Preventive Care to Manage Your Health

Preventive care is an important factor in managing your health. Catching potential problems early provides a chance to start treatment early, limiting costs and possible negative effects on your health.

A physical examination is the first step. This visit allows you and your personal doctor the opportunity to review risk factors related to your gender, age and health history, and create a plan for appropriate preventive screenings and services.

Some areas to consider include the following.

• Weight management – Being overweight can increase risk of diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. If appropriate, your personal doctor can provide guidance regarding a weight loss plan that includes regular exercise and healthy eating habits. • Mental health – Anxiety and stress can lead to other mental health issues such as depression or substance abuse. It’s important to have an open discussion with your personal doctor regarding stressors affecting your normal routines and how you feel before issues become more severe. • Vaccinations – Staying up to date on immunizations is an easy and effective way to avoid common illnesses such as influenza. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides age-appropriate vaccination schedules on their website (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/ index.html). • Preventive screenings – Your doctor will recommend screenings based on your gender, age and health history. The following screenings may be recommended. • Screenings for certain cancers (cervical, breast, prostate, colorectal) • Hepatitis C screening • Blood pressure checks • Bone density screening • Cholesterol screening • Testing for type 2 diabetes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website provides a tool that allows you to see the preventive screenings and testing that may be appropriate based on your age and gender. You can visit the site at health.gov/myhealthfinder.

Preventive care can help catch illnesses in their earliest stages, and in some cases prevent illness from occurring. Developing and following an appropriate preventive plan can help control costs and allow you to live a longer, healthier life.