What is Preventative Healthcare?

The aim of this blog post is to explore something that's becoming more and more crucial in our lives: preventative healthcare. It's not just a buzzword; it's about taking control of our well-being before things go sideways. So, grab a cuppa, and let's dive in.

What's all this 'preventative healthcare' business, then?

Basically, preventative healthcare is all about stopping health problems before they even start. It's like putting on a raincoat before it pours, rather than mopping up afterwards. Instead of waiting for illness to strike, we're focusing on staying healthy in the first place.

To explain to clients what my role is as a preventative healthcare professional, I summarise it by saying ‘I am the person you see before you get sick…’

Of course, this is somewhat oversimplifying it because a person might already have a chronic illness (or several conditions). The goal here is management of the symptoms of these conditions, where relevant, through exercise, and through working alongside any treatment they are receiving. The goal is also to prevent any further conditions from developing.

Preventative healthcare is not a replacement for traditional healthcare and the emphasis must be on the client seeking any medical advice and support from healthcare professionals. Whilst part of my training means that it is important that I understand the impacts that certain medications may have on a client’s ability to perform exercise and the side effects that might occur, my role is never to advise clients on medication nor on treatment. I will always signpost a client to their healthcare provider for such questions.

My own experience as someone with two health conditions has been that mainstream fitness classes and approaches have felt exclusive, and my needs have not been supported. I realise that there are many others who feel the same way, which is why I have undertaken an additional qualification which enables me to work with people with several chronic health conditions, to ensure that I can programme for a wider range of clients in a safe and effective way and fully engage with secondary prevention.

Who's it for? Everyone!

Preventative healthcare applies to you. It applies to me. It applies to everyone. It's about building healthy habits that last a lifetime. It is about working with all people.

Why's it suddenly so important?

Well, a few things are happening:

Our lifestyles: We're living in a world of processed foods, screen time, and stress. These things aren't exactly our bodies' best mates.
An ageing population: We're living longer, which is brilliant, but it also means we need to stay healthier for longer to enjoy those extra years.
The NHS strain: Our brilliant NHS is under pressure. Preventative healthcare can help ease that burden by reducing the number of people needing serious treatment.

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention:

Prevention includes a wide range of activities — known as “interventions” — aimed at reducing risks or threats to health. You may have heard researchers and health experts talk about three categories of prevention: primary, secondary and tertiary. What do they mean by these terms?

Primary prevention aims to stop problems from occurring in the first place. This can involve actions at a population level to reduce risks or actions that address the underlying causes of problems. Examples include improving living conditions, reducing lifestyle risks, and preventing infectious diseases. This is about stopping a disease from developing in the first place. Think vaccinations, healthy eating, exercise, and avoiding smoking. It's about building a strong foundation.
Secondary prevention focuses on the early detection of problems to enable early intervention and treatment. This is about detecting and treating a disease early, before it gets too serious.
Tertiary prevention aims to minimise the harm caused by existing problems through careful management and support.

Secondary/ tertiary prevention can help to prevent further disease from developing. For example, if someone has arthritis in the knee, they may become less active or become fearful of exercise due to pain. Because of this, they might gain weight, thus becoming overweight or obese, not only placing more load on the joint, but also increasing the risk of developing further conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Early intervention with this person from a preventative healthcare perspective would mean working with them to create a programme of exercise designed to reduce the risk of further diseases and complications developing. This intervention would be alongside/ in collaboration with any treatment they are receiving from the healthcare provider, not instead of.

Primary prevention is action that tries to stop problems happening.

This can be either through actions at a population level that reduce risks or those that address the cause of the problem.

Secondary prevention is action which focuses on early detection of a problem to:

support early intervention and treatment
reduce the level of harm

Tertiary prevention is action that attempts to minimise the harm of a problem through careful management.

How does personal training, fitness, and nutrition fit in?

Massively! A good personal trainer can help you build an exercise routine that suits your needs. Fitness isn't just about aesthetics; it's about strengthening your heart, bones, and immune system. And nutrition? Well, you are what you eat, as they say. Eating a balanced diet gives your body the fuel it needs to thrive.

Sleep, Digital Health, and Stress Management: The Modern Essentials

Sleep: Quality sleep is non-negotiable. It's when our bodies repair and recharge. Digital devices and stress can mess with our sleep patterns, so prioritising good sleep hygiene is vital.
Digital health: We are spending more and more time online, which means we have more time sitting down and being sedentary. Minimising time online as much as possible and ensuring that devices are turned off a few hours before we go to sleep can be helpful. I will write more about digital health in a future blog post because it’s a huge topic.
Stress management: Stress is a silent killer. Learning to manage it through mindfulness, meditation, or even just taking a walk in the park can make a huge difference.

The financial link: poverty and health

The determinants of health and complex and multi-faceted. It would not be possible to cover all factors in one blog post, but I would like to make reference to the impact of poverty.. Poverty and financial instability have a massive impact on health. Access to healthy food, safe housing, and healthcare can be limited, leading to higher rates of chronic diseases. This is a social issue that needs addressing to improve overall health outcomes.

"Studies have shown that individuals living in poverty are more likely to experience chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders." (Marmot Review, 2010).

Having experienced unemployment (due to lack of available childcare) and subsequently poverty, I am in a unique position as a preventative healthcare professional to be able to understand the barriers and to support people to overcome them. It is one reason why I offer free local community walks in Sutton Park – to ensure that finances are not a barrier to accessing connection and fitness.

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My vision for the future, as my children grow up, is to expand the provision of such services, and to secure funding to be able to provide more hours to the community. I am always open to discussion with anyone who is already running a CiC or charity as to how we might collaborate.

It is my belief that we should have something equivalent to a National Preventative Healthcare Service, addressing issues before they happen, not just after the fact. This would involve access to free health and fitness initiatives as standard, across the UK. There are many schemes running across the UK including the excellent Be Active scheme in Birmingham. It would be good if such schemes could be expanded.

What can you do?

Make small changes: You don't have to become a fitness fanatic overnight. Start with small, manageable changes, like walking more or swapping sugary drinks for water.
Get regular check-ups: Don't wait until you're feeling unwell. See your GP for regular check-ups and screenings and health checks.
Work with a Preventative Healthcare specialist: Seek out a qualified health and fitness professional in your locality and they can create a tailored plan to suit your needs.
Prioritise mental health: Talk about your feelings, seek help if you're struggling, and practice stress-reducing techniques.
Educate yourself: Learn about healthy living and make informed choices. You can find a wealth of free resources on the NHS website
Speak to a social prescriber: Social prescribers are in many GP surgeries and other community spaces. They can signpost you to a wide range of community activities including free health and fitness.

Preventative healthcare is an investment in our future. It's about taking control of our health and building a healthier, happier life.

Tonia in the gym facing toward the camera with the gym equipment surrounding her.

Tonia Dunn is a 45-year-old mum-of-5, CIMSPA Member, personal trainer, health coach, writer and educator. She is an Associate Member of the Faculty of Public Health and has a strong interest in the promotion of health and prevention of disease. She works with the National Diabetes Prevention Programme, is a qualified Exercise Referral instructor and has knowledge and training to support several specialist populations including perimenopause and menopause, pregnancy and postnatal, older adults, people with chronic health conditions and people who have experienced life trauma/ PTSD.

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