Figure 21.14: Poison ivy plants are wild vines with leaves in groups of three. They grow in
wooded areas in most of the United States. Contact with poison ivy may cause a rash in a
person allergic to the plant. ( 21 )
Preventing Noninfectious Diseases
Most allergies can be prevented by avoiding the substances that cause them. For example,
you can avoid pollens by staying indoors as much as possible. You can learn to recognize
plants like poison ivy and not touch them. A good way to remember how to avoid poison
ivy is “Leaves of three, let it be.” Some people receive allergy shots to help prevent allergic
reactions. The shots contain tiny amounts of allergens. After many months or years of shots,
the immune system gets used to the allergens and no longer responds to them.
Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases cannot be prevented. However, choosing
a healthy lifestyle can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Getting plenty of exercise, avoiding
high-fat foods, and staying at a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing this type of
diabetes. This is especially important for people that have family members with the disease.
Makingthesehealthylifestylechoicescanalsohelppreventsometypesofcancer. Inaddition,
you can reduce the risk of cancer by avoiding carcinogens. For example, you can reduce your
risk of lung cancer by not smoking. You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by using
sunscreen. How to choose a sunscreen that offers the most protection is explained inFigure
21.15.
Some people think that tanning beds are a safe way to get a tan. This is a myth. Tanning
beds expose the skin to UV radiation. Any exposure to UV radiation increases in the
risk of skin cancer. It doesn’t matter whether the radiation comes from tanning lamps