But on the mundane level, it's obvious that some of us choose our illnesses by our patterns of behavior. For example, if you are a cigarette addict and don't try to break the addiction, you are increasing the likelihood of suffering a heart attack or cancer. The same can be said of people who eat diets high in fat. Or heavy drinkers. There are also ways in which the mind can depress the immune system and obstruct healing.
Stress is often a primary or aggravating cause of health problems.
That being said, it makes sense to think that if we improve our diets, boost exercise levels, take appropriate vitamins and supplements, reduce stress, and alter unhealthy habits, we'll pave the way for greater longevity and better health. On the other hand, in many cases it seems that illness just is. It doesn't necessarily mean anything or result from any particular behavior. We all know people who've developed cancer but who never smoked or had other unhealthy habits, or nondrinkers diagnosed with liver cancer. To say that we choose our illnesses implies that we are responsible for them, and that line of reasoning can lead to blame and guilt.