SURVEY: Swine flu doesn’t change hand washing habits!

Hands on hand hygiene: how good is your hand washing habit? A new US survey has indicated that despite the swine flu, many people haven’t changed their washing hands habits. Did you try to improve your hand washing habit? The survey was conducted online July 28-31 and involved 1,020 American adults across the country aged 18 to 65. Jon Dommisse, director of marketing and product development at Bradley Corporation (conductor of the survey) said: “…they wash their hands no more or less frequently. We found the response to the H1N1 question extremely surprising, especially since the medical community has said over and over that hand washing is the best defense against the spread of cold and flu viruses.” Overall, 87 percent of respondents said they did wash their hands after using public lavatories, but other responses indicated that some may have exaggerated how often they actually did the job correctly. When asked if they had also used soap, the numbers declined only slightly, to 86 percent; yet 55 percent of the group admitted on occasion they’ve simply rinsed, without using soap. Just remember… THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SAYS … HAND WASHING IS CRITICAL IN PREVENTING ILLNESS!!! Only a few days ago a few more swine flu facts were described by World Health Organisation Director General Margaret Chan in an interview: “…This virus [H1N1 influenza A] travels at an unbelievable, almost unheard of speed. In six weeks it travels the same distance that other viruses take six months to cover. … Sixty percent of the deaths cover those who have underlying health problems. This means that 40 percent of the fatalities concern young adults – in good health – who die of a viral fever in five to seven days. This is the most worrying fact, up to 30 percent of people in densely populated countries risked getting infected …While 90 percent of severe and fatal cases occur in people aged above 65 in seasonal flu, most of those who die from swine flu are under the age of 50.” MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE AT: • Hands on ‘hand hygiene’! • Swine flu prevention is a matter of ‘hand hygiene’! • Hand Hygiene: warm air dryers increase bacteria on hands! • More hand hygiene news!

‘Wash your hands with hands’ – the perfect swine flu related present!

Foliage’s funny handsoap – ‘click’ for larger versions! “Wash your hands with hands” – the perfect swine flu related present! Are you looking for a funny ‘swine flu’ present? Then the Foliage handsoap might be the perfect present: 10 little hand made handsoaps in a pretty little bag. Each bag includes about 100grams of handsoap with various skin-ish colors and sizes (varying from 0.5 to 2.0 inch tall). A unique soap gadget shaped like little hands – definitely a funny ‘swine flu gift’! SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING: • Wash your hands with hands – Foliage handsoap product review! • Hands on hand hygiene: basics, products & swine flu news! • Barack Obama about hand hygiene • The 10 commandments of hand hygiene! • Fingernails & your health!

Weather linked to fingernail quality!

Learning fingernail manicure is helpfull, but the weather will shape your fingernails! New fingernail research has pointed out that the weather is an important factor in the quality of our fingernails. British researchers found that a humidity of 55% will lead to strong, lengthy nails. While a lower humidity will make you fingernails more brittle; a higher humidity will make your fingernails more bendy! Researcher Dr Stephen Eichhorn said: “We have found that fingernails cope remarkably well over a range of humidities – but it is best not to get them completely dry or wet. At an average of 55pc humidity, which is what you would experience normally, it appears nails have their optimum mechanical properties, and resist bending.” “The mechanical properties of fingernails are important because of their impact in preventing damage and in maintaining their appearance. ‘In particular, knowing the effect of local environmental conditions can tell us how they might best be protected.” The research team presented their work in a recent issue of The Journal of Biomechanics. SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: • The medical causes of brittle fingernails! • The use of fingernails as a bioindicator of heavy metals! • Find the cause of your fingernail disorders in 3 steps!

Michael Jackson drank propofol as his ‘milk’, how his hand relates to the autopsy results!

Michael Jackson’s hand cast (left) & body changes (right) – ‘click’ for larger versions! Michael Jackson’s autopsy results relate to his hand deterioration! On august 25, 2009 court documents revealed that the Los Angeles coroner concluded that Michael Jackson had died of an overdose of propofol – a powerful sedative which Jackson frequently used to help him sleep, the singer called the drug his ‘milk’. The coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death as a homicide: the designation of homicide means that Jackson died at the hands of another, but does not necessarily mean a crime was committed. For example, the coroner’s document also said: “… It cannot be determined whether the cause of death is due to the actions of a single night and/or a single doctor, or the grossly negligent treatment of several doctors over an extended period of time.” Because the court report indicates that Michael Jackson’s death appears not to be result of a single doctor/action, one should not exclude the overall state of his health either! SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING: • In memoriam: ‘The hands of Michael Jackson’! • Michael Jackson’s hands: a clue to his sudden death? • Michael Jackson’s hands: a manicurist’s worst nightmare! • How your fingernails relate to your health! The “King of Pop” in his younger years:

Hands on hand hygiene: Obama’s council of advisors about the swine flu!

