29 Things People Try To Warn Others About But They Don't Listen

Quite a few of the ignored risks covered on this list have to do with our health. That’s one of the most valuable things that any of us possess, so we thought we could flesh the list out with more information about some of the most serious public health risks people face today.

Alcohol use, though mentioned on this list, is worth expanding upon. Some studies suggest that very moderate alcohol consumption can be beneficial, but many people use a bit too much. Tens of thousands of deaths every year are attributed in various ways to alcohol, from accidents and violence to a number of related illnesses.

Food safety can be more important than many believe. Those who aren’t severely harmed or even killed by food-borne illnesses can still be seriously sickened, causing usually easily avoidable suffering.

Depending on the quality of care where you are, healthcare-associated infections can be a serious risk. There isn’t much that most patients can do to avoid this risk when in the care of medical professionals, but when relevant, be sure to carefully follow all hygiene and care instructions to avoid catching serious preventable illnesses.

Having mentioned alcohol twice in this article, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention tobacco use as well. Fortunately, general trends suggest that more and more of us are becoming aware of the risks. In the US, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports: “Current smoking has declined from 20.9% (nearly 21 of every 100 adults) in 2005 to 11.5% (nearly 12 of every 100 adults) in 2021.”

Drug abuse is another serious issue. Different drugs can have different impacts on our lives, but nearly all of them can cause significant health issues and addiction problems. According to American Addiction Centers, “Drug abuse and addiction cost American society more than $740 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime-related costs.”