Some people are too conscious about keeping everything in check, while some wait for some serious complications to get their attention. The same goes for our health and well-being. We see people taking different supplements and a balanced diet to maintain their health and fulfill their nutrients requirements. In contrast, others delay their hospital visits, ignoring the issue at hand. We teach our kids some hygiene protocols to develop healthy habits. For instance, we teach them to wash their hands before and after a meal or use the restroom. We tell them it is because “it keeps the germs away.” And, it is better to keep ourselves safe from such germs before they cause harm.
They say prevention is better than cure, and as an example, you can take a look at the history of pandemics. You will see its catastrophic effect and how it affected people and their lives. From syphilis to Spanish flu, pandemics have taken a toll, but we do not see them recurring because we know the cure and preventative measures needed to keep ourselves safe. It took research and constant effort to find out its prevention and cure, and because of that, the world is safer from such diseases.
Our immune system plays a vital role in warding off diseases and keeping us safe from falling sick. This article focuses on the role of ‘prevention’ in our lives and well-being and why it is important.
- Future Preparedness
The COVID-19 outbreak was an eye-opener and made the world realize that we were not ready for such a catastrophic pandemic. People from clinical and non-clinical professions joined hands to fight the crisis at hand. People with various academic backgrounds, whether they had an online general studies degree in healthcare or a specialization degree in the same field contributed every bit to control the situation. From volunteering to spread awareness to tele-health services, the world managed to stabilize itself before it crashed completely. If we compare the recent cases worldwide with those in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant decline, and that is due to more people taking preventive measures against the disease.
- Promoting Healthier Choices
Working round-the-clock and relying on unhealthy processed food have deteriorated our health alarmingly. We are depending on quick fixes instead of choosing healthy foods. Many people now realize the value of healthy food and its impact on our health. Studies say that eating processed food can lead to increased body weight, high blood pressure, and high-fat content in our bodies. On the other hand, people eating healthy food manage to maintain their healthy BMI ranges. They do not face issues like obesity and hypertension. Though healthy foods may take a little longer to prepare than processed foods, they ultimately help you prevent health issues in the future.
- Building Immunity
A person frequently falling sick has a weak immune system. Any attack from a pathogen can lead to severe health complications. Our hands are the quick carriers of germs due to the surfaces that we touch. Getting vaccinations in due time plays an essential role in helping our bodies identify harmful pathogens and fight them off. If you have survived this pandemic without experiencing any symptom or ailment, consider yourself lucky. The credit goes to your immune system that helped in warding off diseases.
- Reducing Costs
Healthcare systems are there for treating patients and providing an accurate diagnosis, but frequent visits to hospital can be pretty costly. A person frequently falling ill or revisiting the hospital has to pay hefty medical bills. Frequent leaves from a job may also cost them job stability. Following health and hygiene practices ensure that we stay safe from such mishaps. Preventive measures can save you from revisiting the hospital and paying hefty bills.
- Stopping The Chain
When we talk about prevention, it indubitably includes preventing the problem itself. The world has seen many epidemics and disease outbreaks, but luckily, we do not see those diseases in the modern world. Additionally, although the novel coronavirus had no cure in its early phases, we saw a drastic decline a year later because of the preventive measures that people followed. Had we not followed the preventive protocols, it would have been difficult to stop the spread of the virus.
Conclusion
“Prevention is better than cure” is an adage concerning our health and well-being. The year 2020 was stressful and devastating for global health, which emphasized the weight of this saying. Taking such preventive measures to keep ourselves safe will not cost us much other than a few extra seconds of our lives dedicated to these practices. However, neglecting these practices can cost us a lot in the long run, so it’s wiser to include these in our lives and live healthily and comfortably.
