Health Conditions

What are the risk factors?

Risk factors are characteristics that may increase your chance for developing a condition. Factors that increase your chance of having or developing coronary heart disease include:

• Age. Older people are more likely to develop coronary disease than younger people.
• Male gender. Before age 60 or 70, men are more likely than women to develop coronary disease.
• Family history of heart disease
• Cigarette smoking. Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than non-smokers.
• High blood pressure (or on blood pressure medication)
• Diabetes. Diabetes greatly increases your risk of developing heart disease, especially when blood sugar levels are not controlled.
• Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL) - HDL cholesterol is the "good cholesterol."
• High LDL cholesterol - LDL cholesterol is the "bad cholesterol."

• Obesity. Being overweight causes your heart to work harder. It also raises your blood pressure, LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol), and triglycerides. Your HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) is decreased, and your risk of developing diabetes increases. Losing weight may help decrease your risk of heart disease.
• Physical inactivity. Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can help prevent heart and blood vessel disease. Always talk to you doctor before you start an exercise program.
• Emotional stress
• Depression
• Alcohol consumption. Too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and contribute to high triglycerides and other problems.