytem since it operates based on bacteria. Your flu shot story reminded me of it. . Russ smax Libby.

**Telephus44** · 11-02-2010, 02:59 PM

I agree that we're too panic-ridden over germs. Personally, I don't mind if I get a cold or whatever. People have this fear that they might get sick sometime - well, guess what? People have gotten sick forever. Nothing is going to keep you 100% healthy all the time. Staying in bed for a few days with a cold is not the end of the world.

And while I wouldn't want to walk into work or send my kid in to school with the flu, I also hate the "You just coughed? Well then go back home immediately and stay far away from me!" crowd. Not everyone who is sick is going to infect you with the plague.

**Darlene** · 11-02-2010, 03:22 PM

I'm not a freakazoid over dirt and germs. I just use basic common hygiene practices. Wash hands after bathroom, after blowing nose, touching icky things etc. Wash before eating etc. I clean my counters but don't bleach everything down. I sometimes use the 3 second rule for myself if something touches the floor, depends on where and if I can rinse off etc.

I check dates on things in fridge but usually use the sniff test. We are healthy and happy over here, not wrapped in bubble wrap but not playing Russian roulette either. Common Sense Rocks.

**MaryCarney** · 11-02-2010, 03:35 PM

My little analogy is this - you don't get in shape for a marathon by laying on the couch. Your immune system doesn't need to be protected - it is designed to protect you!
Obviously, there are a few individuals with faulty immune systems, but as a whole the entire 'anti-bacterial' product line is a dangerous waste of money.

**kattails** · 11-02-2010, 03:49 PM

to go to the doctor in my house you have to be half dead. we avoid the doctor like the plague. I don't believe in taking the kids to the doctor for every little sniffle, ache, or pain. I also don't like them taking medication. when I took them in for their well child check up last year the doctor gave me the 3rd degree and questioned my reasoning for refusing the flu shot for both children

and much to the doctor's amazement neither of my kids got the flu last year, even though neither received a flu shot.

**cab54** · 11-02-2010, 04:28 PM

I think we are.

Every day there is a healthy-diet related item on TV news and in the paper. And they differ widely from day to day/week to week. People used to just EAT. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Now I think so many people are so conscious of what is going in their mouths and constantly feel guilty about eating something 'bad' or not having exercised today.

I think people are doing 'body checks' all the time to see if something is 'wrong', also. We are bombarded with health scares from the media. I mean, it's good to report something that is amiss, but I think we are obsessed.

Same with cleanliness. I still just use a bar of soap for hand washing. But I keep a soap dispenser of antibacterial by each sink, because if I don't someone asks me where I keep it.

I don't know---people weren't any sicker when I was a kid and we all used bar soap. Maybe less sick.

**Syn D** · 11-02-2010, 04:32 PM

I'm germ phobic.. Not Howie Mandel extent, But I am non the less.. When I was younger not at all, didn't really start till a few years ago..

**lparker** · 11-02-2010, 06:43 PM

I laugh at germs. Ha, Ha, ha! Bring them on, the more the merrier. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger. I believe in sharing ... germs included. My kids actually played in DIRT on a farm back in the 70's. All three are healthy in their 30's.

I drive little pre-school germ incubators to and from school. Last year during the H1N1 scare, they all were sick...all I got was the sniffles. Just had a stomach bug a couple weeks ago...right as rain in two days...matter of fact, I lost 7 lbs and feel better than I did before the bug hit.

But this is all anecdotal, which means it doesn't amount to a hill of beans to the drug pushing germ-a-phobes.

Lee

**alotofgooddeals** · 11-02-2010, 06:46 PM

wont give nebulizier treatment meds without looking at the patient...

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

I think those with a hand in our pocketbook have taught us to fear germs. IMO it goes waaaay beyond just soap.

People run to the dr for every little headache, fever or tummy ache.

Our pantries have more drugs than our great grandparents had food.

There is a shot for this and a pill for that (even though they cause more problems then they cure).

You should hear some of the comments I get when I don't take my kids into the dr for every little fever. We had the flu last year and MIL went ballistic because they didn't go to the dr. What's the dr going to do? Tell me they have the flu?! Even my dr says to stay home unless they need life saving intervention. I even just call in for nebi meds. The friends who had the same thing didn't get over it any faster with rx meds.

**alotofgooddeals** · 11-02-2010, 06:49 PM

because of medical conditions....I told him he could suggest every time we came in however the answer to the question will always be no....i refuse to put that stuff in my body and refuse to put it into my kids body. We will recover from the flu however may not recover from the side effects the vaccines could have given us...

Originally Posted by kattails

to go to the doctor in my house you have to be half dead. we avoid the doctor like the plague. I don't believe in taking the kids to the doctor for every little sniffle, ache, or pain. I also don't like them taking medication. when I took them in for their well child check up last year the doctor gave me the 3rd degree and questioned my reasoning for refusing the flu shot for both children

and much to the doctor's amazement neither of my kids got the flu last year, even though neither received a flu shot.