You decide you are going to make more responsible health decisions. Which of the following risk factors can you control?

-Unintentional accidents are the leading cause of death for teens
- Your friends have recently started smoking
-There is a higher incidence of high blood pressure in your ethnic group
-There is a history of heart disease in your family

1 answer

Of the risk factors listed, the ones you can control are:

  • Your friends have recently started smoking: You have the ability to choose whether or not to smoke and how that influences your social circle. You can make a conscious decision to avoid smoking or to distance yourself from peers who smoke if it poses a risk to your health.

The other factors are generally considered to be uncontrollable:

  • Unintentional accidents are the leading cause of death for teens: This is a statistical risk that individuals cannot control directly but can mitigate through safe behaviors and awareness.

  • There is a higher incidence of high blood pressure in your ethnic group: This is a genetic and demographic factor beyond your control, although you can manage your health through lifestyle changes.

  • There is a history of heart disease in your family: This hereditary factor is also uncontrollable, but you can take proactive steps in your lifestyle to reduce your risk.

In summary, among the options given, the influence of your friends’ smoking habits is the primary factor you can control.