Preventive Health Care

Preventive health care is the name for medical screenings and treatments that can help you avoid unnecessary illness and detect a potentially dangerous health condition while it is in its earliest and most treatable stage. A cornerstone of preventive health care is your annual physical exam or “well patient visit,” during which your primary care doctor will take measurements of your height, weight and body mass index; screen you for high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and other chronic conditions; and provide any needed vaccinations to protect you from a range of serious diseases. Preventive health care also extends to advice that your doctor can provide to you regarding healthy lifestyle choices, regular exercise and good nutrition, all of which can help you ward off a future illness.