3 ms·

I don't have data but my hunch is that being a germophobe leads to worse long term health outcomes. Your immune system needs the exercise.

kat 5y ago
There is also a whole host of mental illness that are triggered by physical immune responses. Eating disorders that stem from one bad diarrhea episode are a really common example of this. Both ends of this spectrum can result in bad mental health. Both ends of this spectrum can also result in physicals health issues too. Get a stomach bug and end up with post-infections IBS. On the other hand, stress from fear of germs could also cause IBS. Sadly you end up with the same result. Both approaches, when taken to the extreme, can cause equal amounts of health issues.
- papito 5y ago
  Sanitizing your hands every five minutes is obviously a disorder, but I don't understand why on HN the downvote army is triggered by suggesting that you should have clean hands before eating food.
  - userbinator 5y ago
    The question is, how clean is "clean"? Obviously in these pandemic times the answer is different, but clearly plenty of people were having no problems before. In fact I would go as far as saying that breathing is a more common route of entry for pathogens than eating. The stomach contains concentrated hydrochloric acid.
sdoering 5y ago
You don't need to be a germophobe if you just care for basic and decent hygiene. And I really experience a lot of people just not caring for basic hygiene at all when outside.
nimvlaj30 5y ago
Is washing your hands before eating being a "germophobe" or is it basic hygiene? How far back do we go in order to improve our immune system? Do we stop washing our hands ever? Do we stop washing taking showers? There's obviously a balance with the best outcome. I doubt washing your hands before eating will make your immune system any worse.

3 ms·

I don't have data but my hunch is that being a germophobe leads to worse long term health outcomes. Your immune system needs the exercise.

by bosswipe 5y ago

kat 5y ago
There is also a whole host of mental illness that are triggered by physical immune responses. Eating disorders that stem from one bad diarrhea episode are a really common example of this. Both ends of this spectrum can result in bad mental health. Both ends of this spectrum can also result in physicals health issues too. Get a stomach bug and end up with post-infections IBS. On the other hand, stress from fear of germs could also cause IBS. Sadly you end up with the same result. Both approaches, when taken to the extreme, can cause equal amounts of health issues.
- papito 5y ago
  Sanitizing your hands every five minutes is obviously a disorder, but I don't understand why on HN the downvote army is triggered by suggesting that you should have clean hands before eating food.
  - userbinator 5y ago
    The question is, how clean is "clean"? Obviously in these pandemic times the answer is different, but clearly plenty of people were having no problems before. In fact I would go as far as saying that breathing is a more common route of entry for pathogens than eating. The stomach contains concentrated hydrochloric acid.
sdoering 5y ago
You don't need to be a germophobe if you just care for basic and decent hygiene. And I really experience a lot of people just not caring for basic hygiene at all when outside.
nimvlaj30 5y ago
Is washing your hands before eating being a "germophobe" or is it basic hygiene? How far back do we go in order to improve our immune system? Do we stop washing our hands ever? Do we stop washing taking showers? There's obviously a balance with the best outcome. I doubt washing your hands before eating will make your immune system any worse.