It means encouraging people to avoid toxins , like tobacco, excessive alcohol and illicit substances. And it means educating people so that they commit to responsible sexual behavior. By reducing tobacco use, we will improve health outcomes in the areas of cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and low birth weight and other problems of infancy. Diet and activity behaviors are associated with cardiovascular disease, cancers, and diabetes. Abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs results in motor vehicle fatalities, violence, and other deleterious health, social and economic consequences.
Oral health is also an important component of health lifestyles.
A Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health is currently in draft and expected to be finalized in 2000. To reduce the number of premature deaths, OPHS together with HHS agencies and other partners invests in programs and activities that are effective in reducing or eliminating behavioral threats, resulting in improved health and productivity of the American people. OPHS has ongoing demonstration programs to address cardiovascular disease through physical activity, to learn more about antecedents and consequences of adolescent premarital sex and childbearing, and to work on broad health behaviors through the National College Roundtable on Women and Health. National Policy A hallmark of OPHS activities in this area is management of Healthy People , which includes tracking and publicly reporting on meeting the national health goals and objectives for the year 2000 and 2010. Forty-seven States and 70 percent of local health departments, as well as countries overseas, use Healthy People's goals and objectives to build healthy cities, communities, schools, and workplaces.