01 Preparing for Care • 5 Min Read
Preventive healthcare means taking steps to protect your health and find possible problems early.
Learn how routine check-ups, screenings, vaccinations, and everyday habits support your health—and what to ask your healthcare provider about your personal prevention plan.
Preventive care includes healthcare services and everyday habits that help protect your health, look for certain health problems early, and reduce complications from existing conditions.
Not everyone needs the same preventive care. Ask your healthcare provider which recommendations apply to your age, medical and family history, medications, lifestyle, and personal risk factors.
Some health conditions can begin without causing noticeable symptoms. Finding certain conditions early may allow treatment to begin sooner and may help prevent complications. Screening cannot prevent every condition, but early detection may help.
A screening test looks for signs of a health problem before you have symptoms.
A screening result may lead to follow-up testing and does not always confirm a diagnosis.
Screening looks for certain health problems before symptoms appear. If you develop new or concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare professional rather than waiting for a routine screening appointment.
Screening recommendations vary according to age, personal and family history, and individual risk. Not everyone needs every screening, and no single schedule is right for everyone.
The topics below explain common screenings and health exams. Your healthcare provider can help you understand which ones you need.
A diabetes screening may use a blood test to look for signs of prediabetes or diabetes, sometimes before symptoms appear. Whether and when screening is recommended depends on your health and risk factors.
Ask your healthcare provider whether diabetes screening is right for you and what your result means.
Preventive visits give you and your healthcare provider a chance to review your health, discuss concerns, and decide whether any screenings or follow-up are appropriate. The visit may include a physical examination, but the parts of the visit can vary. Not everyone needs the same tests or exam at every visit.
Vital signs are measurements that can include blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, and oxygen level. Your provider may check some or all of these, depending on your visit and health needs.
Your healthcare professional determines which services, tests, and measurements are appropriate based on your individual needs.
A cholesterol test, sometimes called a lipid panel, measures fats in your blood. It may include LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Your healthcare provider considers the results along with other health information to understand your overall risk. Ask what your results mean for you and whether any follow-up is recommended.
Cancer screening looks for certain cancers or early changes before symptoms appear. Screening recommendations depend on factors such as age, personal and family history, and other risks.
Screening may be available for some cancers, including breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer for certain people. There is not a routine screening test for every type of cancer. Ask your healthcare provider which screenings are appropriate for you and what their benefits and possible downsides are.
A screening result may need additional testing. A screening test by itself does not always diagnose cancer.
Screening tests have benefits and limitations. Some results may require additional testing, and not every screening test is recommended for every person.
Vision screening checks how well you see. A comprehensive eye exam can also check the health of your eyes.
How often you need an eye exam depends on your vision, health, and risk factors. Conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure may affect your eye health. Ask an eye-care professional how often you should be examined.
A medication review is a chance to go over the medicines you take and make sure your care team has an up-to-date list. Include prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
Ask whether your medicines are still appropriate, whether any may interact, and what side effects to watch for. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own; ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have a concern.
What it is: Vaccines train your immune system to recognize and fight certain infections. They can help protect you from serious illness.
What to expect:
Ask your provider: "Am I up to date on the vaccinations recommended for me?"
What it is: Everyday habits can support your long-term health alongside recommended medical care.
What to expect:
Healthy habits support your health alongside screenings, vaccinations, and regular checkups. They do not replace recommended care or advice from your healthcare professional.
Preventive care has three levels. Each helps protect your health at a different stage.
Primary Prevention
Taking steps to reduce the chance of health problems before they begin.
Examples:
Simply Explained Message: Prevent it.
This level focuses on protecting your health while you are well, before a problem starts.
Secondary Prevention
Using appropriate screenings and health checks to look for certain problems before symptoms appear.
Examples:
Simply Explained Message: Find it early.
Finding certain problems early may allow care to begin sooner. Your provider helps decide which checks fit you.
Tertiary Prevention
Helping people with established health conditions reduce complications, maintain function, and improve quality of life.
Examples:
Simply Explained Message: Manage it well.
This level supports people living with a condition so they can stay as healthy and active as possible.
Follow Grace as she works with her healthcare provider to plan preventive care that fits her needs.
Step 1
Grace schedules a preventive care appointment.
Before her visit, she reviews her medications, vaccination history, family health history, and questions.
She thinks about any changes in her health and daily habits.
At his preventive care visit, Robert brings all of his pill bottles, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. As his provider reviews the list, they notice that one of his supplements may interact with a prescription medicine he takes. Robert's provider explains the concern, updates his medication list, and tells him which product to stop and what to watch for. Robert asks for a printed copy of his updated list to keep at home.
Let's see what you've learned!
Great job! Understanding preventive care helps you take an active role in protecting your health.