Dry weather: understand how low air humidity weakens the body's natural defense against viruses and infections

How to wash your hands in the ideal way? The relative air humidity index remains around 30%, half of the ideal for health, in the municipalities in the g1 Piracicaba coverage area and region this Wednesday (19). During this period of dry weather, simple habits such as washing your hands, which should be routine in any situation, and moisturizing your mucous membranes, become even more important for preventing viruses and infections. The alert comes from specialist doctors consulted by g1. Understand why in the report. In addition to respiratory diseases, hand hygiene also prevents gastrointestinal infections and conjunctivitis, which are very common in the drier seasons of the year. Follow g1 Piracicaba on Instagram Dry air x Infections: Dry air causes itchy eyes and dry noses, making people touch their faces much more frequently. "Scratching your nose and touching your face is a relevant mechanism of viral self-inoculation. Therefore, hand hygiene consistently reduces the incidence of acute infections for various pathogens", explains doctor Lucas Zorzetto, who works in Family Health. How to wash your hands Art/G1 The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) issued an orange alert for low air humidity in the interior of São Paulo, with rates between 20% and 12% and temperatures around 35ºC. The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that the ideal level of relative humidity for human well-being is at least 60%. Temperature, according to the health professional, can be one of the main climatic determinants for the spread of various respiratory viruses. “Dry weather can increase the risk of viral infections and respiratory diseases through combined mechanisms that affect both the host and the virus”, he explains. Washing your hands is one of the essential measures to avoid contamination Freepik How do mucous membranes protect the body? The lack of moisture in the body opens the way for viruses and bacteria. The mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat function as the body's first line of physical and immunological defense. In dry weather, this barrier is lost. Family doctor Lucas Zorzetto explains that, when the mucous membranes are properly hydrated, they maintain a layer of mucus and a type of microcilia in constant movement. Piracicaba recorded relative air humidity at 33% this Wednesday Claudia Assencio/g1 The doctor details that this system captures viruses, bacteria and impurities before they can settle in the body, and expels them out of the body or into the stomach, where the gastric juice eliminates them. "Dry air causes dehydration of the airway mucosa, increasing the viscosity of the mucus and reducing the effectiveness of 'mucociliary clearance', which is the main mechanism for removing inhaled pathogens. Low air humidity increases the stability and infectivity of certain viruses, in addition to favoring the formation of smaller droplets that remain suspended in the air for longer, facilitating transmission through the airways", added Zorzetto. Care for the elderly must be taken with greater care during dry weather, due to the dryness of the mucous membranes Freepik Hydration Experts emphasize that, in addition to washing your hands, it is also essential to keep the mucous membranes always humidified. “It is important to use saline solution in the nostrils, if necessary, in this very dry weather, and also to hydrate vigorously, more than normal, always having a bottle of water within reach”, advises infectious disease doctor Tufi Chalita. Doctors reinforce the importance of hydration Renato S. Cerqueira/Futura Press/Estadão Content Body saves water The doctor explains that, if we are in an environment more exposed to dry air, for example, our body reduces the production of saliva to save water. "By reducing saliva, the body is also unable to retain viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoan particles emitted through the air. When there is water, there is more mucus, there is secretion, that phlegm, which retains these particles, preventing them from invading the body. If, on the other hand, the mucous membranes are drier, it facilitates the penetration of these particles of microbacteria or microorganisms. So, it is also easier to transmit", added the infectious disease specialist. Washing your nose with saline daily is one of the main actions to protect the inner mucosa of the nose Getty Images Conjunctivitis Dry weather can also contribute to the occurrence of conjunctivitis, especially allergic ones. "Because dust, dust, they all stay more in suspension. So it's easier for transmission and for the individual to get inflammation on the conjunctiva, which is the film that's like this, right in front of the eyes and that causes that irritation, because of the dryness of the weather", explains Chalita. In periods of drought or in highly air-conditioned environments, such as air-conditioned rooms, maintaining constant hydration with water and using saline solution in the nose directly reduces vulnerability to viruses and respiratory infections. Low air humidity in Campinas increases the risk of respiratory problems Atendimentos Piracicaba (SP), recorded 2,445 cases related to diarrhea between July 18th and August 18th this year. In the previous 30 days, there were 1,979 consultations, according to data from the Health Department, through the Urgency and Emergency Management. Data from the folder, sent at the request of g1, indicates that between June and August, consultations related to bronchitis increased from 231 to 121 cases. "These data show that each type of service had its own variation. Therefore, it is not possible to directly relate these numbers to low air humidity, as different factors can influence the demand for urgency and emergency units", explained the city hall. Even though it is a temporary condition, conjunctivitis can cause discomfort Unimed Rio Preto/Disclosure Is there a right way to wash your hands? International safety protocols recommend the following steps: Open the tap and wet your hands