Do You Have a Health Guidance Plan for Disease Prevention?

Mar 11, 2025
There’s a chronic disease epidemic in America. Are you just crossing your fingers and hoping you don’t fall victim, or do you have a plan? Here’s how our health guidance plan for disease prevention gives you a fighting chance.

Most people visit the doctor only after they notice symptoms and feel unwell, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Tomas Rios, MD, and Nicolin Neal, MD, at Rios Healthcare Associates in Houston, Texas, treat all kinds of illnesses, from acute problems to ongoing conditions. Still, we believe the best approach to health is avoiding these issues altogether.

As part of our preventive care services, we encourage our patients to come in before illness sets in. We work closely with you to create a tailored health guidance plan that promotes long-term health and helps you avoid unnecessary issues. 

From routine screenings to personalized lifestyle advice, here’s what you need to know about building a proactive approach to disease prevention.

What’s a health guidance plan for disease prevention?

A health guidance plan for disease prevention is a strategy to reduce your chances of illnesses or long-term conditions. It combines regular checkups, health screenings, and personalized advice on lifestyle changes to identify potential health risks and reduce their impact.

We use comprehensive assessments and your medical history to generate a plan that addresses your unique health profile. 

The benefits of a personalized approach to disease prevention

Our health guidance plan for disease prevention offers multiple advantages, including:

Early detection of potential health issues 

Routine screenings help identify early signs of health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, or certain cancers, which we can treat more effectively when caught early.

Reduced long-term health risks 

Preventive measures, such as immunizations and regular health evaluations, reduce the risk of chronic diseases and may increase your life expectancy.

Cost savings 

Preventing diseases is often far less expensive than treating advanced illnesses. Regular checkups and preventive care can save you from costly medical procedures in the future.

Improved quality of life 

A prevention plan helps people live active, full lives by addressing health risks early and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

What’s involved in a disease prevention plan?

At Rios Healthcare Associates, a guidance plan for disease prevention involves multiple steps to address every aspect of your health. Here’s what you can expect:

Annual checkups

Yearly checkups are the heart of any disease prevention plan. During these visits, we measure vital signs, like heart rate and blood pressure, and assess other critical health markers, such as cholesterol levels and blood sugar. We also perform a physical exam to look for abnormalities.

These routine check-ins help us spot early signs of conditions before they develop into more complex issues.

Screening tests

Screenings are essential to preventive care, helping detect diseases at their earliest, most treatable stages. Examples of standard on-site tests include:

  • Cancer screenings: mammograms and prostate exams 
  • Blood tests: check for high cholesterol, blood sugar imbalances, or other issues 
  • Bone density tests: detect osteoporosis, especially in women
  • STD testing: diagnose or rule out sexually transmitted infections

We recommend screenings based on your age, medical history, and overall risk factors.

Immunizations

Vaccines protect against preventable diseases like influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis. At Rios Healthcare Associates, you can ensure your immunizations are current. Certain vaccines, like the flu shot, may require regular boosters to maintain immunity.

Lifestyle advice

We believe lifestyle plays a central role in disease prevention. Our experts advise you on changes you can make in your daily habits to improve your overall health. Recommendations may include:

Diet changes

Incorporating nutrient-rich foods and avoiding processed items can help you maintain a healthy weight and support vital functions. 

Getting more exercise

Regular physical activity reduces your risks of conditions like heart disease or Type 2 diabetes. 

Quitting smoking or managing alcohol intake

Tackling harmful habits that impact your health is easier said than done but crucial if you’re serious about staying healthy.

Stress management

Techniques like mindfulness or counseling can help you avoid stress-related illnesses.

Everyone has a set of health risks influenced by genetics, medical history, and lifestyle choices. A one-size-fits-all prevention plan doesn’t address these individual factors adequately. That’s why we focus on personalizing every aspect of your disease prevention plan.

For instance, if you have a family history of heart disease, your plan may involve more frequent cholesterol screenings and dietary changes. If you’re dealing with stress-related health issues, you might benefit from stress-management techniques and counseling support.

To learn more, contact Rios Healthcare Associates by phone or online today to schedule an appointment.