AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam 2025 - Free Personal Trainer Practice Questions and Study Guide

Family history is defined as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease primarily through specific conditions observed in close relatives, particularly parents, as they can significantly influence an individual's own risk. The presence of myocardial infarction, or heart attack, in parents at a young age is particularly impactful because it indicates a genetic predisposition to heart disease that may also affect children. This connection suggests that inheriting certain genetic factors from parents increases the likelihood of developing similar health issues, warranting consideration in risk assessments for cardiovascular disease.

While other options may involve relevant health concerns, they lack the direct association found in a family history of early onset myocardial infarction. Chronic illnesses, conditions in siblings only, and lifestyle diseases in extended family members may contribute to overall health but do not specifically indicate a genetic risk for cardiovascular issues in the same way that a myocardial infarction at a young age in parents does. Thus, option C accurately encapsulates the concept of family history as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.