Most Americans also consume more protein than they need, more calcium than can be absorbed, and not enough of the foods that provide basic vitamins and minerals. We aren't very good choosers when it comes to eating. The difference between living a long and full life and being ill or disabled is most often determined by the lifestyle choices we make. There are other reasons for heart disease besides what we eat. These are things we can control through the choices we make.
Many people believe there's nothing they can do about high levels of stress.
Changing where we live or where we work is not often a reasonable option. Stressful situations may be difficult to avoid in many parts of our life, but we can learn how to deal with stress more effectively. It's possible to live in a stressful world and not be affected by much of it, if we learn how to master our reactions to stressful situations. We can't do anything about our inherited genetic patterns, but we can be aware how to minimize our own risks. A knowledge of family illnesses can help us to make better choices in our lifestyles.