Preventive Care Is Good for Your Health

By Janice Lane Palko

Benjamin Franklin is credited with coining the phrase, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That wisdom can be applied to many aspects of life from home maintenance to making sure you have regular oil changes for your car. It can also be applied to health care, especially when it comes to younger adults.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a young adult, to “graduate” from their pediatric practice, head off to college or into the workforce and not have a primary care physician. A healthy person may feel they may not need to establish a relationship with a primary care provider, but that ounce of prevention of establishing a relationship with a primary care provider can help to avoid health issues in the future.

Think of preventive care as routine maintenance for your body. It’s far easier to keep things

running smoothly than to deal with emergency repairs later. At our practice, we like to think of ourselves as your co-pilot, helping you stay ahead of illness instead of reacting to it.

But I feel fine, you may think, but feeling fine isn’t quantifiable; it isn’t a medical test. Many

serious health conditions develop quietly, without noticeable symptoms in the early stages.

That’s why routine screenings and annual checkups remain essential, even for people who feel perfectly fine.

Some of the most dangerous conditions are also the quietest. High blood pressure, high

cholesterol, prediabetes, and early kidney disease often cause no symptoms at first, yet they can lead to serious problems later. Preventive care helps catch these issues early, before they make headlines in your life.

Studies have shown an increase in heart attacks in people under 40 as well as an increase in

diabetes and high blood pressure. These conditions can be devastating as well as deadly if they go untreated. But the good news is if they are addressed early, often times the outcome is more beneficial.

Young adults should prioritize yearly physicals, blood pressure checks, cholesterol and blood

sugar testing, and age-appropriate cancer screenings such as colonoscopies, mammograms, and cervical cancer screenings. In recent years, some recommendations have shifted—for example, colon cancer screening often begins earlier than it once did.

Preventive care is not one-size-fits-all. Women need to stay current with breast and cervical

cancer screenings, while men should begin paying attention to heart health sooner than they

might expect. The best approach is a personalized one, tailored to your age, family history, and risk factors; much like a well-fitted suit. The better the fit, the better the results.

Establishing a relationship with a primary care provider before health issues arise is one of the most important steps patients can take. When something does come up, you’re not starting from scratch. We already know your baseline, what’s normal for you, and what isn’t.

An urgent care physician doesn’t know your health history, or your family history. That

familiarity allows for quicker diagnoses, smarter decisions, and fewer unnecessary tests.

Preventive care works best when it’s built on trust—not panic. (And while it’s tempting,

Googling symptoms at 2 a.m. is not a reliable long-term healthcare strategy.) Long-term health works best when it’s supported by a long-term relationship.

Lifestyle habits are the backbone of preventive care. While medications have their place, daily habits are what truly change health trajectories over time. If lifestyle changes feel overwhelming, don’t aim for perfection. Start small and boring—and

stick with it. Walk more. Sleep 30 minutes longer. Drink more water. Consistency beats intensity every time. Preventive care is about progress, not guilt.

Advances in technology have transformed preventive care. Today, we have more sophisticated lab testing, including advanced cholesterol markers like ApoB and Lipoprotein(a), and imaging such as coronary artery calcium scans that can detect heart disease before symptoms appear.

Wearable devices can track heart rate, sleep, activity, and even glucose levels, while patient

portals make communication easier than ever. But data alone isn’t enough. At our office, every provider is supported by a dedicated nurse to help interpret information and turn it into meaningful action. Technology gives us insight; preventive care turns that insight into better health.

If you avoid the doctor because you feel fine, are too busy, or worry about what you might find out, you’re not alone. But avoiding care doesn’t prevent problems; it only delays knowing about them. And earlier is almost always easier. Preventive visits are far more often about reassurance than bad news.

The key takeaway is simple: don’t wait for symptoms to introduce you to the healthcare system.

Preventive care is the most powerful, least dramatic way to protect your future health—and

there’s no better time than now to invest in yourself.

At Grob, Scheri, Woodburn, and Griffin Family Medicine, we focus on proactive, personalized care; before problems start and long before they become emergencies. When the unexpected does happen, we’re here for that too. Your health. Your future. Let’s stay ahead of sickness.