Preventive health care

Information

The most important part of preventive health care is maintaining good health habits. This includes:

• Daily exercise
• Weight control
• Proper nutrition
• Avoidance of Smoking and drug abuse
• Abstinence from or moderation of alcohol use
• Proper control of any diseases or disorders (such as High blood pressure, Diabetes, or elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood)

In addition to these habits, there are some other professional services that may prove worthwhile in either preventing or at least minimizing disease.

1. Periodic screening of adults for specific problems is important and recommended as follows:

• Pap smear - Cervical cancer screening
  o Sexually active female adolescents and women over age 20 (regardless of sexual activity) should have an annual pap smear. After 3 negative, consecutive, annual Pap smear tests, women who are celibate (not sexually active) or monogamous (have only one partner) and younger than 35 to 40 years of age may decrease Pap smear testing to every 2 to 3 years.
  o Women over the age of 40, women with multiple sexual partners, and women who take oral contraceptives should have an annual pap smear.
  o Women with a medical history of Human papilloma virus (HPV) (Genital Warts) should have a Pap smear every 6 months.
  
• Breast self examination (BSE) should be taught during adolescence and continued on a monthly basis throughout a woman's life.
  
• mammography - radiologic (X-ray) evaluation of the breast tissue
  o A baseline mammogram is recommended for women at age 40.
  o Repeat mammograms every 2 years for women between 40 and 50 years old.
  o An annual mammogram is recommended for women over 50.
  o The mammogram may be done at earlier age or at more frequent intervals, at any age, if problems are suspected or the woman is at increased risk (such as a first-degree relative with Breast cancer).
  
• Testicular self examination (TSE) should be taught during adolescence and continued on a monthly basis throughout a man's life.
  
• Prostate cancer screening
  o Should be evaluated by annual digital rectal examination for men over 40.
  o PSA (prostate specific antigen) may also be used as a test to screen for Prostate cancer, but it is not specific and may indicate benign growth of the prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy) as a man gets older. Screening may begin earlier if there is a strong family history.