Early health education is delivered by school teachers, covering topics such as healthy eating and the importance of exercise. Health education for adolescents can cover topics such as the dangers of smoking, alcohol and the importance of sexual health, usually delivered by science teachers, nurses and other healthcare professionals. As this is the time in their life when young people start to make decisions which can affect their future, they need to receive the best possible education to make the best choices.

Health education also continues in many ways throughout peoples’ lives, in many ways such as leaflets, books and television adverts, as well as direct contact with healthcare professionals such as Pharmacists and Doctors. Health education can cover anything from smoking cessation, nutritional advice, information on specific health problems and their treatments, and about healthcare options available to them.

Health education is specifically important to pregnant women and new mothers, as this is a phase in their lives where the education they receive will affect not only their health, but that of their baby as well, therefore there are healthcare professionals, such as midwives and health visitors, who are dedicated to health education for this stage of life.

Even in later life, health education remains important and is contributing to the longer life expectancy, as people know and understand more about their own health and what they can do to remain healthy, both physically and mentally.