Swine flu prevention starts with proper hand hygiene! Did you know that the average hand hygiene compliance rate is only 40%? That’s a major concern in the perspective of the swine flu pandemic – especially since governments has stated worldwide that hand hygiene is one of the few effective tools to prevent infection with the H1N1 influenza A virus! While the Medline hand hygiene compliance program was initially developed as a combat against healthcare acquired conditions, now it the program can serve as an additional tool for to stop the swine flu pandemic (a.k.a. the Mexican flu). Earlier this week the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology released a report describing a plausible scenario saying: “…swine flu pandemic could: • produce infection of 30-50% of the U.S. population this fall and winter; • cause between 30,000 and 90,000 deaths in the United States concentrated among children and young adults.” While the annual deaths associated with seasonal flu in the United States is only 30,000-40,000 mainly among people over 65! Remember, on wednesday july 29 (2009), Barack Obama told the Americans that swine flu prevention is not only an issue of the governement, individuals must also do their part. Obama said: “Keep your hands washed, cover your mouth when you cough, stay home from work if you are sick, keep your children home from school if they are sick.” SO, IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR PREVENTION AGAINST THE H1N1 INFLUENZA A VIRUS … THINK ABOUT YOUR HAND HYGIENE!!! MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE AT: • Hands on ‘hand hygiene’! • Swine flu prevention is a matter of ‘hand hygiene’! • Hand Hygiene: warm air dryers increase bacteria on hands! • Obama’s council of advisors about the swine flu! • Barack Obama’s recommendation for swine flu prevention: the fist bump!

About Usain Bolt’s talent for sprint – it’s in his fingers!

Usain Bolt has the long ring finger, a marker for sprint talent! The 2008 olympics in Beijing pointed out that Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is the fastest man on sprint ever! And last sunday he set another new world record at the Athletics World Championships 2009 Berlin. How come that Jamaican sprinters run so fast? Earlier this year British researchers studied 241 boys aged 10 to 17 who took part in a sports talent-spotting competition in Qatar. Professor John T. Manning (a.k.a. ‘the finger professor’) said about the finger research: “We found finger ratios of the right and left hand were positively linked with sprinting times in boys. The advantage they had was soon apparent after the start of the sprint and remained steady thereafter.” Previous studies have shown long-distance runners have the same hand characteristics (low 2D:4D digit ratio). But in this perspective one should not forget that longer ring fingers have also been linked with everything from a lower risk of heart disease and exam success to male aggression and higher earnings in the workplace. So the predictive value of a long ring finger is not very specific, nor reliable in individuals. Nevertheless, according John T. Manning it’s a hand fact that Jamaicans are known for having the long ring finger – and it’s confirmed by various hand photos of the most successful sprinters from Jamaica. MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE AT: • The hands Usain Bolt – olympic world record holder sprint! • Usain Bolt has the long ring finger – measure for sprint talent • Finger length explains the success of Jamaican sprinters! • About finger length & athletic succes • Why Jamaican sprinters run so fast! • Jamaican samples show low 2D:4D ratio

The hands of the 40th US president: Ronald Reagan!

The right hand of Ronald Reagan.

President Ronald Reagan: right hand waving photo Presidential Palm Reading: the Ronald Reagan ‘hand-file’! • President: 1981-1989; • Dexterity: left handed; • Hand type: square hand shape; • Fingers: normal fingers, long ring finger + short index finger.

