When they say that being a woman is tough, it’s not as far from the truth as we joke about. Eating properly and staying active are great ways to stay healthy, but they will not guarantee that you won’t get sick. There are many factors that will affect your health that you ultimately have no control over. Some factors that will affect your health that are out of your control include (but are not limited to) your gender, ethnicity, and family background.
It is important to know those factors that might affect your health that are out of your control so that you can be proactive and have them looked at by a professional. If any of these factors affect your health, it is good to recognize them and get them treated early so you can lower the risk of these health issues.
Ethnicity
Family heritage is a major factor for many health issues. Depending on your ethnicity, you could be at risk for any number of diseases or conditions. The risks and diagnoses of certain conditions will vary from race to race and from your family’s place of origin. For example, African-American health issues might vary from those of Chinese descent. Experts at Cleveland Clinic note differences in things like cultures that eat a low-fat diet high in fruits and vegetables will have different risk factors than cultures that take walks after dinner? On the other hand, they note, some ethnicities have higher rates of smoking and more damaging diets.
Gender
Another big factor that could affect your risk of disease is your gender. Men and women are not only different in their health needs, but also in their health risks. The main differences in health issues tend to be in the reproductive system. Women have a higher risk of getting breast cancer while men have high risk of prostate cancer. Women have a lower bone density, so they require more calcium in their diet because they have a higher risk of getting osteoporosis. No matter your gender, however, there are precautions that will help you to lower the chance of getting any of these or other gender-based conditions so long as you are proactive and healthy.
Family History
One of the largest factors that you cannot control but that greatly affect your health is your family history. Knowing whether heart disease, cancer, or other major health conditions are common in your family is important to know. Learn about your family’s history of health conditions and get the necessary tests done early so that you can treat them before they become serious or fatal. There are multiple tests you can take that will help you determine what risks you have and that will help you to take care of your body before anything serious develops.
Living a healthy life might seem easy, but a lot of the health risks are out of our control. The best you can do is to get tested early for any possible risks and monitor any conditions that arise. Do not take these factors lightly, as they will have a major impact on your health both now and for generations to come.