heart attack risks


There is a wide range of risk factors associated with heart disease. But, these factors can be broken down into two categories:




Age The older you are, the greater the risk. More	Gender Women are at lower risk before the menopause. More	Ethnic Origins Especially if you are from a South Asian background. More	Family History Especially a history of heart disease in a close relative under 55. More

Cholesterol Levels	Smoking	Living With Diabetes

High Blood Pressure	Poor Diet	Being Overweight

Alcohol	Stress	Lack Of Exercise

The more risk factors you have the greater your likelihood of developing heart disease. The effect of several risk factors on your overall risk is not as simple as just adding the risks of each together.

For example, if you have high blood pressure, your risk of heart disease may be tripled. In the same way, if you have high blood cholesterol, your risk of heart disease is quadrupled.

Putting the two risks together produces a nine-fold increase in risk rather than the seven-fold that you might expect. If you smoke as well, the risk is increased by 16. Conversely, if you try to reduce all of your risk factors you will get a better risk reduction than if you just focus on one. If your level of risk is increased, you have much to gain from reducing all of your risk factors. To assess your own personal risk of heart disease and create your own Heart Profile, including ideas and offers to improve your heart health, complete Your Heart Health Assessment.

Age

Gender

Ethnic Origins

Family History