Sing ABCs as you wash hands to kill germs

Q. With flu season and the MRSA staph infection upon us, we are urged to wash our hands frequently, usually “with warm, soapy water.” My memories of Bacteriology 101 some 50 years ago aren’t crystal clear, but I can’t recall that “warm” water kills anything. Soap suds, on the other hand, do carry nasty things away. Is there any science behind the “warm water” suggestion?

A. You are absolutely right that warm water is no more effective than cold for removing germs. Soap and water don’t kill germs, but only wash them off the surface of the skin.

If we had to guess, we would venture that it is far more pleasant to stick your hands in warm water than ice-cold water. The longer you wash and rinse, the more effective the process. Sing the alphabet song as you wash to get the timing right.

As it is, few people wash their hands as often as they should (after using the bathroom, before eating, after coughing or sneezing and so on).

This is a particularly serious problem in hospitals, where it is often difficult to get health-care workers of all kinds to wash hands between patients. A worker who fails to wash can transfer germs from one patient to the next.

Q. Be careful taking over-the-counter potassium! It can build up in your body and eventually stop your heart. Consult your doctor about the proper dosage before starting. I nearly killed myself taking potassium on my own a few years ago.

A. Potassium is one of those “Goldilocks” minerals – both too little and too much can be deadly. A physician should use a blood test to monitor anyone who takes a potassium supplement, whether it is prescription or over-the-counter.

Q. Do you know any doctors who will write prescriptions for quinine sulfate to prevent leg cramps? I am desperate to find one. I have taken quinine for this for 20 years with miraculous results and no problems. Now, with only a two-week supply left, I’ve been told that the Food and Drug Administration has banned it for leg cramps and my doctor will not write me a script.

Before I started taking quinine, my leg cramps were so terrible I had to call the paramedics or scream for my husband to knead them out. The next day I could not walk. That was 20 years ago. I know I could not withstand it today. It would kill me.

A. The FDA banned quinine for preventing leg cramps because the drug can cause potentially lethal reactions. It may result in heart-rhythm disturbances, serious allergic reactions or a dangerous blood disorder.

We can’t steer you to a doctor who would be willing to prescribe quinine sulfate for your leg cramps, but we can make some other suggestions. Tonic water still contains quinine, and some people find it is helpful for preventing leg cramps.

We have many other suggestions in our Guide to Leg Pain, including magnesium supplements, low-sodium V-8 juice, pickle juice or B vitamin complex. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (58 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. RLS-5, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It can also be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com. Go to “Buy In Depth Guides.”