Listen and Learn

Once your health care provider has assessed your health status and reviewed your test results, it is time to listen to the counsel and recommendations offered. This is a very important part of the prevention process; you will probably need to take notes and may have follow-up questions. You can expect to be counseled about changes you can make regarding things you have control over.

Your health care provider can help you to avoid illness by discussing facets of your lifestyle, activities, and behaviors that affect your health. Likely topics are injury prevention, nutrition and exercise, substance abuse (including alcohol, tobacco, and drugs), and activities that place you at higher risk, including, for example, your occupation and sexual activities. Listen for what changes you can make and discuss areas that present difficulty. Even small changes can be the beginning of better health. Some of the areas in your control are:

• Smoking
• Seat belt use
• Driving while impaired (due to alcohol or other drugs)
• Physical inactivity
• Eating habits and diet
• High risk sexual practices