Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care Internal and Family Medicine North Macon

Adult Preventative Care

How to Initiate a Regular Adult Preventive Care Program?

Proper treatment for the current infection and good preventive care to lower chances of future health decline are two core elements of quality healthcare for adults. Adhering to the preventive health advice provided by a medical practitioner is a first step towards living a healthy life. The plain truth is that avoiding an infection is much simpler and less expensive than curing or managing one once it has started. Eating healthy, embracing a proper lifestyle and regular checkups are tactics that adults can use to avoid illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

Strategies For Initiating A Routine Of Preventive Care

There is enough evidence to substantiate those adults who embrace an effective program of preventive health care are healthy. Numerous studies have confirmed that adult preventive care assists people to not only live longer but also to live happier.

Making An Appointment With A Primary Care Physician

Booking an appointment with a physician creates an opportunity for adults to meet with their doctors at their free time. This allows the doctors time to conduct a thorough physical examination and study their medical history. Through the regular checkups, the medical practitioners can diagnose infections at their initial stages and treat them. Nowadays, physicians allow clients to visit for check in the evening hours as well as during the weekends. That way, the appointment does not interfere with the program of the clients especially those employed or running successful businesses.

Screening For Cancer And Non-Communicable Diseases

The most popular type of cancers includes the cancer of the breast, prostate, cervix, colon, and prostate. Adults aged between 40 and 50 years should screen for colon cancer at least twice a year in case there is a history of the complication occurring in the family. There are hosts of diagnostic techniques that can be used to diagnose colon cancer ranging from noninvasive technique (a simple tool test is used to carry out the test, and a laboratory expert makes the interpretation) to the invasive colonoscopy.

Cervical Cancer and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Screenings

It is advisable for sexually active women to visit a physician for cervical cancer examination. However, chances of contracting cervical cancer are higher for women have a history of the disease in their family. The most common screening technique is the pap smears that are taken in the course of the vaginal exam. Medical practitioners advise women to have pap smears at least twice every three years. HPV is an emerging issue today not only in the teen population but also in the adult population, when one is newly active with a new sexual partner. Blood tests can be performed to screen for this virus. A vaccination can be given to help with the prevention of contracting this virus. If left untreated it can cause genital warts, lead to cancer, and possibly death.

Skin Cancer Examination

Skin cancer has become common over the last few years. It can be detected through a full physical screening carried out at least once a year. This screening can be conducted as a part of a repetitive physical examination.

Breast Cancer Screening

Women at the age of 40 and above have higher risks of developing breast cancer. Therefore, they should begin a breast cancer diagnosis at the age 40 especially if there is a history of the complication in their family. At age 50, the women should visit a medical practitioner for both mammograms test and physical examination on an annual basis. The integration of mammograms and physical examination is vital since mammograms do not have 100 percent ability to detect breast cancer.

Prostate Cancer Screening

There are a lot of debates and opinions surrounding the screening of prostate cancer. Most adults do not know what the test entails and at what age, they should begin it. Most physicians who offer adult preventive care services can provide insights and intelligence on a particular time that the clients should start their prostate cancer test. The recommendations include annual rectal testing and PSA blood examination starting at the age 50 or much earlier if a prostate cancer