Instead of reacting to health problems when they emerge, proactive healthcare is about trying to prevent problems occurring in the first place. Here’s all you need to know about integrating a proactive approach to healthcare into your life.
Reactive healthcare is the norm in many societies and countries of the world. For various reasons, the approach to managing human health is often to try to fix something when it goes wrong. This could be because the healthcare resources available to you are most accessible when you have a specific health problem. It can also be because individuals do not think so much about the prevention of health problems.
Proactive healthcare is all about staying on top of your health even when there is nothing that seems to be wrong with you. It can either be about trying to stop certain health problems from emerging in the first place. Or it can be about identifying any possible health issues early on, which means treating them is easier.
Here’s how to be more proactive about your health.
Medical Insurance
The first way to be more proactive about your health is to get good medical insurance coverage. Navigating this can be complex in the United States, and which health insurance provider you go with may depend on your employer, your financial situation, or both. The main thing is to do your research – look at the small print of what your coverage includes, and look into a number of options by searching something like: best medical insurance agency in Texas. Putting the time and effort into getting the best coverage available to you is a great start for being more proactive from a health perspective.
Get Regular Check-Ups
Depending on your health insurance and what your doctor recommends for your particular health situation, the kinds of health check-ups you are offered will vary. Even if your healthcare provider does not specifically offer you a check-up, it is always a good idea to book one proactively. This could involve a check-up with a General Practitioner and some standard blood tests to get an overview of your health. You could also book more specific tests if there is anything you are concerned about, or if anything in your family history warrants a closer look at something.
Partake In Screening Programs
Most health bodies offer screening tests for certain types of cancers and other diseases proactively. These include things such as cervical, breast and colorectal cancers, which are offered to people of specific age groups that may be at higher risk. If you are offered to take part on a screening program, always go and get it done. Screening is typically offered for diseases that don’t necessarily cause symptoms until they become more advanced. Catching things early makes a huge difference.
Be Healthier
You can take all the medical tests in the world to keep on top of emerging health concerns, but adopting a healthier lifestyle is one of the best ways to prevent health issues. Eating more fruit, vegetables and superfoods – and less processed foods – is a great start. Getting enough exercise is also important for keeping up the level of your general health. The important thing about adopting a healthier lifestyle is to make it a long-term change, not just a temporary phase when you want to lose a bit of weight. Consistent good practices in terms of eating and exercising is a key proactive healthcare approach.
Take Control Of Your Records
It is rare these days for an individual to only see one doctor, and doctors have so many patients too. This means there is no one doctor who has a constant overview of your health. Continuity of care can therefore be an issue. This is why it is important for you to maintain total overview of your own health. Keep copies of all your medical records, either as digital or paper versions, and have them easily accessible for you to share with new doctors and medical professionals as and when it’s necessary. This means you will always have access to your health records wherever you are, and you will probably need to refer back to them from time to time.
Look At Other Unhealthy Habits
It’s often important to take a step back from our daily routines to identify other ways we could be healthier. If you’ve been putting up with poor sleep for many years, this will have a knock-on effect on your overall health. Make a concerted effort to fix it, such as trying meditation, stress relief or sleep hygiene programs. Take a look at your household cleaning products too, and make sure you’re not using unnecessary toxins in your home that may be harmful. Finally, look at things such as the air quality index of where you live. If you live in an area of particularly high pollution, look at solutions such as air purifiers for your home.