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Family Medicine6 Minute Read

Preventive Care: The Key to Long-Term Health

Doctor speaking with female patient
Reviewed By: Dr. Kaydian Hunter
Published: Friday Aug. 2, 2024
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Around seven out of 10 deaths in the U.S. occur due to chronic diseases. While this statistic is staggering, the good news is that many chronic diseases are preventable. Understanding what preventive care is and what it involves can encourage you to get the ongoing care you need to reduce your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other health issues.

What is Preventive Care?

Preventive care is medical care that you receive when you’re not sick or experiencing symptoms of a chronic condition. The purpose of this care is to lower the likelihood of chronic conditions from occurring — or worsening — and to help you feel your best throughout your life. Preventive care involves identifying and addressing disease risk factors and detecting early warning signs of chronic conditions.

Why is Preventive Care Important?

Through preventive care, you can take a more active role in your health and well-being and dramatically reduce your risk of developing a variety of health conditions. If you do develop a disease, preventive care can catch signs and symptoms earlier — since many chronic conditions worsen over time, early detection can lead to better outcomes.

In addition, preventive care can help to limit your healthcare costs. Preventive health services can lower the likelihood that you’ll need to undergo procedures and/or take costly drugs in the future. Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance plans cover an array of preventive services, so care may be free or very low-cost.

What Does Preventive Care Involve?

There are many aspects to preventive care. Depending on your age, health history, sex and other factors, your doctor may recommend regular checkups, screenings, immunizations, medications, counseling or coaching and lifestyle changes as a part of preventive services.

Checkups

It's beneficial to see your primary care doctor for a well visit at least once per year. During your annual checkup, your doctor will take your blood pressure and weight, listen to your heart and breathing and conduct a physical exam. They will likely order routine blood work to check your blood cell counts, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood sugar and more. If you’re a woman, your OB-GYN may also encourage you to come in for regular wellness visits.

In addition to an annual physical, see your dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups. Research has uncovered links between oral health and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.

Health Screenings

Screenings are tests and examinations designed to detect chronic health conditions early.

There are screenings for:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Breast cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Hepatitis C
  • High blood cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • HIV
  • Lung cancer
  • Osteoporosis
  • Prostate cancer
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • Skin cancer

Which screenings you may benefit from depends on your age, health history, family medical history, sex and other factors. Your healthcare provider can help you determine how frequently you should get screened for various conditions.

Immunizations

Also called vaccines, immunizations are preventive treatments that provide protection against certain diseases. You’ll receive most vaccines via injection, but there are also oral and nasal spray immunizations. Depending on your age, sex, health history and risk factors, your doctor may recommend that you get vaccinated for:

  • Chickenpox (Varicella)
  • COVID-19
  • Diphtheria
  • Flu (influenza)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Measles
  • Meningitis
  • Mumps
  • Pertussis (Whooping cough)
  • Pneumonia
  • Rubella
  • Shingles
  • Tetanus

If you'll be traveling out of the country, you may need additional vaccines, which your doctor will identify.

Medications

In some cases, your doctor may recommend certain medications as a part of your preventive care. Some drugs used for the prevention of disease include:

  • Aspirin, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and colon cancer when taken daily
  • PrEP HIV medications, which are prescribed for high-risk HIV-negative people to reduce the risk of HIV transmission
  • Statins, which are drugs that lower cholesterol levels and may be recommended for people at risk for heart disease
  • Prophylactic cancer medications, which may help prevent disease in people at high risk for certain kinds of cancer, such as breast cancer
  • Bone-building drugs, which help strengthen bones to reduce the risk of osteoporosis

Counseling

Counseling is the practice of discussing your health risks with a healthcare provider and getting advice on what you can do to reduce your disease risk and support your overall health. It can include nutrition counseling, during which a registered dietitian discusses healthy food choices with you and works with you to develop a balanced meal plan based on your individual needs.

Preventive counseling may also include genetic counseling to identify abnormalities that may put you or your children at an increased risk for certain diseases, such as breast cancer or genetic disorders. Before your appointment, your counselor will order DNA testing and then analyze your genes. Then, you’ll meet to discuss any genetic abnormalities that you have. You and your doctor can use this information to make informed decisions about preventive care and family planning.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes are things that you do in your daily life to promote good health and lower your disease risk. Some positive lifestyle changes include:

  • Eating a healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein and low in saturated fat and added sugars can reduce the risk of heart disease and other conditions.
  • Exercising regularly: Most adults benefit from at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise plus at least two strength-training workouts per week. Getting enough exercise can lower your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some forms of cancer, depression, anxiety and dementia.
  • Managing your weight: Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight through nutritious food and exercise can help prevent an array of medical conditions. Even losing just five to 10% of your total body weight can lead to health improvements.
  • Quitting smoking: Giving up tobacco can lower the likelihood of developing many serious health conditions, including lung cancer and heart disease.
  • Drinking in moderation: Avoiding alcohol or stopping at one drink per day if you’re a woman or two drinks per day if you’re a man can lower your risk for heart disease, some forms of cancer, liver problems and other conditions.
  • Getting enough sleep: Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Deficiencies in sleep have been linked to heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and other conditions.
  • Managing stress: Finding ways to reduce stress can significantly benefit your mental and physical health. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, engaging in hobbies or enjoying time with friends and family. Seeking professional mental health services can help you better cope with chronic stress.

Talk to Your Doctor About Preventive Care

Preventive care can set you on a path to a healthier life and reduce your risk for developing a wide range of conditions. Discuss preventive care with your healthcare provider, and develop a plan for disease prevention based on your unique needs.

Broward Health, providing service for more than 85 years, is a nationally recognized system in South Florida that offers world-class healthcare to all. The Broward Health system includes the statutory teaching hospital Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North, Broward Health Imperial Point, Broward Health Coral Springs, Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital, Broward Health Weston, Broward HealthPoint, Broward Health Physician Group, Broward Health Urgent Care, Broward Health International, and Broward Health Foundation. For more information, visit BrowardHealth.org.