General

1. Enjoy yourself and have a life filled with laughter.

2. Choose the most fulfilling occupation you can have.

3. Physical activity is important. Aerobic exercising like walking, biking or swimming for 30 minutes per day contributes to health and well-being. Anaerobic sport (e.g. weight lifting) should always be combined with aerobic sport. Consult your physician before starting any exercise regimen concerning the type of physical activity that suits you best.

4. Unbalanced excessive sport including some professional sports may be harmful.

5. Drink at least 2-3 liters of liquids a day (except in cases of kidney or congestive heart disease).

6. Avoid sunbathing. The UV rays of the sun are a major risk factor for skin cancer and a factor in cataract and age-related macular degeneration development.

7. When exposed to the sun, use sunglasses and sunscreen.

8. Refrain from smoking and smoky or polluted environments. Smoking is a risk factor for the development of many diseases including chronic obstructive lung disease, atherosclerosis, lung cancer, throat cancer, and bladder cancer.

9. Avoid consumption of alcohol (more than a glass a day).

 

10. Never drink unidentified liquids, gasoline or perfume.

11. Avoid drugs. Use only prescribed drugs that were given to you by your physician.

12. Keep normal weight (maximum waist circumference in males: 102 cm, in females: 88 cm) and have diet based on fibers (vegetables, fruits) and non-saturated fat.

13. If you are not proficient with power tools, better to refrain from using them.

14. Always wear a helmet when riding bikes or motorbikes.

15. Always fasten safety seat belts in a car.

16. Take a seat at the back of a train because it is safer than a front seat.

17. Avoid driving when tired or after alcohol consumption. When tired, take a break and sleep.

 

18. Do not walk on railway tracks. Do not attempt crossing tracks when a train is approaching.

19. Be cautious with electricity. Never climb on electric poles. Do not touch bare wires. Do not touch electrical appliances when wet or with bare feet.

20. Swim only in lifeguard-supervised authorized beaches and pools.

21. Use electric heater and never a gas heater.

 

22. It is better to avoid having glass doors at home to avoid crashing against them. If having them, always keep them open.

 

23. Do not remove protruding foreign bodies in case of penetrating injury. Removal of foreign body is performed only at the operating theater by trained medical personnel.

24. Never go to bed with a lit cigarette, candle or gas heater.

 

25. It is better to refrain from massage on the neck.

26. Avoid living in high-risk areas (high seismographic activity, volcanic activity, storms, near dams, chemical and nuclear plants) and polluted areas.

 

27. Minimize the use of mobile phone. Do not sleep with a mobile phone or charge it next to you. Use a loudspeaker or a headphone.

 

28. Be careful when using knives and scissors and when lighting fireworks to avoid injury.

 

29. Do not test batteries with your tongue.
 

30. High heel shoes may be unstable and unsafe.

 

31. Piercing may cause infections and even death. Piercing should be performed only by a specialist preferably in a medical facility or under sterile conditions.

32. Never invite a stranger to your home. Stick with meeting strangers at public places.

 

33. Leave your mate if he/she shows signs of violence.

 

34. Never sign a bank bail or open check.

35. Genetic consultation and analyses are warranted in pregnancy (e.g. for fragile X chromosome, which is the most common cause for mental retardation).

36. Safe sex requires use of condoms to avoid AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. There are several methods for birth control. Discuss with your physician what best suits your needs.

37. Most infectious diseases are transmitted by human droplet infection and not by wind. The common places for contamination are closed spaces such as elevators, cars and trains. Keep windows open to decrease the risk transmission.

38. Brush your teeth after every meal. Use dental floss and motes and visit your dentist and dental assistant every 4-6 months for check-up and plaque removal.

39. Routine visits to your primary physician, dentist and subspecialists are recommended (see: When to be seen by your physician).

40. Always keep up with your physician's orders and follow-ups. Most complications occur in patients who do not follow their physician's orders and follow-ups.

41. If you are advised to undergo surgery, have at least a second opinion from another independent physician and then make your own decision. Be aware of all possible complications and side effects.

 

42. Preferring surgery in private settings over public ones does not guarantee a successful outcome.

43. If outcome of a treatment or surgery was unsatisfactory, consider seeking further treatment or intervention at another medical facility.

44. If you have medical problems that do not require surgery, better stick with the doctor who knows you best.

 

45. Be nice to people. You have more to gain by being friendly and much more to lose by being unfriendly.

Adults

1. Those over the age of 40 should consult their physician about the possibility of carrying tablets to be placed under the tongue for myocardial infarction (isosorbide dinitrate 10 mg and buprenorphine 0.2 mg) and for chewing (acetylsalycilic acid 250 mg). An extensive explanation of the symptoms and signs of myocardial infarction and side effects of the medications should be reviewed with the physician.

2. Aspirin may be given daily to patients with high risk for myocardial infarction and stroke (e.g. family or personal history of these diseases, systemic hypertension, hyperlipidemia) for prevention.

Newborns (< 1-year-old)

1. To avoid sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), put the baby to sleep on his (hers) back.

2. Avoid soft pillows, soft linen and soft toys in bed.

3. Avoid bed-sharing.

4. Avoid smoking in pregnancy, and after birth near the baby.

5. Breast feeding is best for the baby.

6. Avoid over-heating. The optimal temperature is 22°C.

Children

1. Immunize your child on time.

2. Avoid fruits with pits or take the pits out. Avoid food with diameter less than a tennis ball like sausages since these are choking hazards.

3. Keep children away from any household, chemicals, perfumes, hot objects, sharp (pencils, pens, screwdrivers, knives, etc) and small (marbles, medallions) objects, small toys, plastic bags, necklaces and any explosive or flammable materials.

4. Keep an eye on children at all times (especially when bathing, crossing streets, etc).

5. Cover all electric sockets with plastic covers.

 

6. Children under 9 years should cross roads only when accompanied by adult.

7. Be sure to accompany your child at all stages of development and know who his/her friends are.


© Shimon Rumelt, MD. 2002. All right reserved



The author is not responsible for the application of any of the
suggestions appearing or not appearing in these pages and these cannot be a basis for any claim whatsoever.