Avoid Contracting Tuberculosis With These 4 Simple Tips

By
Mercy Ekele
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which usually attacks the lungs and spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

Tuberculosis is not easily contracted, but you may be more likely to get it if you have a weakened immune system or are in close contact with someone who’s sick. While you likely don’t need to worry, tuberculosis is a serious condition, so it’s a good idea to try to prevent it.

The most important precaution you can take to prevent tuberculosis is to avoid being around people with active TB, which is highly contagious, especially if you have already tested positive for latent TB. More specifically:

  • Don’t spend long periods of time with anyone who has an active TB infection, especially if they have been receiving treatment for less than two weeks. In particular, it is important to avoid spending time with TB patients in warm, stuffy rooms.
  • If you are forced to be around TB patients, for example if you work in a care facility where TB is currently being treated, you will need to take protective measures, such as wearing a face mask, to avoid breathing in the TB bacteria.
  • If a friend or family member has active TB, you can help to rid them of the disease and lessen your own risk of contracting it by ensuring that they strictly follow treatment instructions.

Certain groups of people are considered to be more at-risk of developing tuberculosis than others. If you are a member of one of these groups, you need to be more vigilant about protecting yourself from TB exposure. Some of the main at-risk groups are as follows:

  • People with weakened immune system, such as those with HIV or AIDs.
  • People who live with or care for someone with active TB, such as a close relative or a doctor/nurse.
  • Healthcare and social workers who serve high-risk patients, such as people who are homeless.
  • People born where TB is common, including children, and anyone who has immigrated within the last five years from areas that have a high TB rate.
  • People who live in crowded, confined spaces such as prisons, nursing homes, or homeless shelters.
  • People who abuse drugs and alcohol, or have little or no access to proper health care.

People who are in poor health are more susceptible to the bacteria, as their disease resistance is lower than in healthy people. Therefore, it is important to do your best to lead a healthy lifestyle.

  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean meat. Avoid fatty, sugary and processed foods.
  • Exercise often, at least three to four times a week. Try to incorporate some good cardiovascular exercise into your workouts, such as running, swimming or rowing.
  • Cut down on alcohol consumption and avoid smoking or taking drugs.
  • Get plenty of good quality sleep, ideally between seven and eight hours a night.
  • Maintain good personal hygiene and try to spend as much time as possible outdoors, in the fresh air.

The BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccine is used in many countries to help prevent the spread of tuberculosis, especially among children.

Read also: 5 Healthy Lifestyle To Adopt During The Dry Season To Keep You Hale And Hearty

 

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