Risk Factors for a Heart Attack

An acure coronary syndrome (heart attack) may occur in any person without any real prior warnings or notices; however, there are some risk factors which may indicate a higher risk for having a heart attack. These include the following: non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors.

Non-modifiable (the things you can’t change) risk factors for a heart attack include:

Age, gender, family history.

Modifiable (the things you can and should change) risk factors for a heart attack include:

High blood cholesterol levels – particularly low density lipids and triglycerides (generally anything that is fried is bad for your heart)

High blood sugar levels

High blood pressure (also known as hypertension)

Smoking – it has long been proven that there is a strong correlation between smoking and coronary artery disease and a myriad of other early causes of death. If you smoke, no mater how hard it is to give up, not quiting is going to hurt more!

High stress – maybe you shouldn’t just quit you job yet, but a high stress job is a strong risk factor for coronary artery disease and chest pain.

Obesity

Sedentary lifestyles

If you want to learn more about chest pain and a possible heart attack, please visit my Chest Pain page.