Also known as prophylactic medicine, preventative medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention of disease. The main aim of preventative medicine is protecting the health of individuals and populations. It is a science that uses various means to prevent the occurrence of disease.
Preventative medicine is a relatively new field. It has only been during the last century that the importance of preventative medicine has been widely recognized. You can learn more about this and other aspects of healthcare by pursuing an accelerated nursing program.
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The goal of preventative medicine is to prevent or delay the onset of disease and improve the health of those at risk of developing diseases. There are many key aspects of preventative medicine, including:
- Early detection: Early detection of disease is essential to the successful treatment of disease
- Risk factor reduction: This reduces the likelihood of developing the disease
- Health promotion: Health promotion is the process of improving the health of individuals and populations. It includes measures to prevent the development of disease, promote good health, and reduce the impact of the disease
What Does Preventative Medicine Entail?
Disease prevention is the primary aim of preventative medicine. It is the process of protecting against the development of disease. Preventative medicine includes a wide range of activities.
Here are some of the most common components of preventive medicine.
Active lifestyle
Engaging in an active lifestyle through regular exercise is essential for preventing the development of cardiovascular disease. Likewise, exercise can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetes by combating insulin resistance and improving blood sugar control.
Diet
Proper nutrition is a key element of preventative healthcare. Dietary guidelines are aimed at providing healthy dietary choices and avoiding risk factors that lead to chronic diseases. For example, dietary guidelines implore individuals to limit their consumption of trans-fatty acids and saturated fat in order to prevent cardiovascular disease and improve healthy lipids (fats) in the body.,
Regular screenings
Regular screenings for individuals with risk factors can detect diseases in the early stages when treatment is likely to have a positive outcome. This can be done by undergoing routine exams. For example, individuals should undergo periodic screenings for breast cancer, colon cancer and heart disease based on their age and other risk factors.
Vaccinations
Vaccines are effective in helping to protect the body against certain diseases. This is particularly true for childhood diseases such as measles and chickenpox. Adults can benefit from vaccines for some diseases as well. For example, annual flu vaccines are recommended for many adults.
Family history screening
Family history is one of the most important risk factors for developing diseases. For example, a family history of heart disease increases an individual’s risk of developing heart disease. Screening a family’s medical history helps identify those at risk, and preventative measures can be taken to minimize their chances of developing them.
Stress management
Stress management is essential for improving quality of life and preventing illnesses. Individuals who experience chronic stress are more likely to develop psychological disorders. Therefore, mastering stress management can help prevent these diseases from developing.
The effects of stress have been implicated in several diseases. Therefore, stress management is an important part of disease prevention; it encompasses exercise and meditation as well as other techniques that allow individuals to combat stress.
Good hygiene
Maintaining good hygiene is essential for top health. You should make sure that you wash your hands frequently and cover all exposed areas of the body with sunscreen before going outside. In addition, you can use some common home remedies for skin conditions such as acne or eczema to help prevent the development of infection.
Avoiding environmental pollutants
Environmental pollution can have negative effects on the human body and increase the risk of developing certain diseases, such as cancer. Avoiding exposure to environmental pollutants is essential to prevent the development of cancer, and this is particularly true for individuals in high-risk groups such as smokers and those who live near industrial sites. In fact, smoking is linked to numerous health problems, including heart disease, lung cancer and stroke.
Avoiding additives
Some food additives, preservatives, and dyes can have negative effects on the human body. Therefore, it is important to avoid these to improve health and prevent diseases. To protect your health, you should avoid additives such as artificial sweeteners and coloring agents in foods, beverages, drugs and cosmetics.
Specialties in preventative medicine
The role of preventative medicine within the healthcare field is continuously evolving. As new health risks emerge and technology improves, more doctors are becoming involved in the preventative medicine community. Here is a look at a few specialties in medicine that are dedicated to preventative care.
Occupational medicine
This is a specialty of medicine that focuses on the health needs of workers. The doctor is usually employed by a company or organization, and their main goal is to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.
General and public health preventative medicine
This field medicine that focuses on preventative care. The specialty is usually concerned with preventing diseases in populations as opposed to individuals.
Geriatric preventative medicine
This is concerned with the prevention of disease in older patients and disease management during aging. The main goal of this specialty is to help maintain the health of older individuals while they continue to age through preventative care interventions and medications.
Aerospace medicine
The duties of an aerospace medicine doctor are to perform health assessments and attend to the medical needs of astronauts, pilots and other individuals who will be exposed to extreme conditions in space.
The Bottom Line
The role of medicine has changed significantly throughout the course of history. Today, medicine is holistic and focuses on prevention as well as treating patients. Preventative medicine is important because it helps reduce healthcare costs and improves quality of life while minimizing the risk of diseases. Healthcare professionals are making an effort to promote preventative medicine through many different channels by educating the public using advertisements and media coverage.
