Some common ways of preventing illnesses may involve eating healthily, maintaining regular physical activity, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, getting adequate sleep, and understanding family health history. Also, you should annually visit your doctor to get screened. The preventive care offered by Castle Hills Family Practice can help you avoid dealing with severe or chronic diseases, which may be impossible or more expensive to treat. Preventive services can also minimize your risk of health issues and thus help you live longer and healthier.
Consequently, below are the preventive services you can get from your health provider’s office, depending on your age and health history.
1. Blood pressure testing
The CDC estimates that nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
High blood pressure usually develops gradually. The health condition may result from various poor lifestyle choices such as being overweight, sleep deprivation, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive salt intake.
Experts recommend you go for the screening of your blood pressure after every few years if you are a young adult. But, if you are over 40, go for blood pressure testing annually.
Your doctor will provide tips to help you avoid high blood pressure and the health conditions it may cause you.
2. Diabetes tests
According to the CDC, more than 95 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels than usual, yet not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.
High blood glucose puts you at risk of various complications, including nerve damage, kidney damage, hearing loss, narrowing of arteries, eye damage, and skin and mouth problems.
Almost 25% of people with diabetes do not even know they have the condition. Early diagnosis of prediabetes ensures you can benefit from conservative treatments involving healthy eating, frequent exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and minimizing or eliminating the intake of sugar and sugary drinks and foods.
3. A lipid panel
A lipid panel or lipid profile is a test that measures the amount of cholesterol and other types of fats in your blood. Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance available in your blood and cells.
Your body requires healthy cholesterol levels to build the cell membrane structure, manufacture hormones, and boost metabolism. Your liver creates sufficient amounts of cholesterol for your body’s use. But you can also get cholesterol from foods like meat and eggs.
Too much bad cholesterol in your body can cause plaque formation in the walls of your arteries. As a result, arteries become narrow or blocked, which affects the distribution of oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
Risk factors of high cholesterol are high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and smoking.
4. Vaccinations
When you were a baby, it was the job of your parents or guardians to ensure you were vaccinated to improve the body’s natural immune system. Thus, your body may have immunity against polio, tetanus, chickenpox, and measles.
As an adult, you have to make sure you are vaccinated. You are never too old to get vaccinated. For instance, you may need vaccination for COVID-19, flu, and shingles.
