Final answer:
Eliminating known risk factors for a disease may reduce the chance of developing it, particularly with noninfectious diseases that are often influenced by modifiable lifestyle choices. Some risk factors, such as age, gender, and genetics, are not changeable but still important in prevention and management. Targeting modifiable behaviors is key to reducing the burden of noninfectious diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
By eliminating known risk factors for a disease, a person may reduce the chance of developing that disease. Risk factors for noninfectious diseases include but are not limited to age, gender, inherited genes, and environmental factors such as radon exposure, as well as behaviors such as smoking. Many noninfectious diseases are considered preventable, and lifestyle modifications can lead to a significant decrease in the incidence of such conditions. For example, reducing exposure to tobacco smoke can lower the risk of lung cancer, which is a primary risk factor associated with this type of noninfectious disease.
Some risk factors, however, such as age, gender and genetics, cannot be changed but should still be factored into prevention strategies and healthcare management. Interventions that target modifiable behavioral risk factors make a significant impact on a nation's noninfectious disease burden. This includes legal strategies such as taxing tobacco products to discourage smoking. While some conditions like cystic fibrosis are genetically determined, others, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer, are largely influenced by lifestyle choices and thus present opportunities for prevention through behavior change. It's crucial to both identify and manage unavoidable risk factors and focus on changing those that can be influenced to enhance overall health outcomes.