Preventive health care
All adults should visit their health care provider from time to time, even when they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
- Screen for diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleDiabetes
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Look for future disease risks, such as high cholesterol and obesity
Obesity
Obesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Discuss alcohol use and safe drinking and tips on how to quit smoking
Alcohol use and safe drinking
Alcohol use involves drinking beer, wine, or hard liquor.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleTips on how to quit smoking
There are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Encourage a healthy lifestyle, such as healthy eating and exercise
Healthy lifestyle
Good health habits can allow you to avoid illness and improve your quality of life. The following steps will help you feel better and live better. G...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleExercise
Physical activity -- which includes an active lifestyle and routine exercise -- plus eating well, is the best way to stay healthy.
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Update vaccinations
Update vaccinations
Vaccines are used to boost your immune system and prevent the risk of infection and the severity of infections, including those that cause serious, l...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Maintain a relationship with your provider in case of illness
- Discuss medicines or supplements that you are taking
WHY PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE IS IMPORTANT
Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions.
Below are some of the tests that may be done or scheduled:
- Blood pressure
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Blood sugar
Blood sugar
A blood sugar test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the...
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Cholesterol (blood)
Cholesterol (blood)
Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance found in all parts of the body. Your body needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly. But too muc...
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Colon cancer screening test
Colon cancer screening
Colon cancer screening can detect polyps and early cancers in the large intestine. This type of screening can find problems that can be treated befo...
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Depression screening
Depression
Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...
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Genetic testing for breast cancer or ovarian cancer in certain women
Genetic testing
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene test is a blood test that can tell you if you have a higher risk of getting cancer. The name BRCA comes from the first two ...
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HIV test
HIV test
In general, testing for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a 2-step process that involves a screening test and follow-up tests often called co...
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Breast cancer screening test
Breast cancer screening test
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to evaluate some breast symptoms and to find breast cancer in women with no symptoms....
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Osteoporosis screening
Osteoporosis screening
A bone mineral density (BMD) test measures how much calcium and other types of minerals are in an area of your bone. This test helps your health care...
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Cervical cancer screening test
Cervical cancer screening test
The Pap test mainly checks for changes that may turn into cervical cancer. Cells scraped from the opening of the cervix are examined under a microsc...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is most often spread through sexual contact.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleGonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSyphilis
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is most often spread through sexual contact.
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Your provider can recommend how often you might want to schedule a visit.
How often you might want to schedule a ...
Even if you feel fine, you should still see your health care provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAnother part of preventive health is learning to recognize changes in your body that may not be normal. This is so you can see your provider right away. Changes may include:
- A lump anywhere on your body
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Losing weight without trying
Losing weight without trying
Unexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - A lasting fever
Fever
Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - A cough that does not go away
Cough
Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Body aches and pains that do not go away
- Changes or blood in your stools
- Skin changes or sores that do not go away or get worse
- Other changes or symptoms that are new or do not go away
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY HEALTHY
In addition to seeing your provider for regular checkups, there are things you can do to stay healthy and help lower your risk for diseases. If you already have a health condition, taking these steps can help you manage it.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
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Exercise at least 150 minutes a week (2 hours and 30 minutes).
Exercise
You know exercise is good for you. It can help you lose weight, relieve stress, and boost your mood. You also know it helps prevent heart disease a...
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Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or nonfat dairy.
Eat healthy foods
By following the US Department of Agriculture's food guide, called MyPlate, you can make healthier food choices. The newest guide encourages you to ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation (no more than 2 drinks a day for men and no more than 1 drink a day for women).
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Healthy weight
Whether it is healthy or unhealthy, a habit is something you do without having to think about it. People who succeed at weight loss turn healthy eat...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Always use seatbelts, and use car seats if you have children.
- Don't use illegal drugs.
- Practice safer sex.
Safer sex
Safe sex means taking steps before and during sex that can prevent you from getting an infection, or from giving an infection to your partner....
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References
Atkins D, Barton M. The periodic health examination. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 12.
Campos-Outcalt D. Preventive health care. Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 7.
HealthCare.org website. Preventive care benefits for adults. www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-adults/. Accessed February 20, 2023.
HealthCare.org website. Preventive care benefits for women. www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-women/. Accessed February 20, 2023.
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Physical activity - preventive medicine - illustration
Physical activity contributes to health by reducing the heart rate, decreasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, and reducing the amount of bone loss that is associated with age and osteoporosis. Physical activity also helps the body use calories more efficiently, thereby helping in weight loss and maintenance. It can increase basal metabolic rate, reduces appetite, and helps in the reduction of body fat.
Physical activity - preventive medicine
illustration
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Physical activity - preventive medicine - illustration
Physical activity contributes to health by reducing the heart rate, decreasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, and reducing the amount of bone loss that is associated with age and osteoporosis. Physical activity also helps the body use calories more efficiently, thereby helping in weight loss and maintenance. It can increase basal metabolic rate, reduces appetite, and helps in the reduction of body fat.
Physical activity - preventive medicine
illustration
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Heart-healthy diet - InDepth
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Viral hepatitis
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Alcohol use disorders - InDepth
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Breast cancer
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Weight control and diet - InDepth
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Review Date: 2/2/2023
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.