Cardiovascular risk reduction through lifestyle change in clinical settings.

A large amount of observational and experimental research has demonstrated that lifestyle factors are important determinants of cardiovascular disease. In particular, epidemiological evidence from large, controlled multiple risk factor intervention trials and research examining the effects of secular changes in lifestyle on changing morbidity and mortality rates indicate that changes in lifestyle can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This paper provides an overview of the lifestyle change process and provides guidelines for increasing the efficacy of lifestyle change interventions in clinical settings.