You can control or modify many of the risk factors that contribute toward developing heart disease. Reducing your risk factors can:

• Reduce your symptoms
• Reduce your chance of inflammation contributing to disease
• Prevent progression of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce the need for additional treatment
• Improve your day-to-day energy, your outlook and your ability to cope with stress
• Help you achieve a longer, more productive life
   

Which risk factors apply to you?

Learn more about your risk factors and take action to change the ones you can.

• Personal medical history of heart disease
• Family history (father or brother had heart disease before age 55 or mother or sister had heart disease before 65)
• Age and gender (man 45 years of age or older or woman 55 years of age or older)
• High blood pressure
• Unhealthy lipid profile levels
• Diabetes
• Tobacco use (current user, or quit within the past year)
• Physical inactivity
• Unhealthy diet (a diet high in saturated and trans fat, and lacking fruits and vegetables)
• Excess body weight
• Alcohol consumption in excess (greater than1 drink/day for women or greater than 2 drinks/day for men)
• Stress