Taking small, sensible precautions every day—from choosing healthy foods to taking your medicines as recommended—can help prevent many major medical problems. Research shows that simple preventive strategies can also help curb medical costs. Once a serious medical condition develops, the treatment may require costly medication, surgery, or hospitalization. In fact, 70 percent of healthcare costs are linked to preventable illnesses or conditions.

A recent review in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed that preventive healthcare strategies can save consumers money, as well as improve their well-being and longevity.

For better health and lower costs, try to:

• Stop smoking. This expensive habit harms nearly every organ of the body, causing multiple cancers, cardiovascular disease, bone damage, and adverse reproductive effects.
• Vaccinate. Flu shots offer low-cost protection for all ages. Those older than age 65 should also get a pneumonia shot.
• Move and eat right. Exercise regularly and eat a balanced, nutritious diet—one low in unhealthy fats and high in fruits and vegetables. These are the keys to avoiding obesity and related health risks.
• Check your vitals. Men and women both need regular checks of their weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Unhealthy levels can lead to serious, disabling health problems.
• Get screened. Talk with your doctor to schedule an annual physical examination and determine what screenings are right for you. Screenings like mammograms (used to find breast cancer in women) or PSA blood tests (to check for prostate cancer in men) can help detect disease early, when it’s most treatable.