One of my biggest fears as a provider is seeing a patient and thinking, “If only this had been caught earlier.” Many health problems become serious not because they are unavoidable, but because they are found and treated too late. As a patient, it can be hard to see the value of preventative care when you feel fine. But being proactive about your health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.
Preventative Care Is Not About Finding Something Wrong
Providers do not wish to go looking for problems when it comes to preventative care. The reason we care so much about preventative care is because it helps us understand your normal and watch for changes over time.
Preventative care allows us to:
- Understand your baseline and track trends as the years go on
- Catch small changes early and step in before they turn into bigger problems
A helpful way to think about this is with routine DEXA scans in older women. These scans measure bone density and can show early bone loss. This matters because falls and fractures can be life-changing. It is estimated that about 30 percent of elderly women who fall and break a hip will pass away within a year.
The good news is that there are medications and lifestyle changes that can help build bone strength and lower the risk of fractures. When providers know a patient’s fracture risk, they can give the right guidance and create a plan to help prevent unnecessary injuries.
This same idea applies to many other routine screenings. Colonoscopies, mammograms, blood pressure checks, and regular blood work all help us spot small changes early. When we catch things sooner, we often have more options and better outcomes.
At the end of the day, preventative care is about protecting your future health. It is about working with you to keep you feeling well for as long as possible, not waiting until something feels wrong.
