Personal Hygiene Definition And Maintaining Of Good Health

Definition Of  Personal Hygiene :

Personal hygiene may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body.Personal hygiene is the first step to good grooming and good health. Elementary cleanliness is common knowledge. Neglect causes problems that you may not even be aware of.. Some problems may not be your fault at all, but improving standards of hygiene will control these conditions., good looks are the result of careful and continuous grooming.

Maintaining Of  Good Health:

The food we eat, the way we keep our body clean, physical exercises and safe sexual relationship, all these play a greater role in maintaining good health of the body. Many diseases are developed due to lack of cleanliness. Parasites, worms, scabies, sores, tooth decay, diarrhea and dysentery are caused due to lack of personal hygiene. All these diseases can be prevented by practicing cleanliness.

Cleaning the Head

 Head bath to be taken once or twice in a week with shampoo or any other cleansing agent.

Cleaning Eyes, Ears and Nose

• Wash your eyes with clean water every day.
• Wax get formed in ears and block the air way. This causes pain. Hence clean the ears once a week with cotton buds .
• Nose secretions get dried and forms a crest which block the nose. Hence clean the nose whenever needed. When children have cold and running nose clean the nose with soft cloth.

Cleaning the Mouth

• Soft tooth powder and paste are good for brushing the teeth. Brush twice a day - morning, as soon as you get up from the bed and at night before going to bed.Coal powder, salt, rough tooth powder, etc when used for brushing lead to scratches in the outer layer of the teeth. 
• Wash your mouth with clean water after eating any food item. This prevents food particles settling between the teeth which produces bad smell, spoil the gums and leads to tooth decay .
• Take nutritious diet. Eat less of food items like sweets, chocolates, ice creams and cakes.
• When you see signs of tooth decay consult the dentist immediately 
• Regular and proper brushing methods help you prevent tartar settling on the teeth. Consult the dentist for regular cleaning of your teeth.

Skin Care 

• Skin covers the whole body, protects organs of the body and helps to maintain the body temperature. 
• Skin helps to bring out the body's dirt through sweat. In a defective skin, the sweat glands gets blocked and as a result sores, boils and acne develop . 
• Take bath every day using soap and clean water to keep your skin clean

Washing Hands

• We perform all the activities such as eating food, cleaning after passing motion, cleaning the nose, removing cow dung etc. with our hands. During these activities, many disease causing germs remain under the nails and over the skin. Washing the hands (above the wrist, in between the fingers and nails) with soap after completion of the activity and especially before cooking and eating food helps to prevent many diseases.
• Cut your nails regularly. Avoid biting nails and nose picking.
• Children play in the mud. Teach them to practice washing hands before eating.
• Avoid contact with blood, feces, urine and vommit Cleanliness during Urination and Defecation. 
• After passing stools and urine, wash the parts with clean water from front to back and keep the parts clean. Do not forget to wash your hands with soap.
• Keep the toilets, bathrooms and surroundings clean. Avoid open air defecation.

Cleanliness of the reproductive organs

Both men and women are to keep their reproductive organs always clean.

• Women, during menstruation should use clean, soft cloth or sanitary napkins. Change the napkins atleast twice a day. 
• Women who have white discharge with bad smell should consult a doctor immediately
• After passing stools and urination wash the parts with clean water
• Consult the doctor immediately if you notice any infection of the reproductive tract.
• Use condomes for safe sex.
• Clean the reproductive parts before and after the sexual activity

Food and cooking hygiene 

• Practice hygiene during cooking to prevent food contamination, food poisoning and transmission of disease.
• Keep the cooking area and vessels clean
• Avoid eating rotten or infected food material
• Wash your hands before cooking and serving the food
• Wash the food items such as vegetables thoroughly before use 
• Store the food items properly
• Check the labels of food items while purchasing to know the 'Best before' date
• Dispose the kitchen waste properly

Medical hygiene 

• Take care of wounds by dressing them using proper bandage
• Look for the expiry date while purchasing medicines
• Safe disposal of unwanted medicines
• Do not take medicines without a doctor's prescription.

Source : Healthy villages - A guide for communities and community health workers, by World Health Organisation.