According to the American Heart Association, the major risk factors for coronary heart disease are:
• Increased age - Four out of five people who die of coronary heart disease are age 65 or older.
• Male gender - Men have a greater risk of heart attack and they have attacks earlier in life.
• Heredity - Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves. Heart disease risk is also higher among Americans with ancestry from Africa, Mexico, native Americans & Hawaiians and Asia
• Tobacco smoke - Smoker's risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Second hand smoke increases the risk even for nonsmokers.
• High blood cholesterol - Risk increases as blood cholesterol levels increase.
• High blood pressure - This increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time.
• Physical inactivity - Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease.
• Obesity and overweight - People with excess body fat, especially in the waist area, are more likely to develop heart disease, even if they have no other risk factors.
• Diabetes mellitus - Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

You can modify, treat or control most risk factors to lower your risk by focusing on your lifestyle habits or, if needed, taking medicine. And your doctor should be your partner in increasing your heart health. If you need a doctor, call anytime: 336-718-7010.