Risk Factors for Coronary heart disease

List of Risk Factors for Coronary heart disease

The list of risk factors mentioned for Coronary heart disease in various sources includes:

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Stress
• Overweight
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Poor diet
• History of heart problems
• Family history of CHD
• Age
• Atherosclerosis
• Alcohol misuse

Risk factor statistics for Coronary heart disease:

The following are statistics from various sources about the risk factors for Coronary heart disease:

• Women who smoke up to 15 cigarettes a day and take oral contraceptives, have 3-5 times higher risk of coronary heart disease (World Heart Federation Fact-Sheet, 2002)
• Risk 30% higher in those exposed to passive smoke (World Heart Federation Fact-Sheet, 2002)
• Risk decreases by 50% one year after quitting smoking (World Health Organisation Web Site)
• Less than 15 years after quitting smoking, the risk is the same as a non-smoker (World Health Organisation Web Site)
• Women with diabetes have an 8 times greater risk of developing coronary heart disease (World Heart Federation Fact-Sheet, 2002

Risk factors discussion:

Facts About Heart Disease and Women: NHLBI (Excerpt)

Being over age 55 is a "risk factor" that affects the development of coronary heart disease. There are other risk factors (see Box A). They are: family history of early heart disease, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, being overweight, physical inactivity, and diabetes. The risk factors do not add their effects in a simple way. Rather, they multiply each other's effects. For example, if you smoke and have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, you're eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than a woman with no risk factors. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Heart Disease and Women: NHLBI)

NHLBI Heart Disease & Women Are You At Risk: NHLBI (Excerpt)

Body shape as well as weight may affect heart health. "Apple-shaped" individuals with extra fat at the waistline may have a higher risk than "pear-shaped" people with heavy hips and thighs. If your waist is nearly as large as, or larger than, the size of your hips, you may have a higher risk for coronary heart disease. (Source: excerpt from NHLBI Heart Disease & Women Are You At Risk: NHLBI)

NHLBI, coronary heart disease: NHLBI (Excerpt)

Risk factors for CHD include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity--all of which can be controlled. Although medical treatments for heart disease have come a long way, controlling risk factors remains the key to preventing illness and death from CHD. (Source: excerpt from NHLBI, coronary heart disease: NHLBI)

Risks factors for Coronary heart disease: medical news summaries:

The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Coronary heart disease:

• High blood pressure may be improved by meditation
• Inherited high cholesterol may be subdued by omega-3 fat
• More news »

About risk factors:

Risk factors for Coronary heart disease are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Coronary heart disease makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Coronary heart disease. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Coronary heart disease. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.

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