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CDC Features

A Few Minutes for Health

Photo: Stopwatch
There are many things you can do to help stay safe and healthy that don't take much time or effort. Take a few minutes each day to protect yourself and your family.

Being healthy and safe takes commitment, but it doesn't have to be time-consuming, painful, or boring. Most things are so simple and take so little time, that you'll wonder why you've been avoiding them. You can get big rewards just by taking small steps to prevent illness and injury.

You won't necessarily "see" the rewards, such as the extra pounds you didn't gain, the high blood pressure you didn't get, the emergency room visit you avoided. That's a good thing!

Find out what you can do in five minutes or less to make a difference to your health and safety, and take action! Some things even take less than one minute. Here is a sample of things you can do to help protect yourself and your family:

Wash hands

Buckle up

Test smoke alarms

Eat healthy

Take the stairs

Make an appointment

and more!

Also, find out what things may take more than five minutes but are worth the time, including preventing falls and being prepared.

Take a few minutes to help make yourself and your family safer and healthier.

Related Links


Page last reviewed: January 28, 2008
Page last updated: January 28, 2008
Content source: Office of Women's Health
Content owner: National Center for Health Marketing
URL for this page: www.cdc.gov/Features/FiveMinutes
Safer, Healthier People
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