Preventive Care: Empowering Your Health

Preventive care is routine health care that involves services, screenings and counseling to help in health disorders. Preventive medicine plays a crucial role in preventive care. It is the practice done by medical professionals to promote preventive healthcare. Professionals work in a variety of sectors which includes, primary care, corporations and public healthcare departments.

Benefits of preventive care

Preventive care helps you to stay as healthy as possible. Regularly scheduled appointments and diagnostic tests allow your doctor to identify any medical disorder before they come in the chronic stage.  There is no cost to you as a parent of health coverage. Routine care helps you to be more focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

It is good to shift towards proactive healthcare. By enfolding proactive healthcare, individuals can shift their focus towards regular health check -ups, vaccinations and screenings. Proactive healthcare not only reduces the burden of disease but also leads to better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

Preventive care services for adults

Preventive services are covered by medical professionals, according to the medical case history that they have taken from you. Preventive services for adults includes :

• Blood pressure screening
• Cholesterol screening
• Alcohol misuse screening
• Hepatitis B and C screening
• HIV screening
• Depression screening
• Diabetes ( Type 2 ) screening
• Lung cancer screening
• Obesity screening
• Tuberculosis screening
• Immunizations : vary according to age and dose.

Preventive services for women

Arranging preventive services vital for women’s health and well-being. Women can take proactive measures to detect health issues early and make right decisions for their health. Preventive services for women includes :

• Blood pressure screening
• Cholesterol screening
• HIV screening
• Hepatitis B screening
• Syphilis screening
• Bone density screening
• Breast cancer mammography screening
• Urinary incontinence screening
• Cervical cancer screenings
• Maternal depression screening
• Rh incompatibility screening
• Breastfeeding counseling
• Breast cancer genetic test counseling.

Preventive services for children

Routine visits to the doctor helps parents with information about their child’s growth and development. Child safety is discussed during routine visits. Safety concerns are based on the specific age of the child. The basic nature of these routine visits includes development milestones, discussions about nutrition and growth assessments. Preventive services for children includes :

• Autism screening ( Age – 18 to 24 months )
• Blood screening for newborns
• Depression screening ( Age – 12 years )
• Development screening for children under age 3.
• Fluoride supplements
• Alcohol and drug use assessments for adolescents.
• Hepatitis B screening for adolescents at higher risk.
• Vision screening for all children
• Sickle cell screening for newborns
• Immunizations from children birth to age 18.

Immunizations in preventive care

Immunizations or vaccines play a crucial role in preventive care. There are seven major childhood diseases like mumps, rubella, measles, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, which can cause permanent disability in early stages of life. These all can be well prevented by immunizations.

There are essential childhood vaccines recommended which includes hepatitis-B, rota virus, diphtheria-tetanus and acellular pertussis, haemophilus influenza B, pneumococcal conjugate, inactivated polio virus, influenza, covid-19, MMR, varicella, hepatitis A, HPV, pneumococcal polysaccharide and dengue. Also in the case of adults, vaccines play a major role in protection from diseases.

There are vaccinations for influenza, pneumococcal disease, shingles, and other recommended vaccines based on age, health conditions, and lifestyle. There are significant effects of vaccines during pregnancy and in protecting mothers as well as infants. Vaccines like influenza and Tdap vaccines, in protecting both mothers and infants.. Vaccines not only save lives but also foster a healthier and safer society for future generations

Role of travel vaccinations in preventive care

Travel vaccinations are necessary for individuals during international journeys. Vaccines protect travelers from serious diseases. Travel vaccines are effective ways to help protect travelers from bringing home serious diseases. Below is a list of preventive travel vaccines :

• Hepatitis A and B
• Yellow fever
• Rabies
• Meningococcal disease
• Japanese encephalitis
• Typhoid and paratyphoid fever

Many travel immunizations need to be given in a series of shots given over a period of days or weeks. Some vaccines take time to work. So, 4 to 6 weeks to meet with a travel health provider, which helps you to plan a health journey.

Last Words

The general role of preventive care is to reduce individuals’ risk of becoming disabled and dying prematurely. Some risk factors are beyond a person’s control, such as age, sex, and family history.

By taking control of regular healthcare check -ups, regular screening, staying up-to-date with vaccinations and adapting a healthy lifestyle. Let us embrace the power of preventive care, empowering ourselves to live healthier, happier lives.