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Preventative medicine

Preventive health care

Information

The most important part of preventive health care is maintaining good health habits. This includes:

• Daily exercise
• Weight control
• Proper nutrition
• Avoidance of smoking and drug abuse
• Abstinence from, or moderation of, alcohol use
• Proper control of any diseases or disorders, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high levels of cholesterol in the blood

In addition to these habits, some screening services may prove worthwhile in either preventing or at least minimizing disease.

1. Periodic screening of adults for specific problems is important and recommended:

• Pap smear
• Breast self-examination
• Mammography
• Testicular self-examination
• PSA test
• Cholesterol screening
• Colon cancer screening
• CT scan to screen smokers for lung cancer
• Abdominal aortic ultrasound
• Blood pressure

2. Many diseases can be effectively treated when detected early. See your primary health care provider right away if:

• A lump or persistent lesion appears on your body.
• You have unexplained weight loss.
• You have a lasting fever.
• You develop a chronic cough.
• You notice continued body aches and pains.

Have a plan for obtaining professional care before the need arises.

3. Keep immunizations up-to-date. See: Immunizations - general overview

Review Date: 8/1/2007
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (1/18/2007).