Preventive care is the part of primary care focused on keeping you healthy instead of treating illness after it starts. It includes annual exams, wellness visits, routine screenings, vaccinations, and preventive counseling, and it is one of the most effective ways to protect your long-term health.
What counts as preventive care?
Preventive care covers the services that find problems early or stop them before they develop. At TruHealth Primary Care, that includes annual exams and wellness visits, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, diabetes and cancer screenings, vaccinations, and counseling on nutrition, activity, tobacco, and alcohol use. The exact services are chosen for your age, sex, history, and risk factors.
- Annual exams and wellness visits
- Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar screening
- Age-appropriate cancer screenings
- Vaccinations and immunization updates
- Lifestyle and risk-factor counseling
What happens during an annual wellness visit?
An annual wellness visit is a conversation-based check-in. Your provider reviews your health history, current medications, and any changes since your last visit, measures your height, weight, and blood pressure, and builds a personalized prevention plan for the coming year. Medicare covers a yearly wellness visit for beneficiaries, and many plans cover preventive visits at no cost, though coverage varies by plan.
Which screenings matter most for adults?
Current guidelines recommend blood pressure screening at routine visits, cholesterol screening for most adults, diabetes screening starting at age 35 for adults with overweight or obesity, colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45, and breast and cervical cancer screening for women on an individualized schedule. These are general recommendations; your provider tailors the timing and frequency to your personal risk.
What vaccines do adults need?
Adult vaccination schedules typically include an annual flu shot, updated COVID-19 vaccination, a Tdap booster every 10 years, shingles vaccination starting at age 50, pneumococcal vaccination at age 50 or younger with certain conditions, and RSV vaccination for older adults. Your provider reviews which vaccines are due at your visit.
Why does prevention matter in primary care?
Preventive care catches high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, and other conditions years before they cause symptoms. It also builds the relationship that makes future care better: a provider who knows your normal is better able to notice when something changes.
When should you schedule a preventive visit?
Most adults benefit from a preventive visit at least once a year, even when they feel well. Schedule sooner if you have new symptoms, a new diagnosis, a family history concern, or questions about screenings or vaccines.
Frequently asked questions
Does TruHealth offer annual physicals and wellness visits?
Is a preventive visit covered by insurance?
Sources and further reading
Educational purpose: This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health situation.
About the author: Tina Jordan, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and the lead provider at TruHealth Primary Care in Locust Grove, Georgia.