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Valentine's Day may be worst day to kiss

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Published : Feb. 3, 2012 - 11:45

Valentine's Day falls smack dab in the middle of flu and cold season, so kissing may not be such a good idea, a U.S. infectious disease expert suggests.





Dr. Jorge Parada, medical director, infectious disease at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Ill., said changing weather or temperatures are often blamed for winter's coughs and sniffles, but in reality, colds, coughs and the flu are infectious diseases "caught" from one human to another.

"Becoming too hot or too cold can cause stress to the body, weaken the defense in fighting off infections and thus make us more vulnerable," Parada, who is also a professor of preventive medicine at Stritch School of Medicine, said in a statement. "But a person has to be exposed to a virus or bacteria to catch it."

"Mid-February can be the peak season for infectious diseases, such as the seasonal and H1N1 flu, mononucleosis, colds and coughs," Parada said. "And don't rely on obvious signs of illness -- such as sneezing or fever as a tip off. People with infectious diseases start shedding the virus before they experience the full effect of the illness."

In fact, drinking from the same wine glass or sharing dessert with the same fork may seem romantic, but it also may lead to infections.

"Someone can have a cold sore that hasn't erupted yet and use lip balm which is then shared, and the cold sore virus -- herpes -- is transmitted," Parada said. "A shared pillowcase, napkin or towel can also actually be a conduit for disease, especially if someone has a sore or cut."

Parada said it takes 10-14 days for the flu shot to have full preventive effect, so there is still time to get one and have it working before Valentine's Day.

 

"발렌타인 데이의 키스 건강에 해롭다"

2월 14일 발렌타인 데이를 앞두고 이 시기에 키스하는 것이 건강에 나쁠 수 있다는 연구결과가 나왔다.

美 로욜라 대학에서 전염성 질병 관리를 담당하는 호르헤 파라다 박사는 2월 중순경은 전염성 질병에 걸릴 가능성이 가장 높은 시기이며, 다른 사람과의 직접적인 접촉으로 감염될 수 있다고 경고했다.

파라다 박사는 "각종 독감의 원인으로 낮은 기온이나 날씨 변화가 거론되지만 실제로는 사람들 간의 접촉이 주 원인이다."라고 설명했다.

또한 와인을 같은 잔으로 마시거나 디저트를 같이 먹는 것 역시 감염 위험성을 높이는 요인이 된다.

그러나 독감 주사 예방 접종은 10-14일 뒤면 효과를 볼 수 있어, 연인들이 발렌타인 데이를 안전하게 보낼 수 있는 한 방법이 될 것이라고 덧붙였다 .

 


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