Name a cardiovascular disease and one major risk factor.

• A. Cardiovascular disease; obesity.
• B. Cardiovascular disease; smoking.
• C. Cancer; smoking.
• D. Cardiovascular disease; hypertension.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is identifying a risk factor that has a strong, direct link to cardiovascular disease and is modifiable. Hypertension fits this best because high blood pressure damages arteries, accelerates atherosclerosis, and increases the heart’s workload. These effects raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, making it one of the most important, well-established risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Pairing a cardiovascular disease with hypertension reflects a clear, widely recognized connection: controlling blood pressure can meaningfully reduce cardiovascular risk. By contrast, cancer isn’t a cardiovascular disease, and while smoking or obesity are important risk factors, hypertension is a classic, central modifiable risk factor commonly emphasized in this context.