Major risk factors for heart attack that cannot be changed:
Increasing age -- About 85 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are age 65 or older. At older ages, women who have heart attacks are twice as likely as men are to die from them within a few weeks.Male gender
-- Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, and they have attacks earlier in life. Even after menopause, when women's death rate from heart disease increases, it's not as great as men's.Heredity (including race)
-- Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves. African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than caucasians, which may increase their risk of heart attack.Major risk factors for heart attack that can be modified or treated:
You can change or treat these factors to lower your risk by focusing on your lifestyle habits or by taking medicine if needed.Tobacco smoke
-- Smokers' risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for sudden cardiac death: smokers have two to four times the risk of nonsmokers. Smokers who have a heart attack are more likely to die and die suddenly (within an hour) than are nonsmokers. Available evidence also indicates that chronic exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke, passive smoking) may increase the risk of heart attack.High blood cholesterol levels
-- The risk of heart attack and stroke rises as blood cholesterol levels increase. When other risk factors (such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are present, this risk increases even more. A person's cholesterol level is also affected by age, gender, heredity and diet.High blood pressure
-- High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.Physical inactivity
-- Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for heart attack. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise plays a significant role in preventing heart attack. Even moderate-intensity physical activities are beneficial if done regularly and long term. More vigorous activities are associated with more benefits. Exercise can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity as well as help to lower blood pressure in some people.Obesity and overweight
-- People who have excess body fat are more likely to suffer heart attack or stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Obesity is unhealthy because excess weight increases the strain on the heart. It's directly linked with heart attacks because it influences blood pressure, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and makes diabetes more likely to develop. If you can lose as little as 10 to 20 pounds, you can help lower your risk.Diabetes mellitus
-- Diabetes seriously increases the risk of suffering heart attack. Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. Two-thirds of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. If you have diabetes, it's critically important for you to monitor and control any other risk factors you can.What other factors contribute to heart attack risk?
Individual response to stress may be a contributing factor. Some scientists have noted a relationship between heart attack risk and stress in a person's life, 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.
For more information on reducing your risk for heart attack, visit www.americanheart.org.
