Risk Factors Matter
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of having heart disease. Most people with heartdisease have more than one risk factor. Heart disease (also called coronary artery disease) involves damage to arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart out through your body. Things like smoking or high cholesterol can damage arteries.
You can’t control some risk factors, such as age and a family history of heart disease, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Click here to complete the free, online Heart Risk Assessment.
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The following factors may increase your risk for heart disease:
- Diabetes occurs when you have high levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood. This can damage arteries if not kept under control. Having diabetes also makes you more likely to have a silent heart attack—one without any symptoms.
- Excess weight makes other risk factors, such as diabetes, more likely. Excess weight around the waist or stomach increases your heart disease risk the most.
- High blood pressure occurs when blood pushes too hard against artery walls as it passes through the arteries. This damages the artery lining. High blood pressure raises your risk of heart attack, also known as acute myocardial infarction, or AMI, and especially stroke.
- Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood. It can build up inside your arteries and block the blood flow to your heart or brain. Your risk of heart disease goes up if you have high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol or triglycerides (another substance that can build up) You’re also at risk if you don't have enough HDL cholesterol ("good") cholesterol which helps clear the bad cholesterol away.
- Lack of physical activity makes you more likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and excess weight. Reduce your chance of a heart attack by making time for your favorite physical activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Metabolic syndrome is caused by a combination of certain risk factors. It puts you at extra high risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. You have metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of the following: low HDL cholesterol; high triglycerides; high blood pressure; high blood sugar; extra weight around the waist.
- Negative emotions such as stress or pent-up anger have been linked to heart disease. Over time, these emotions could raise your heart disease risk. Help reduce your risk by learning stress management techniques to help you deal with stress in your home and work life, and talk with your doctor about your concerns.
- Smoking is the most important risk factor you can change. Smoking damages your arteries. It reduces blood flow to your heart and brain. It greatly increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and cancer. If you smoke, you are two to four times more likely to develop coronary artery disease.
Online Support
Lakeland has started a Healthy Hearts support group through Facebook to create an online community for people with heart disease. If you have congestive heart failure or are recovering from recent heart surgery, you are invited to join this Facebook group. Led by a Certified Cardiac Rehab Specialist, this group is a place where people can share resources, tips, recipes, and other helpful information with one another.
Once you log in to Facebook you will need to request to join the group: click here to join. This group is a "closed group" only members of the group will see what is posted, the information will not be shared with your Facebook friends.