Does paranoia make us more prepared?

[LightningCrash]

Most paranoia is irrational and oblivious to greater threats. A person who is afraid of being mugged might carry a gun at all times but drive a car without a seatbelt, eat improperly prepared food, do something 15ft+ from the ground while failing to use proper security restraints, etc.

http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/injury_and_death_statistics/pages/theoddsofdyingfrom.aspx

More people die from strokes than from assault, but some people have paranoia about the assault and no concern for the stroke.