THE DOCTOR IS IN
OP / ED BY DR. ADIL MANZOOR
Imagine you wake up one day and visit your doctor for a routine checkup on your body, and the entire discussion is about staying healthy as opposed to recounting symptoms or complaints. That is what preventive medicine is all about. In this branch of internal medicine, we labor more to keep people healthy than treat illnesses once they arrive.
For the past decades, we’ve built healthcare to be primarily reactive. You get sick, you make an appointment with the doctor, and you’re treated. What if it were possible to prevent many of those diseases in the first place?
70% of global mortality is a result of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases. And the good news? All these diseases can be prevented with lifestyle changes and early medical interventions. It allows us to reduce the burden of disease, lower healthcare costs, and improve quality of life.
Many conditions develop silently. They tend to show symptoms only in advanced stages. So, is there any early-warning system in place? Yes – routine screenings. I know we doctors never fail to mention the importance of regular health screenings. It allows us to detect abnormalities before they escalate into life-threatening problems. Simple steps like regular blood pressure checks or cholesterol tests can go a long way. Specific screenings like mammograms for breast cancer or blood glucose tests for diabetes can dramatically improve survival rates when diseases are caught early.
What do you eat? How often do you move? How well do you manage stress? Your answer to these questions may determine your long-term health. A diet centered on whole foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats has been shown to prevent many chronic health conditions.
Physical activity is just as important. You should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to reduce the risk of heart disease, metabolic disorders, stroke, and other related conditions. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Take a short walk after meals. Practice yoga and deep breathing exercises. These seemingly small steps can contribute to long-term well-being. Ensuring a consistent sleep schedule and creating a restful sleep environment can also significantly enhance overall health and immune function.
Vaccinations have been one of the most groundbreaking advancements in medicine, preventing millions of deaths each year. Childhood immunizations are well established, but we don’t seem to take adult vaccinations as crucial. Flu shots, COVID-19 boosters, pneumonia vaccines, shingles immunizations, and others are not “money-making schemes” as some people may perceive them. They are critical for maintaining long-term health.
Beyond vaccines, preventive medications come into play in high-risk populations. Take, for example, people with high cholesterol. Medications like statins can help lower their risk of heart disease. Likewise, taking low-dose aspirin may prevent heart attacks or strokes for some people. But not everyone needs these medications. It all depends on your unique health risks. That’s why personalized care matters. We assess your health and tailor prevention strategies to keep you safe and healthy.
There are two sides of a coin. In preventive medicine, one is physical health and the other is mental well-being. Chronic stress is a silent killer that is responsible for many diseases. The world today is so fast-paced. Constant connectivity and rising demands make us run from one task to another without any time to breathe. Hence, stress management is an integral part of preventive medicine.
Now is the time to start incorporating mindfulness activities, cognitive behavioral therapy, and regular habits of relaxation into your lifestyle. It will blow your mind how simple it is to decrease stress and increase mental health through deep breathing techniques and spending time in nature. But you don’t even need to do it by yourself. Social bonds are also involved. Start making close relationships and participating in shared activities. This can foster emotional strength and lower the risk of depression and anxiety.
Many deaths are preventable, and some of them are those caused by tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption. Smoking is directly linked to lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The good news is that quitting can drastically reduce health risks. There are various smoking cessation programs available now. Nicotine replacement therapy, counseling, and behavioral interventions have proven highly effective. Similarly, chronic alcohol use contributes to liver disease and cardiovascular problems. Moderation is key. For those struggling with alcohol dependence, you’re not alone. Medical support, therapy, and peer support groups can offer pathways to recovery.
Preventive care is evolving, and you must keep up with this transition. There are devices that you wear on your wrist, which track your heart rate and how sleeping patterns. It will help you to be in control of your health in real-time. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are also helping healthcare providers detect diseases early. At the same time, genetic screening is allowing very personalized prevention tailored to an individual’s susceptibilities.
Healthcare is becoming more proactive than reactive. Internal medicine is taking the lead in putting prevention ahead of treatment. This transformation improves your health outcomes while lightening the economic and logistical burden on healthcare systems globally. So the next time you see your physician, don’t wait for symptoms to occur. Begin the discussion on how you can be proactive about health conditions and take charge of your health.
Stay informed. Stay proactive. Stay healthy.
This article was written by Dr. Adil Manzoor, DO, a Board-Certified Internist; Board certified Pediatrician who works as a Hospitalist and Emergency Room Physician. He is also the current President of Garden State Street Medicine, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide free preventive and acute urgent care services for the homeless. He is also the co-founder of his own unique medical practice, Mobile Medicine NJ; House Call Doctors. He is also currently pursuing an Executive MBA and a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Leadership at Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
References
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38416986/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03155-8
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death
- https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/prevention/index.html
