Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (Heron, 2019). The CDC estimates that 34% of these deaths could be prevented or delayed by a change in health habits (CDC, 2014). The three lifestyle behaviors that have the most influence on heart disease are physical activity, diet, and tobacco use.

• Do you think that patients with heart disease have adequate access to necessary healthcare resources to maintain a healthy weight and/or stop smoking? Why or why not?
• Are lifestyle/behavior changes more important than other types of heart disease treatments?
• Do patients with heart disease have enough guidance when they are told to eat healthier foods and/or exercise more often? If not, how can we better educate/assist these patients to change their health habits?
• How can we encourage teenagers and adults to prevent heart disease and maintain healthy habits throughout their lifetime?