Final answer:
Smoking, obesity, and substance abuse are the top three preventable lifestyle health hazards, contributing to a significant number of preventable diseases and deaths. Avoiding these and adopting healthier lifestyle choices can prevent many noninfectious diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The top three preventable lifestyle health hazards include smoking, obesity, and substance abuse. Smoking is a leading cause of various diseases, such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. It is well-established that regular smokers may die up to 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.
Obesity, on the other hand, is linked to a higher risk of numerous health issues including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Managing one's weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise can mitigate these risks. Lastly, substance abuse, which includes the excessive use of alcohol and illicit drugs, can lead to a myriad of health problems and is a major risk factor for premature death, accidents, and chronic diseases.
By avoiding these hazards and making healthier choices, such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption, individuals can significantly decrease their risk of developing many noninfectious diseases. In fact, lifestyle changes can prevent an estimated 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, as well as 40 percent of cancer cases.