A variety of hereditary, environmental, and behavioral factors affect health and the risk of illness. The availability of health care (access to health care) also affects health risks; this factor is usually not within the health consumer's control. However, there are proven, effective ways to reduce the risks from other factors, including:
Practicing healthful living: Be proactive in developing a healthy lifestyle - eat a healthy diet, stay physically active.
Taking action to avoid or reduce known risks: Avoid the use of tobacco and activities such as riding without a safety belt, or riding with an intoxicated driver. The use of alcohol and other drugs and/or participation in unprotected sexual activity also present known risks that can be avoided or prevented.
Obtaining regular checkups and recommended services to prevent disease: Get needed medical services, including immunizations, and dental care, in order to keep disease from occurring or to catch disease in an early stage when it is more easily treated. Of course, health care must be available (and affordable) if health consumers are to access these needed services.