With the high costs of medical care, you can’t afford to avoid taking preventive measures.
Statistics show that now more than ever, Americans spend more on pills and are more likely to be dependent on medicines to maintain their well-being at a much younger age than previous generations.
However, you don’t have to wait for a disease to creep into your life. There are preventive measures you can take to stay healthy for as long as possible.
So what do these preventive measures look like? We asked Dr. Gail Zimmerman all about preventive medicine. Read on to find out how you can benefit from a preventive medicine appointment.
Preventive medicine: what it includes
You may be wondering what preventive physical health involves, and what diseases Dr. Zimmerman screens for.
Depending on your family and medical history, our specialist looks at any of the following:
- Cholesterol levels
- Blood sugar levels
- Heart rate
- Weight/BMI assessment
- Vitals
Common conditions Dr. Zimmerman screens include the following: certain cancers, mental health disorders, osteoporosis, diabetes, hearing loss, and vision loss.
The consult also covers a comprehensive physical exam, an examination of your fitness level, and immunizations.
Who benefits the most from a preventive medicine appointment
Children, adults, and the elderly all benefit from preventive medicine, regardless of their health status.
Many diseases are silent killers and don’t present any symptoms early on. For example, you can unknowingly live with a chronic condition like type 2 diabetes for years while it causes irreparable damage to your body.
Children are now more likely to develop fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes as well. So finding out whether your child is healthy or not can prompt dietary changes that can save your child’s life.
Prevention saves lives and it could save yours as well
According to Harvard Health, half of heart disease deaths could’ve been prevented with lifestyle interventions.
However, these findings don’t just apply to heart disease. When found early, prediabetes is treatable and reversible, allowing sufferers to halt the progression to type 2 diabetes, which is incurable.
Cost-wise, prevention also makes sense. The cost of medications, hospitalizations, and other medical expenses far outweigh the cost of a few preventive medicine appointments per year.
If you’re interested in receiving expert advice regarding your health, contact us to schedule an appointment. We can give you a bird’s-eye view of your overall health status and help keep you disease-free for longer.