The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan Sue Cridland, left, HealthLink Littauer director of community education, takes the blood pressure of Dick Bant of Johnstown during a screening at HealthLink in Johnstown in January. Hospitals, doctors, health care groups and insurers encourage screenings and other preventive health care measures.

Live better, live longer, save money.


Those are the goals of preventive health care measures designed to keep patients from becoming ill, find diseases in their early stages when they may be easier to treat, and reduce the cost of health care.


Dr. David Pesses has worked as a primary care physician for Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville for 27 years. He said many Americans suffer from maladies brought on by their lifestyles. Healthier choices can lead to healthier lives, he says.


“A tremendous number of Americans have a chronic illness,” Pesses said. “Many of our illnesses are almost self-induced, either by not getting enough exercise, not eating well enough or smoking. If you could help people in those areas, you could dramatically improve the health of most Americans. You could dramatically cut down the cost of health care, actually.