It's Up to You

Each of us chooses our own general life style. We decide the work we do, what we eat, and whether we use tobacco or drink alcohol or use drugs. We also control the amount of exercise we get, the physical risks we run, and when we see a physician. In cooperation with other people, we can also have some influence over the quality of our neighborhoods and over the amount of pollution to which we are exposed.

It's up to you to be responsible for your own life style. This simple commitment is the first step toward long and healthy life. No one else can make this commitment for you. No one else can sleep, exercise, buckle up, or eat balanced meals on your behalf. Indeed, you are the only one who is in a position to take responsibility for your own health. Only you can know all the forces — physical, mental, social, economic, cultural — that influence your health. You are the only one who can shape your behavior in ways that affect your health.

In order to maintain health, you need to un­derstand how the body functions and what risk factors apply to you. You also need to under­stand the link between emotional, mental, and physical health. This book discusses these and other aspects of health. It will enable you to make informed decisions about your own health.

Good health is something you can choose to strive for. But it is not the result of a one-time decision. It grows from a series of decisions lasting your whole life. Each decision has a bearing on whether or not you will enjoy a feeling of wellness. It's up to you.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. List five factors that affect the state of your health.

2. In what specific areas has public education had some success in helping people change their health habits?

3. What is preventive medicine?

4. What kinds of knowledge mustyou gain in order to take care of your own health?