Better Safe Than Sorry | Preventive Medicine as an Everyday Cure

Today, thanks to new and advanced medicinal technologies the diagnostical service and better treatments of various diseases, people can live better, longer and healthier. But a person must be aware of prevention.

From ancient times, until now doctors have been busy curing the conditions of their patients. Since then medicine has come a long way and for conditions which were once thought of as fatal are now considered to be a common flue. This is all thanks to the diagnostic and treatment methods, perfected in recent times and to the fantastic technological progress.

However, this is not a guarantee that nothing can happen to us. And that once we catch (God forbid) some kind of disease it will possible to avoid the consequences. That is why experienced Dental Suite doctors always advise their patients that above all other things – prevention is the key to a healthy life and smile.

In the past few decades, various medical practices have been combined, which helps to anticipate the development of some kind of a disease.

Through prevention, it is possible to reduce the mortality rate. And Preventive Medicine Services have been formally organized to get even closer to the true meaning of the word health as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being with no illness.

Before the Cure

The goal of this branch of medical practice is primary prevention, that is, preventing diseases from sneaking up on you. This was achieved primarily with vaccination campaigns. A large number of infections are prevented through routine immunizations that involve children, adolescents, youth, and adults.

We have a broad spectrum of safe and effective vaccines against numerous infectious diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox, influenza, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, pneumonia, and even virus infections such as HPV, which can cause cancer and genital warts in people of both sexes.

Another crucial role trough prevention is accomplished by the promotion of the change of habits and social behaviors that generate diseases. This can come in many forms but an excellent example is how effective thumb spica splint has proven to be for all the office workers and sport practitioners in the prevention of carpal tunnel disease.

There is clear evidence that relates to tobacco consumption with a series of tumors and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. And, also, during pregnancy, the number of premature births, abortions, and fetal death rates.

Because of the serious health consequences, there are special programs that help smokers get rid of their addiction. In addition to smoking, alcoholism, road injuries, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, high-risk sexual practices, and drug addiction all present complex challenges for primary prevention.

Early Detection

When some kind of disease has already occurred, the role of secondary prevention is to identify people who are going through the early stages of a disease without manifesting symptoms. This can help us avoid future complications. Campaigns against high cholesterol, high blood pressure, breast cancer, and AIDS virus infection are just some of the examples of secondary prevention.

Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are risk factors that act together by damaging the arteries and can promote myocardial infarction or cerebral thrombosis. They also increase the number of heart failure and cerebral hemorrhage.

It has been shown that adequate control of cardiovascular risk factors significantly decreases these complications, so it is imperative to detect them early, so your doctor can establish an effective therapeutic program that can “fix” the problem.

Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and stress also contribute to the development of cardiovascular disorders and should be taken into account in the general evaluation and prevention.

Most cancers can be treated successfully if they are detected in the early stages of their evolution. That is why periodic check-ups are essential so that a specialized professional can interpret signs and symptoms, and make the correct diagnosis.

Prevent Progress or Reduce Deterioration

When diseases have already been detected, tertiary prevention seeks to avoid further deterioration of the person.

For example, the prevention of visual complications and gangrene of the foot in diabetics, the treatment of hypertension after cerebral hemorrhage, or the control of cholesterol levels after myocardial infarction.

For preventive medicine to be applied and successful, both the doctor and the patient must be convinced that prevention is better than cure.

To achieve this, it is crucial:

• That we take care of our health, not only when facing the flu, but through everyday lifestyle choices.
• Let doctors recognize that the practice of prevention is the noblest of medical activities, as the great masters of Greek medicine already established.
• That institution and media should teach us that spending money on prevention means the reduction of health costs.
• That the internalized belief in the community of “not going to happen to me” be eradicated and, instead, take an attitude of commitment and greater sensitivity towards prevention.

In Conclusion

Finally, it is necessary to point out that prevention is applied throughout our whole life with our lifestyle choices and the willingness to look out for ourselves. The purpose of prevention is not only to prevent a certain disease but also to prevent possible complications if faced with one.

The health system, healthy habits, the environment, and genetics are the four factors that influence our health directly. Some we have control of, others not. So be wise when it comes to making good lifestyle choices.

Preventive medicine cares about the population, from the youngest to the eldest, and they recommend regular visits to health professionals because everyone who does has an overall healthier and have a better quality of life.

And as the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure,” so it is advisable to pay a visit to your local doctor regularly.