As a physician and a parent I ask “What is my role in providing the best health care I can?” I believe that prevention is the best practice. To that end, it is up to us to assess how we can modify our lifestyles to ensure the best possible health.

So, what are some of those lifestyle changes? Alcohol intake is particularly important to assess. We know that alcohol can increase the likelihood of acquiring a number of diseases. Among those diseases is cancer and the relative risk of many cancers increasing with alcohol consumption. Binge drinking among young adults puts them at risk for worrisome behaviours and adverse outcomes.

Another lifestyle change for improved health is to refrain from tobacco use. Smoking among our adolescents increases their risk for heart disease. Distressingly, many of our youth already have risk factors for coronary artery disease from obesity to diabetes and inadequate exercise.

As for innovations, it’s important to think about the advances in vaccine immunotherapy. We have many options to consider here in Canada, from primary cancer prevention of HPV, to innovative vaccines responding rapidly to pandemic threats, to prevention of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia, vaccines to prevent meningitis, pneumococcal disease and so on. Thanks to the Health Council of Canada, we have this dialogue to discuss personal health priorities that can result in better overall health status for us all. Determining your best route to health and Canadians’ best route together is not a simple question. But it is a critical question.