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The Health of Washington State - Major Risk and Protective Factors

Major Risk and Protective Factors (Section Overview) - Risk factors are characteristics of individuals, families, and communities that make us more vulnerable to ill health. Protective factors are characteristics that “protect” and thus significantly reduce the likelihood of disease, injury, or disability ...

Social Determinants of Health - Social conditions are major determinants of health. Social forces acting at a collective level shape individual biology, individual risk behaviors, environmental exposures, and access to ...

Tobacco Use and Exposure - Tobacco use is the leading single cause of preventable death in our society - one in five of all deaths can be attributed to tobacco use. More than 20% of Washington adults continue to use tobacco ...

Alcohol and Drug Disorders - Negative health effects of alcohol and illicit drug consumption, such as liver disease, some cancers, and trauma, are associated with greater quantities and duration of use. In Washington State in 1999, 14.4% (± 1.6%) of adults reported drinking ...

Obesity and Overweight - Obese and overweight individuals are more prone than normal weight individuals to develop hypertension, elevated blood cholesterol, and diabetes, which increase the risk of heart disease. Overweight individuals are also at increased risk of ...

Physical Activity - The benefits of regular physical activity include reduced rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, falls and fractures, and obesity. Physical activity also reduces ...

Nutrition - Chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis are leading causes of death and disability for many Americans. A nutritious diet can reduce major risk factors for ...

Sexual Behavior - Sexual behavior is part of normal human experience. Unhealthy sexual behaviors can have a number of physical and mental health effects ...

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