Primary, secundary and terciary prevention

Primary Prevention
Primary prevention measures fall into two categories. The first category includes actions to protect against disease and disability, such as getting immunizations, ensuring the supply of safe drinking water, applying dental sealants to prevent tooth decay, and guarding against accidents. Examples of primary prevention of accidents include government and state requirements forworkplace safety to prevent industrial injuries and equipping automobiles with air bags and anti-lock brakes.
General action to promote health is the other category of primary prevention measures. Health promotion includes the basic activities of a healthy lifestyle: good nutrition and hygiene, adequate exercise and rest, and avoidance of environmental and health risks. Limiting exposure tosunlight, using sunscreen, and wearing protective clothing are examples of primary prevention measures to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.
Health promotion also includes education about the other interdependent dimensions of health known as wellness. Examples of health education programs aimed at wellness include stress management, parenting classes, preparation for retirement from theworkforce, and cooking classes.
Historically, public health programs in developed countries have emphasized the primary prevention of infectious diseases (illnesses caused by microorganisms) by making environmental changes, such as improving the safety and purity of food and water supplies, and providing immunizations. Figure 2.1 shows the recommended schedule of childhood immunizations—a key primaryprevention measure in the United States and other developed countries.
Today, the most pressing health problems in developed countries are chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Primary prevention of chronic diseases is more challenging than primary prevention of infectious diseases because it requires changing health behaviors. Efforts to change deeply-rooted and oftenculturally-influenced patterns of behaviors, such as diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and physical inactivity, generally have been less successful than environmental health and immunization programs.
Primary prevention programs are developed in response to actual and potential threats to community public health. Recent primary prevention programs have examined ways to prevent youth violence and actsof bioterrorism (use of biological or chemical weapons).
Secondary Prevention
What is secondary prevention?
* Identifying and treating people with established disease and those at very high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
* Treating and rehabilitating patients who've had a heart attack or stroke to prevent another cardiovascular or cerebro vascular event.
AHA RecommendationAlthough risk interventions significantly improve clinical outcomes, they are applied inconsistently across medical care settings and patient groups. The American Heart Association urges that every effort be made to promote more comprehensive application of risk reduction in all eligible patients.
What can secondary prevention achieve?
1. Heart or stroke patients can do this to help lowertheir risk of recurring disease:
* Before your next visit, tell your doctor you'd like an assessment of your fasting lipid profile. You'll receive simple instructions before the test. If you need to lower your blood cholesterol, find out whether drug therapy or a low-saturated-fat diet or simpler treatment is warranted.
* During your visit, ask your doctor to suggest physical activity thatyou can do for 30–60 minutes, preferably daily, or at least five days per week.
* Ask what your ideal weight is, and if you exceed it, ask your doctor to prescribe a diet and exercise program.
* Have your blood pressure checked regularly. If you have high blood pressure, you may be put on medication. You'll also be told about weight control, physical activity, drinking alcohol and sodium...