Why are Preventive Healthcare Services Important?

By Shemika Carter RN, MSN, AGNP-C

Preventive health care is important because it can help individuals maintain good health, prevent the onset of diseases or conditions, and detect health problems in their early stages when they are often easier to treat and cure. This article will give you some examples of Preventive healthcare services and educate you on reasons why preventive health care is important.

Preventive Healthcare Services:

1. Blood Cholesterol/ Lipid Panel
2. Blood Pressure Screen
3. Colon Cancer Screen 50 years and older, 40 years if you have a family history.
4. Depression Screen
5. Diabetes Screen
6. Prostate Cancer screen
7. Mammogram
8. Pap and Pelvic Exam
9. Hearing test
10. Eye Exam
11. Mole exam

Here are five (5) basic reason these screenings are important:

1. Promotes healthy habits: Preventive health care can help individuals develop healthy habits and behaviors that can help prevent the onset of diseases or conditions, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking and or excessive alcohol consumption. 
2. Early detection of health problems: Regular health check ups and screenings can help detect health problems in their early stages when treatment is more effective and less costly.
3. Reduces health care costs: Preventive health care can help reduce healthcare costs by preventing or managing diseases before they become more serious and require more extensive or expensive treatments. 
4. Improves quality of life: By maintaining good health and preventing or managing health problems, individuals can experience better quality of life and enjoy more fulfilling, active lifestyles.
5. Increases Life expectancy: Preventive health care can help individuals live longer, healthier lives by preventing or managing health problems and reducing the risk of complications.

Overall, preventive health care is an important aspect of maintaining good health and can play a critical role in ensuring that individuals stay healthy and lead fulfilling lives.

Strive for full restoration by adopting a healthy, well lifestyle, which includes preventive healthcare services.  

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