The risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease include being inactive, having a diet of high fat and high salt foods, developing high levels of LDL cholesterol, smoking, drinking alcohol, having a high ratio of body fat to other body tissue, and having Type II diabetes. How much control do you have over these factors? How much responsibility should be placd on individuals who develop cardiovascular disease due to these factors? ANSWER: You have A lot of control over choosing the foods you eat and exercise. Taking substances and drugs like alcohol and tobacco might be harder to control for an individual depending on whether or not she/he is addicted. Quitting drugs can take a lot from an individual and they might need help doing it. Making healthier choices in foods, and the amount of exercise you have, might be easier for an individual to control. Substituting bad foods with healthier foods can help lower the risk of disease and help individuals take more responsibility, as well as improving how much exercise they have per day.