Why is Preventative Care so Important?

Why is Preventative Care so Important

Medical providers cannot emphasize the importance of preventative care enough. Preventative medicine provides patients the ability to live longer and healthier lives.

Preventative care includes services like regular check-ups, patient counseling, and health screenings.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, routine cardiovascular exams save tens of thousands of lives every year. In addition, each year vaccines save the lives of 42,000 children.

The bottom line is that preventative care saves lives. Will yours be one of them?

Manages Risk & Catches Things Early

Preventative medicine is essential when it comes to preventing health issues. Regular visits to your doctor help to control the risk factors associated with illness and disease.

Chronic illness is the leading cause of death in the United States. Comprehensive preventative health care can lower your risk of developing a chronic disease.

That’s because the goal of preventative care is to catch things before they become fatal. Catching a disease early can greatly increase the odds of surviving it.

Your doctor can also help you make changes to your lifestyle that will improve your health.

Your doctor will advise you on how to avoid risk factors like using tobacco, alcohol, and narcotics. They can also help you develop good habits. These habits might include getting regular exercise and eating nutritional meals.

Of course, it is not possible to prevent every type of medical condition. Some of us are predisposed to certain illnesses, diseases, and conditions, but preventative care can help lessen your risk of serious illness.

Provides Access to Doctor Recommendations

Another great feature of preventative care is having access to recommendations from a trusted health care provider who knows your personal health history.

When you see your doctor regularly, they are able to provide much more effective care. They know you, your health, and your history so they can recommend preventative care steps and goals specific to you.

For example, if your doctor knows you have a close relative with breast cancer, they know you could have a predisposition for breast cancer as well. They will be able to recommend you get the appropriate screenings before it’s too late.

If you already suffer from chronic illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, your doctor can recommend steps to reduce symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.

Saves You Money

Preventative health care saves you money in three major ways. The first is that it lowers the cost of disease management by catching diseases early. The longer it takes to detect a health issue, the more expensive the treatment.

The second way preventative care saves you money is by reducing your need for trips to urgent care or the emergency room. The better you take care of your health overall, the less health care you will need later on.

Finally, preventative care saves you money because it is covered by insurance. Most health insurance plans cover preventative care. Take advantage of insurance that offers no deductible, low copays, and coinsurance options.

Improves Health Care Overall

Preventative care actually helps improve our health care system. This is because the more people use healthcare services, the better health care providers are able to see how well the services are working.

The more people visit the doctor, the more reporting and monitoring occurs. So, by going to the doctor, you’re not just helping yourself, you’re making the entire healthcare system more effective. 

Get Preventative Care Today

Preventative care is the best method our health care system has for preventing medical issues. Going to the doctor when you feel perfectly healthy may seem like a chore, but it will improve your health outcomes overall.

If you are interested in full service quality medical care in Texas, contact Victory Medical today.