Good Persuasive Topics on Health

Good persuasive health topics cover a wide range of issues. Generally, when a topic centers on physical health it will include a discussion on the health of the body due to physical activity, proper nutrition, and an adequate amount of rest and sleep. When a topic focuses on mental health, the discussion will focus on an individual's cognitive and emotional well-being. Persuasive health topics can also include various types of illness and theories of causation (see Resources).

Medical

• In the area of medical care, you can argue on a number of persuasive topics. For example, you can debate about whether health care professionals should be required by law to undergo testing every two years for AIDS, TB and HIV infections. Other thought-provoking topics include: the use of animal testing for drug development; the use of heroin as pain relief for terminally ill patients; the risk and incidence of prescription drug abuse; and the ethical implications of a national DNA database.

Nutrition

• Although additives are a common fixture in today's food products, their safety remains a topic of debate, as do the benefits versus the disadvantages of genetically-modified food products. Other questions about nutrition from which you might create a persuasive speech or paper include: whether or not vitamin supplements are necessary; why consumption of milk and other dairy products is either good or bad; and why eating fast food is detrimental to health. To persuade an audience on the advantages of proper nutrition, focus your attention on the use of nutrition to prevent ailments such as cardiovascular disease.

Mental Health

• If you want to address a topic in mental health, you can investigate the various options for continued care and treatment of patients. For example, you can persuade an audience on whether a recovery house is the best option, whether patients should remain in a psychiatric hospital, or whether they should establish conventional residences in local communities. Another persuasive topic is whether or not a mental attitude can affect a biological disease.

Treatment

• Persuasive topics in the area of treatment can center on the pluses and minuses of traditional versus alternative methods. For example, argue for or against acupuncture and homeopathic treatments as valid medical techniques, or whether alternative treatments should be available at all hospitals and from all doctors.

Environmental

• Environmental issues often make good persuasive health topics. Discuss in your paper or speech the link between pollution and diseases such as asthma. Alternatively, argue on the relationship between modern technology and levels of health by focusing on the debate over electromagnetic fields associated with cell phone use, or exposure to ionizing radiation in common applications like x-rays.