Risk Factors

Living with Heart Disease…

Risk Factors

High Cholesterol — As blood cholesterol rises, so does the risk of CAD. Abnormal cholesterol levels increase the chance of plaque buildup in the arteries. Keeping your non-HDL (total cholesterol minus your HDL) less than 100 is the most important level to control. You are at risk for heart disease if you have: • Total cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dL • Bad cholesterol (LDL) 100 mg/dL or higher (or above 70 mg/dL) • Good cholesterol (HDL) lower than 40 mg/dL (men) or 50 mg/dL (women) or triglycerides higher than 150 mg/dL

High Blood Pressure — High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. Blood pressure of 140/90 and higher is hypertension.

Tobacco Smoke — Smokers’ risk of developing CAD is two to four times that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is a powerful independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death in patients with CAD. People who smoke also have an increased risk for blood clots and stroke. This is an important risk factor you can change.

Physical Inactivity — An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. It is recommended to exercise at least five days per week for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Obesity and Overweight — Being overweight increases the heart’s workload. It also raises blood pressure, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers good cholesterol (HDL) levels. If you control your weight you could eliminate most of the risk factors for heart disease.

Diabetes — Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing heart disease. If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to work with your health care provider to manage it. Diabetes makes you more likely to have a silent heart attack (one without symptoms).

Stress — Stressful events can raise heart rate and blood pressure. Stress can also bring on feelings of depression and anxiety. These feelings do not directly lead to heart disease, but do affect overall health and quality of life.

Living with Heart Disease…

Grandfather Grandmother Grandfather Grandmother

• Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack • Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack • Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack • Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack

Mother

• Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack

Sibling You Father

• Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack

Sibling

• Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack • Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack • Obesity/Overweight • High Total Cholesterol or LDL (bad) Cholesterol • Low HDL (good) Cholesterol • Smoking or Exposure to Secondhand Smoke • Physical Inactivity • Advancing Age • Diabetes • Stroke • High Blood Pressure • Heart Disease/Heart Attack

Know Your Family History – A Risk Factor for Heart Disease

Like the color of your eyes, tendencies for many health conditions are genetically passed from one family member to another.

If you have a blood relative with heart disease, your risk for developing it signifi cantly increases. Heart disease can be passed along to younger generations, but so can healthy habits that help you and others avoid health complications. The more you know about your family’s health history, the more you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease. Get started today with these easy steps:

1. Map out your family’s health history. Use this diagram to make a record of your blood relatives who live or have lived with heart disease.

2. Talk with your doctor or health care professional about what this means to you and others in your family.