Preventive healthcare is one of the most important things you can do for your health. By making a few simple changes to your lifestyle and by getting regular screenings and checkups, you can reduce your risk of developing serious health problems. If you’re looking to get started on a preventive health plan, here are a few simple steps to follow:
1. Get various tests and screenings
Start your preventive healthcare plan by getting screened or tested for high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or weight control, depression or anxiety disorders, and cholesterol levels. This will help you get a better understanding of your current health status and identify any areas that may need improvement.
Certain tests are specific to gender. For instance, there’s a physical exam for men to check for testicular cancer or tests to look at the penis and prostate to help detect any signs of diseases like chlamydia.
For women, there’s a cervical cancer screening and gynecological exams to check for infections like genital warts or pelvic inflammatory disease. All these screenings and tests can help keep you healthy in the future.
2. Check your blood pressure at home, too
So you got a clean bill of health from the doctor after that cholesterol screening and all of your tests turned out fine. But did you know you can check your blood pressure at home, too? This is a crucial step in preventing cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
Home blood pressure monitoring allows you to manage your health day to day. It will give you insight into how your cardiovascular system is working during different times throughout the day, whether it’s assessing how much stress you’re under or observing how your blood pressure changes during physical activity.
Talk to your doctor about which home blood pressure monitoring unit will work best for you. And if your measurements are high, they can prescribe medication to help you manage your blood pressure. Home monitoring can not only prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke, but it can also save your life.
3. Don’t miss your vaccinations
There are numerous vaccinations available to prevent different diseases, including the flu shot and human papillomavirus or HPV vaccination. These immunizations protect you against potentially dangerous illnesses that could put you out of commission for days or even weeks.
Regular vaccination helps keep you healthy, which in turn helps prevent the spread of disease to others. Doing your part to keep your community healthy may even prevent you from getting sick in the first place.
So, if you’re not aware of what vaccines you’re missing or if you’re due for certain vaccinations, it’s time to talk to your doctor about which vaccines are right for you. This way, you can start building or bolstering your immunity to help prevent future illnesses.
4. Understand the habits putting you at risk
To stay healthy, people need to take steps to reduce the likelihood of developing certain diseases. One way to do that is by understanding the habits that tend to put people at risk for particular illnesses. For example, if you’re at risk for lung cancer, quitting smoking is an important step towards prevention.
You can also monitor your stress levels, which can affect your risk for heart disease. You should also keep track of any changes in weight, which is an indicator of the health of your heart. This way, you can take steps to manage your risk for disease.
5. Commit to a healthy lifestyle
Once you’ve completed a preventive health plan, commit to a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a well-balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and finding ways to manage stress. Together, these steps will help keep you healthy and support a lifetime of good health.
Of course, preventing disease is not the only reason to make a plan and stick with it. You should also get regular checkups, including an annual physical exam and screenings for health issues that can arise as you age. So start thinking about your health today and put a plan in place to improve it.
Preventive healthcare is all about routine exams and screenings to catch any potential problems before they become serious. By preventing diseases from even occurring, you can save yourself a lot of time, money, and pain.
So, if you want to become more proactive when it comes to your health, consider doing these steps to start living a healthier life. And if you want your family to live longer too, you should teach them about preventive healthcare, too.
