Preventative medicine (aka prophylaxis) are measures taken to prevent disease, as supposed to treating it. Diseases and disabilities are usually affected by environmental factors, genetic predispositions, disease agents, and lifestyle choices.

• Regular check ups with the doctor, even if they feel healthy, to perform disease screening, identify risk factors for diseases, discuss tips for a healthy and balanced lifestyle, stay up to date with immunizations and boosters, and maintain a good relationship with the healthcare provider
• Screening, including for HTN, hyperglycemia/T2DM, hypercholesterolemia, colon cancer, depression, HIV and other STD's (chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea), mammography, colorectal cancer, pap test/cervical cancer, and osteoporosis
• Genetic testing, for mutations causing genetic disorders, or predisposition to certain diseases (e.g. breast/ovarian cancer)
• Self care, a regulatory function that is deliberate and self-initiated. This includes adherence to medical advice, and includes:
  • Maintaining physical exercise, and good mental health
  • Eating well, dieting, fasting
  • Practising good personal hygiene
  • Avoid health hazards (e.g. cease smoking, and avoid alcohol abuse)
  • Recognize and evaluate Sx
  • Manage pain
  • Manage stress
  • Taking prescribed medications, and watching for drug side effects
  • Use of health care apps
  • Acting on quantized self data, which is acquired from wearable devices
• Virtual care, where Pt's obtain help from online resources, join social groups for chronic illnesses, explore their test results online, and can access practitioners via phone, email, or even videoconferencing. The Dr plays on the role of a coordinator or coach, passing down tools and expertise so the Pt can learn to Mx their own disease

• Each year, millions die from preventable deaths
• 50% of deaths are due to preventable behaviors and exposures
• Leading causes of CVD, chronic respiratory disease, unintentional injuries, diabetes, and certain infectious diseases, are preventable
• 400,000 people die yearly due to poor diet and sedentary lifestyles
• These measures aren't affordable for every individual, and cost effectiveness is a contested area

• Health care