Your House Doesn't Need to Be too Clean Every Day

Are you obsessed with a house that is always clean and neat at any time? Although this is good, a house that is too clean can cause babies to be more at risk of suffering from asthma and allergies later on.

A study shows that exposure to a few bacteria and allergens in certain animals can reduce the risk of wheezing and allergies.

Look at the hypothesis of cleanliness

'Hygiene hypothesis' which was first triggered by Prof. David Strachan in 1989 stated that exposure to certain germs and infections in children could help the development of the body's immune system. This condition makes the body learn to distinguish the triggers of asthma from things that are not harmful. Exposure to certain germs is thought to make the immune system not react excessively.

The study, also stated that the immune system worked similar to the baby's brain that needed to be stimulated so that it could grow normally. These stimuli in the form of exposure to germs make the body adapt and build its immunity. When we are too trying to sterilize the environment around the baby to protect the baby from the risk of disease we may seize their chance to build a strong immune system.

Recent research states, that children who are exposed to animal hair or dust and experience more frequent diarrhea before the age of two years allegedly can reduce the risk of the inflammation that causes certain diseases when old, such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and heart disease. Babies exposed to bacteria from animals, especially in the first year of age, can also minimize the risk of having wheezing and allergies.

Children who grow up in rural or along with large families and livestock are at lower risk of suffering from asthma and allergies. This allergic risk is also proven to be smaller in children who grow with you or who spend time with other children in child care.

Instead, the child who lives in a house that is too clean is at risk of experiencing allergies. Because his body is not trained to be stimulated or cannot develop the right response to allergic sources. However, further research is still needed to prove how bacterial exposure to children can prevent asthma.

Balancing cleanliness

The hypothesis above is then often misinterpreted until cleanliness is seen as something wrong. This makes some people blame the obsession with cleanliness as one of the causes of an increasing number of asthma, allergies, and eczema over the past 20 years.

The best way is to maintain cleanliness but it doesn't need to be excessive to fear dirty. Clean houses remain important to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, such as E. coli or flu, it does not mean the home and the environment must always be clean and free of germs.

You also don't have to always sterilize or wash everything. The important thing is to maintain cleanliness at the time and in the right place, such as washing hands after throwing water, throwing garbage, or before cooking food.

What can weaken the immune system?

Several factors can weaken the immune system and increase allergies. Among them:The use of excessive antibiotics can reduce bacteria both in the body, thus disrupting balance, immune systems, and the ability of the body to distinguish good and bad germs. Inappropriate antibiotic usage can also cause a weakening of the immune system and the body's ability to fight infection. Be a wise parent by asking if a doctor does need to prescribe antibiotics for diseases experienced by children or not.

Many other factors determine the reason for children and adults can suffer from asthma, such as cigarette smoke, lack of exercise, choice of food intake, and history of allergies in the family. A healthier lifestyle, such as avoiding stress, cigarettes, and reducing consumption of liquor, also plays an important role in maintaining endurance.

As parents, we also should not ignore the habit of cleaning the house. However, that does not mean you have to make it too sterile. Keep doing things that are commonly done to maintain health, such as giving immunization to the child on time, do not include pets in the room, and clean the house regularly.