Preventive care, the key to healthy living

We live in a fast-paced world where people hardly have time to eat right, sleep well or even exercise. This is the reason why we are faced with endless lifestyle diseases, with most people making their way to health facilities when they only feel sick. The importance of regular health checkups cannot be overemphasized as this will not only save lives, but also resources and time.

Imagine one day, you wake up feeling sick. Your first instinct will obviously be to go to the hospital. But then you receive the shocking news that you have a chronic disease. But more shocking, that you’ve had it for some time. You will certainly panic as a result of such distressing news. Then the many questions of how, when or why will start to cloud your mind. But suppose you had an early warning sign of the said disease? The truth is, the necessary steps would have been taken to prevent it. This is what preventive care is all about.

Preventive care is meant to help reduce the risks of contracting diseases, or potential disabilities or even death. Simply put, preventive care is like an early warning indicator that alerts you when something is not right. So, the sooner you are able to detect anything wrong, the sooner you are able to take action fast.

Preventive care is important for people of all ages. From children, to young adults, and the old. Children for instance, are predisposed to sicknesses during their developing stages. Keeping track of their health progress is important as it helps to single out any potential issues. Thus, regular visits to a pediatrician are recommended. As one grows older, they are susceptible to diseases as a result of old age. This means that they should regularly get health checkups.

The nature of work that people engage in should also determine how often one needs to get their checkups. Employees who work in manufacturing or industrial companies are exposed to noise or air pollution. It is advisable for them to also have regular checkups to ensure their organs are okay.

If preventive care is important, why is it not being taken up? Presently, 36 per cent of Kenyans are at risk of being impoverished by the financial burden of chronic diseases thus, the need to raise more awareness on the importance of investing in preventive care. Other impeding factors include; lack of access to health facilities, and the lack of knowledge or awareness on the same.  

As crucial as preventive care is, there is a misconception that it is meant to avert chronic diseases only. On the contrary, preventive care is intended for our overall wellbeing. A dental or an optical review may not sound as serious as getting a pap smear or a mammogram screening. Yet, a lot of us wait until we are at the brink of losing our sanity over toothaches, or itchy eyes albeit getting a checkup could stop such.

As the government works towards improving our healthcare system, a priority should be given to preventive care. This will help save costs that are otherwise used in curative care. It is also a call for health care service providers to also add their voice and underscore the importance of preventive care and further, support in policy changes. Additionally, screening and testing should be offered at affordable prices to enable everyone access healthcare.  

It is important to also note that preventive care does not exempt us from leading healthy lifestyles. This includes, eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising, having a strong social support system such as family and friends, taking care of our mental health, among others.

So, when was the last time you had a health checkup? This self-reflective question calls for not just an immediate answer, but an honest one. Should you find yourself struggling to answer this question, then perhaps it’s time you checked into a hospital and get that checkup.