Wash your hands frequently--especially before preparing food, before eating (or touching your face) and after using the restroom.

• Have short and well manicured nails (avoid ragged edges).
• Never cut or bite cuticles. 
• Apply lotion after shower or bath and gently push back cuticles with a dry washcloth or an orange stick.
• Apply a nourishing cuticle lotion.

Insist that your health care providers wash their hands and use gloves, especially before any invasive treatment or procedure. 

Don't insist that your physician give you antibiotics if you don't need them.

• Antibiotics have no effect on illnesses caused by viruses like stomach "flu" and colds or the flu. 

• If your doctor does give you antibiotics, take them exactly as instructed; do not stop taking them without checking with your physician, even if the medicine makes you feel better--or worse. 

Keep your immunizations--and those of your children--up to date. 

• Td every 5 years if puncture or cut and every 10 years otherwise.
• Flu shot annually if you are at risk for complications from the flu.

Don't send your child to a day care center or to a school with symptoms of an infection--such as vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever.

Use good Personal Hygiene

• Cover nose and mouth with disposable tissue
• Dispose of used tissues appropriately
• Bathe daily
• Wear clean clothes
• Brush your teeth
• Use perfume or cologne sparingly
• Don't share personal items--such as razor blades, tooth brushes, combs, and hairbrushes.
• Don't eat or drink from others' plates or glasses.

Follow safer sexual practices. 

Do not use I.V. drugs; if you do, do not share needles. 

Practice food safety.

• Keep kitchen surfaces clean, especially when preparing meat, chicken, and fish; disinfect kitchen surfaces between preparing meat and raw vegetables.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, especially when they will be left out for a long time (don’t leave out for over 2 hours).

Cover Up! In the sun. Even in the Winter wear sunscreen on your exposed parts (face & hands).

• Use a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays with a SPF of at least 15.
• Wear protective clothing (inc. hats and sunglasses).
• Seek shade during peek sun hours. 

Routine health screenings -

• PAP or prostate exams
• Breast exams (monthly and annually by a professional)
• Skin exams (monthly)
• Blood Pressure (yearly or as needed)
• Blood sugar (over 45 or at high risk for diabetes)
• Use appropriate PPE for the task.

Love you Liver

• Watch those drugs! Even over the counter drugs like acetaminophen – don’t take more than recommended on the bottle (include OTC cold medicine in the total amount of acetaminophen taken).
• Watch what gets on your skin! Pesticides can be absorbed through the skin.
• Be careful with aerosol sprays!  Inhalation can be dangerous.
• Don't drown me in beer, alcohol or wine!
• Certain kinds of hepatitis are contagious through intimate contact.
• Eat a good, well balanced nourishing diet. 

Let's see how well you paid attention.  Take the quick quiz below to find out!

True or False
1. _______Love you Liver - Watch those drugs! – even over the counter drugs like acetaminophen.
2. _______ Seek shade during peek sun hours.
3. _______ Keep kitchen surfaces clean, especially when preparing meat, chicken, and fish; disinfect kitchen surfaces frequently.
4. _______ Insist that your health care providers wash their hands and use gloves, especially before any invasive treatment or procedure.
5. _______ Antibiotics have no effect on illnesses caused by viruses.
6. _______ Keep nails short and well manicured (avoid ragged edges).

Thank you for reading my guide.  If you found it helpful, please vote yes.

This advice is simply my own opinion and CDC's recommendations and is not intend to serve as medical advice.

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Visit the CDC website for more health information cdc.gov