Recently in the news I found an article about shower heads carrying large amount of bacteria. The bacteria might not pose a threat to most average people, but it could be a problem for people with weak immune systems, such as the elderly, infants or people with chronic diseases that affect the immune system. These individuals are prompted to take a bath instead of a shower.
The article stated that there are potential disease-causing germs that can become trapped in our shower heads and grow into biofilm, in other words layer of slime that deliver a bacteria blast as well as water. Our shower heads are the perfect place for bacteria to grow, there dark wet and contained. There are several bacteria that can grow, including one that causes lung diseases, another germ called Mycobacterium avium and others known as non-tuberculosis myco-bacteria.
Symptoms that you have possibly contracted one of these Mycobacterium, include fatigue, a chronic dry cough, and shortness of breath. So with that said, what can we do about it? It is recommended to periodically get rid of biofilm on our shower-heads. Replacing the shower-head once a year or more can help. Also metal shower-heads are less likely than plastic shower-heads to grow biofilm. It’s also a good idea to clean your shower-head frequently with a steel brush and good cleaning solution, like bleach.
In the United States, disinfectants and disinfectant cleaners must be reviewed and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before they can be offered for sale. EPA assigns a registration number for each product and that number must be clearly displayed on every container of the product. Companies submitting disinfectants for registration are required to include current efficacy data to prove that their product kills ALL of the microorganisms listed on the product label. For instance, if the product label claims to kill staphylococcus aureus, then test data must be submitted to EPA to prove that the product when diluted according to label directions kills the staphylococcus aureus bacteria. According to the Technical Director of Coastwide Laboratories.
There are medications available for allergies such as Allegra, Flonase, Nasonex, and Clarinex. These medications can help, when you are suffering from allergies. Make sure to visit your local doctor before taking a prescription medication.
About The Editor - Lisa Macfarlane is a professional health writer and editor who specializes in sexual health and health issues.
