Believe it or not, prioritizing preventive care is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy for longer and increase longevity. Preventive care is a fundamental element of primary care that involves taking action to prevent the development of preventable diseases and stay healthy.
Here are three tips to prioritize preventive care and improve your overall health and well-being.
Tip #1 Get Regular Health Checkups
Getting routine checkups is one of the best ways to catch any health problems early when they are easier to treat. A primary care doctor can recommend regular health checkups based on an individual’s age, sex, and risk factors. Common components of regular checkups include.
- Physical Examination. This involves checking your height, weight, body mass index, vital signs, and reflexes. It also involves listening to your heart and lungs and examining your skin.
- Screening tests. Screening tests are a useful tool to detect diseases early. Most common screening tests include pelvic exams, pap smears, mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate-specific antigen tests, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screening.
Tip #2 Stay Up to Date with Vaccines
Vaccines are an important component of preventive care, protecting you from various preventable diseases such as hepatitis, pneumonia, influenza, and more.
A primary care doctor can recommend vaccines based on your age, sex, and risk factors. Common vaccines administered as a part of preventive care include the pneumococcal vaccine, human papillomavirus vaccine, meningococcal vaccine, and influenza vaccine, among others.
Tip #3 Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Unhealthy lifestyle choices and habits can negatively impact your short-term well-being and long-term health. They increase your risk of developing chronic health conditions, weaken your immune system, and reduce your longevity.
That is why primary care doctors recommend adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle choices to promote long-term health and longevity. Some key lifestyle choices that you should consider adopting include.
Consuming A Well-Balanced Diet
Include a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats in your diet to get all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that support your overall health and well-being. Consume alcohol and caffeinated products in moderate amounts and limit the intake of sugary snacks, processed foods, and excessive amounts of salts.
Get Regular Exercise
Engage in a physical activity or exercise you enjoy for at least 150 minutes a week to improve your cardiovascular health, boost your mood, and enhance your overall fitness.
Get Adequate Sleep
Aim to get restful sleep for seven to nine hours per night to reduce stress and risk for chronic diseases.
Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
Hydration is the key to good health. Therefore, drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day to ensure your body is properly hydrated. It is commanded to carry a water bottle wherever you go to ensure hydration.
Prioritize Your Mental Health
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Therefore, to live a happier and healthier life, manage your daily stressors and improve your mental health. If needed, seek the expertise of a mental health professional.
Preventive Primary Care in North Texas
Preventive care is not just about preventing health problems from developing in the first place but also reducing the progression of existing health problems.
At Palm Primary Care Texas, we offer the highest quality senior primary care in North Texas. Our board-certified primary care physicians are committed to providing comprehensive, personalized primary care and preventive care to seniors so that they can stay healthy and live a longer life.
To learn more about Palm Primary Care Texas or to schedule a consultation with our board-certified physicians, contact us today at one of our locations near you or fill out our easy-to-use form to become our patient.
