Controllable Risk Factors for Physical Illness

There are a number of risk factors for physical illness which cannot be controlled. These include family history of illness, gender and age.

However, there are numerous risk factors which can be addressed. For example there is a clear link between factors such as poor living conditions and lack of early health intervention and poor physical health. Lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise can also increase the risk of developing a range of physical illnesses. Changes in behaviour to address unhealthy practices can significantly improve health and reduce this risk.

The following sections offer information about specific controllable lifestyle factors and information which might help to address these. Obviously, each case is individual and what some people find helpful others might not. These suggestions should be viewed as a starting point and one’s own discretion and innovation used in the case of each service user. Service users should be encouraged to address unhealthy behaviours but action points should not be imposed. Changes in unhealthy behaviours are only likely to happen if the service user recognises the behaviour as a problem and genuinely wants to make a change.

• Diet
• Exercise  
• Sleeping
• Smoking  
• Alcohol and Drug Use
• Sexual health