If hand sanitisers kill 99.99% of germs, then who are those 0.01% who survive? There are three major kinds of germs which remain active even when you have used your sanitiser.
Among them, is the norovirus that causes diarrhoea and vomiting outbreaks in places like cruise ships and schools. It is superior to many other viruses because it has a protein capsid, which is resistant to the effects of alcohol.
Norovirus is a group of viruses that causes common illnesses and is also very contagious. It is especially active in the colder month and comes back seasonally. The first norovirus outbreak occurred in Norwalk, Ohio, USA, in a school in 1968, this is where it gets it name from.
The next on the list is enterococcus faecium, and it lives in the gut. As per a 2024 study titled Enterococcus faecium: evolution, adaptation, pathogenesis and emerging therapeutics, published in Nature journal, it is a Gram-positive bacterium that is a core member of the intestinal microbiota of humans and animals and an opportunistic pathogen that causes life-threatening infections, particularly among hospitalized patients. It mutates in a way that it absorbs carbohydrates and forms a gooey, slime-like substance called the biofilm, which makes it resistant to alcohol.
Another one is clostridium difficile. This is responsible for causing horrendous diarrhoea and vomiting in hospitalised patients. It also has a remarkable ability to respond to environmental stressors including alcohol gel by going to sleep. It produces spores and allows all metabolic activity.
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a type of bacteria that can cause colitis, a serious inflammation of the colon. Infections from C. diff often start after you've been taking antibiotics. It can sometimes be life-threatening.
Apart from the germs and pathogens, another reason why your label reads that it kills 99.99% is to avoid any legal hassles. If someone uses a specific product and falls sick, then the person cannot sue the company as the company did not give a 100% safety guarantee against the germs.
A better way to be healthy is always to clean your hands with soap and water and wear gloves wherever is possible.
Credits: Wikimedia Commons; White House
Denying all the claims of bad health, including the recent claims of doctors questioning President Donald Trump's cognitive health, he once again, at 79, has been pronounced in "excellent health".
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This was a medical evaluation done at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. White House released a statement by Friday night, confirming the report. His personal physician Dr Sean Barbabella, described the visit as part of the "scheduled follow-up evaluation" and said the president remains "fit for duty".
Barbabella, a US Navy captain, reported that Trump continues to demonstrate strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and physical performance. The report also emphasized that Trump maintains a "demanding daily schedule without restriction". Not only that, the report has gone so far to declare Trump's cardiac age as 14 years younger than his actual age after an electrocardiogram.
Trump, who sides with the anti-vaxxer RFK Jr., the health secretary, has also received a flu shot, and updated COVID-19 booster during the visit.
Friday's assessment was his second visit to Walter Reed in six months, which has raised questions among medical experts and political observers. Why is it unusual? Typically, US presidents undergo one annual physical, unless an urgent medical issue arises.
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Jonathan Reiner, who is a cardiologist and once treated the former Vice President Dick Cheney, said, "Are they following up on the swelling that was noted in his legs earlier this year, or are there new concerns?"
However, the latest report mentioned no such swelling or Trump's previously disclosed diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency - a mild but chronic condition that causes swelling in the legs and is common in older adults.
White House officials said the visit was routine and aligned with Trump’s “ongoing health maintenance plan.”
As per Barbabella, Trump's evaluation including advanced imaging, laboratory testing, and preventive health screening, which was conducted by a team of specialists. the results were "in exceptional conditions". However, many medical experts question on the inclusion of his "cardiac age" and are asking for the results if advanced coronary imaging were conducted.
On the revelation of his cardiac age, former White House physician Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served under Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama, said it’s unusual for such data to be highlighted without additional context. “For a 79-year-old, best practice would be to include advanced coronary imaging to evaluate plaque buildup,” Kuhlman said. “The White House said he underwent imaging but didn’t release the results.”
Trump is the oldest person ever elected as the US President and so he has long faced public scrutiny over his health. In July, the White house confirmed his chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis after noticing swelling on his leg and a recurring hand bruise, yet there was no mention of it in his health report. Some experts have articulated that this was the result from daily aspirin use and frequent handshaking.
In April, Trump underwent a comprehensive three-page physical, where Barbabella described him as "fully fit" to execute presidential duties, noting his “active lifestyle” and “frequent victories in golf tournaments” as indicators of his fitness. That exam also revealed he had lost 20 pounds since 2020 and scored a perfect 30 out of 30 on a cognitive assessment designed to screen for dementia.
“I don’t know what to tell you other than I got every answer right,” Trump quipped afterward.
Trump has time and again maintained a tradition of secrecy around his health.
In 2015, he famously dictated a letter claiming he would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” He also concealed his COVID-19 diagnosis in 2020 for several days, reportedly developing a more serious case than initially disclosed.
