Respond in 1000 words with some scholarly references. Use citations, site your work and add references. Research reported by the American Psychological Association showed that 20 % of Americans are worried that stress will affect their health, yet 36 % say that they deal with stress by eating food or drinking alcohol.

While these behaviors may reduce stress in the short term, they contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle that can negatively effect the body and are proven risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

As discussed in the weekly readings, there are many lifestyle and behavioral changes one can do to manage stress and reduce the risk for cardiovascular problems.

If there are healthy methods available for managing stress, why do you think that 36 % of Americans continue to use unhealthy methods? What can be done to change this pattern?