The Importance of Preventive Care

Preventing diseases and detecting diseases early, if they occur, are important to living a healthy life. The long term goal of preventative care is to prevent diseases and/or identify and treat them early to reduce ill health effects. Led by Dr. Tomas Rios and Dr. Nicolin Neal, Rios Healthcare Associates (located in Houston, TX). They provide a full range of internal medicine and geriatric services to the patients they serve. Here are five reasons why preventive care is so important.

1. Screen for Diseases

Living with a condition such as heart disease or diabetes can be very difficult. But there’s an easy way to chart a course for better health and possibly avoid such illnesses: preventive health screenings. Screening tests are an important part of annual checkups. Even before risks are identified and symptoms are recognized, screening tests help to detect illnesses in their early stages. Many diseases are highly treatable when detected early.

2. Prevent Health Problems

Annual checkups allow your healthcare provider to review any changes that have occurred over the last year and encourage healthy choices. Your doctor can help you identify risk factors that increase your risk of diseases and offer advice on how to manage them. Your doctor is a valuable asset in your goal of remaining as healthy as you can be.

3. Update Vaccinations

Vaccinations are not just for children. It's also important for adults to receive recommended immunizations to protect against serious, preventable diseases. All adults need to be immunized against tetanus and diphtheria. Depending on age and health, some people may also need protection against hepatitis, influenza, measles, rubella, chickenpox, and streptococcal pneumonia.

4. Advice & Guidance

Annual checkups gives your doctor the opportunity to discuss and counsel you on aspects of your lifestyle that are affecting your health. Topics that may be covered include injury prevention, nutrition, exercise, substance abuse, and safe sex practices. This counseling is an important part of the exam and it's vital that you listen to your doctor and discuss the obstacles and changes that you face.

5. Save Money on Healthcare

Preventive care doesn't just save lives- it also saves money. Health care is very expensive. A disease can take a financial toll on your family because of medical bills and long-term disability. When preventive health care services are combined with a lifestyle that is focused on wellness, significant savings can be realized.

It’s time to take charge of your health! Call Rios Healthcare Associates at (832) 323-9230 today to schedule an appointment for your annual checkup in Houston, TX. It's no secret that healthy living and preventive care not only adds years to your life, but also improve the quality of your life. We want you to live an extraordinary life!