Simple Preventive Care To Safeguard Your Health
Most of us only think about our physical well-being when there seems to be something wrong. This means that there needs to be a short timeline for treatment which is challenging for the overburdened National Health Service where waiting lists for appointments can be months long.
In response to this, five years ago the government launched a long-term plan focused on prevention to identify issues as early as possible to save an estimated 500,000 lives. As the slogan states: ‘prevention is better than a cure’. Explore the simple preventive care measures the NHS recommends to safeguard your health and improve your long-term physical and mental wellness.
Weight management
Being overweight can have several serious consequences such as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease like heart problems and strokes, the potential for type 2 diabetes and musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis. Weight management is therefore a core focus of preventive care for all age groups.
Nutrition has the most impact on our fat levels. Having a balanced diet rich in nutrients and low in ultra-processed foods is key to staying at a healthy size. There’s lots of free advice available online or you can work with a nutritionist to develop a personalised plan that works for your lifestyle.
Physical activity is less impactful but equally important in weight management. Building muscle and increasing your calorie deficit can help you burn fat quicker, and improving your cardiovascular fitness helps combat the risk of heart issues. Your doctor can put together a simple workout plan tailored to your lifestyle.
Medical screenings
Staying up to date with your recommended medical screenings is essential to prevention. Dangerous diseases such as cancer can be hard to identify as symptoms are so wide-ranging, or sometimes not present at all.
Regular screening will help ensure early diagnosis and treatment, hopefully lowering the number of people making official cancer misdiagnosis claims against the NHS. Key cancer checks include cervical screening, mammograms and faecal immunochemical testing (FIT).
Other medical screenings that should not be overlooked include regular blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol checks – especially for over 55s – and tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) which is most significant for teens and those in their 20s.
Dependency programmes
Dependency on harmful substances such as alcohol and cigarettes seriously impacts our health, and sometimes the health of those around us. As an example, almost 65,000 people in England die from smoking-related illnesses annually, with two out of three smokers dying as a direct result of smoking.
Sometimes it can be hard to recognise dependency problems, so the NHS uses surveys to track behaviours and flag concerns. Expert advice including first-hand accounts is available for addicts, and prevention programmes provide support for those who are keen to change but unsure where to start. Identifying and removing dependencies early helps people kick bad habits before they become too ingrained.
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