What Is Preventative Medicine? Why It’s Important

Preventative medicine is a vital part of staying healthy for the long-term. After all, wouldn’t you rather take preventative steps to keep yourself feeling well? Doing so is better than relying on treatments once sickness hits. According to the CDC, 7 out of 10 deaths are caused by chronic diseases.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what preventative healthcare is and why its importance can’t be underestimated. From routine checkups to lifestyle changes, the information provided here should help give you a greater understanding of how powerful preventing illness is. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Preventative Healthcare?

Preventative healthcare is a type of healthcare that focuses on preventing illness. It aims to maintain good overall health. This is done by making lifestyle changes, such as exercising more often or eating healthier foods. It includes regular check-ups, screenings for various diseases, and vaccinations.

Preventative care helps people reduce their risk of developing chronic illnesses. This includes diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Having regular check-ups allows doctors to identify problems early on. It also helps them to provide the appropriate treatments.

The Benefits of Preventative Healthcare

The benefits of preventative healthcare are numerous. Below are a few of them:

1. Improved Quality of Life

Regular check-ups can help identify health issues before they become serious. Therefore, they allow for earlier treatment and management. This can lead to an improved quality of life.

Furthermore, early detection is imperative. That’s because many health conditions are more effectively treated if caught early.

2. Reduced Healthcare Costs

By taking preventative measures, people are less likely to develop chronic illnesses, which is very expensive to treat. People who take preventative measures often experience fewer doctor’s visits and hospital stays. Ultimately, it all results in reduced healthcare costs over the long run.

3. Increased Productivity

Preventative healthcare allows people to stay healthy and active. As a result, they are less likely to miss work due to illness or injury, thus increasing productivity.

4. Longer Lifespan

Preventative care can help people live longer, healthier lives. Early detection of health issues can allow for earlier treatment and management. It minimizes the risk of certain diseases and extends the lifespan.

Overall, preventative healthcare is invaluable for maintaining overall well-being. It helps people live longer, healthier lives.

Ways to Practice Preventative Care

Maintaining your health and wellness is imperative. Here are some ways to practice preventative care:

Wellness Examinations

Having regular check-ups is essential for maintaining good health. At these appointments, your doctor can identify any potential health issues. They’ll also recommend treatments or lifestyle changes.

During your primary visits, your physician will check your glucose levels, cholesterol, blood pressure, and more. They’ll also check for any signs of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

Mental Health Checks

It’s essential to check in with your mental health regularly. Mental health issues can manifest in different ways, so it’s vital to discuss any changes with your physician. Depression and anxiety can have significant impacts on physical and mental well-being. Not only that, but mental health can lead to thoughts of suicide.

A Healthy Lifestyle

It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well. Also, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and manage your stress levels. Eating healthy foods can help your body get the nutrients it needs. This reduces your risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes. Exercise can help keep your body strong and can also reduce stress levels.

Vaccines

Getting recommended vaccinations can help protect you from certain illnesses and diseases. Vaccines are a safe, inexpensive, and effective way of preventing potential health problems.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about what vaccinations are right for you. Common vaccines that you should get are for shingles, the flu, and hepatitis.

Types of Preventative Medicine

Preventative care comes in many forms, such as lifestyle changes and medical treatments. Here are a few types of preventative medicine:

1. Occupational Medicine

Occupational medicine is preventative medical care that focuses on the health of workers in a given industry. This form of medicine minimizes disability, illness, and injury in the workplace. Occupational medicine can include screening tests, immunizations, health education, and more.

2. Public Health

Public health is a field of medicine that focuses on preventing illness and injury. It protects people from communicable diseases, air pollution, and other health hazards. Public health also focuses on improving access to healthcare. Plus, it promotes healthy lifestyles, and more.

3. Aerospace Medicine

Aerospace medicine focuses on the health and safety of people who work in air and space vehicles. It’s important to monitor the health of astronauts and pilots, as they are exposed to various environmental hazards. Aerospace medicine can include monitoring oxygen levels, radiation exposure, and more.

4. Environmental Medicine

Environmental medicine focuses on preventing illness and injury in people exposed to environmental hazards. This form of medicine looks at the impact that a range of environmental exposures can have on health. Examples of environmental exposures include air pollution, water contamination, and more.

General Health Care: The Key to Disease Prevention

If you’re serious about making preventative care a part of your wellness routine, you’re taking the right step. And, if you’re looking for a primary care doctor, Blue Sky MD Health has you covered. We provide services for everyday health, women’s health, and children and families.

Our team of doctors have the skills and knowledge to keep you feeling your best. If you have any questions for us, call 828-693-3344 or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to serving you!