Follow these guidelines to connect with health care providers without compromising your security or alienating the patient-doctor relationship:

Behave yourself — Once you post a message on a social media site, it's available for others to see – so don't type anything you wouldn't want your employer or grandma to know.

Have respect — Before seeking out your doctors on Facebook or Twitter, ask them if it's OK as some may use the sites only for friends and family.

Beware of privacy breaches — A private message or chat with your doctor isn't always secure. Due to a system glitch, for example, some Facebook users could read others' live chats for a brief period in May.

Keep an eye out for phonies — Not everyone offering up information online is correct or legitimate, so consult with your doctor before believing everything you read.

Don't put your doc in an awkward spot — Refrain from asking your provider personal health questions through social media sites since they may not be able to respond due to federal privacy laws.