National Institutes of Health NIH Turning Discovery Into Health

Personal health depends partially on the active, passive, and assisted cues people observe and adopt about their own health. These include personal actions for preventing or minimizing the effects of a disease, usually a chronic condition, through integrative care. They also include personal hygiene practices to prevent infection and illness, such as bathing and washing hands with soap; brushing and flossing teeth; storing, preparing and handling food safely; and many others. An important way to maintain one’s personal health is to have a healthy diet.

• Robert Dracker, M.D., is the founder