Preventive care is something we have all heard of either from advertisements or directly from your doctor. But what exactly is preventive care?
Preventive health care is basically what you do before you get sick to stay healthy. It is the act of preventing sickness before it can occur through diet recommendations, blood testing, and physical evaluations.
Preventive care can help you stay healthier and, as a result, lower your healthcare costs. Many physicians believe preventive care is one of the most important sectors of healthcare and one that is massively underappreciated.
Why Preventive Care Is Important
Preventive care is essential because it can help to identify risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, or certain cancers earlier when they’re most treatable. Of course, tackling health issues early helps you get or stay on a healthy track and also reduces the risk of developing other medical conditions. Preventive care is a completely different approach to medicine that seeks to treat conditions and diseases before they occur. This involves ensuring a healthy immune system and addressing any natural drawbacks to your health.
Examples of Preventive Care
In order to better understand what preventive care is, let’s take a look at some common examples of this type of care.
Annual Checkups
The annual checkup is something that is essential to preventive care. It can help get you and your doctor on the same page in regards to your health. This can give the doctor a better idea of your risk factors and types of preventive measures that may be necessary for your unique physiology.
Diet/Lifestyle Recommendations
Based on findings from your checkups, your physician may discuss your diet and lifestyle habits with you. These factors play an important role in your body’s natural ability to stay healthy and fight off disease. These recommendations can differ based on your unique needs as determined by your doctor.
Screenings
Health screenings can help paint an accurate picture for your doctor.. These can include blood pressure and diabetes tests, cholesterol screenings, and much more. Your doctor will likely determine which tests are necessary based on physical and blood test findings, as well as your lifestyle habits.
Counseling
Finally, counseling is another example of preventive care measures you may need. A good primary care physician will get to know their patients in order to better understand their habits and personal health situation. As your relationship develops over time, your doctor may provide advice regarding habits such as smoking, activity levels, stress, depression, or other important factors that could be detrimental to your health and longevity.
What is Not Considered Preventive Care?
Remember, preventive care happens before a problem is identified. So, services may or may not be considered preventive care depending on your health situation.
Nonpreventive Care Examples:
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- Primary care office visits that are related to specific health care needs such as the common cold or flu, seasonal allergies, rashes, or minor injuries.
- Certain appointments with specialty doctors such as dermatologists, allergists, or cardiologists, depending on your insurance coverage.
- Diagnostic tests and screenings to learn more about a suspected or known medical condition.
If you’re not sure if something is considered preventive, it is important to reach out to your insurance company in order to avoid a large bill.
Benefits Of Preventive Care
Preventive care can help you prevent serious conditions from developing and allow you to take a more hands-on approach to your health.
Some of the main benefits include:
- Low cost and covered under most insurance plans.
- Helps detect health problems early.
- Can ensure you are focused on the most important aspects of your personal health needs.
Overall, preventive care is an essential form of health care that can help you to lead a more fulfilling and healthy lifestyle while intercepting health issues before they develop into serious medical concerns. Talk to your doctor today about your approach to preventive healthcare!
Get Preventive Care With Imperial Center Family Medicine
Imperial Center Family Medicine is a full-service family care practice that has been providing comprehensive care since 1999. Their experienced providers offer primary and preventative services to help manage the ongoing health and wellness needs of children, teens, and adults.