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A Checklist to Keep Yourself Healthy!

Don't take good health for granted. One of the best ways to prepare for a healthy future is to stick to a pattern of regularly scheduled exams. After all, this is the body you will have the rest of your life, so treat it well.

Conduct a monthly breast self-exam.
Get a pelvic exam and pap smear every year. If you think you've been exposed to an STI, request an STI check as soon as possible.
Know your HIV status; take an HIV test. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HIV testing if:
  • You've used injection drugs or had a partner who has.
  • You've had another STI.
  • You've had unprotected sex with anyone whose HIV status you weren't sure of.
  • You're pregnant or plan to conceive.

For more information on HIV counseling, testing and referrals, check out the National HIV Testing Resources Web site. This site can help you locate a testing site nearest you.

Update your immunizations. Make sure your tetanus booster shot is up to date. You should get a booster shot every 10 years. If you can't remember the last time you had a tetanus shot, it may be time to get a booster shot to make sure you're protected, in case you step on a rusty nail or similar object.

At risk individuals should consider getting hepatitis B vaccination (HBV). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends hepatitis B vaccination for the following individuals:

  • Persons with occupational risk of exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluid
  • Household contact and/or sex partners of those chronically infected with HBV
  • Drug users who inject
  • Men who have sex with men
  • Sexually active heterosexual men and women
  • All unvaccinated adolescents.
See your dentist every six months for a standard cleaning.
Consult you're doctor if you have any unusual brown spots, bumps, sores, rashes, or moles on your skin.

Remember! The best person to take care of you, is you!