Heart disease is probably one of the more preventable diseases that kill Americans.  I am a cardiac rehab nurse during the week and med surg on the weekend and will love any input on improving compliance with American Heart Association guidelines for our cardiac patients.  The risk factors I discuss with my new patients in rehab orientation are:

1.  Those we cant help  <age, ,heredity, etc.>

2.  Those we can help  <do you smoke?  what are your normal eating habits?  are you active or is your major activity the use of a remote control?

I have had decent success with my patients   on the eating habits and activity level as far as reducing risk factors, but geez....................to get a smoker of 40 years to quit?  Now that is hard and often unsuccessful. 

For those of you who know how to light a fire under a noncompliant patient to improve compliance, I'm all ears!  BTW.....................alot of the one's I have this problem with state they dont care about death!  I am not so naive that I think I can sway the thought processes of someone who has little disregard for their own health, but I feel bad for the family members who have to deal with this at home. 

 It is very hard to say that you are fighting an uphill battle. If you do all the teaching that you can, give all the educational materials to the family, give the patient the referral to cardiac rehab, you have done your duty.  You must hope and pray that they have taken your advice.  An eye opener is when someone they know actually has a fatal heart attack.  Unfortunately this is the only thing that works;  with some people.  Good luck.