The most important aspect of preventive healthcare is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, illicit drugs and tobacco products. It is also very important to control conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Keeping immunizations current, eating healthy, exercising regularly and controlling your weight are all integral parts of a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to making healthy lifestyle choices, there are a number of routine screenings that can help detect diseases early. These include:
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Blood sugar testing
- Cholesterol screening
- Colon cancer screening (over 50 years)
- Pap smear (women)
- Mammography (women)
Routine health maintenance visits are also a very important part of preventing illness or detecting diseases in earlier stages. Most physicians recommend an annual physical examination for adults ages 18 and over.