Are there lifestyle changes that really make getting coronary artery disease less likely?

Lifestyle changes: There are risk factors you can't control, like family history and diseases you've had that put you at risk. Most of the risk factors are within your control, such as diet and exercise to keep you LDL low and your HDL high. Discuss preventive measures with your doctor as everyone can benefit from this, get regular checkups and blood tests to help plan prevention. Do not smoke or take drugs.

Absolutely: Lifestyle changes likely have more effect on preventing coronary artery disease than any "medical intervention". The big ones are not smoking, regular exercise, and what is sometimes described as a "mediterranean diet": abundant fruits and vegetables, olive oil as the principal source of fat, fish and poultry consumed in low to moderate amounts, red meat in low amounts, red wine in low amounts.