Health risks are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and even the people around us. But understanding health risks is key to making your own health care decisions.
Health risks are the chance or likelihood that something will harm or otherwise affect your health. Risk doesn’t mean that something bad will definitely happen, It’s a possibility.
Several characteristics, called risk factors, affect whether your health risks are high or low.
Health risk factors include age, gender, family, health history, lifestyle, and more.
The good news is that you don’t have to be afraid of them. Understanding what health risks are and how they work—and learning how to avoid them—is key to making informed decisions about how to reduce your exposure and the steps you can take to protect yourself from harm.
There are many different kinds of health risks, and they can be divided into two main categories: environmental and genetic.
Environmental risk factors include things like smoking or drinking alcohol, while genetic risk factors include diseases like diabetes or heart disease that run in families.
Both environmental and genetic factors can be managed through lifestyle changes and medication.
Health risks that are genetically or ethnically connected to a person are more difficult to avoid or improve.
Nevertheless, there are many things you can do to reduce your health risks;
- Develop a habit of regular health checks so your health risks for different conditions can be properly assessed early enough.
- Eat healthy foods (vegetables and fruits) and drink plenty of water every day.
- Get enough sleep.
- Exercise regularly.
- Take care of yourself mentally by spending time with friends and family members who love you unconditionally so they can support you through hard times without being judgmental.
- Avoid dangerous substances like cigarettes, alcohol and drugs.
