As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure and is still the best medicine available. Clinical preventative services play an integral role in protecting, promoting as well as advocating for individual health and the health of communities. Preventative services help people and communities recognize health problems early, implementing daily habits and actions can profoundly impact and affect both short-term and long-term health and quality of life, and this has been supported by thousands of research articles and incorporated in multiple evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and/ or treatment of chronic metabolic diseases. It is therefore imperative to learn about it and know how you can prevent any serious diseases before they impact your daily life.
Daily habits:
An overwhelming amount of research and medical literature has been done which showcases and supports the idea that daily habits and actions have a big impact on short-term and long-term health and quality of life. This influence by search can be both positive and negative. Studies show that regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, not smoking cigarettes, and following sound nutritional and other health-promoting practices all impact and influence overall health.
The risk factors for chronic diseases, such as poor diet, obesity, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, are influenced by environments that do not support healthy behaviors. Environments can also be designed to support healthier choices, such as providing access to nutritious food or promoting the availability of health-related products on Amazon.com, or by building pavements and cycleways.
In order to effectively address the underlying causes of chronic diseases, we need a systems approach that supports us to create conditions that influence better health, especially for people who live in environments that contribute to poorer health outcomes.
Evidence supporting optimal health:
There is strong evidence that the greatest health benefits are achieved by combining various strategies and approaches to target multiple risk factors. This reflects the complexity of chronic disease and demonstrates that successful preventative action is needed across multiple levels and sectors of the system.
These strategies can lead to a better quality of life as well as less chance of:
- Dying young
- Developing a chronic disease
- Suffering complications of disease
- Suffering infectious diseases such as COVID-19
- Experiencing pain
- Going to the hospital or taking regular medications
- Becoming overweight or obese
- Developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes
- Being injured.
Examples of physical health benefits for prevention:
Children:
Prevention strategies in children can start in schools in order to reduce sedentary behaviors which include screen time, increase physical activity, improve dietary outcomes and have significant health and social benefits.
Health benefits for children are more likely to occur when strategies are implemented in the community, as well as in families or households. Community and school-based prevention can also reduce smoking rates in adolescents, bullying, and mental health conditions.
Older adults:
There are physical health and mental health benefits for older adults from engaging in community-based physical activity, such as walking.
Benefits of prevention for mental wellbeing:
Prevention can produce mental well-being benefits. Evidence shows that supporting people do more physical activity significantly reduces the risk of depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and psychosis.
Encouraging healthier diets would lower the number of people at risk of depression.
There is also evidence that providing access to more open fields and greener spaces, that have more natural fauna and flora improves psychological distress and related mental health issues which helps prevent the risk of psychological distress in people aged over 45 years.
Potential mental wellbeing benefits of prevention:
- Improved mental or psychological well-being
- Higher quality of life scores
- Reduction in levels of depression or anxiety
- Reduction in stress levels
- Reduction in substance misuse
- Improvements in cognitive function
To achieve optimal health with the use of more preventative measures, we really need to be committed to both developing and improving the health and well-being of people of all different ages and issues. Preventive medicine is not merely a healthcare strategy, it is a transformative approach that redefines how we can perceive and manage health. By being able to shift to focus from treating illness to preventing it, we pave the way for a healthier, more resilient population. Optimal health is achievable through preventive measures and encompasses not only physical and social well-being but also includes mental health.