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Article: Health risks and chronic conditions. (Research, Education, & Practice Guidelines).
- Article from:
- Paraplegia News
- Article date:
- January 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Paralyzed Veterans of America. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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For many Americans, health promotion requires us to forsake our comfort zone and to embrace personal responsibility for adopting a healthy lifestyle. Our success depends upon our willingness to change and our ability to find enjoyment in the process of wellness.
The Problem
Harmful health behaviors, such as heavy tobacco and alcohol use and nonparticipation in regular physical exercise, constitute a major health risk for any adult, but they are especially harmful for adults with disabilities, who have been characterized by many researchers as having a "thinner margin of health." According to recent news media coverage, obesity--a risk factor for heart ...