Personal health promotion.

Mortality data on the leading causes of death conceal the relationship to underlying risk factors; if we classified deaths according to risk factors, annually there might be an estimated 350,000 smoking-related deaths, 200,000 alcohol-related deaths and 135,000 nutrition-related cancer deaths. Similarly, five causes of death-heart disease, lung cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, suicide and motor vehicle accidents-contribute most to the risk of dying in the next ten years for a 40-year-old white man. Review of protective factors shows that adopting and maintaining a healthful life-style can contribute to reducing risk. Practicing physicians can assume both direct and indirect roles in promoting personal health maintenance.