What are risk factors for coronary disease or heart disease?
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UnitedHealthcare answered:Some risk factors of heart disease can't be changed, such as age or family history. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as diet and exercise. They include:
- Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels. This includes high LDL "bad" cholesterol and low HDL "good" cholesterol. An LDL level below 100 mg/dL and a HDL above 60 mg/dL can help cut your risk of heart disease.
- Smoking tobacco. If you smoke, your risk of CAD is two to four times higher than that of a nonsmoker.
- High blood pressure. Having high blood pressure harms your heart by making it work too hard. It also further damages your arteries, including those that supply blood to the heart muscle. Your blood pressure is considered high if it consistently stays at or above 140/90 mm Hg.
- Diabetes. Roughly three out of four people with diabetes die from some form of heart disease or blood vessel disease. Though diabetes by itself makes you susceptible to CAD, the risk is especially high when blood sugar levels are not well controlled.
- Obesity and overweight. Carrying too many pounds strains your heart. It also raises blood pressure, adversely affects cholesterol levels and raises your risk of developing diabetes – all of which increase your risk for heart disease.
- Physical inactivity. If regular exercise is not a part of your routine, you could be inviting heart problems. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise protects your heart.
Some risk factors of heart disease can't be changed, such as age or family history. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as diet and exercise. They include: Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels. This includes high LDL "bad" cholesterol and low... More -
Intermountain Healthcare answered:Cardiac risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase your chance of developing coronary disease or heart disease. The major cardiac risk factors can be divided into two groups:
- Factors you cannot change, including age, sex, family history of heart disease, and a personal history of heart problems
- Factors you can change, including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, high blood glucose (sugar), diabetes, physical inactivity, and excess weight
Cardiac risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase your chance of developing coronary disease or heart disease. The major cardiac risk factors can be divided into two groups: Factors you cannot change, including age, sex, family... More -
Dr. Charles Neiditz answered:There are many known risk factors, some of which you can control. Those include high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and pre-diabetes, being overweight or obese, smoking and lack of physical activity or not exercising regularly.
The risk factors you can't control are age, gender and a family history of heart disease.
Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for both men and women, but many of these risk factors can be minimized through dietary changes, regular exercise, weight loss and medication if needed.There are many known risk factors, some of which you can control. Those include high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and pre-diabetes, being overweight or obese, smoking and lack of physical activity or not exercising regularly.The... More
