KARACHI, July 30: To prevent oneself from diseases, the first and most effective and simplest defence is keeping your hands clean.

Healthcare experts are of the opinion that clean hands prevent diseases and save lives. Healthy habits like washing hands can protect everyone from getting germs or spreading germs at home, school, or workplace. This practice can stop germs and prevent illnesses and reduce sick days.

The germ theory of disease, also called the pathogenic theory of medicine proposes that micro-organisms (germs) are the cause of many diseases, and keeping one’s hands properly washed helps keeping the germs at bay.

Germs are so small that you cannot see them. A few of them can cause illnesses like diarrhoea and colds as well as more serious, and life-threatening, diseases.

Washing your hands correctly greatly reduces the chances of spreading germs. Disease-causing germs can enter your body when your unwashed hands touch your nose, mouth and open wounds. Some of those germs may have changed to protect themselves against an antibiotic, which is called antibiotic resistance. When done correctly, hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, say experts.—PPI