Improving our health is a priority for many of us as we begin a new year. One of the best things we can do when planning for a healthy future is to determine what our health needs are. Adopting healthy behaviors is part of the picture. The other piece comes with seeking preventative care.
Life is busy — and for many of us, seeking medical care is something we do only when we are ill or injured. Have you thought about the last time you had a medical check-up, a vision or dental screening, or a health screening? This is preventative health care. It is the routine care we seek to maintain our health.
Preventative health care can help us live longer, healthier lives by catching health issues early when they are easier to treat. It helps us stay well throughout the course of our lives. Screenings begin at birth when we are weighed and measured. Children receive frequent well-child visits through infancy and then annually during childhood. Preventative care for children promotes health by monitoring growth and developmental milestones. It protects their health by providing routine vaccinations to prevent serious illness and disease. This routine care helps children stay healthy as their young bodies grow and develop.
