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Risk Factors |
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The American Heart Association is dedicated to reducing disability and death
from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Their website,
www.americanheart.org is a great source of information on a variety of
news and information pertaining to heart disease. Here is what they have to say
about the risk factors of heart disease.
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Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease
Extensive clinical and statistical studies have identified several factors that
increase your risk. Some of them can be changed or treated, and some cannot.
The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of heart attack or
stroke. Controlling as many of these risk factors as possible is the best way
to keep your heart healthy.
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| Major risk factors have been shown by medical research to significantly
increase the risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
Contributing risk factors are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular
disease, but their significance and prevalence haven't yet been precisely
determined. |
Major risk factors for coronary heart disease that cannot be changed
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Increasing age — About 84 percent of people who die of coronary heart
disease are age 65 or older. At older ages, women who have heart attacks are
twice as likely as men are to die from them within a few weeks.
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Male gender — Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, and
they have attacks earlier in life. Even after menopause, when women's death
rate from heart disease increases, it's not as great as men's.
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Heredity (including race) — A family history of coronary heart disease
in parents, siblings or offspring is a major risk factor. African Americans
have more severe high blood pressure than whites. Consequently, their risk of
heart disease is greater.
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Major risk factors for coronary heart disease that can be modified or treated
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You can change or treat these factors to lower your risk by focusing on your
lifestyle habits or, if needed, taking medicine.
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Tobacco smoke — Smokers' risk of developing coronary heart disease is
two to four times more likely than for nonsmokers. Smokers have about two times
the risk of sudden death as nonsmokers. Current smokers are about twice as
likely to experience sudden death. Available evidence also indicates that
chronic exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke, passive
smoking) may increase the risk of heart disease. Smokers are more than 10 times
likely as nonsmokers to develop peripheral vascular disease.
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High blood cholesterol levels — The risk of coronary heart disease and
stroke rises as blood cholesterol levels increase. When other risk factors
(such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are present, this risk
increases even more. A person's cholesterol level is also affected by age,
gender, heredity and diet.
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High blood pressure — High blood pressure increases the heart's
workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. It also increases
the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure.
When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol
levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.
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Physical inactivity — Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for
coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise plays a
significant role in preventing heart and blood vessel disease. Even
moderate-intensity physical activities are beneficial if done regularly and
long term. More vigorous activities are associated with more benefits. Exercise
can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity as well as help to
lower blood pressure in some people.
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Obesity and overweight — People who have excess body fat are more likely
to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors.
Obesity is unhealthy because excess weight increases the strain on the heart.
It's directly linked with coronary heart disease because it influences blood
pressure, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and makes diabetes more
likely to develop. If you can lose as little as 10 to 20 pounds, you can help
lower your heart disease risk.
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Diabetes mellitus — Diabetes seriously increases the risk of developing
cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes
increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Three-fourths of people with
diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. If you have
diabetes, it's critically important for you to monitor and control any other
risk factors you can.
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What other factors contribute to heart disease risk?
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Individual response to stress may be a contributing factor. Some scientists
have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a
person's life, their health behaviors and socioeconomic status. These factors
may affect established risk factors. For example, people under stress may
overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would.
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| Take our Heart Risk Assessment Quiz and
see how you do. |