Chapter 1 Lesson 2 Influences on your Health Heredity – All the traits and properties that are passed along biologically from both parents to child Color of eyes, hair, shape of nose, ears, body type and size Tendencies toward specific diseases can also be inherited

Influences on your Health Environment – sum total of your surroundings- your family, where you grew up, where you live now and all of our experience Includes the places you go in a given day and the physical conditions in which you live

Physical Environment Is environment clean and streets safe Are there parks, walking paths and recreational facilities Living in a healthy environment may be more likely to enjoy good mental and physical health Air quality as well as access to medical facilities all influence your health

Social Environment Includes your family and others you come into daily contact with A healthful, supportive social environment can help you overcome poor physical conditions such as poverty Peer pressure is a critical component of the social environment

Cultural environment Culture – The collective beliefs, customs, and behaviors of a group May be an ethnic group, a community, a Nation, or an entire section of the globe The language, food, tradition, and religion you practice are al part of your cultural environment

Behavior This is the one factor you have complete control over You can reduce chances of family history of diseases by the health choices you make

Your Behavior, Your Health You can control your habits which in turn will influence your overall health and wellness