Thomasville Medical Center 
Risk Factors and Prevention of Heart Disease
| You can modify, treat or control most risk factors to lower your risk by focusing on your lifestyle habits or, if needed, taking medicine. |
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According to the American Heart Association, the major risk factors for coronary heart disease are:
- Increased age - four out of five people who die of coronary heart disease are age 65 or older.
- Male gender - Men have a greater risk of heart attach and they have attacks earlier in life.
- Heredity - Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves. Heart disease risk is also higher among Americans with ancestry from Africa, Mexico, native Americans & Hawaiians and Asia
- Tobacco smoke - Smoker's risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Second hand smoke increases the risk even for nonsmokers.
- High blood cholersterol - Risk increases as blood cholesterol levels increase.
- High blood pressure - This increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time.
- Physical inactivity - Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease.
- Obesity and overweight - People with excess body fat are, especially in the waist area, are more likely to develop heart disease, even if they have no other risk factors.
- Diabetes mellitus - Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
For more information
Please visit the American Heart Association website.
