Early Disease Detection Key to Good Health

The most important aspect of protecting and preserving our good health is by early detection of disease. Discovering a disease in its early stages greatly increases the opportunity to reverse, stop or treat the damage and regain our health.  Rapid advances in the field of medicine have significantly improved our ability to maintain good health and enjoy longer lives.     

The following are three important and sequential steps leading to the early detection of disease.    

Importance of Patient History for Diagnosis

Why does patient history matter?

Using patient history is critical for an efficient and accurate diagnosis. The diagnostic process often involves taking medical history, performing a physical examination, prescribing diagnostic tests and interpreting the collective results. If a piece of patient history is missing, it may misguide the entire diagnostic pathway. Therefore, the information elucidated while taking patient history will ultimately enable the clinician to select the timeliest approach.

Obtaining a thorough patient history is also the first step to assure that the process is cost-effective. By being specific and selective, the amount of unnecessary tests can be significantly reduced. This can protect patients from extensive additional testing that may eventually provide a diagnosis, but at a greater cost to the patient.