Want to be healthier? Each of these tips requires only a minute or so of your time.
- Wash your hands. Scrub with soap and water for 20 seconds, or about as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
- Use safety gear when playing outdoors.
- Ease back pain. Stand up straight, and don’t slouch at your desk.
- Look for the VIPPS seal when purchasing medicine on the Web.
- Disinfect your kitchen sponge. Studies have shown that microwaving a wet sponge for one minute can kill almost all bacteria on it — better than bleach.
- Scrub those fruits and veggies with water. Yes, even if you’re peeling them, to remove dirt and pesticide residue.
- Buckle up. This goes for adults and children.
- Test your smoke alarms every month. And change batteries when you set your clocks ahead or back each spring and fall.
- Read food labels. Look at serving size and fat, cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrates.
- Learn the signs of stroke. Call 911 if you or a loved one experience numbness or weakness on one side, confusion or trouble speaking, vision problems, trouble walking or loss of balance and severe headache.
- Post the National Capital Poison Center number on all of your phones (1-800-222-1222).
- Take a multivitamin, if needed. Talk to your doctor to find out.
- Turn down the volume. Noises at or above 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss. For example: An MP3 player turned all the way up emits up to 120 decibels!
- Just floss! Do it at least once a day.
- Do a freezer check. Keep raw meat for no more than four months and cooked meats no more than two to three months. (And set your freezer to 0 degrees F or lower.)
Need a health check?
Visit an Augusta University Health family medicine physician today to start your way to better health. Visit augustahealth.org/familymedicine, or call 706-721-4588.
