Health maintenance is a guiding principle in health care that emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention rather than the management of symptoms and illnesses. Health maintenance may take many different shapes. Routine screening exams are a great way to practice disease prevention. Current screening guidelines recommend paps for females ages 21-55, mammograms for females ages 40-80, PSA for males ages 40-80, and colorectal cancer screening for all adults ages 45-80. Some of these screening recommendations may be different based on family history. Routine labs are recommended every year. These include blood counts, thyroid function, glucose levels, kidney and liver function, and lipid levels. By doing these screening exams we hope to promote overall well-being.

Another aspect of health maintenance is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A healthy heart plays a vital role in preventing disease. Having a good diet, removing unnecessary stress, and getting regular exercise are great ways to have a healthy heart. Sleep is also important for health maintenance. Sleep is vital for our bodies to restore and recover in order to maintain our overall health. It is also very important to have a healthy immune system, equipping our bodies to more easily fight off diseases, viruses, and bad bacteria. Vitamin supplementation and a healthy lifestyle help to maintain a healthy immune system.

Maintaining your overall health provides many benefits. When you maintain your health you are more likely to feel energetic and happy. When your body is in better shape you will find that you sleep better. Most importantly, you will be able to prevent disease, and your likelihood of getting sick will decrease. By emphasizing health maintenance, we hope to help you achieve and continue to enjoy optimal health.