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
Diabetes
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
- Discuss alcohol use and safe drinking and tips on how to quit smoking
- 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 Article - 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
- Blood sugar
- Cholesterol (blood)
- Colon cancer screening test
- 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...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Genetic testing for breast cancer or ovarian cancer in certain women
- HIV test
- Breast cancer screening test
- Osteoporosis screening
- Cervical cancer screening test
- Tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases
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
- 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.
- Exercise at least 150 minutes a week (2 hours and 30 minutes).
- 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.
- Always use seatbelts, and use car seats if you have children.
- Don't use illegal drugs.
- Practice safer sex.
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.
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.