In general, preventive medicine includes a wide range of activities, aimed at reducing risks or threats to health and preventing diseases.
These are usually grouped into three categories.
Primary prevention
Goal:
- to protect healthy people from developing a disease or experiencing an injury in the first place.
For example:
- education about wellness and illness
- education about good nutrition, the importance of regular exercise, and the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
- education about mind-body medicine, assess for chronic stress response, implement stress management
- education and legislation about proper seatbelt and helmet use
- regular exams and screening tests to monitor risk factors for illness – e.g blood pressure check, checking cholesterol, monitor body weight
- immunisation against infectious disease
- controlling potential hazards at home and in the workplace
Secondary prevention
Goal:
- early detection of disease so as to halt or slow the progress of disease (if possible) in its earliest stages.
For example:
- regular exams and screening tests especially in people with known risk factors for illness: PAP smear, mammogram, bowel screening
Tertiary prevention
Goal:
- manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal pain.
- reduce complications from chronic illnesses
- prevent further physical deterioration and maximizing quality of life
For example:
- cardiac or stroke rehabilitation programs
- chronic pain management programs
- patient support groups
Hills Women's Health and Medical Practice 