Risk Factors
Chronic disease risk factors can be non-modifiable (i.e. age, race/ethnicity, biological gender, family history) or something a person can modify (i.e. smoking tobacco, using drugs and/or alcohol, poor diet, lack of exercise). Many chronic diseases share the same risk factors, which this table strives to incorporate.
| Cancer | CVD | Endocrine | GI | Respiratory | Renal | |
| *Age | X | X | X | |||
| Alcohol Use | X | X | ||||
| Cholesterol (increased) | X | X | X | |||
| Diabetes | X | X | ||||
| Diet (poor) | X | X | X | X | ||
| *Family History | X | X | X | X | X | |
| *Gender | X | |||||
| High Blood Pressure | X | X | ||||
| Obesity | X | X | X | |||
| Physical Activity (decreased) | X | X | X | X | ||
| *Race / Ethnicity | X | X | ||||
| Tobacco Use | X | X | X | |||
| Infection | X | X |
Preventative Factors
Just as chronic diseases share risk factors, so to do they share factors that can prevent or reduce the risk of disease.
| Cancer | CVD | Endocrine | GI | Respiratory | Renal | |
| Cholesterol Control | X | |||||
| Control High Blood Pressure | X | X | ||||
| Exercise Regularly | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Healthy Diet | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Limit Alcohol | X | X | X | X | ||
| Maintain a Healthy Weight | X | X | X | X | ||
| Manage Other Chronic Diseases | X | X | ||||
| Manage Stress | X | X | X | |||
| Sleep 7-9 Hours per Night | X | |||||
| Stop Tobacco Use | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Stop Risky Behaviors | X | |||||
| Wear Sunscreen | X |
In addition, the CDC recommends that all adults keep their vaccinations up to date. Childhood immunizations may wear off after time and need a “booster shot,” and you are at risk for other diseases as an adult.
All adults need:
- Influenza vaccine (every year)
- Tdap vaccine (if they did not receive it as an adolescent to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), and then a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years.
If you have a chronic disease, you talk with your doctor to determine what other vaccines may be appropriate for you.