Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop heart disease themselves. African-Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians, and a higher risk of heart disease. Heart disease risk is also higher among Mexican-Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian-Americans. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes.
Most people with a significant family history of heart disease have one or more other risk factors.
Just as you can’t control your age, sex and race, you can’t control your family history. So, it’s even more important to treat and control any other modifiable risk factors you have.
Major risk factors you can modify, treat or control
Tobacco smoke
The risk that smokers will develop coronary heart disease is much higher than that for nonsmokers.
Cigarette smoking is a powerful independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary heart disease. Cigarette smoking also interacts with other risk factors to greatly increase the risk for coronary heart disease. Exposure to other people’s smoke increases the risk of heart disease even for nonsmokers.
High blood cholesterol
As your blood cholesterol rises, so does your risk of coronary heart disease. When other risk factors (such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are also present, this risk increases even more.
A person’s cholesterol level is also affected by age, sex, heredity and diet. Here’s the lowdown on:
- Total cholesterol
Your total cholesterol score is calculated using the following equation: HDL + LDL + 20 percent of your triglyceride level. - Low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol = “bad” cholesterol
A low LDL cholesterol level is considered good for your heart health. However, your LDL number should not be the main factor in guiding treatment to prevent heart attack and stroke, according to the latest guidelines from the American Heart Association. In addition, patients taking statins no longer need to get LDL cholesterol levels down to a specific target number. Lifestyle factors, such as a diet high in saturated and trans fats, can raise LDL cholesterol. - High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol = “good” cholesterol
With HDL (good) cholesterol, higher levels are typically better. Low HDL cholesterol puts you at higher risk for heart disease. People with high blood triglycerides usually also have lower HDL cholesterol. Genetic factors, Type 2 diabetes, smoking, being overweight and being sedentary can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. - Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. Normal triglyceride levels vary by age and sex. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol is associated with atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty deposits inside artery walls that increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart muscle to thicken and become stiffer. This stiffening of the heart muscle is not normal and causes the heart to function abnormally. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure.
When high blood pressure is present alongside obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases even more.
Physical inactivity
An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate to vigorous physical activity helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Physical activity can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. It can also help to lower blood pressure in some people.
Obesity and being overweight
People who have excess body fat – especially if a lot of it is at the waist – are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke, even if those same people have no other risk factors.
Overweight and obese adults with risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar can make lifestyle changes to lose weight and produce significant reductions in risk factors such as triglycerides, blood glucose, HbA1c and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Many people may have difficulty losing weight. But for those above a healthy weight, a sustained weight loss of 3 to 5 percent of your body weight may lead to significant reductions in some risk factors. Greater sustained weight losses can improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose.
Diabetes
Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. The risks are even greater if blood sugar is not well-controlled.
At least 68 percent of people with diabetes over 65 years of age die of some form of heart disease. Among that same group, 16 percent die of stroke.
If you have diabetes, be sure to work with your doctor to manage it, and control any other risk factors that you can. To help manage blood sugar, people with diabetes who are obese or overweight should make lifestyle changes, such as eating better or getting regular physical activity.
Other factors that contribute to heart disease risk
Stress
Individual response to stress may be a contributing factor for heart attacks.
Some scientists have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a person’s life, along with 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.
Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, and increase your risk for cardiomyopathy, stroke, cancer and other diseases. It can also contribute to high triglycerides, and produce irregular heartbeats. Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption contributes to obesity, alcoholism, suicide and accidents.
All that said, there is a protective benefit to moderate alcohol consumption.
If you drink, limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines one drink as 1 1/2 fluid ounces (fl. oz.) of 80-proof spirits (such as bourbon, scotch, vodka, gin, etc.), 5 fl. oz. of wine or 12 fl. oz. of regular beer.
It is not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they drink.
Diet and nutrition
A healthy diet is one of the best weapons you have to fight cardiovascular disease. What you eat (and how much) can affect other controllable risk factors, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight.
Choose nutrient-rich foods, which have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients, but are lower in calories than nutrient-poor foods. Choose a diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits and whole grains. A heart-healthy diet also includes low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts and nontropical vegetable oils. Be sure to limit your intake of sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages and red meats.
To maintain a healthy weight, coordinate your diet with your physical activity level so you’re using up as many calories as you take in.
