Preventive Care for Life
Simple and Affordable Means to a Healthy Lifestyle
As evidenced by the many health crises current populations are facing, many people are waiting too long to begin thinking about preventive care. There are many deceptively simple lifestyle changes that people can make to help insure their long term health without putting a large dent in their bank account now.
Preventive Care Lacking
A study published in March of this year showed that adolescents are not receiving proper preventive care. Only 38 percent of those included in the study had received a preventive care checkup in the prior 12 months. According to the study, many adolescents are not learning the importance of preventive care measures such as taking blood pressure, monitoring weight and height, avoiding secondhand smoke, and using helmets and seat belts. Preventive care should begin early and be taught throughout life. Teenagers who do not learn preventive care from their elders are deprived of the opportunity to grow up understanding its value. This trend could eventually lead to a nation with much greater heathcare costs.
Prevention from Toddler to Senior
Children are never too young to learn about preventive healthcare and adults are never too late to begin. People might be tempted to associate preventive care with specific actions, when actually, preventive care is more of a mindset. Children wake up and are told to brush their teeth every morning, but do they truly understand the meaning behind brushing their teeth? Of course, a toddler is not going to understand that not brushing his/her teeth could eventually lead to decay that might affect long term health. Preventive care explanations should reflect the age and knowledge range of the person learning. Judging by our country's current childhood obesity crisis, our children truly are in need of this type of knowledge.
Preventive Care Defined
As stated above, preventive care is a mindset that enables a person to care for themselves in such a way that will grant them healthier days throughout their life. To some, preventive care means yearly or biannual physicals with their doctor. To others, preventive care might mean eating a certain way or maintaining a particular lifestyle to ensure future health. Preventive care is the measures taken now to ensure health in the future. This type of care offers no guarantees, but studies have shown it to help people live more healthy, vibrant lives while also decreasing the costs (financial and physical) of long term health care.
Preventive Care Measures
Obviously, all preventive care measures cannot be captured in the scope of this article, but once the journey has begun the path becomes easier to follow. It is often said that the simplest answer is usually the one that holds truth. That would also seem to be the case for preventive healthcare measures. The following are a few preventative measures that can be taken on a regular basis:
- Get regular checkups. Regular checkups by a doctor, homeopath, or holistic healthcare physician offer much more than just a routine physical. Each checkup is an opportunity to ask questions, seek advice and develop a relationship with a professional who knows and cares about their patients.
- Eat properly. Yes, once again, the old "garbage in, garbage out" adage. People do not have to spend a fortune to eat healthy, however. Usually just making wise food choices such as organics where they count (on strawberries and other high pesticide foods), whole grains, no refined sweeteners and plenty of fruits and vegetables, will go a long way!
- Physical activity. By now just about everyone knows how important physical activity on a daily basis is. Many people, however, have become complacent, possibly discouraged by exercise routines that might not suit them. People should take their time and find an activity that feels right. It may not be the same activity every week or even every day, just so long as it is enjoyable and will hold interest.
- Spend time in nature. According to a study printed October 15th in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, people who spend more time in nature tend to be healthier. Benefits abound from the fresh air to the sunlight that helps create one of mankind's most vital vitamins, vitamin D. Nature is also calming and helps to relieve stress. Physical activity and nature can also be combined to form a wonderful and healthy partnership!
- Keep stress levels low. Stress is a leading cause of many types of ailments. Busy schedules and lack of sleep can lead to fatigue and a burnt out immune system. Rest is extremely important!
In short, preventive care is one of our country's and one of humanity's most valuable assets. Used correctly prevention of illness can save time, money and, most valuable of all, quality of life.
Sources:
Irwin, Charles E., Jr, Adams, Sally H., Park, M. Jane, and Newacheck, Paul W.Preventive Care for Adolescents: Few get Care and Fewer Get Services. Pediatirics. Vol. 123 No. 4 April 2009, pp. e565-e572;
Preventive Care for Life
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