Prevention – take health into your own hands

Prevention includes all measures that promote people's health. The aim is to prevent diseases, reduce the risk of them developing or counteract the progression of existing diseases. 

Experts distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. While primary prevention aims at preventing illness before it starts (e.g. vaccinations), secondary prevention aims at detecting illnesses at an early stage (e.g. early detection of bowel cancer). Tertiary prevention applies to existing illnesses (e.g. patient training for diabetes).

The following applies to all phases of prevention: Personal behavior plays a central role. Many heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, severe overweight (obesity) and numerous other diseases are significantly influenced by risk factors that can be controlled by the patients themselves, in addition to hereditary (family) predisposition, age and gender. These diseases belong to what are called non-communicable diseases.

Many cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and obesity can be effectively prevented by switching to a healthy lifestyle with a balanced and healthy diet, plenty of physical activity, no smoking, no or at least as little alcohol consumption as possible, stress reduction and sufficient sleep. A change in lifestyle can also positively influence diseases that are already existing.

In our Prevention section, you can find out more about how diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity develop, what you can do to prevent these diseases and where you can find help.