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Health issues11/12/2022 ![]() Yet math is often hidden in everyday activities that affect our health,” says Dr. “Math in general is hard for a lot of people. That’s why NIH supports research to improve how medical staff and others communicate health risks and prevention strategies to patients and the public. Even doctors sometimes have trouble with risk concepts. Talking about health risks can seem intimidating. And we ignore steps we can take to prevent what’s much more likely to harm us, like heart disease or colon cancer.” “We sometimes worry over something that’s extremely unlikely, like Ebola in the U.S. “In many ways, our perception of risk is irrational,” says Elwood. Exercise and a healthy diet, on the other hand, can make your chance of developing heart disease lower than for most other people. The more risk factors you have-such as smoking, high blood pressure, or diabetes-the greater your risk. If you’re younger than 45, your heart disease risk will generally be much lower. A general statement like “More than half of Americans over age 45 will develop heart disease at some point” is based on statistical averages across the entire U.S. If they’re not similar to you, or if the category is very broad, then your risks may be different. When you see health statistics, consider the types of people being described. Others are within your control, like your diet, physical activity, and whether you wear a seatbelt. Some risks factors can’t be changed, such as your genes A substance inherited from your parents that defines features such as your risk for certain diseases. Your personal health risk factors include your age, sex, family health history, lifestyle, and more. Several characteristics, called risk factors, affect whether your health risks are high or low. Risk doesn’t mean that something bad will definitely happen. “It gives you perspective on potential harms and benefits, so you can make smart choices based on facts and not fears.”Ī health risk is the chance or likelihood that something will harm or otherwise affect your health. William Elwood, a psychologist and behavioral scientist at NIH. “Understanding health risks is key to making your own health care decisions,” says Dr. Knowing the risks and benefits of a medical treatment can help you and your doctor make informed decisions. It can also keep you from fretting over unlikely threats. Knowing the risks you and your family may face can help you find ways to avoid health problems. Health risks can sometimes be confusing, but they’re important to understand. How can you know which health risks apply to you? And if you pay attention to news headlines, you may worry that you’re at risk for food poisoning, Zika infection, shark attacks, and more. Smoking increases your risk for many cancers. Obesity boosts the odds you’ll get diabetes. A nearby sneeze may raise your risk for catching the flu. ![]()
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