Abstract
There is evidence that weight reduction, increased physical activity, improved nutritional choices, smoking cessation, and moderate alcohol ingestion can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in women. Pharmacists must increase their incorporation of lifestyle interventions while performing medication counseling. To prepare, pharmacists need increased didactic training during pharmacy school, and practicing pharmacists need focused continuing education. Pharmacists must also look for simple but creative ways to engage patients while performing medication counseling. As heath care costs continue to rise, pharmacists must be willing to participate in research that may demonstrate a reduction in prescription burden due to the combination of healthy lifestyle counseling with medication counseling.