A medical specialty concerned with ways in which diseases can be prevented.
Care which has the aim of preventing disease or its consequences. It includes health care programs aimed at warding off illnesses (e.g., immunization), early detection of disease (e.g., Pap smears), and inhibiting further deterioration of the body (e.g., exercise or prophylactic surgery). Preventive medicine developed subsequent to bacteriology , and was concerned in its early history with specific medical control measures taken against the agents of infectious diseases. With increasing knowledge of nutritional, malignant and other chronic diseases, the scope of preventive medicine has been extended. It is now operatively assumed that most if not all problems are preventable at some stage of their development. Preventive medicine is also concerned with general preventive measures aimed at improving the healthfulness of our environment and our relations with it through such things as avoidance of hazardous substances, modified diet, and family planning. In particular, the promotion of health through altering behavior, especially by health education, is gaining prominence as a component of preventive care.
Action carried out to stop disease from occurring, e.g. by education in health-related issues, immunization and screening for known diseases.
That branch of medicine concerned primarily with the prevention of disease; it concerns itself with immunization, eradication of disease carriers (e.g., malaria-carrying mosquitoes), screening programs, and other factors.
The branch of medicine whose main aim is the prevention of disease. This is a wide field, in which workers tackle problems ranging from the immunization of persons against infectious diseases, such as diphtheria or whooping cough, to finding methods of eliminating vectors, such as malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
The field of medicine dedicated to averting illnesses. It encompasses initiatives in public health, such as ensuring clean water supplies and sanitation; education and advocacy for health; targeted preventive actions, like immunization against contagious ailments; and screening initiatives aimed at identifying diseases before they manifest symptoms.
In developed nations, the central aim of preventive medicine is to inform the adult populace about adopting healthier lifestyles. Within the UK, a significant portion of premature adult deaths before the age of 65 are avoidable, often stemming from accidents and influenced by behaviors like smoking, poor dietary habits, excessive alcohol intake, and inadequate physical activity. Embracing a more health-conscious way of life, expanding the utilization of screenings for different types of cancer, and implementing measures to decrease accidents could collectively yield noteworthy enhancements in overall well-being.