An understanding of preventative health can help you take care of your long-term wellness. This involves both prevention and early detection of diseases as well as maintenance of your health over time. Disease prevention and early detection can cover a range of issues, such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses.
Our doctors at Star Clinic in Chatswood, Hornsby, and Wentworth Point help patients maintain their health and ensure issues are caught in the early stages. We also provide patients with guidance and strategies for preventing diseases from arising in the first place. Speak to our professionals to find out more about a preventive health check-up and how it can benefit you.
WHAT IS A PREVENTIVE HEALTH CHECK-UP?
Illness, disability, or disease can arise due to genetic factors, as well as a person’s diet, habits, and general lifestyle choices. In many cases, disease and illness can develop before a person realises it, making it more difficult to treat and manage once it is diagnosed. Preventative health takes a preemptive approach in order to minimise, diagnose, and manage health issues.
By examining a person’s health, we can take steps to prevent long-term illness from developing and help people maintain their overall wellness. Our approach may vary depending on the patient, their lifestyle, family history, and general health concerns. Preventative care health services may involve the following:
- Screenings for cancer, including skin checks, colonoscopies, and mammograms
- Vaccinations for certain diseases
- Tests to check blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
- Prenatal wellness checks
- Counselling for patients who wish to quit smoking, lose weight, manage their diet, or address other lifestyle issues
Types of preventative care
At Star Clinic, our doctors are trained to identify health issues in the early stages in order to provide the most appropriate treatment. The earlier we can diagnose conditions such as diabetes and cancer, the better we can treat them and achieve a good outcome. Types of preventative care may include:
Cancer
When it comes to identifying various forms of cancer, the earlier the diagnosis, the better. There are several ways to identify cancer, and your doctor may advise a certain screening method in order to provide a correct diagnosis. Once we have a correct diagnosis, we can establish a course of treatment.
The different types of screenings can include:
- Mammogram for breast cancer – This can detect breast cancer before any lumps can be felt during a breast examination.
- Colonoscopy for colon cancer – This is recommended for people at age 50, and generally once a decade afterwards.
- Pap smear for cervical cancer – A screening once every three years is recommended, as cervical cancer can be effectively treated when caught early.
- PSA or digital exam for prostate cancer – This may involve either a physical examination or a detection test using an enzyme.
- Skin cancer check – During a screening for skin cancer, your doctor will check your skin for unusual spots or skin lesions and may recommend a biopsy if an unusual mole is found.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a very common condition that often goes undiagnosed. Especially when left untreated, the disease can lead to other health issues, such as kidney problems and heart disease, and can even affect the feet, nerves, vision, and hearing. Correct diagnosis and early treatment of diabetes are important in order to manage it effectively. As well as this, guidance on diet and lifestyle choices can help prevent the development of diabetes if it runs in your family.
Diabetes occurs when a person’s glucose levels (blood sugar) are too high. This means treatment generally involves managing glucose levels and paying attention to the foods you eat. If you suffer from diabetes, your doctor can provide recommendations on how to manage it with diet and medications.
Mental Illness
In addition to physical health, taking care of your mental health is important to your overall wellness. Screening and appropriate treatment for mental illness can reduce long-term effects and improve a person’s quality of life.
Injury Prevention
Injury prevention measures can identify, remove, or reduce the potential causes of injury. The most common causes of injuries are falls, drowning, transport, and poisoning, which can lead to hospitalisations and sometimes long-term health issues. In order to prevent these injuries, it is important to be aware of safety and injury prevention methods, including:
- Child pool safety and helmet-wearing
- Awareness of safe environments for children
- Preventing falls among older people
- Safe sporting environments to prevent sports injuries
- Awareness of road safety
Diet and Lifestyle
Good nutritional and exercise habits are important for your overall well-being. Poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to many health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and some cancers. Our doctors in Chatswood, Hornsby, and Wentworth Point can speak to you about your specific circumstances and make recommendations that help you achieve long-term health and wellness.
Preventative measures
Your doctor at Star Clinic may apply different preventative approaches, depending on your health and situation. We will speak with you about your general health, lifestyle, diet, and any medications you are taking, and you will be welcome to express your own concerns. If certain health concerns are apparent, we may also recommend certain tests or assessments to ensure any diseases or illnesses are caught early.
There are three different levels of preventive health services:
- Primary Prevention – Addressing and reducing risk factors.
- Secondary/Early Intervention – Screening at-risk patients, and early detection.
- Tertiary Prevention – Treatment or rehabilitation of an existing disease.
Book your appointment at Star Clinic
Preventative care health services can help prevent, identify, and manage illnesses quickly and effectively. Getting regular check-ups from a qualified doctor can help ensure that any health issues are caught and treated quickly, encouraging long-term positive outcomes.
At Star Clinic, our certified doctors are trained to identify and manage a wide range of health issues. We take a patient-focused, holistic approach, helping patients feel comfortable and get the medical care they need. If you have health concerns, book an appointment, and we will provide professional guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can seek preventative health care?
Anyone can seek guidance on how to take care of health and well-being. Speaking to a qualified doctor about any health concerns you may have will help ensure that any illness or disease is found as early as possible. Your doctor can also provide general guidance on diet and lifestyle to help you maintain long-term good health.
What does preventative health care involve?
Preventative health may involve a number of things, depending on the patient and their health. Working with patients on improving their health and preventing long-term issues may involve:
- Education on healthy eating, exercise, and lifestyle
- Identifying and diagnosing health issues
- Treatment of health issues in the early stages
- Management of chronic medical conditions