Preventive healthcare refers to the type of healthcare services you receive to stay healthy and detect health problems early on before they cause any complications or become more difficult to treat.
These services are typically offered before diseases happen, protecting your overall health and helping you live a longer, healthier life. Preventive health varies for individuals based on their age, gender, overall health conditions, and risk factors. From regular physicals to diabetes testing, preventive care involves numerous services.
Let’s explore some of the most common types of preventive health services for adults.
Regular Physical Exams
Regular physical exams, also known as physicals, are cornerstones of preventive medicine and involve evaluating an individual’s overall health and well-being. Before a physical exam, individual medical history is reviewed, and vital signs, such as blood pressure, respiratory rate, and heart rate, are measured.
For physicals, a primary care provider inspects your skin, listens to your heart and lungs, checks your reflexes, and tests your vision and hearing. Women may receive additional examinations, such as breast exams and pelvic exams, depending on their age, risk factors, and health history. While for men, there may be a testicular exam.
Screenings Tests
Some people are at higher risk for developing certain chronic health conditions than others due to their genetic makeup, environmental factors, and lifestyle. Such people are recommended various screening tests based on their risk factors. These screening tests may include but are not limited to the following.
Breast Cancer Screening
Mammography is a popular imaging test that helps find the early signs of breast cancer in women who are genetically at higher risk for developing breast cancer or are aged 40 and above.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Pap smear is a common test recommended to find abnormal cells in the cervix that may turn into cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in women, with a higher chance of cure when detected early.
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colonoscopies are performed to screen for colorectal cancer. Colonoscopies detect precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum and remove them before they turn into cancer cells.
Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer screening is usually recommended in people between 50 and 80 years old who either have a history of heavy smoking or are currently smoking. It is also recommended for people who have quit smoking within the past 15 years. Lung cancer screening is performed through low-dose computed tomography (CT), an imaging technique that takes a picture of the lungs and identifies the early signs of lung cancer.
Cognitive Screening
As we get older, our cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, problem-solving, and language, tend to decline. A primary care provider can recommend cognitive screenings in older adults to keep track of their intellectual health and ensure they get the healthcare they need for their specific cognitive problem.
Blood Pressure Monitoring
High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the most common risk factors for chronic health conditions like heart disease and stroke. Regular blood pressure monitoring helps keep the blood pressure under control and reduces the risk of deadly diseases like stroke, heart problems, and kidney problems.
Cholesterol Testing
High levels of cholesterol, especially low-density lipoprotein, in the blood can increase your risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
Cholesterol testing measures the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in our blood. The results of the test not only help primary care providers assess your heart health but also lead to recommendations to manage cholesterol levels and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disorders.
HIV Testing and PrEP
HIV testing involves checking for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a person’s body. On the other hand, pre-exposure prophylaxis is a preventative medication strategy recommended for individuals who are at higher risk for developing HIV.
Diabetes Screening
Diabetes can affect people of all ages; therefore, men, women, and children need to get their blood sugar levels checked regularly at least once a year. Diabetes testing is especially recommended for people who are obese, are of age 45 or above, and have a family history of diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Immunization
As a part of preventive healthcare, a primary care provider can also administer various vaccines to help patients stay at the top of their health. These vaccines include annual flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines, HPV vaccine, and booster doses of vaccines that you received during your childhood, if necessary.
Counseling
Preventive counseling is crucial for individuals dealing with chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or cancer. A primary care provider can recommend healthy lifestyle choices to keep health parameters under control and prevent the risk of complications associated with chronic health conditions.
Preventive Health Care in Colorado Springs, CO
If you are looking for a healthcare facility offering a comprehensive range of preventive healthcare services designed to maintain your health and well-being for the long term, look no further than Abundance Health Care. Our highly trained and compassionate Dr. Bruner-Hill is committed to providing our patients and communities with a comprehensive range of preventive healthcare services, including diabetes screening, vision screening, hearing tests, cholesterol screening, skin cancer screening, HIV testing, cognitive screening, and colorectal screening.
If you would like to know more about our preventive care services or want to get started with us, please give us a call today at (720) 869-0547 or fill out our online appointment request form.
