The positive impact of preventive health
Col. Andrew Wiesen, director of preventive health for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, talks about the role of preventive health and good health habits in improving length and quality of life. (Photo courtesy of Col. Andrew Wiesen)
Careful maintenance keeps your car running well year after year. Your body is significantly more complex and much less predictable. Fueling the body with the right mix of nutrients will optimize energy, while practicing good daily health habits will help fight illness, disease, and injury. These good habits are essential for the health and readiness of service members – both in theater and at home. August is Preventive Health Month, a perfect time to remember the services, benefits, and tools available through the Military Health System that can lead to a better, healthier life.
In the MHS, the top priority is readiness. Taking steps to improve health through measures, such as receiving annual physicals and exercising daily, can enhance the readiness of service members and the well-being of their families. Achieving improved readiness through prevention takes teamwork throughout all levels of the MHS. From the policymakers in Health Affairs all the way to the service members and their families who enjoy the benefits of prevention, the MHS ensures that the most effective preventive programs and services are available to beneficiaries. Preventive medicine services undergo continuous review at all levels throughout the MHS in order to better understand how they are being implemented, how effective they are, and how they can be improved.
Preventive medicine programs are designed to reduce or eliminate the risk of diseases or injuries that may affect you. While even the best prevention programs can’t guarantee against illness, they offer a significant opportunity to improve the quality and length of life.
Primary prevention, which is offered to all MHS beneficiaries through a variety of services, is one of the best ways to protect your health. These services include vaccines, preventive counseling, and routine health screenings. It isn’t always possible to know where or how the next health threat will appear, but implementing sound preventive medicine habits, such as staying up-to-date on vaccines, can improve your chances of staying healthy.
The MHS is committed to reducing risk to our deployed service members from foreseeable threats. From insect-borne illnesses like malaria to injury prevention, the MHS works hard to reduce the risk of diseases and nonbattle injuries among service members. The MHS ensures providers have the right tools at the right time in the right place to provide maximum protection for service members.
To maximize the chance to lead a strong, healthy life, remember the positive impact of preventive services and good health habits – not just this month, but all year-round. Today is a great day to start.
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