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Preventive healthcare or preventive medicine consists of measures taken that focus on disease prevention, as opposed to disease treatment [1] and is defined by Hugh R. Leavell and E. Gurney Clark as "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental health and efficiency" [2] While the term "health" takes on many definitions, it is defined in the Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."[3] Just as health occupies a broad spectrum and encompasses a variety of physical and mental states, so do disease and disability, which are affected by environmental factors, genetic predisposition, disease agents, and lifestyle choices.[2] Health, disease, and disability are not static states of being but rather dynamic processes which begin before the individual realizes he or she is affected. Therefore, disease prevention relies on anticipatory actions that can be categorized as primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.[2]
Each year, millions of people die preventable deaths. A 2004 study showed that about half of all deaths in the United States in 2000 were due to preventable behaviors and exposures.[4] Leading causes included cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, unintentional injuries, diabetes, and certain infectious diseases.[4] This same study estimates that 400,000 people die each year in the United States due to poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.[4] According to estimates made by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 55 million people died worldwide in 2011, two thirds of this group from non-communicable diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and chronic cardiovascular and lung diseases.[5] This is an increase from the year 2000, during which 60% of deaths were attributed to these diseases.[5] Preventive healthcare is especially important given the worldwide rise in prevalence of chronic diseases and deaths from these diseases. There are many methods to prevention of disease. It is recommended that adults and children aim to visit their doctor for regular check-ups, even if they feel healthy, to perform disease screening, identify risk factors for disease, discuss tips for a healthy and balanced lifestyle, stay up to date with immunizations and boosters, and maintain a good relationship with a healthcare provider.[6] Some common disease screenings include checking for hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar, a risk factor for diabetes mellitus), hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol), screening for colon cancer, depression, HIV and other common types of sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, mammography (to screen for breast cancer), colorectal cancer screening, a pap test (to check for cervical cancer), and screening for osteoporosis. Genetic testing can also be performed to screen for mutations that cause inherited diseases or predisposition to certain diseases such as breast or ovarian cancer.[6] However, these measures are not affordable for every individual and the cost effectiveness of preventive healthcare is still a topic of debate.[7][8] |
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