Health Information
Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease
Topic Overview
Some risk factors—things that increase your risk—for Reference coronary artery disease Opens New Window (CAD), such as your gender, age, and family history, cannot be changed. Other risk factors for CAD are related to lifestyle and often can be changed. Your chance of developing coronary artery disease increases with the number of risk factors you have.
You can help lower your risk of CAD with Reference heart-healthy lifestyle changes such as eating healthy foods, being active, and not smoking.
Risk factors you can control
- Reference Smoking
- Reference High blood pressure Opens New Window (140/90 mm Hg or higher)
- Reference High cholesterol Opens New Window
- Reference Diabetes
- Reference Being overweight
- Reference Lack of exercise
- Reference Stress
- Reference Birth control pills or hormone therapy
- Reference Metabolic syndrome
Risk factors you cannot control
- Reference Family history: One or more of your close relatives have or had early CAD.
- Gender: Men generally develop CAD 10 years earlier than women, although by age 60, CAD becomes the leading cause of death in both genders.
- Age: People older than age 65 are more likely to have CAD.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference April 6, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
Reference Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology |
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