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Heart disease can lead to disability and death. Risk factors raise the chances of heart disease.

Learn how to lower the risk factors you have control over and lower your chances of suffering from heart disease.

Risk Factors Out of Your Control

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Race/ethnicity
  • Family History

Age

  • Risk of heart disease increases with age
  • Men 45 and older have a greater risk of heart disease
  • Women 55 and older have a greater risk of heart disease

Gender

  • Risk factors may be affected by gender
  • Estrogen provides some protection for women against heart disease
  • Diabetes raises the risk of heart disease for women more than men

Race/Ethnicity

Black man having a heart attack

  • Some groups are at higher risk of suffering from heart disease
  • African Americans are more likely to have heart disease than whites
  • Hispanic Americans are less likely to have heart disease
  • East Asians have lower rates of heart disease
  • South Asians have higher rates of heart disease

Family History

  • Risk increases if you have a close family member who had heart disease early on

Risk Factors You Can Control

  • Blood pressure
  • Cholesterol & Triglyceride Levels
  • Weight
  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • Alcohol
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Diabetes
  • Sleep

Blood Pressure

  • High blood pressure increases risk of heart disease
  • Check blood pressure yearly (more often if it’s high)
  • Make lifestyle changes to prevent and control high blood pressure

Cholesterol & Triglyceride Levels

  • High cholesterol levels clog arteries and increase risk of heart disease
  • High triglycerides increase the risk of coronary artery disease (especially in women)
  • Make lifestyle changes (and take medicine, if necessary) to lower these levels

Weight

  • Being overweight/obese increases the risk of heart disease
  • Obesity is linked to high cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes

Diet

  • Limit added sugars, foods high in sodium, and saturated fats
  • Eat whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruit
  • Try the DASH diet to lower blood pressure and cholesterol

Exercise

  • Strengthens the heart and improves circulation
  • Helps maintain a healthy weight
  • Lowers cholesterol and blood pressure

Alcohol

  • Too much alcohol raises blood pressure and adds extra calories
  • Men should limit themselves to two drinks a day
  • Women should limit themselves to one drink a day

Smoking

young handsome bearded hipster man smoking cigarette

  • Raises blood pressure
  • Increases risk for heart attack and stroke

Stress

  • Raises blood pressure
  • Extreme stress may “trigger” a heart attack
  • Healthy ways to cope with stress are exercise, music, and meditating
  • Avoid overeating, smoking, and heavy drinking as a coping mechanism

Diabetes

  • Doubles the risk of heart disease
  • High blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves controlling the heart and blood vessels

Sleep

  • Lack of sleep increases risk of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure
  • Sleep 7 to 9 hours at night
  • Sleep apnea causes people to briefly stop breathing at night
  • Contact a doctor if you have sleep apnea or chronic sleep problems