Protect yourself and reduce the risk of exposing your family, friends and co-workers by getting a flu shot at your local U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or cough into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.

The most current information on avian flu and the potential for a flu pandemic can be found on the following websites:

Turn over or remove containers in your yard where rainwater collects, such as potted plant trays, buckets, or toys.

Store the glue in a cool, dry place away from heat. Many estheticians claim that storing the glue in the refrigerator also helps prevent the glue from drying up.

this time, the risk to most people from avian flu is low. If you are planning to visit areas affected by avian flu, please see the information for travelers. Practice good health habits everyday: wash your hands frequently and cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze. For more personal hygiene tips, please see Fighting the Flu. Do not touch sick or dead birds and avoid touching bird droppings. If you touch a sick/dead bird or bird droppings, wash your hands with warm water and soap right away.

The only 100% way to prevent HIV infection is to be abstinent -- from sex (vaginal, anal, oral) and from use of injection needles (drugs, tattoos, body piercing). You cannot tell by looking at someone -- or even asking someone -- if they are infected. Most people infected with HIV are asymptotic -- feel fine, look great! Therefore, there are a lot of people who are HIV positive (and don't even know it) who are having sex with a lot of people who don't know if they are even infected.

The flu shot can be given at any time during the flu season. If you are at high risk, get vaccinated early in the season. It is best not to delay; but if you do, it's still better to get it late than not at all.

avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Influenza vaccine cannot prevent avian influenza as the vaccine was meant for human influenza. However, the vaccine can help reduce the chance of complications and hospitalization from human influenza; hence it is recommended for the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses. Influenza vaccine can also reduce the chance of genetic re-assortment and subsequent emergence of influenza strain with pandemic potential.

Clean your hands often, using either soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand rubs, which removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission. Cover your cough and discard exposed tissue. Do not go to work sick This agency is an equal provider of services and an equal employment opportunity employer-Civil Rights Act 1964 (CRA) I have reviewed or received a copy of Portage County Health Department's HIPAA Policy.

To help prevent its spread, many Governments and health officials are working hard to bring about a greater civilian awareness of the dangers of avian flu and the importance of swift precautionary action when new cases are identified or infections suspected in both birds and/or humans.

While not drinking alcohol is always the best method of hangover prevention, few people are able to function without daily doses of one variety or another. Hangovers can be classified in three basic categories and each has its own method of prevention. Headache hangover: The headache is the mildest variant of the hangover which usually results from dehydration. The best way to beat the headache hangover is to drink water while drinking alcohol to offset the effects of dehydration.

There is no certain way to prevent loss, but you can take certain measures to reduce the risk. Credit reports can give you a good indicator of how much debt the applicant has, how often they pay on time and assets in their name. If you are dealing with a corporation, it is always wise to have a signed contract with a personal guarantee from the agent with whom you are dealing.

Conscientious removal of plaque by flossing, brushing and regular professional cleanings will minimize your risk of gum diseases. However, there are other factors that can affect the health of your gums, such as stress, diabetes, genetics and pregnancy.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) can be a very frustrating problem. It may require several adjustments in medication or other treatment before the problem is under control. Patients with Atrial Fibrillation usually get medication to restore the heart rhythm, to control and slow down the heart rate or to thin the blood. Pacemakers can prevent the onset of Atrial Fibrillation and relieve the symptoms.

Keeping your blood sugar at an even level can help prevent diabetic retinopathy. If you have high blood pressure, keeping that under control is helpful as well. Even controlled diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, so you should have your eyes examined once a year; that way, your doctor can begin treating any retinal damage as soon as possible.

Doctors aren't sure how to prevent macular degeneration. Research suggests that ultraviolet light (and possibly blue light) factors into the problem, so sunglasses could be very beneficial. Read more about sunglasses. What you eat also affects your macula. Researchers think that antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E), zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and essential fatty acids all can aid in preventing macular degeneration. Read more about nutrition and eye health.