(Credit-Canva)
It is very easy for people to miss signs of declining health. However, many times, despite witnessing the symptoms, people choose to ignore it and hope that it goes away. But one must understand, even for illnesses like a simple fever, one needs some type of treatment, even if it is simply rest. Ignoring your health will only lead to worse problems in the future.
One such aspect of health that people often ignore is their leg health. In a recently posted video, Dr. Rema Malik, a Board-Certified Vascular Surgeon in Houston, explained that people often ignore their leg health, the title of the video being, “You Are Your Worst Enemy When It Comes To Your Leg Health.”
The surgeon highlights a pattern of self-sabotage where people frequently ignore or downplay signals from their legs, which can indicate serious circulation problems.
According to the surgeon, people become their own worst enemy by creating "normal" excuses for symptoms that are actually abnormal. This dismissal stems from the fear of facing a potential circulation issue. The surgeon points out common examples of how people brush off serious signs:
Calf Cramps: Dismissing a recurring, nagging calf cramp as merely a "charley horse."
Swelling: Attributing swollen ankles at night to simply being "on your feet a lot today."
Varicose Veins: Choosing to hide new, painful varicose veins instead of finding out the underlying cause.
The surgeon stresses that while it feels easier to ignore the "whisper from the legs," the moment a person stops making excuses, they become their own best advocate for a future of easy mobility and freedom.
According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, the strength and quickness of leg muscles (leg power) are connected to common long-term health problems in older adults, specifically osteoarthritis (joint pain), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (heart problems).
The main goal was to see what current research says about how these diseases affect leg power, especially since research suggests that older people with these conditions can improve their leg power through exercise.
The team ended up analyzing 16 studies in total: 5 on osteoarthritis, 5 on diabetes, and 6 on heart disease.
Most studies suggested the same thing: older adults with these chronic diseases generally have lower leg power compared to those who don't have the diseases.
The existing research generally shows that osteoarthritis, diabetes, and heart disease are connected to weaker leg power in older adults.
However, scientists can't make strong conclusions yet because the studies reviewed were too different and didn't use the same ways to measure leg power.
This pattern of ignoring leg symptoms is risky at any age, but the stakes are significantly raised for individuals over the age of 40.
After 40, the risk of developing progressive vein disease and Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) increases exponentially. These conditions involve serious circulation problems that worsen over time if left untreated.
The surgeon encourages individuals to shine a light on any leg symptom they have been ignoring.
Although we may not realize, many times the food we eat has hidden additives. Things that make the food taste good as well as addictive. In a recent video, a cardiologist is trying to warn people, asking them to check the labels behind their packaged food.
Dmitry Yaranov, a cardiologist based in Memphis, Tennessee, is trying to warn people that cardiovascular disease (CVD) isn't just caused by bad cholesterol. In a video posted on Instagram, he explained that there's a very common ingredient that's hidden everywhere—in sodas, snacks, sauces, and even foods that claim to be "healthy." This ingredient is a huge danger to your heart and is the main reason why people get diabetes. That dangerous ingredient is sugar.
Dr. Yaranov points to solid research that proves there is a strong link between eating sugar every day and having a much higher chance of getting heart disease.
The risk goes up just by eating one serving of something sugary (like a soda or a candy bar) each day. That single serving is linked to an 18% higher risk of heart disease. If you have two or more servings a day, the risk jumps to 21% higher. This is a big deal, and the risk was found even in people who regularly exercise.
A study from 2025 showed that eating a lot of sugar, especially the sugar found in ultra-processed foods (packaged snacks, ready meals, etc.), raises your risk for heart disease by 17%, increases the risk of blocked heart arteries by 23%, and raises the risk of stroke by 9%.
The problem is massive worldwide. High sugar eating is responsible for over 1 million new heart disease cases and 2.2 million new cases of Type 2 diabetes in just one year.
The doctor also mentions a study that found people who got 25% or more of their total daily calories from sugar had more than double the risk of dying from heart disease compared to people who kept their sugar intake low (under 10% of total calories).
The cardiologist explains that sugar does more than just add unneeded calories; it actually attacks the healthy systems in your body that look after your heart and how your body uses energy.
It messes up your blood sugar control, making it hard for your body to manage energy. This is a "double hit" because it harms both your heart and your pancreas (the organ that makes insulin).
To help protect your health, the cardiologist advises everyone to follow the simple rules for sugar set by the American Heart Association (AHA):
Women: Should eat no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day, about 100 calories worth.
Men: Should eat no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar per day, about 150 calories worth.
The big issue is that most people eat two or three times these recommended limits without even knowing it because sugar is hidden in so many foods. The doctor strongly urges everyone to start checking food labels carefully and actively working to limit their sugar intake to keep their heart strong and their blood sugar stable.
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