Where the delivery of medical services frequently focuses on curing disease and healing injuries, preventive care focuses on preventing disease and injuries from occurring in the first place. With the issue of the dramatic increase of costs, prevention plays an ever important role in the system.
Diet is one example of healthy living that will prevent illnesses. Heart disease is caused by too much fat in our diet. Some forms of cancer are shown to be less frequent in people that do not eat red meat and eat certain vegetables. Diabetes is another disease where diet plays role. Too much white sugar and processed foods cause all sorts of health problems.
Alcoholism can be a fatal disease that also has many social costs. Public health programs that educate children and others about the dangers of drinking alcohol are much less costly than the medical expenses and the emotional pain of alcoholism. There is nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. However, alcoholics can not drink any alcohol at all.
Wearing a helmet while riding a bike or wearing a seat belt while riding in a car are simple examples of behaviors that society promotes in order to prevent potentially fatal injuries if there is an accident. It is an example of public health policies intended to prevent something from happening. Another example are ear plugs to protect your hearing when you are working near loud noises. Policies to prevent accidents can be as simple as a television commercial urging people not to cross the street against a red light.
The vaccinations and immunizations we make sure our children have is an important way we prevent deadly diseases like tuberculosis, measles, small pox and polio. Requiring visitors from other countries to have the required inoculations makes sense because it prevents outbreaks of contagious diseases. Like most preventive measures it is based on common sense and public safety.
Public policy that encourages people to quit smoking is a good example of how as a society we decide to make public policy that affects health. It is against the law to advertise cigarettes. Those under the age of 18 can not legally purchase tobacco products. These are laws that are intended promote good health and prevent diseases that are caused by smoking tobacco.
In many ways preventive care is as important as the treatment we get when we are already sick or injured. By preventing disease and injuries we are lowing the total cost of delivering medical services. People do not have to suffer as frequently with the pain of seeing loved ones get sick. You are less likely to suffer with an injury that could have been prevented with some protection.
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