fundamentals
Tools of Prevention
Introduction
There are many tools of prevention, including the following major tools: Establishing a healthy lifestyle, which includes healthy habits such as wearing a seat belt, eating a healthy diet, getting enough physical exercise, wearing sunscreen, and not smoking Getting Overview of Immunization to prevent infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and childhood infections Following recommendations for Screening so that disorders such as high blood pressure and cancer are detected early If people are at high risk of developing certain disorders (such as atherosclerosis) or have such a disorder, taking medications as recommended to prevent the disorder from developing or worsening (called preventive medication therapy or chemoprevention) Preventive medication therapy includes the following: Cholesterol-lowering medications to prevent Atherosclerosis None to prevent Acute Coronary Syndromes (Heart Attack; Myocardial Infarction; Unstable Angina) and/or to prevent Breast Cancer in women at increased risk of breast cancer Medications for Treatment of High Blood Pressure to reduce blood pressure and prevent strokes Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and stopping smoking help prevent all three leading causes of death in the United States (heart disease, cancer, and stroke). 