Which lifestyle factor is identified as a controllable contributor to cardiovascular disease?

• A. Stress
• B. Genetics
• C. Age
• D. Gender

Answer: (A)

Stress is a factor you can actively influence through how you live. Chronic stress can raise heart rate and blood pressure, alter metabolism, and promote unhealthy behaviors like overeating, smoking, or inactivity, all of which increase cardiovascular risk. By managing stress through regular exercise, adequate sleep, relaxation techniques, and healthy coping strategies, you directly affect these risk pathways and reduce potential harm to the heart.

In contrast, genetics, age, and gender are inherent characteristics you can’t change, and they set baseline risk rather than being controllable lifestyle factors.