Why Preventative Care is Important

Just as with a house or a car, the human body needs regular tune-ups and check-ups to make sure everything is running properly and prevent any major breakdowns down the road. While preventative care might not seem like that big of a deal, it can play a major role in ensuring the long term health of your child, even into adulthood. Though most children in public school settings get yearly physical checkups, it is in your child’s best interest to see their pediatrician on a routine basis. Many pediatric offices will have a recommended well child visit schedule that they encourage their patients to follow. Speak to your pediatrician, or look up a phrase such as “Pediatrician Cypress, TX “, to understand their policies around preventative care. If you are on the fence on whether to invest time into preventative care for your child, here are a few reasons why it is important and beneficial:

Improve Your Child’s Overall Health

The whole idea around preventative care is that it is designed to catch problems early before they become real issues down the line. During a regular well child visit, your pediatrician will examine your child for any indicators of potential health concerns, this can include: checking your child’s weight, testing their eyesight, checking their blood pressure, and assessing their spine for scoliosis. 

Should a pediatrician find that your child shows signs of a medical problem, such as failing an eye or hearing exam, then you and your pediatrician can flag the problem then you can get ahead of the issue. For example, if your child appears to have problems seeing from a distance, then your pediatrician can suggest seeking further testing from an optometrist so your child can get the visual aids they need, whether that be glasses or contacts. This way, your child gets the help they need before it becomes a hindrance to their education and day-to-day life. 

In addition, these well child visits can be a great time for parents to ask any questions they may have about their child’s health and wellbeing or for the pediatrician to approve the child for sports if they need a physical prior to participating. 

Increase Your Child’s Lifespan

Preventive care can drastically increase your lifespan because it allows you to catch things early and treat them much easier. Getting your child in the habit of seeking regular medical advice and care will set them up for a lifetime of integrating regular medical care into their lives. If your child has a chronic health issue, such as diabetes, regular management of the condition with the advice of medical professionals will ensure they have the knowledge and tools to keep tabs on their issue throughout their lives. 

Avoid Medical Expenses

It is a lot more cost effective to take your child to a regular wellness visit and catch a problem early than to have to head to an emergency room when the situation becomes critical. Or during a visit, your pediatrician can give you wellness advice that can prevent the need for an emergency room visit altogether. Hospital visits can be extremely expensive, not to mention emotionally draining and expensive. In addition, most insurance carriers will cover wellness visits partially or completely, as they also know it is much cheaper to pay for a preventative care visit than an ER visit.  

Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations

Lastly, during a well child visit, your pediatrician can ensure your child is all up to date with their vaccinations. Vaccinations are an important part of keeping both your child and your community healthy and safe. Next time you are in your family’ pediatric office, speak to your pediatrician about their recommended vaccination schedule and make sure your child has all the doses they need. Many schools and summer camps require children to be fully vaccinated before enrolling in classes and programs so it is in your best interest to keep your child up-to-date on their shots.