Want to stay well? Wash your hands

We're getting better about it, but we're not great yet: A new observational study shows that about 85% of adults wash their hands after using public restrooms. That's up from 77% in 2007, and it's the most since the American Society of Microbiology and the American Cleaning Institute started the studies almost 15 years ago.

But more than 60% responded in a telephone survey that they don't wash their hands after coughing or sneezing. That's bad, experts say, because many cases of the cold, flu and other respiratory ailments are spread by a cough or sneeze or when dirty, contaminated hands touch the eyes, nose or mouth.

So remember: Washing your hands is one of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid getting sick.