Preventive Medicine: The Basics

Preventive medicine aims to prevent diseases and promote health, rather than curing diseases or treating symptoms.

Preventive medicine encompasses early detection and treatment, health promotion and disease prevention, and individual responsibility for health.

Primary prevention interventions aim to reduce the risk of developing a disease before it occurs.

Vaccination is an example of a primary prevention intervention because it aims to prevent the development of a disease before it occurs.

Secondary prevention interventions aim to detect and treat a disease early, before it becomes severe.

Cancer screening is an example of a secondary prevention intervention because it aims to detect cancer early, before it becomes severe.

Tertiary prevention interventions aim to reduce the impact of a disease or disability.

Physical therapy is an example of a tertiary prevention intervention because it aims to reduce the impact of a disease or disability.

Quaternary prevention interventions aim to prevent or reduce the complications of medical care.

Medication reconciliation is an example of a quaternary prevention intervention because it aims to prevent or reduce the complications of medical care.

Risk assessment, risk management, and risk reduction are all terms used to describe the process of identifying and modifying risk factors for disease.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Health promotion is the process of promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

Physical activity programs are an example of a health promotion intervention because they aim to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

Environmental health is the process of creating environments that support healthy behaviors.

Smoke-free laws, healthy food policies, and active transportation infrastructure are all examples of environmental health interventions.