Final answer:
Preventative health behaviors help in promoting health, reducing health risks, avoiding and breaking unhealthy habits, and are essential in preventing noninfectious diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of preventative health behaviors include actions that promote health and wellbeing, reduce various health risks, avoid unhealthy behaviors, and help individuals break unhealthy habits. These behaviors are crucial in mitigating the risk of chronic noninfectious diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain forms of cancer. By engaging in activities such as consuming a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol use, and protecting skin from excessive sun exposure, individuals can significantly lower their chances of developing these conditions. Additionally, public and community health initiatives focus on preventing diseases and injuries by addressing environmental factors and promoting behavior change.