the greatest gift you can give your family is a healthy you. 

Joyce Meyer

Many factors combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities. Whether people are healthy or not, is determined by their circumstances and environment. To a large extent, factors such as where we live, the state of our environment, genetics, our income and education level, and our relationships with friends and family all have considerable impacts on health. This is especially true in African-American and other ethnic groups.  These determinants—or things that make people healthy or not—include these factors, and many others:

• Income and social status - higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.
• Education – low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence.
• Physical environment – safe water and clean air, healthy workplaces, safe houses, communities and roads all contribute to good health. Employment and working conditions – people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have more control over their working conditions
• Social support networks – greater support from families, friends and communities. Culture - customs and traditions,  the beliefs of the family and community all affect health.
• Genetics - inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. Personal behavior and coping skills – balanced eating, keeping active, smoking, drinking, and how we deal with life’s stresses and challenges all affect health.
• Health services - access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influences health
• Gender - Men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           _{Note: The above information was derived from the World Health Organization website.}