Preventative Medicine - The Best (and the Cheapest) Medicine.
"Good doctors think about how to cure diseases, whereas supreme doctors focused on how to prevent them." - Chinese saying.
50% of all deaths are preventable: 20% are linked to tobacco, 15% are related to wrong diet/activity patterns…
I have been writing some articles about living healthy in Mexico, in Vallarta Tribune, www.vallartatribune.com, focused on one of the CORNERSTONES of preventative medicine: immunizations. Fortunately I have been receiving e-mails and collecting commentaries about them, mostly positive, but there have been some points of view that make me feel worried… for example:
"I have been so far so good for a long time without immunizations, (touching the table, knocking on wood)) why do I need them?" "I have never had a shot and I never get sick"
"I know how to eat and I never go to crowded places, so I do not need a flu shot."
I agree that a healthy way of eating and healthy behavior really help in avoiding many diseases but, on the other hand, I have been listening to this kind of comments from hospitalized patients: "It is the first time I have pneumonia like this…" (and the hospital bill was US$ 3,500.00 versus a US $45.00 for a Pneumococcus vaccine.) "I had never had a cough like this, I was choking!!" (And consultations, X-ray and medications rose to US $1000., plus the indirect cost of not working for 10 days, versus US $35. for a flu-shot)
Medicine is not an "Exact Science" like Engineering; we work on "probabilities", like -What is your chance of getting sick from this? What is the probability you will suffer from that? So our best work is to reduce your exposition to diseases, to close the door to bacteria and viruses as much as possible, trying to avoid diseases like cancer and degenerative diseases like Diabetes and Hypertension…
Why expose your "tool for living" (I mean your body) to a broad spectrum of diseases? Why not take advantage of new technology in Biology, Medicine, and Statistics? Why expose your life if there are easy ways of prevention?
Remember that: ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS, exercise, eating properly, using sunscreen, avoiding tobacco & excess alcohol, seatbelt restraints for all passengers in the car, no talking on cellular phones while driving (including hands-free phones), are some universal measures for primary prevention.
Early detection and treatment of serious diseases like Breast and Colon cancer is another area of preventative medicine. Other recommendation are (not all, remember to visit your doctor regularly for periodical screenings for diseases according to your age, weight, family history and risk factors):
Age 15-24: First Pap smear 3 years after the onset of sexual activity, then yearly, if three normal results, every three years… check Rubella immunity, blood pressure every 2 years minimum, annual if diastolic pressure 85-89mmHg. If obese, blood glucose every 1-3 years.
Age 25-64: Mammography every 1-2 years, for women 40-69 year-old, earlier & annually if family history of breast cancer, annual clinical breast examination, PAP smear if sexually active, cholesterol check at 35 years old and every 5 years until 65 if low risk. After 50, flexible sigmoidoscopy (or colonoscopy) every 3-5 years, ultrasound screening for men over 65 for abdominal aortic aneurysm, blood glucose every 1-3 years.
Be a healthy traveler / resident in Mexico:
- Get immunized, follow simple and safe rules, and enjoy MEXICO to the utmost!
