Health care in America has dominated headlines for the past decade, from the debate and passage of the Affordable Care Act, to the attempts in the past year by others to repeal and replace it.

Costs of doctor and hospital visits can make or break a family’s budget and many still live in fear of being one illness away from financial catastrophe.

However, in many cases the best medicine for health is a preventive approach, with regular screenings and check-ups with a doctor advised to detect, and hopefully stop, a health issue in its early stages.

Fortunately, for residents in Lawrence County, there are two events coming up locally next week, where people can go for such screening, and, in addition, receive much-needed information and advice on wellness.

The annual “Love Your Body” health fair is set for Wednesday in the Mains Rotunda of the Riffe building at Ohio University Southern in Ironton.

Organizers say it will provide a fun and informative way for people to learn about physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Hosted by the Ohio University Southern Student Resource Commons, the event will feature booths from a number of organizations, ranging from local hospitals like Cabell Huntington and Our Lady of Bellefonte, to displays on eating smart, to a presentation on Japanese stress reduction and wellness techniques.

The event is open to the public and will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Two days prior, on Monday, a Healthy Heart Fair is planned for the STEM+M Early College High School in South Point, from 5-7 p.m.

The event, staffed by students and others, will offer screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure and heart rate and will provide information on medical education, careers, wellness programs.

We encourage everyone to attend these events and take advantage of the opportunities. In addition to detecting existing problems, these fairs will allow attendees to learn about lifestyle changes that may go a long way to warding off larger medical problems down the road.