Health promotion: the essence of primary healthcare

Background: Health promotion is well known for its role in disease prevention and non-pharmacological treatment, and how it has helped improve disease prognosis. It is also one of the most important functions of a well-qualified primary care physician. Current Concepts: The four main areas of health promotion in primary care are smoking cessation, nutrition, physical activity, and weight control. There is strong evidence to suggest that quitting smoking can prevent a variety of tobacco-related cancers. A well-balanced diet along with the right amount of exercise and resulting weight control are just as important as pharmacologic treatments for comorbidities related to obesity and cardiovascular diseases. As can be deduced from the leading causes of deaths in Korea in 2021, the majority of them are caused by diseases on which health promotion can prove to be a useful remedy. The potentially significant impact of health promotion is emphasized here. Discussion and Conclusion: Although it may not produce dramatic results, the essence of primary care is health promotion as it also saves great lives in the long term. Despite the importance of health promotion in overall patient care, there is a lack of public awareness and support on this issue, and primary care physicians are sometimes underappreciated. Reinforcement of nationwide financial support for health promotion is needed for primary care physicians practicing with earnest conviction to prevent and treat diseases.