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Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease

The list below describes risk factors associated with heart disease. Many of these factors can be changed with modifications in diet, increased levels of exercise, and reduction of stress levels, but some factors cannot be changed.

Risk Factors You Cannot Modify

• Family History
  Your risk is higher if immediate family members have had coronary artery disease. Your risk is even higher if you are a man with a relative who died of a heart attack at an early age (under 70).
• Age
  The risk of developing coronary disease increases as you age.
• Gender
  Men under 50 have two to three times greater risk of heart attack than women of the same age. After menopause, however, women have the same risk as men.

Risk Factors You Can Modify

• Smoking
  Smoking increases your risk of heart attack three to four times over non-smokers. Smoking can cause artery muscles to spasm, or contract, reducing blood flow to your heart.
• High Blood Pressure
  High blood pressure causes blood to press too hard against the walls of your arteries, damaging the arteries and promoting the development of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.
• High Blood Cholesterol
  Cholesterol is a fat substance found in foods of animal origin. High levels of cholesterol contribute to the formation of fatty buildup along the inside lining of the arteries, blocking the flow of blood.
• High Triglycerides
  Triglycerides are a fat found in the blood and are the end products of sugar breakdown that contributes to plaque formation. Limit your intake of sugars, starches, and alcohol.
• Diabetes
  If you have diabetes, you are more than twice as likely to develop heart disease. Diabetes damages the artery walls and increases the risk of plaque formation. You can reduce, but not eliminate the risk of coronary artery disease by keeping your blood sugar levels normal and by controlling your cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Excessive Alcohol and Caffeine Intake
  Alcohol and caffeine can raise your cholesterol by raising the fat level in your blood. Try to limit your alcohol consumption. Small amounts of alcohol on a regular basis have been shown to decrease the risk of coronary disease. Limit caffeine beverages to two cups per day.
• Obesity
  Being overweight puts a direct strain on the heart. When you are overweight, your heart has to work harder to supply the extra tissues with blood. Many times, losing weight will decrease your cholesterol and lower your blood pressure.
• Lack of Proper Exercise
  A balance of rest, relaxation and activity are needed for a healthy body. A balanced exercise program is best with some exercise each day rather than a lot one day and none the next.