A nurse is teaching about risk factors for cardiopulmonary disease. Which risk factor should the nurse describe as modifiable?

A) Stress
B) Allergies
C) Family history
D) Gender

Young and middle-age adults are exposed to multiple cardiopulmonary risk factors: an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, stress, over-the-counter and prescription drugs not used as intended, illegal substances, and smoking. Reducing these modifiable factors decreases a patient's risk for cardiac or pulmonary diseases. A nonmodifiable risk factor is family history; determine familial risk factors such as a family history of lung cancer or cardiovascular disease. Other nonmodifiable risk factors include allergies and gender.