Answer Happy

Lasha’s doctor tells her at a recent visit that her blood pressure, which has been creeping up, is now a concern. Her last blood panel also reveals a rather alarming rise in her cholesterol levels. He tells her that given the fact that she is also overweight, she is at serious risk for a cardiovascular event. Lasha enjoys fast food and is inactive. She feels that her lifestyle to date has not contributed to any serious health problems. She has tried losing weight in the past by changing her diet and exercising but has never been very successful. She knows people in their seventies who have similar lifestyles to her own and are doing well. Some of them are on antihypertensive and lipid lowering medication, which more or less normalizes their clinical signs.
How do you think Lasha perceives the threat of a heart attack or stroke?
Do you think she feels like she is at risk?
Does it appear that she is motivated to engage in lifestyle changes given the information she receives from her doctor?
What do think could change Lasha’s way of thinking? Why?