Preventive healthcare

Preventive healthcare (alternatively spelled as preventative healthcare) is a set of measures taken for disease prevention, as opposed to disease treatment. Preventive healthcare strategies are typically described as taking place at the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention levels.

Primary prevention

Primary prevention consists of traditional "health promotion" and "specific protection." Health promotion activities are current, non-clinical life choices. For example, eating nutritious meals and exercising daily, that both can prevent diseases. Specific protection identifies potential disease agents and prevents them from causing illness.

Secondary prevention

Secondary prevention consists of "early diagnosis and prompt treatment" to contain the disease and prevent its spread to other individuals, and "disability limitation" to prevent potential future complications and disabilities from the disease.

Tertiary prevention

Tertiary prevention reduces the negative impact of an already established disease by restoring function and reducing disease-related complications.

Economic factors

Economic factors play a significant role in the health of individuals. The major economic factors affecting health are income, education and profession.

See also

• Health promotion
• Disease prevention
• Healthcare system
• Public health

References

Preventive healthcare Resources
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