Other Influences on Personal Health Answers

Heredity often determines the risk an individual has of developing a disorder or disease, but does not necessarily always mean that an individual will develop that disease. Some health issues are a direct result of inherited genes, such as cystic fibrosis. Other health issues may be more likely for individuals who have inherited specific gene combinations, but will only result if a certain set of environmental factors are present as well. Lifestyle habits, nutrition, access to clean water, and other environmental factors can influence whether or not those increased genetic risks lead to health issues.

Some aspects of personal health are determined by heredity. Certain diseases are a direct result of heredity, while others are determined in part by heredity and by the lifestyle choices and environment of an individual. Heredity is not the only factor that influences personal health, but it does have a significant impact on it.

Individuals who experience high levels of stress in their lives may be at risk for depression. These stress levels are typically the result of environmental factors, such as is the case with work-related stress. All individuals exposed to high amounts of stress do not experience depression, though, because other factors such as the presence of a specific gene variation, can also influence an individual’s likeliness to develop depression. Individuals who have the combination of the gene variation and high levels of stress are most likely to experience depression.

Student answers will vary. A possible answer is that nutrition and exercise are directly related to certain genetically influenced diseases, such as obesity. Individuals who inherit genes conferring a higher risk of obesity may be able to avoid any issues through good nutrition and exercise habits.

Genetic inheritance provides predispositions to certain health conditions (e.g., muscular dystrophy is purely hereditary). Environmental factors such as diet, exercise, exposure to toxins, and lifestyle can trigger, modify, or prevent the expression of many genetic risks (e.g., type-2 diabetes or heart disease). Thus, both genetics and environment interact to shape individual health outcomes.