You know the saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, that is of particular relevance when it comes to your health and family medicine in Brandon, FL. Dr. Joel Biggers and Dr. Elizabeth Biggers of Biggers Family Medicine provide the care and information you need to be able to be your healthiest self.

What Exactly Constitutes Preventive Care?

Preventive care is proactive. It is designed to anticipate and prevent serious illnesses. Preventive care begins at birth with well-baby visits. By taking your baby to the doctor on the AAP schedule, you and your family medicine doctor provide your child with the best possible beginning, hopefully to their very long life. The visits not only provide the basic measurements of the child's growth compared with all the other children but also allow any early problems that present themselves to be dealt with immediately.

Vision and hearing are monitored from an early age, and your child will receive their vaccinations to prevent a myriad of serious illnesses. Your family medicine provider in Brandon, FL is your partner in the health of your child. Yearly visits continue throughout childhood and adolescence and are a good habit to get into for your entire life. 

What Can Preventive Care Prevent?

By visiting your family medicine doctor yearly, you may be able to prevent serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and several types of cancer. Your doctor will send you the tests that you require to maintain good health.  Not all testing begins at 20, some will begin at 40 or 50. But for women, getting a PAP test is a yearly test from about 21. Mammograms should begin at about 40. A colonoscopy can start as early as 45, depending on what your risk is. 

A yearly blood test that checks cholesterol and blood sugar levels is important. It can also check many other things, such as your level of certain vitamins and minerals. Women, in particular, are often low on iron. For men, a PSA test should begin between 40 and 55 years of age, again depending on your level of risk. 

As you get older, your doctor will suggest that you get a yearly flu shot, and pneumonia and shingles vaccinations.  You should also be tested for bone density. By taking the proper precautions, you can help yourself to be a healthier senior. 

Preventive care is for a lifetime, hopefully a long and healthy one. 

Contact Dr. Joel Biggers and Dr. Elizabeth Biggers of Biggers Family Medicine when you the preventive care that is available through family medicine in Brandon, FL, Give our office a call at (813) 655-4646 for an appointment today.