Wellness: Health Promotion & Disease Prevention

Health promotion and disease prevention focuses on keeping people healthy through preventative care and managing chronic health conditions. 

• Keep Immunizations up to date 
• Wash your hands often 
• Scrub for at least 20 seconds being sure to scrub all surfaces 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth 
• Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. 
• Use antibiotics exactly as prescribed 
• Cough & sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve 
• Report to your doctor any worsening infection that does not get better after you take a prescribed antibiotic 
• Stay alert to disease threats when you travel 
• When sick, stay home and allow yourself time to heal and recover. 
• Avoid unsafe unprotected sex and injection drug use 
• Food can carry germs. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces often when preparing any food, especially raw meat. Always wash fruits and vegetables. Cook and keep foods at proper temperatures. Don’t leave food out – refrigerate promptly. 
• Clean & disinfect commonly used surfaces 
• Pets and humans should avoid touching wild animals. If you are bitten, talk to your doctor. Make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date. 
• Avoid areas of insect infestation 
• Avoid sharing personal items that can’t be disinfected, like toothbrushes and razors, or sharing towels between washes. 

Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health

Source: Hamilton Viana Viana from Pixabay

Physicals and health screenings are an important part of maintaining good health. Screens are medical tests that doctors use to check for disease and health conditions before there are any signs or symptoms. Screenings help find problems early on, when chances for successful treatment are greatest.

Health screenings include pap smears, testicular exams, breast exams, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and blood pressure checks. 

Chronic diseases are long-lasting conditions that usually can be controlled but not cured. According to the Center for Disease Control chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability in America.