104 Ways to Improve Your Health Now!

PPP--Practice Persistent Prevention

Prevention is still the best medicine.  Here is some advice on ways to prevent illness:

Screening and Early Detection

A crucial way to protect your health is to detect an illness early, while it is still easy to treat. You can do this in two ways: by getting periodic medical exams from health professionals and by becoming a good observer of your own body and health.

Periodic Medical Exams

Many doctors used to recommend a complete physical every year. Now, most doctors recommend specific medical exams based on age, sex, and risk factors. These exams are more effective than the annual physical in detecting treatable illness.

The schedule of medical exams helps you decide which tests are valuable for you and how often you should have them.

The Tests for Early Detection Chart includes specific recommendations for adults age 19 and older. The chart is based on the Report of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Other organizations may make different recommendations. The most appropriate schedule of preventive exams is one you and your doctor agree upon, based on your health conditions, values, and risk factors.

The recommendations apply to people of average risk in each age category. You may be at higher risk for certain diseases. Family history (whether your relatives have or had the disease), other health problems, or behaviors such as smoking all increase your risk. Talk with your doctor about whether you need more frequent exams.

Periodic self-exams are also an important part of staying healthy. See breast self-exam and testicular self-exam.