Read Carpenters Wellness Center’s full September newsletter on Preventive Health.
Being proactive about your health through preventive healthcare services can reduce your risk for diseases. Preventive healthcare involves taking steps to prevent chronic illnesses or catch disease early when treatment is most effective. Things like cancer screenings and routine vaccines generally fall into this category. Preventive healthcare can help you stay healthy and lower your healthcare costs.
You can also make healthy lifestyle choices at home to prevent sickness. A medical provider can counsel you on ways to develop better habits to prevent disease or manage current health problems. They usually offer medical advice based off annual screenings and physicals. Routine screenings and physicals may uncover health risks you aren’t aware of.
Talk to a healthcare provider about the following preventive care services:
- Blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol tests
- Cancer screenings
- Smoking cessation
- Mental health screenings
- Nutrition and weight management
- Regular wellness visits and how often to schedule them
- Routine vaccinations
Screenings, dental check-ups, and staying up to date on vaccines can help keep people of all ages healthy. Talk to a healthcare provider about which preventive services are right for you. Services are often based on your age, gender, and health status. Contact your insurance company if you have questions about your plan or need help finding a medical provider.
It’s easy to reduce your chance for chronic disease.
Many chronic diseases are caused by risky behaviors. Check out these tips to reduce your chances of getting a chronic disease:
- Stop smoking
- Eat healthy
- Get regular physical activity
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol
- Take care of your teeth
- Get regular check-ups and screenings (check out the screenings available at Carpenters’ Health Fairs!)
Sources: CDC.gov, Health.gov, HHS.gov
