Self-care: The First Step Toward quality Healthcare

Professional medical care is only a small part of the total healthcare picture. Individuals can take charge of their own health with self-care. People can gather health information, choose healthy behaviors, diagnose, and treat their own minor ailments.

Self-care can help avoid unnecessary visits to a healthcare provider to obtain advice and information. Self-care allows people to evaluate and improve their health, and to cope with illness and treat minor problems. It helps them make good use of health facilities when serious illness does occur. Problems can be detected early, and steps can be taken to prevent health threats long before they require a healthcare provider's care.

Self-study materials and proper training (for example, taking a CPR course or learning how to monitor your own blood pressure) are vital to self-care. Sound, reliable health information is available to the public. Seek information from credible resources such as healthcare providers, local and national health and medical associations, and government health agencies.

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