What are the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease?

Question

Accepted Answer

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, and poor diet. The modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - those that individuals can change through behavior and medical intervention - include high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood cholesterol (particularly high LDL and low HDL), cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity (especially abdominal obesity), diabetes (particularly type 2), unhealthy diet (high in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and added sugars), and excessive alcohol consumption. Addressing these factors through lifestyle changes and medical treatment can significantly reduce CVD risk.

Age, sex, and family history are indeed risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but they are non-modifiable - they cannot be changed through individual behavior or medical intervention. Blood type and genetic predisposition are also non-modifiable factors. Height, eye color, and birth order are not established risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Understanding modifiable versus non-modifiable risk factors for major chronic diseases is essential for the DSST Health and Human Development exam. Students should know the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (the leading cause of death worldwide), cancer, diabetes, and stroke. The concept of risk factor modification through lifestyle change is central to disease prevention and health promotion, and students should be able to recommend evidence-based behavioral changes for reducing chronic disease risk.

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