At a time when health concerns are high, antibacterials are gradually moving into the public domain, and some false information is passing. It is believed that antibacterials can enter the blood cycle of the human body directly, thus enhancing human antibacterial resistance, like superheroes, and keeping the body “immunized” at all times. But it’s actually a complete error, and today we’re going to find out and break this misperception.
Antibacterials, which are common in many settings of life, such as hospital disinfectants, handwashing for everyday use, clothing disinfectants, etc., were designed to suppress or kill harmful bacteria, fungi and other microbes in the outside environment and to create a relatively clean and safe atmosphere for life. For example, alcohol-based antibacterial agents use alcohol to decompose bacterial proteins for fungicide purposes; chlorine-containing antibacterial agents destroy micro-organisms through oxidation and render the fungi inactivated. They do effectively reduce the adsorption and breeding of pathogens when the surface and skin of objects are used in part.
However, the physical structure and defence of the human body, like a well-guarded castle, is by no means free to enter and leave the body. Skin, as the largest organ of the human body, is the first barrier to external invasion. Its horny layer consists of closely arranged dead cells, and antibacterial agents are difficult to penetrate into the tough “protective clothing” of the layer directly into the blood cycle. Even though a small number of antibacterial agents pass through the skin angular zone, immune cells such as the Longhans cell in the skin are quickly identified and the immune response is activated, treated as alien to prevent further penetration.
The situation is not promising if the anti-bacterial agent is taken through the mouth. The gastrointestinal tract has its own unique digestive absorption system, and the gastric acid, as a strong acid, is the first to “strike” antibacterial agents entering the stomach, and many antibacterial ingredients are disintegrated under the corrosive acid of the stomach, unable to reach the intestinal tract in its entirety, let alone enter the blood cycle. Even if it escapes from the gastric acid “one-on-one”, structures such as intestinal velvet, velvet, and rich digestive enzymes, the antibacterial agents want to “mix” and retreat into the blood, almost at night.
Moreover, the logic of operating human immune systems suggests that direct access to the blood cycle by antibacterial agents is not helpful but harmful. The immune system, which has evolved over a long period of time, has the capacity to identify and respond precisely to bacteria, and relies on “members” of white cells, antibodies and so on to combat it. Once a foreign antibacterial agent is forced into the blood, the immune system attacks it as an “enemy”, causing an immune response, such as allergies and heat, not only to increase antibacterial resistance, but also to disrupt the normal immune order and cause physical trouble.
Blindly pursuing the use of antibacterial agents into blood cycles to combat bacteria and overuse of antibacterial products also poses a range of secondary hazards. For example, the long and frequent use of antibacterial trichlorfon-containing hand-washing fluids may destroy the normal biota of the skin surface, deprive the skin of natural protective barriers and become dry, sensitive and vulnerable to other strains; the abuse of oral antibacterial agents may lead to intestinal disequilibria, causing intestinal problems such as diarrhoea and indigestion.
Scientific lifestyles are the right way to truly improve the body ‘ s resistance to bacteria. Maintaining a balanced diet, ingestion of nutrient-rich foods, such as vitamin C and zinc, and contributing to the development of the immune system; regularity, so that the body can be repaired and amplified in sufficient sleep; moderate exercise, so that the blood cycle can be promoted so that the immune cells can “patrol” more efficiently in all parts of the body; and attention to personal hygiene, hand washing, keeping the environment clean and reducing the exposure to the disease.
In short, antibacterial agents have their applicable scenes and limitations and can never be trusted with rumours that they can directly enter the blood cycle to enhance antibacterial capacity. Following science and safeguarding health, the body is able to cope with the disease when it strikes.
