What do I need to do to manage my personal health?

• Start by going to your primary healthcare provider's office. Discuss your family medical history as well as your personal medical history. Let your provider know about any symptoms you are having or any concerns you have about your health. Have a basic medical exam to check your health.
• Practice disease and injury prevention. Preventing disease can be much easier than having a disease. For example,
  • Wear sunscreen.
  • Wear your seatbelt in the car.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Do not use or abuse drugs.
  • Get the shots recommended for you.
  • Prevent sexually transmitted infections by avoiding high-risk sexual behavior and by using latex or polyurethane male or female condoms with every sexual encounter.
  • Get regular exercise.
• Schedule regular screening tests, according to your healthcare provider's recommendations, such as:
  • blood pressure measurements
  • mammograms and Pap tests
  • cholesterol tests
  • colorectal cancer screening
  • prostate cancer screening.
• Follow your healthcare provider's advice about managing your weight and getting exercise.

What if I have questions about my health?

• Ask your primary healthcare provider.
• Seek out good health resources that are reliable. Places where you can find information are:
  • the local library
  • trusted Internet sites such as http://www.cdc.gov or http://www.nih.gov
  • licensed or certified health professionals
  • community education courses
  • health organizations
  • bookstores.

What are some basic ways I can improve my health?

• Quit smoking if you are a smoker.
• Eat a healthy diet:
• Drink water.
• Eat a high-fiber diet.
• Choose lean protein.
• Eat healthy fats, for example, canola and olive oils.
• Eat whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Drink alcohol in moderation if you drink at all.
• Get regular physical activity or exercise, according to your healthcare provider's recommendations.
• Lose weight if you are overweight. Try to maintain your weight at a comfortable, healthy level.

What are some things I can do in my home to protect my health and my family's health?

• Test all the smoke detectors in your home to make sure that they are all working properly.
• Check the safety of your home (such as stairways and the placement of throw rugs) to prevent accidents.
• Protect your family from domestic violence.
• Keep guns in a locked cabinet, away from children. Keep guns unloaded.
• When there is a threat of violence, call the police, your healthcare provider, your friends, a domestic violence shelter, or a local hotline for help.
• Keep a clean, uncluttered home.

How can I improve my social life in a healthy way?

• Build lasting friendships. Family and friends provide emotional and social support.
• Get out of the house and interact with other people at:
• evening classes
• church
• social clubs
• volunteer opportunities.
• Avoid bars and nightclubs as places to meet new friends.
• Limit how much TV you watch.
• Limit how much time you spend on the computer.
• Be as physically active as possible. It gives you more energy for all of your activities.

How will I know if I am correctly managing my health?

Set goals that are realistic and achievable. Set up a time frame to reach these goals.

Track your efforts toward these goals and come up with a system to reward yourself for good progress.

Any final advice?

Take a confident, active role in staying well. Follow these guidelines to develop the confidence you need to take charge of your health. And learn what to do in times of illness, injury, or emergency - yours or someone else's. Become a health-savvy consumer. Start today.

Developed by RelayHealth
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2008 RelayHealth and/or one of its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.