萝莉社

Often, we find ourselves waiting until something is wrong to visit a doctor. However, preventive care is just as important to our overall health and helps to produce better long-term health outcomes. Even though we may think we鈥檙e healthy, there are things that can go undetected when we miss a screening or regular checkup. Preventive care allows us to potentially catch health issues before they become worse. Understanding the impact of preventive care allows you to have more control over the future of your health.

Dr. Stefany Paredes, medical director at 萝莉社 Family Medicine 鈥� Augustine Oaks, explains why preventive care should be more of a priority and the importance of being proactive when it comes to your health.

Why is preventive care so important, even for people who feel healthy and have no symptoms?

Preventive care is the definition of finding risk factors and early disease in those without symptoms. We may think we鈥檙e healthy because we aren鈥檛 showing certain symptoms. But screenings help detect a lot of the things we can鈥檛 always see or notice right away. For example, screening for things such as higher-than-normal blood pressure. This can help prevent heart disease, such as heart failure, in the future. Detecting the risk factors early can prevent the sickness from getting worse. Preventive care helps to reduce sickness and death.

What key screenings should adults prioritize at different stages of life:

Adults in their 20s-30s should focus on being screened for cervical cancer (women starting at age 21), high blood pressure, STD鈥檚 and depression.

Adults in their 40s-50s should be screened for colon cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes and breast cancer for women starting at age 40.

Adults 55-80 years who have a history of smoking should be screened for lung cancer.

Adult women 65 years and older should be screened for osteoporosis to help prevent broken hips from unexpected falls. Also, men 55 years and older should do a screening for prostate cancer.

Also don鈥檛 forget at all ages to have regular dental and vision checkups.

Are there common screenings people tend to delay or avoid 鈥� and what risks come with waiting too long?

Breast, cervical, colon cancer and lung cancer are the commonly missed screenings. We often don鈥檛 look at screenings as something urgent. Some people may think because of their age and not showing symptoms that they鈥檙e OK, when a closer look might reveal that they aren鈥檛. Putting these screenings off could put you at high risk in the future. It could lead to a missed tiny tumor growth, which later is found to have spread and then is more difficult to treat.

How do factors like family history, lifestyle, and race or ethnicity affect recommended screening schedules?

Based on family history and race or ethnicity, some people might have higher rates of certain cancers or diseases. For example, colon cancer has higher rates in the African-American community. People with family history of a disease should screen 10 years before the earliest known family diagnosis. It鈥檚 important to be aware of your family鈥檚 health history when possible.

What鈥檚 your advice for patients who feel overwhelmed by medical guidelines or unsure where to start with preventive care?

I recommend finding a primary care doctor and discuss your health and your family鈥檚 history with the physician, so together you can create a health and lifestyle plan that works for you. I like to tell my patients, 鈥淭his is your health, your body. I am here to support you and make recommendations. Whatever decisions are made need to work for your health priorities.鈥� Take some time to sit down and discuss a screening schedule that fits your health goals.

It鈥檚 important 鈥� when possible 鈥� that we act before symptoms begin. Start by scheduling a doctor鈥檚 visit for an annual checkup to make sure you鈥檙e as healthy as you think you are. You don鈥檛 know what you can鈥檛 see or detect, and that鈥檚 why doctors are here to help and provide the guidance needed.

If you鈥檙e interested in finding a 萝莉社 primary care doctor to schedule your screenings, please visit /specialties/family-medicine to schedule with a physician or provider near you.