Medical Notes: Week of April 5, 2020

Experts say most people infected with Covid-19 under age 60 will have symptoms much like a cold or the flu, and it’s no reason to panic. Then, we’ve heard the advice a thousand times to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer and stop touching your face… That last point may be the hardest. Then, a study shows that being “a real man” builds “toxic masculinity” as men age… affecting their health and overall happiness. And finally, if you’ve ever worried about whether you should spend on an exotic vacation or buy more expensive “things,” a new study says… go on that trip.

With widespread testing for Covid-19 unavailable, the number of Americans infected is anybody’s guess. Experts say most people infected under age 60 will have symptoms much like a cold or the flu, and it’s no reason to panic. In fact, it may be just a cold or the flu, so let the doctors deal with serious cases and take good care of yourself at home. Stay away from others, drink plenty of liquids, get lots of rest, and take acetaminophen—not ibuprofen. If you have a cough and a fever and especially if you have shortness of breath at rest, then a call to your doctor is appropriate.

By now, we’ve heard the advice a thousand times to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer and stop touching your face. That last point may be the hardest, because we touch our faces unconsciously. Studies show we do it up to 23 times an hour. So how do we stop? Psychologists at Texas A&M University say that most of us have triggers that prompt us to touch our face. Maybe it’s boredom or tiredness or feeling anxious. Doctors say the first step to quitting is understanding when it’s the biggest risk, and doing something else with our hands when we recognize the trigger.

The stereotype of being “a real man” usually calls for men to be strong, tough, and independent. But a study in the journal Sex Roles shows that hewing to those ideals too much builds “toxic masculinity” as men age… affecting their health and overall happiness. Researchers say that tough, independent men are much less likely to seek social support as they get older, so they become socially isolated. Even in a time of social distancing, scientists say, we all need someone to talk to.

And finally… if you’ve ever worried about whether you should spend on an exotic vacation or buy more expensive “things,” a new study says, go on that trip. Experiences make us happier than “more stuff.” The study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology finds that experiences always win against an equally priced material purchase, even if the price is small. So dinner out beats buying a new shirt.