The Importance of Preventive Care

Hello! This blog post will cover the details about preventive care and how it can contribute to population health!

Preventive healthcare helps individuals avoid serious illnesses through regular screenings, vaccinations, and healthy lifestyle choices. However, when people neglect preventive care, we often see spikes in preventable diseases. For example, the U.S. has experienced a resurgence of measles due to declining vaccination rates. In 2019, there were over 1,200 measles cases, largely due to vaccine misinformation and hesitancy.

What Happens When Preventive Care Is Ignored?

• Measles Outbreaks – The measles vaccine (MMR) is 97% effective, yet lower vaccination rates have led to outbreaks, especially in communities with vaccine hesitancy.

• Increased Flu Hospitalizations – The flu vaccine significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, but in the 2022-2023 flu season, the U.S. saw over 650,000 hospitalizations due to influenza.

• Rise in Cervical Cancer Cases – The HPV vaccine prevents over 90% of HPV-related cancers, yet many adolescents miss this crucial immunization, leading to preventable cases of cervical cancer.

Essential Vaccines for Disease Prevention

1. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): Prevents highly contagious diseases that can cause serious complications.

2. Influenza: Recommended annually to reduce the risk of severe flu-related illness.

3. Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis): Protects against whooping cough, which can be deadly for infants.

4. HPV (Human Papillomavirus): Prevents cervical and other HPV-related cancers.

5. COVID-19 Vaccine: Reduces the risk of severe illness and complications from COVID-19.

6. Hepatitis B: Protects against a virus that can cause liver disease and cancer.

Why Preventive Care Matters

1. It helps save lives: Vaccinations and screenings prevent life-threatening diseases before they develop.

2. It reduces Healthcare Costs: Prevention is cheaper than treatment. A hospital stay for severe flu complications can cost thousands of dollars, while a flu shot is often free or low-cost.

3. It Protects Communities: High vaccination rates create herd immunity, protecting those who cannot get vaccinated due to medical conditions.

How to Prioritize Preventive Care

1. Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations: Check with your doctor about recommended vaccines.

2. Schedule Regular Check-ups: Screenings for conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer can save lives.

Preventive care is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy. By getting vaccinated and attending routine check-ups, you can protect yourself and those around you from serious diseases. Take the details from this blog into consideration when debating on getting a vaccination for a specific condition.

I hope that this blog provided useful information and helped improve your understanding of the importance of preventive care. Thank you so much for viewing this post and following along with my blogging journey! Please follow improvedcare_ on Instagram!

Resources:

Assessing the Advantages of Preventive Care. (2023, November 20). Hcp.hms.harvard.edu. https://hcp.hms.harvard.edu/news/assessing-advantages-preventive-care

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA). (2022, March 17). Preventive Care. HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/preventive-care/index.html

CDC. (2024, May 13). Measles Cases and Outbreaks. Measles (Rubeola). https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

Healthy People 2030. (2020). Preventive Care - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov. Health.gov. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/preventive-care

Marcotte, L. M., & Dugdale, D. C. (2019). Prevention as a Population Health Strategy. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, 46(4), 493–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2019.07.004