A few months ago TIME presented a hand photo essay of the last 9 US presidents, and palm reader Robin Gile was asked to present a hand analysis for each president. Without knowing that it was Ronald Reagan’s hand, this is how Robin Gile described Ronald Reagan’s hand:

“The Most Earth-y of the Lot”

“This person is constitutionally stronger than most, because the head line and heart line are almost one line,” says Robin Gile. “He’s the most earth-y of the lot, but he’s stubborn. He has a hard time shifting gears or taking on a new stance. He’s not attached to ostentatious consumerism. I bet he’s the sort of man who would say, “Let me lease a good car. It doesn’t have to be a Cadillac.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING:

• The hands of various US celebrities!
• A very impressive ‘right hand waving’ photo of Ronald Reagan!
• Presidential palm reading: the hands of Ronald Reagan!
• US presidents usually have a low ’2D:4D finger ratio’!
• How to recognize the hand of a US president?

Tripe palms may signal lung cancer or stomach cancer!

‘Tripe palms’ relate to lung/stomach cancer! Tripe palms is a very rare skin disease which is characterised by thickened velvety palms that have the appearance of tripe – the stomach lining of beef, pork, or sheep. If tripe palms is featured with acanthosis nigricans (a brown to black, poorly defined, velvety hyperpigmentation of the skin), the cause is usually related to stomach- (35%) or lung cancer (11%). Some statistics on ‘tripe palms’ & cancer: “In over 40% of patients, tripe palms are the first sign of an undiagnosed cancer, hence all patients should undergo a full diagnostic workup for an associated malignancy, particularly lung cancer, gastrointestinal carcinoma, or a colonic polyps.” “There is no specific treatment for tripe palms. It has been reported that approximately 30% of cases resolve once the underlying cancer is treated. However, tripe palms inconsistently respond to successful therapy and may persist for many years despite remission of the underlying cancer.” Approximately in 90% of people having tripe palms this unusual hand characteristic can be associated with internal malignancy, for example a colonic polyps. SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: • Hands on cancer: how the hand signals various type of cancers! • Can palm reading pick up ovarian cancer? • Fingerprints may vanish due to cancer drugs! • Did Michael Jackson suffer on skin cancer?

The hands of the 41th US president: George H.W. Bush!

The right hand of George H.W. Bush.

President George H.W. Bush: right hand waving photo Presidential Palm Reading: the George H.W. Bush ‘hand-file’! • President: 1989-1993; • Dexterity: left handed; • Hand type: normal; • Fingers: normal fingers, low set long ring finger + long pinky.

Earlier this year TIME presented hand photos of the last 9 US presidents to palm reader Robin Gile, and asked him to present a palm reading for each president. Without knowing that it was George H.W. Bush’s hand, this is how Robin Gile described Bush senior’s hand:

“The Most Alpha of All the Hands”

“This man is outgoing, but not necessarily charming or witty,” says Gile. “But his presence is felt. This is the most alpha of all the hands. He has a high degree of eccentricity. I think he’s pretty ruthless. I bet this is Bush Sr. I could see this guy running the CIA.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING:

• The inauguration hand photo of George H.W. Bush!
• Presidential palm reading: the hands of George H.W. Bush!
• US presidents usually have a low ’2D:4D finger ratio’!
• How to recognize the hand of a US president?

Swine flu battle hits Brazilian priests: ‘no holding hands, nor shaking hands’ – God doesn’t provide immunisation!

Priests reinforce the ’10 commandments for hand hygiene’!: Last week two Brazilian priests made various recommendations on hand hygiene guidelines for religious meetings. Changing religious habits appears to another tool for containing the swine flu in Latin America’s largest country. The Brazilian Roman Catolic priest Roberto Francisco Daniel (a.k.a. ‘Padre Beto’) told his congregation: “…not to hold hands while saying the Lord’s Prayer and to refrain from shaking hands and kissing in his morning mass to avoid getting swine flu. At least if you don’t have skin touching, you eliminate contact with secretions of somebody infected.” Recently ‘Padre Beto’ faced a dilemma when called to a hospital to bless a Catholic with the swine flu. But he had to decline the request, following a recommendation from the hospital crew. “Even religious matters need to have a limit” Padre Beto said. “I asked them to tell her we were praying for her.” SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: • Swine flu prevention is a matter of ‘hand hygiene’! • Hand Hygiene: warm air dryers increase bacteria on hands! • Hand gel sales rocket in the UK due to swine flu fears! • Barack Obama’s recommendation for swine flu prevention: the fist bump! • More swine flu prevention: the 10 commandments for hand hygiene! • The swine flu etiquette: use good hand hygiene, no handshaking, no mask, to prevent a pandemic!