Your immune system is a complex network that efficiently protects your body from things that can make you sick. But there are some things you can do to help your body prevent illness. And some of them are going against some common misconceptions that have begun floating through our overly sanitized culture.

The first misconception is the idea that you need to wash your hands constantly. Washing them after you go to the bathroom, good idea. Washing them each time you shake someone's hand or touch a door nob, bad idea. Why is this? Your skin is your first and most important defense against harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses. Your skin has a normal and natural bacterial flora that is important in keeping bacteria from entering your body. If you constantly wash your hands, especially if you use antibacterial soap, you will kill these 'good' bacteria. You will also cause very small cuts in your skin, thus giving the bacteria/virus a chance to enter your body it would not have previously had prior to the hand washing.

 

The second misconception that people have is that a fever when you are sick is a bad thing. Fever is a sign of a healthy immune response. The fever is activated by the body to raise the temperature and kill whatever virus/bacteria has invaded it. The heightened temperature either kills the bug or prevents it from replicating so quickly, thus saving you from getting sicker when the infection spreads. But a high or overly prolonged fever means that the body is over-reacting. It is important to understand the difference between a low grade fever and a worrisome fever. A low grade is considered anywhere from 100-102 degrees. Anything above that for any length of time can cause damage due to your body, generally through dehydration. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned that your fever is too high or has lasted too long.

If you fight against these two common misconceptions you will allow your body to perform the functions it was designed to do, and you will be healthier.