Preventative Screenings Can Save Your Life

If there was a simple, affordable, painless way to save your life or the life of someone you love, would you do it? The answer to that question is a resounding “yes!”, but many people don’t realize that a simple and affordable lifesaving measure already exists in the form of preventative health screenings. Believe it or not, if every adult in the United States received the recommended preventative screenings for their age, more than 100,000 lives could be saved each year. That’s a stunning statistic that should encourage you to begin your own preventative screenings.

A Bit About Preventative Screenings

A preventative health screening is a preventative health service that assesses your health in a specific way to determine whether or not you are at risk of a certain disease or condition. Under the Affordable Care Act, most preventative screenings must be provided for free, even if you haven’t met your yearly deductible. They can cover everything from bone and breast health to colorectal and reproductive health. Certain screenings are just for men or women, and many should be given to all adults. If the preventative screening detects a problem, it gives you the opportunity to make lifestyle changes, take medications, and/or begin treatment in order to prevent a serious illness from harming your health.

Under or Over the Age of 65

Until the age of retirement, men and women are encouraged to receive specific preventative health screenings based upon the most common diseases and conditions for their age group. For men, these include blood pressure, cholesterol, colorectal cancer, and prostate screenings. The list is slightly different for women, with the mammogram and pap smear replacing the prostate exam. Once adults hit age 65, their bodies are at risk of other problems like osteoporosis, pneumonia, and glaucoma.  Of course, at any age there are other preventative screenings available to address just about any health concern.

It is best to receive your preventative screening and health care from an internist who can use your results to provide you with compassionate care and, if needed, a full-spectrum disease management plan. Dr. Kavita Rao, M.D. in St. Petersburg, Florida offers this type of customized care along with all of the preventative screenings that you need. Call her for an appointment today at (727) 525-0900 to take control of your health.