An Ounce of Prevention

Since President Obama's inauguration, he has frequently reminded us that preventive medicine should be a main goal of our health care system. Although billions of dollars are being spent to find cures for chronic diseases like diabetes, we must always remember that the prevention of disease is a very important aspect of medical practice and personal health. While genetics, environment and socioeconomics play a large role in determing our health, there are basic things we can all do when it comes to our own health and the prevention of chronic illness. And for those of us lucky enough to have health insurance, keeping up to date on such health practices is relatively easy, although not always convenient.

When it comes to preventing disease, the adage of eating right, exercising, sleeping enough and hydrating ourselves come to mind. We also have to make sure that we see our medical provider regularly, visit the dental hygienist every six months, and undergo the health maintenance examinations that are part and parcel of preventive health. For men, prostate exams, testicular exams and routine blood tests should be a matter of course. For women, PAP smears, mammograms, essential blood tests and breast exams should never be missed or postponed. And for either gender, a baseline colonoscopy is also strongly urged after the age of 50, and then as recommended by your medical provider.

Chronic preventable diseases like diabetes and hypertension comprise approximately 75% of the nation's economic health care burden. According to the CDC, chronic disease also contributes greatly to mortality statistics, accounting for "one-third of the years of potential life lost before age 65." Practicing prevention is key to lowering health care costs and living longer, healthier lives.

When considering your own health, think about how you have contributed to the prevention of chronic disease in your own life. If there are health maintenance appointments that you've postponed (like perhaps that pesky mammogram or colonoscopy that your doctor recommended), perhaps now is the time to reconsider and schedule that appointment, no matter the inconvenience.

An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure, and if you have health insurance that covers most recommended health maintenance measures, think about taking full advantage and following through with those recommendations. Preventing disease is much easier than curing disease once it's happened, so think about what you can do to assure your own continued health for decades to come.