Cover your mouth when you cough?!
Question: About fifteen years ago, my sister sees me pull at the collar of my shirt and cough into the opening i created between my shirt and my chest. She asked "What are you doing?" I told here i cough down into my chest like that so i don't spread any cold germs. Her reply was "Well, your just putting those germs onto your chest!!! you're not going to get better if you just keep putting those germs on your chest."
I disagree. Once a cold rhino virus, or a flu virus attacks your body, your immune system takes charge and does what it can to stomp out the problem. That is why having the cold, or, a flu only lasts for a week or so. Otherwise, it would be a lifelong condition.
My point is this, if you use your hand to cover your mouth whenever you cough or sneeze. You then have to wash your hands in order to prevent passing the virus onto others. That could mean opening a door, turning a facet..... Other people are going to be touching those knobs your hand just touched... And washing your hands isn't always an option. So, i figure the most sensible thing to do whenever i feel the urge to cough or sneeze, is to pull my collar away from my neck, and cough down into my chest.....
Who's right...Me or my sister.
Answers: About fifteen years ago, my sister sees me pull at the collar of my shirt and cough into the opening i created between my shirt and my chest. She asked "What are you doing?" I told here i cough down into my chest like that so i don't spread any cold germs. Her reply was "Well, your just putting those germs onto your chest!!! you're not going to get better if you just keep putting those germs on your chest."
I disagree. Once a cold rhino virus, or a flu virus attacks your body, your immune system takes charge and does what it can to stomp out the problem. That is why having the cold, or, a flu only lasts for a week or so. Otherwise, it would be a lifelong condition.
My point is this, if you use your hand to cover your mouth whenever you cough or sneeze. You then have to wash your hands in order to prevent passing the virus onto others. That could mean opening a door, turning a facet..... Other people are going to be touching those knobs your hand just touched... And washing your hands isn't always an option. So, i figure the most sensible thing to do whenever i feel the urge to cough or sneeze, is to pull my collar away from my neck, and cough down into my chest.....
Who's right...Me or my sister.
You are completely right. Although, you should still wash your hands after, because the viruses will still get on them when you touch your collar. Your shirt will not completely filter the germs. It isn't like the filter material that surgical or TB masks are made of. The germs can still get past them.
The germs that you are so called "putting on your chest", are already in your body. It isn't like you have a huge gaping wound on your chest that you are putting it back into. Your skin is the barrier. The cold germs get transmitted when people (in this situation) get them on their hands and then touch their mouth or nose. The don't permeate through your intact skin. You sister is wrong there.
Bottom line is: Always wash your hands frequently when you have a cold and are coughing and sneezing to prevent the spread of your germs to others.
You said it all, I agree with you 100%.
both it doesn't get spread if you cough into your elbow or if you cough into your chest.
Sister is playing with a partial deck.
You are. I cough on my upper arm.
Actually from What I understand you are supposed to use the crook of your elbow as to not use your hands. I suppose the shirt thing would work also. You are right about using your hands... they say you shouldnt do that.
You are...but don't let any ladies nuzzle your neck!
I would say it is still best to use your hands and then wash them right after or use tissues with antiviral/antibacterial properties. If you do it in/on your shirt you still spread those germs on furniture, while hugging others, rubbing against a wall, etc. Best to cough in hands and wash away ASAP so your clothes don't become a germ factory.
I'm not sure, but you're pretty much BOTH right! Well, good move with the collar, but try to cough into the inside of your elbow to make sure that your sisters theory isnt right.