Everything you do each and every day, including the foods you eat, the exercise and sleep you get, and even the stress you have, can all affect your future health. That’s why it’s incredibly important to keep up with preventative health care tasks throughout your life, but especially as you age.
Why Preventative Healthcare is Important
According to the Centers for Disease Control, seven out of every 10 U.S. deaths are caused by chronic disease. That means that over half of the country has been diagnosed with a chronic illness such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other similar conditions.
Although this number may shock you, the good news is that your risk of developing diseases like these can be dramatically reduced just by introducing a little preventative healthcare maintenance into your life.
This can be done in a variety of ways including diet and exercise management, routine health screenings, receiving vaccinations, and even receiving hormone therapy.
In addition to lowering your risk of chronic illness, preventative healthcare maintenance can also significantly increase your life expectancy, especially if you are between the ages of 30 to 49.
Routine Screenings and Check-Ups You Should Consider
Even if you feel generally healthy, it can be difficult to really get a full picture of what may be happening inside your body slowly over time.
The best way to keep your finger on the pulse of your personal health is by receiving regular health screenings and check-ups which can help you detect any hidden issues and help prevent larger health problems in the future.
Below are some examples of preventative care screenings that you should schedule with some regularity:
- Blood Pressure – The only way to truly find out if you may be suffering from high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. This screening is simple and easy, and can even be done via machine at most pharmacies.
- Blood Sugar – A blood sugar test measures the amount of glucose in your blood. This information is incredibly important to the proper diagnosis of diabetes. Typically, a small blood sample will be needed for this screening.
- Cholesterol – While your body needs some cholesterol to function properly, too much can increase the risk of heart disease. Usually, a blood test is performed to determine your cholesterol levels.
- Mammogram – October is breast cancer awareness month, and a mammogram is a vitally important screening every woman should receive in order to detect her risk of developing this disease. This screening is usually done in the form of a quick and easy x-ray image of the breasts, and is used to detect any tumors or potentially cancerous growths.
- Pap Smear – A pap smear (or pap test) is a routine gynecological exam that is designed to detect the possibility of cervical cancer in women. This test is performed by gently scraping a few cells from the opening of the cervix, which are then examined under a microscope and evaluated for any abnormalities.
Other Things to Keep An Eye On
Another big part of preventive health care is training yourself to recognize changes in your body that may not be normal. Doing so will help make you more aware of situations that may not be normal so that you can see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for abnormal changes such as:
- The emergence of lumps anywhere on your body
- Losing weight without trying
- A lasting fever or cough that doesn’t go away
- Chronic body aches and pains
- Skin changes or sores that won’t heal
What You Can Do To Stay Healthy
Regular checkups are a great way to maintain your everyday health, but there are plenty of lifestyle choices you can make to continue preventing the onset of health issues. Getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and limiting alcohol and tobacco intake are all great ways to increase your likelihood of living a long and healthy life. Even hormone therapy can help to strengthen your immune system and improve your overall health. To learn more about what we do at Renewed Vitality, click here.
