AUSTIN (KXAN)– Preventative health care can be the key to reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases.
According to an article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of all deaths in America are caused by chronic diseases.
Chronic diseases can be considered health conditions that remain for a long period. Cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes are all considered chronic diseases according to the CDC.
How to avoid chronic diseases?
Scott Selinger, M.D. Internal Medicine Specialist with UT Health Austin said preventative medicine is the key to knowing what is going on inside your body.
“If you think of the human body as just a very complicated machine, preventative medicine is all the routine things you would need to do to keep everything working,” Selinger said.
Taking advantage of preventative services
Although preventative medicine is easily accessible, not many Americans utilize it. An article from The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in 2020 only 5.3% of adults received preventative services.
“There’s a lot of different preventative care services, and some I’ve seen offered through employers where they have, wellness incentives to get your cholesterol checked or your blood pressure checked your way to your body fat percentage, BMI, calculated, little numbers that you wouldn’t otherwise be aware of,” Selinger said.
Where to find preventative care?
Preventative health care screenings are commonly done through primary care providers, but they can also be done through simple, quick technology.
“There are little machines in pharmacies where you can put your arm in to check your blood pressure. Some of them will check your weight–give you an estimate of where your body mass index is and your heart rate,” Selinger said.
The City of Austin provides many preventative health screening opportunities, vaccine clinics and educational resources to residents. Visit their website to find those resources.