Risk Factors
What is a risk factor?
Something that increases the chance of developing a disease or health problem.
A long-term illness that lasts for months or years.
Chronic Disease
Personal actions and choices that affect health.
behavioral factors
Things in the surrounding world that impact health.
environmental factors
What does it mean if a disease “runs in your family”?
It means the disease is more likely because of genetics.
Name one risk factor you can control and one you cannot.
Controllable = smoking, exercise, diet. Uncontrollable = genetics, age, environment.
Give one example of a chronic disease.
Diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or cancer.
Name a behavior that increases the risk of chronic disease.
Smoking, lack of exercise, or poor diet.
Give one example of an environmental factor that harms health.
Air pollution, dirty water, secondhand smoke, or toxic chemicals.
The traits and health conditions passed from parents to children.
genetics
Which is harder to control: personal choices, environment, or family history? Why?
Family history, because it is passed down genetically and cannot be changed.
A disease that can often be avoided through healthy choices and early care.
preventable disease
Which is a healthier choice: sitting all day or walking daily? Why?
Walking daily, because it lowers disease risk and strengthens the body.
Give one example of an environmental factor that supports good health.
Clean water, safe parks, fresh food access.
If your parents have high blood pressure, how might this affect your health?
You may be more likely to develop it too.
If a person lives in a polluted city, what type of risk factor is this?
environmental factor?
Name one chronic disease that is often preventable.
Type 2 diabetes, lung cancer, or heart disease.
How can smoking affect your long-term health?
It can cause lung cancer, heart disease, and breathing problems.
How does access to clean water affect community health?
It prevents disease and keeps people healthy.
Why is it important to know your family health history?
So you can understand your risks and make healthier choices.
Explain how multiple risk factors together can increase someone’s chance of getting sick.
The risks add up—for example, smoking + poor diet + family history of heart disease makes disease more likely.
Compare and contrast chronic and preventable diseases
Chronic = long-term illness; Preventable = can often be avoided. Some diseases can be both chronic and preventable.
Explain how healthy eating and regular exercise lower disease risk.
They strengthen the body, keep weight under control, and prevent conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Explain how environment and personal choices interact to affect health.
A healthy environment makes good choices easier; a polluted environment makes disease more likely.
Can healthy choices lower your risk even if a disease runs in your family? Explain.
Yes—choices like eating well, exercising, and avoiding smoking can reduce risk even with genetics.