Which factors are listed as contributing to developing cardiovascular disease?

• A. Regular exercise and healthy diet
• B. Adequate sleep only
• C. Overweight, smoking, and race
• D. Genetic factors only

Answer: (C)

Risk for cardiovascular disease comes from a mix of modifiable lifestyle factors and inherent or demographic factors. Overweight and smoking directly elevate risk: being overweight contributes to high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and abnormal lipid levels, while smoking damages the blood vessels, promotes inflammation, and accelerates plaque formation. Race is tied to differing baseline risks in populations due to genetic predispositions, as well as social and environmental factors that affect health care access, risk factor prevalence, and overall cardiovascular exposure. Together, these elements illustrate how both changes you can make (like managing weight and avoiding tobacco) and inherent factors (like race-related risk patterns) influence disease development.

By contrast, regular exercise and a healthy diet reduce risk rather than contribute to it; adequate sleep alone isn’t a standalone cause of cardiovascular disease, and saying genetic factors alone account for risk ignores the substantial impact of modifiable factors.