Preventive health focuses on reducing the risks of acute and chronic diseases. It involves regular tests and screenings to identify early symptoms of a disease or risk factors. Preventive health care can help avoid complications of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, mental disorders, and high cholesterol. Early detection of health conditions promotes effective treatment and prevents severe complications. Bastrop preventive health involves physical examinations, diagnostic tests, and treatment. If your doctor detects a risk factor for a certain condition, the provider may recommend lifestyle changes or medications to prevent future complications. Preventive health involves many procedures, and here are some.
Blood pressure tests
Blood pressure tests help to identify risk factors for various severe conditions. Doctors recommend blood pressure screening every three to five years in most adults and annually if you are over forty. Tests for high blood pressure can minimize strokes, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. Low blood pressure screenings can reduce cerebrovascular, heart failure, and overall mortality.
Diabetes screening
Diabetes affects more than one hundred million Americans. The condition can lead to heart disease, stroke, nerve issues, and kidney disease. About twenty-five percent with diabetes do not know they have the disease. When detected early, your doctor can help manage your condition with diet, medications, and physical activity, preventing other complications and prolonging your life.
Cholesterol tests
Having regular cholesterol tests can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease can cause heart attacks or strokes. Doctors recommend you have cholesterol tests every four to six years. You require cholesterol tests more often if you have risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and a family history of high cholesterol. You can manage the early stages of cardiovascular diseases with medications and physical activity.
Cancer screenings
Common cancer screenings include mammograms and colonoscopies. Mammograms screen for breast cancer, while colonoscopies test for colorectal cancer. Early detection of cancers can lead to effective treatment and prevent them from spreading to other body parts. In men, doctors can include prostate cancer screening in preventive health care.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) screening
You may have a sexually transmitted infection without showing signs and spread it to others unknowingly. STI screening can help protect your health. Untreated STIs can lead to severe health issues like infertility. Depending on your risk factors, doctors recommend you have STI screening every three months to once a year if you are sexually active.
Mental health screening
The World Health Organization estimates that hundreds of millions have mental health disorders. Depression and anxiety are common mental health conditions in the United States. You may have mild symptoms if you have a mental illness, but untreated conditions can lead to devastating consequences for yourself and the community. Untreated mental health problems can lead to severe issues like self-harm or suicide. Your doctor can effectively treat your mental health issue with medications and counseling.
Preventive health focuses on reducing the risks of acute and chronic diseases. It involves various procedures, including diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, STI, mental health, and cancer screenings. Schedule an appointment with Pompeyo Chavez, MD, for preventive health care to protect and improve your overall health.