Preventative Care

Given the choice, most people would prefer to avoid getting sick and the pain, misery, expense, and inconvenience illness causes. At Rios Healthcare Associates in Houston, Texas, Tomas Rios, MD, Nicolin Neal, and the team promote preventive care, using strategies such as immunization, screening tests, and lifestyle changes to help their patients stay well. Talk to the Rios Healthcare Associates team about their preventive care services to find out how you could enjoy better health. Call the office today or book an appointment online.

What is preventive care?

Preventive care offers ways of helping you avoid ill health rather than waiting until you get sick before seeing a doctor. It can also stop medical problems from turning into long-term conditions.

A preventive care approach offers many advantages to patients. First, you don’t need to suffer the pain and other distressing symptoms of being sick. This, in turn, reduces the expense and inconvenience illness causes.

Furthermore, you won’t risk problems like complications, medication side effects, and shortened life expectancy from preventable diseases.

What preventive care services are available?

Preventive care services available at Rios Healthcare Associates include:

Annual check-ups

Annual check-ups are yearly physical exams. Your provider checks all your vital signs and critical functions, like heart rate and lung sounds. They examine your body for abnormalities and perform tests and procedures such as blood pressure measurements to ensure you’re in good health.

Screening

Screening involves having lab tests or exams that identify diseases in their early stages. For example, breast and prostate exams screen for signs of cancer. Blood tests can identify problems like high cholesterol that lead to heart disease and raised blood sugar levels that indicate you have diabetes.

Immunizations

Immunizations use safe forms of viruses and bacteria or DNA fragments to help your immune system protect you from many serious diseases. Most people receive the majority of their vaccinations when they’re children; however, you might need booster shots periodically.

Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 require regular boosters and are especially important in older and vulnerable people.

What other actions can I take to prevent ill health?

One of the most valuable actions you can take to improve your health and prevent sickness is to change your lifestyle. Some of the main causes of chronic disease in the United States are unhealthy lifestyle choices and habits, which can trigger disorders such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• High blood pressure
• Fatty liver disease

The Rios Healthcare Associates team can help you make healthier choices in life, such as eating a better diet, getting more exercise, and losing weight. They can advise you on reducing and managing stress more effectively and limiting alcohol consumption. They can also guide you through challenges like quitting smoking.

Call Rios Healthcare Associates today or book an appointment online to discover how preventive care can give you a longer, healthier, and happier life.