Preventive health guidelines were
developed to improve one’s health using things that prevent disease and detect
it early. They are based on credible
research in which the criteria have been studied extensively. The United States Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF) is a leading resource for preventive health guidelines along
with doctor specialty organizations like the American Academy Of Family
Physicians and American Academy of Pediatrics.
There are so many that it can become confusing as to what you should
do. Like one size fails to fit all so do the guidelines. How will you know what you need and when you need it?
Use your medical history as your
guide in deciphering through different health organization guidelines. Though they may address the same thing, there will be similarities and differences. If you have a history of cancer, you may want
to get a mammogram or colonoscopy more often. If there is a family history, you
may want to get tests sooner than the guidelines suggest. Abnormal physical exam findings warrant
testing regardless of guidelines.
Be sure to review guidelines from
different organizations. This gives you a broader view of what you need. Look at the pros and cons as they fit you. Focus on those that concern you and your
condition. Discuss them all with your
doctors and healthcare providers to plan your guidelines. Your medical history
is your guide to the guidelines right for you. Best
health!
