Final answer:
The two factors that protect health according to the text are education and attitudes. Education is important for health outcomes as it informs people about the consequences of their lifestyle choices. Attitudes influence health by shaping cultural norms and personal decisions related to health behaviors and resource allocation.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the text, the two factors that protect health are education and attitudes. Education plays a crucial role in health because it affects people's understanding of the links between their habits and their health, as mentioned with behavior-influenced diseases like lung cancer, coronary artery disease, and AIDS. These diseases initially spread across socioeconomic status (SES) groups but decreased in high SES groups after education about the risks became more widespread.
Similarly, attitudes are influential in health outcomes. Cultural attitudes and beliefs can perpetuate social inequalities, including those related to health. For instance, the text discusses how the societal valuation of teaching as a noble profession - despite relatively low pay - mirrors broader cultural attitudes that can impact health by influencing lifestyle choices, access to resources, and personal decisions.