Preventive health care
All adults should visit their health care provider from time to time, even when they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
-
Screen for diseases, such as
high blood pressure
or
diabetes
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
- Look for future disease risks, such as high cholesterol and obesity
-
Discuss
alcohol use and safe drinking
and
tips on how to quit smoking
Alcohol use and safe drinking
Alcohol use involves drinking beer, wine, or hard liquor.
Tips on how to quit smoking
There are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...
-
Encourage a healthy lifestyle, such as healthy eating and
exercise
Exercise
Physical activity -- which includes an active lifestyle and routine exercise -- plus eating well, is the best way to stay healthy.
-
Update vaccinations
Update vaccinations
Vaccines are used to boost your immune system and prevent serious, life-threatening diseases.
- Maintain a relationship with your health care provider in case of illness
- Discuss medications or supplements that you are taking
WHY PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE IS IMPORTANT
Even if you feel fine, you should still see your health care provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions.
Below are some of the tests that may be done or scheduled:
- Blood pressure
-
Blood sugar
Blood sugar
A blood glucose test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of t...
-
Cholesterol (blood)
Cholesterol (blood)
Cholesterol test results; LDL test results; VLDL test results; HDL test results; Coronary risk profile results; Hyperlipidemia-results; Lipid disorde...
-
Colon cancer screening
test
Colon cancer screening
Colon cancer screening can detect polyps and early cancers in the large intestine. This type of screening can find problems that can be treated befo...
- Depression screening
- Genetic testing for breast cancer or ovarian cancer in certain women
-
HIV test
HIV test
In general, testing for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a 2-step process that involves a screening test and follow-up tests. SCREENING TEST...
-
Mammogram
Mammogram
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to find breast tumors and cancer.
-
Osteoporosis screening
Osteoporosis screening
A bone mineral density (BMD) test measures how much calcium and other types of minerals are in an area of your bone. This test helps your health care...
-
Pap smear
Pap smear
The Pap test checks for cervical cancer. Cells scraped from the opening of the cervix are examined under a microscope. The cervix is the lower part...
-
Tests for
Chlamydia
,
gonorrhea
, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an infection. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is most often spread through sexual contact.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Your health care provider can recommend how often you might want to schedule a visit .
How often you might want to schedule a ...
All adults should visit their health care provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:Screen for disease...
Another part of preventive health is learning to recognize changes in your body that may not be normal. This is so you can see your health care provider right away. Changes may include:
- A lump anywhere on your body
-
Losing weight without trying
Losing weight without trying
Unexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...
-
A lasting
fever
Fever
Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...
- A cough that does not go away
- Body aches and pains that do not go away
- Changes or blood in your stools
- Skin changes or sores that do not go away or get worse
- Other changes or symptoms that are new or do not go away
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY HEALTHY
In addition to seeing your doctor for regular checkups, there are things you can do to stay healthy and help lower your risk for diseases. If you already have a health condition, taking these steps can help you manage it.
-
Don't smoke or use tobacco
.
Don't smoke or use tobacco
There are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...
-
Exercise
at least 150 minutes a week (2 hours and 30 minutes).
Exercise
Prevention - learn to love exercise; Wellness - learn to love exercise
-
Eat a balanced diet
with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or nonfat dairy.
Eat a balanced diet
By following the US Department of Agriculture's food guide, called MyPlate, you can make healthier food choices. The new guide encourages you to eat...
-
If you
drink alcohol
, do so in moderation (no more than 2 drinks a day for men and no more than 1 drink a day for women).
Drink alcohol
Alcohol use involves drinking beer, wine, or hard liquor.
-
Maintain a
healthy weight
.
Healthy weight
Obesity - healthy habits; Obesity - healthy eating
- Always use seatbelts, and use car seats if you have children.
- Don't use illegal drugs.
- Practice safe sex.
References
Atkins D, Barton M. The periodic health examination. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 14.
Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2014. Recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Name/tools-and-resources-for-better-preventive-care. Accessed March 9, 2015.
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Physical activity - preventive medicine - illustration
Physical activity contributes to health by reducing the heart rate, decreasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, and reducing the amount of bone loss that is associated with age and osteoporosis. Physical activity also helps the body use calories more efficiently, thereby helping in weight loss and maintenance. It can increase basal metabolic rate, reduces appetite, and helps in the reduction of body fat.
Physical activity - preventive medicine
illustration
-
Physical activity - preventive medicine - illustration
Physical activity contributes to health by reducing the heart rate, decreasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, and reducing the amount of bone loss that is associated with age and osteoporosis. Physical activity also helps the body use calories more efficiently, thereby helping in weight loss and maintenance. It can increase basal metabolic rate, reduces appetite, and helps in the reduction of body fat.
Physical activity - preventive medicine
illustration
Review Date: 4/11/2015
Reviewed By: Diane M. Horowitz, MD, Rheumatologist, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.