We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How can I Prevent Communicable Diseases?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 17,167
Share

The goal to prevent communicable diseases, which range from the common cold to extremely dangerous illnesses like meningitis, is laudable but likely unachievable. The numbers of diseases that are contracted by humans and passed in one form or another to other humans are overwhelming, making total disease eradication impossible. It is possible to limit the spread of communicable diseases through a variety of healthy behaviors and actions. For the average individual, following some basic guidelines may reduce the number of illnesses contracted and could help avoid contact with dangerous and life threatening conditions.

For someone who wants to commit to healthy living and fewer illnesses, they should first consider supporting a healthy immune system. Maintaining a healthy weight, refraining from smoking and excess drinking, eating a well-balanced diet, getting adequate sleep (at least eight hours for adults and 10-12 hours for kids), and reducing stress may actually make the immune system stronger. This means when people encounter an illness, they may fight it off more easily or have faster recovery.

Simple and sensible behaviors may also help reduce the number of communicable diseases spread or contracted. Proper handwashing after using the bathroom, after being in a busy location like a school or grocery store, and directly before meals is important. Careful washing and cooking of food is recommended, as this may prevent a number of bacterial infections. Avoiding people who have an active illness that is contagious, and staying home from work or having the kids stay home from school when they’re ill all help to reduce the spread of disease.

Special circumstances exist where greater precautions are needed. Anytime a person travels, they should pay attention to all safe guidelines for travel in a particular area, like avoiding eating fresh vegetables or drinking unbottled water, and get any shots needed to protect from communicable diseases that may be present in certain areas. Traveling isn’t the only circumstance under which special precautions are needed. Sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDs, can often be prevented with safer sex practices. Anyone who uses injected drugs also needs to find ways to use clean needles to avoid contracting HIV and some forms of hepatitis.

Some people are occupationally at greater risk for contracting communicable diseases including many healthcare workers and those who work with animals or wildlife. Any time a person is more at risk, they should follow recommendations for minimizing potential contraction of illnesses. A nurse following safe needle handling protocol is less likely to come into contact with blood-borne illness from accidental needle sticks. Safe handling of a potentially rabid animal could mean people are less likely to contract rabies.

In many cases, a number of severe illnesses can be almost fully prevented by vaccination. People are familiar with vaccinations for children, but there are also vaccinations for the adult, including yearly flu shots, tetanus shots, hepatitis vaccines, and chicken pox and shingles vaccines. Staying on a proper vaccination schedule, and asking doctors for guidelines on the right vaccines for a person’s age group is key toward preventing some devastating communicable diseases.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-can-i-prevent-communicable-diseases.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.