You need to toughen up.

If you have a headache, wait a few minutes before you take any medicine. If you trip and hurt your foot, unless it is significantly hurt, apply some ice and wait out the pain for a few hours.

Stop seeking health care at the slightest symptom of a possible illness.

Congress’ debate on health care has primarily focused on costs of providing service to Americans, but one way to lower the costs on an individual level is to stop seeking medical care at the first sign of a paper cut.

We’re a society of hypochondriacs. The news has covered swine flu top to bottom then back again numerous times. People are forwarding e-mails about the symptoms and antibacterial soap is stocked across the country – possibly causing a somewhat unnecessary panic.

We know that we’ve touted the university’s decision to place such dispensers around campus and we’ve given tips on how to stay healthy. But we also want to say that even if you get swine flu, it most likely won’t be the end of the world. Don’t panic if you get it and don’t panic that you might get it.

The same goes for any sick seasons or any slight feeling of illness. Stop and think about how bad it really is. Now, we’re not saying don’t ever seek medical care or don’t ever take medicine.

What we’re saying is make sure it’s absolutely necessary. And your body will probably thank you for it. We all have immune systems for a reason; they’re there to keep you healthy and fight off bacteria. Constantly taking painkillers for a headache will eventually lead you to build a tolerance to one pill, so you’ll have to take two. Then three . and so on. And pumping painkillers into your body – no matter how strong or weak – is never healthy.

Take precautions all the time, not just when there’s an epidemic. Eat healthy all the time, get full nights of sleep, exercise and don’t get drunk all the time (that weakens your immune system, too, you know).

Stay healthy and stay safe all the time. And if you do get sick or hurt, don’t immediately panic and seek medicine or medical attention. Trust your instincts and be tough. We promise: a stomachache from an old slice of pizza will pass.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board whose members are listed to the left.