JeffCo Health Department Update: 1/24/2024

Improving our health is a priority for many of us as we begin a new year. One of the best things we can do when planning for a healthy future is to determine what our health needs are. Adopting healthy behaviors is part of the picture. The other piece comes with seeking preventative care.

Life is busy - and for many of us, seeking medical care is something we do only when we are ill or injured. Have you thought about the last time you had a medical check-up, a vision or dental screening, or a health screening? This is preventative health care. It is the routine care we seek to maintain our health.

Preventative health care can help us live longer, healthier lives by catching health issues early when they are easier to treat. It helps us stay well throughout our lives. Screenings begin at birth when we are weighed and measured. Children receive frequent well-child visits through infancy and then annually during childhood. Preventative care for children promotes health by monitoring growth and developmental milestones. It protects their health by providing routine vaccinations to prevent serious illness and disease. This routine care helps children stay healthy as their young bodies grow and develop.

Adults also need preventative care. We need screenings, vaccinations, and health education. The type of screening you need depends on your age, family history, and risk factors. Common adult screenings detect blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and cancer concerns. Depending on your lifestyle and medical history, you may also need to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases. Often, lifestyle changes and preventative counseling can help you manage these conditions if detected. Talk with your healthcare provider about what types of screenings are best for you.

We often think of vaccinations as something children need - but adults need them, as well. Adult vaccinations include annual flu and COVID shots, as well as boosters for immunizations received as a child where immunity may have diminished over time, such as tetanus. Adults are also eligible to receive vaccines that prevent the illnesses we become more susceptible to as we age, such as shingles or pneumonia. Vaccination is one of the safest and most convenient ways to protect your health.

Busy schedules are not the only barrier to seeking preventative care. For some, the cost can be imposing. However, most insurance plans cover preventative care services. And ultimately, since preventative care can offer benefits to our overall health, identifying and treating health conditions early saves medical expenses in the future.

Others are deterred from preventative care because they don't have a primary care provider, or care providers are far away. Rural areas are addressing the care gap with mobile health services such as mammography vans and the Caring Foundation's Care Van, which offers immunization and screening services. Feel free to contact the Jefferson County Health Department if we can help connect you to resources. We are also happy to review your vaccination status or provide a no-cost blood pressure check.

Preventative health care services such as screenings, dental and vision check-ups, and vaccinations help keep people of all ages healthy and reduce the risk of disease. Make it a goal to schedule your preventative health care visits soon – and encourage your loved ones to do the same. Good health is the foundation for our overall well-being.

Here's to becoming your best, healthiest self in 2024! Stay well!