Final answer:
Society usually prioritizes familiar health risks, with chronic noninfectious diseases being largely preventable through lifestyle modifications. Modern hazards from technological advancement add new risks, especially in developed countries, while interventions targeting behavioral risk factors can significantly impact public health.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a society, we often focus our resources on health risks that are familiar, such as chronic noninfectious diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. These conditions, while having some genetic components, are largely preventable through lifestyle choices. For instance, people at high genetic risk for certain cancers can undergo screening exams to detect them early, take steps to prevent them, or modify behaviors to reduce risks. Similarly, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are predominantly linked to lifestyle choices, even when a person has a family history of these diseases. Making healthier lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk.
However, the onset of modern hazards due to technological advancement has introduced new health risks. These include exposure to urban air pollution and agro-industrial chemicals, which contribute to the environmental health burden, particularly in industrialized countries. Yet, in developing countries, people face a double burden of both traditional and modern environmental health risks. Environmental health strategies are critical in preventing disease by reducing exposure to harmful conditions and encouraging behavioral changes.
To tackle the growing noninfectious disease burden, interventions targeting behavioral risk factors can be impactful. For example, implementing laws that tax tobacco products and restrict smoking in public places has led to reduced smoking rates and, consequently, lung cancer cases. This demonstrates how regulatory measures can influence public health positively by addressing common behavioral risk factors.