Ace the 2025 Public Health Nursing Exam – Heal, Lead, and Succeed!

The identification of smoking, poor diet, and alcohol consumption as modifiable behaviors is accurate because these are lifestyle choices that individuals can change to improve their health outcomes. Modifiable behaviors refer to actions that can be altered by individuals or groups to reduce the risk of negative health effects.

Smoking is a significant risk factor for various diseases, including respiratory conditions and cancers, and quitting smoking can lead to substantial health benefits. Similarly, adopting a healthier diet can reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, while managing alcohol consumption can contribute to lower risks for liver disease and multiple other health issues.

In contrast, the other choices comprise non-modifiable factors or outcomes. Cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease are health conditions that can result from a combination of both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, but they are not behaviors themselves. Walking, running, and aerobic exercise represent positive physical activities that can promote health but are not classified as modifiable behaviors in the context of risk factors. Lastly, genetic abnormalities are intrinsic and cannot be modified, which further clarifies why the correct choice focuses on behaviors that individuals can actively change.