top of page
Search
berryphillipp

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: The Benefits of Screening, Immunization, and Education



Disease prevention, understood as specific, population-based and individual-based interventions for primary and secondary (early detection) prevention, aiming to minimize the burden of diseases and associated risk factors.




Disease Prevention




Primary prevention refers to actions aimed at avoiding the manifestation of a disease (this may include actions to improve health through changing the impact of social and economic determinants on health; the provision of information on behavioral and medical health risks, alongside consultation and measures to decrease them at the personal and community level; nutritional and food supplementation; oral and dental hygiene education; and clinical preventive services such as immunization and vaccination of children, adults and the elderly, as well as vaccination or post-exposure prophylaxis for people exposed to a communicable disease).


Secondary prevention deals with early detection when this improves the chances for positive health outcomes (this comprises activities such as evidence-based screening programs for early detection of diseases or for prevention of congenital malformations; and preventive drug therapies of proven effectiveness when administered at an early stage of the disease).


It should be noted that while primary prevention activities may be implemented independently of capacity-building in other health care services, this is not the case for secondary prevention. Screening and early detection is of limited value (and may even be detrimental to the patient) if abnormalities cannot be promptly corrected or treated through services from other parts of the health care system. Moreover, a good system of primary health care with a registered population facilitates the optimal organization and delivery of accessible population based screening programs and should be vigorously promoted.


Health promotion is the process of empowering people to increase control over their health and its determinants through health literacy efforts and multisectoral action to increase healthy behaviors. This process includes activities for the community-at-large or for populations at increased risk of negative health outcomes. Health promotion usually addresses behavioral risk factors such as tobacco use, obesity, diet and physical inactivity, as well as the areas of mental health, injury prevention, drug abuse control, alcohol control, health behavior related to HIV, and sexual health.


Disease prevention and health promotion share many goals, and there is considerable overlap between functions. On a conceptual level, it is useful to characterize disease prevention services as those primarily concentrated within the health care sector, and health promotion services as those that depend on intersectoral actions and/or are concerned with the social determinants of health.


6705 Rockledge Drive, Room 733, MSC 7990Bethesda, MD 20892Email: user = 'prevention';site = 'nih.gov';document.write('');document.write(user + '@' + site + '');301-827-5561PoliciesAccessibilityODP Event GuidelinesDisclaimersFOIAPrivacy PolicyHHS Vulnerability Disclosure


We want everyone in Wisconsin to live their best life. The prevalence of chronic disease and health inequities threaten this vision. Why? Chronic diseases are common, costly, and can be deadly, especially without adequate treatment. Studies have shown that effective prevention can completely avoid or delay many chronic diseases, limiting their negative impact. In addition, people who already have these conditions can benefit from increased access to care, help with managing symptoms, and more.


To help address these issues, we work hard to address environments, systems, and health behaviors that are associated with key chronic diseases and precursors. Our program's impact spans all ages and across multiple settings, including health care, local community, early care and education, schools, and work sites.


Chronic disease is greatly influenced by social determinants of health, or the social, economic and physical conditions in the environment in which people are born, live, learn, play, work and age. As an example, the prevalence of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes is higher among people with lower incomes and education levels. We also know that, due to systemic oppression, such as racism, people who are forcibly marginalized, such as Black, brown, Indigenous, and other people of color, often fall into higher risk categories. When we add in data around how the stressors that come along with discrimination can affect the body, it shows us an increase in risk from both the systems and people that engage in discrimination.


We utilize data and tools to find populations that, due to systems of oppression, are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases and related risks such as high blood pressure. We can then work with groups and/or members of these communities to tailor messaging and interventions to reach these populations in a culturally competent manner.


Through the creation and maintenance of partnerships across Wisconsin, we can coordinate effective work to increase prevention efforts, improve access to care, and more. This also helps us to be mindful of the ways that culture, location, and region can all impact health. Examples of partners include local city- or county-level health departments, coalitions, organizations, community members, and more.


Chronic Disease in Rural America This topic guide offers the latest news, events, resources, and funding related to health promotion and disease prevention, as well as a comprehensive overview of related issues.


Health promotion and disease prevention programs focus on keeping people healthy. Health promotion programs aim to engage and empower individuals and communities to choose healthy behaviors, and make changes that reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and other morbidities. Defined by the World Health Organization, health promotion:


Wellness is related to health promotion and disease prevention. Wellness is described as the attitudes and active decisions made by an individual that contribute to positive health behaviors and outcomes.


Health promotion and disease prevention programs often address social determinants of health, which influence modifiable risk behaviors. Social determinants of health are the economic, social, cultural, and political conditions in which people are born, grow, and live that affect health status. Modifiable risk behaviors include, for example, tobacco use, poor eating habits, and lack of physical activity, which contribute to the development of chronic disease.


Chronic Disease in Rural America Topic Guide Website Provides information on the impact of chronic disease, strategies for helping chronic disease patients, and funding sources for chronic disease programs. Organization(s): Rural Health Information Hub


National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Website Provides information, statistics, tools, and resources related to health promotion and disease prevention program planning. Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


The Power of Prevention: Chronic Disease...the Public Health Challenge of the 21st Century Document Covers chronic diseases, their causes, and their costs. Recommends strategies and actions for improving well-being, reducing health disparities, promoting policy, translation of research, and workforce development. Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Date: 2009


The New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) was signed into law on May 5, 2021. The law mandates extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during a future airborne infectious disease outbreak.


The airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plans must go into effect when an airborne infectious disease is designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health. When designated, employers are required to provide a copy of the adopted airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plan and post the same in a visible and prominent location within each worksite. Templates and resources are available below.


On March 17, 2022, the designation of COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health under the HERO Act ended. Private sector employers are no longer required to implement their workforce safety plans.


Infectious diseases, from flu to smallpox, affect all of us at one time or another. Through the Infectious Disease Division (IDEPC), we monitor the occurrence of infectious diseases, develop strategies for preventing and controlling disease, and work to put those strategies into action.


Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it ever occurs. This is done by preventing exposures to hazards that cause disease or injury, altering unhealthy or unsafe behaviours that can lead to disease or injury, and increasing resistance to disease or injury should exposure occur. Examples include:


Secondary prevention aims to reduce the impact of a disease or injury that has already occurred. This is done by detecting and treating disease or injury as soon as possible to halt or slow its progress, encouraging personal strategies to prevent reinjury or recurrence, and implementing programs to return people to their original health and function to prevent long-term problems. Examples include:


Tertiary prevention aims to soften the impact of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting effects. This is done by helping people manage long-term, often-complex health problems and injuries (e.g. chronic diseases, permanent impairments) in order to improve as much as possible their ability to function, their quality of life and their life expectancy. Examples include: 2ff7e9595c


0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page