Risk factors of cardiovascular disease

Smoking or tobacco use is one of the most important Risk factors of cardiovascular disease and for developing heart disease.  The chemicals in tobacco can damage the heart and blood vessels, making the arteries narrower (atherosclerosis).

Risk factors of cardiovascular disease

As your age increases, it is possible for your arteries to harden and plaque to freeze.  But some risk factors, including behaviors, conditions or habits,

Uncontrollable Risk factors of cardiovascular disease

Although some risk factors are not under your control, such as your age and family history, other factors can be controlled or overcome, reducing your risk.  These include:

1.  Smoking
2.  Diabetes
3.  High cholesterol
4.  High blood pressure
5.  Obesity, and
6.  Lack of workout (such-and-such a relaxed lifestyle)
7.  Some types of radiation therapy in the chest
8.  Tension
9.  High LDL "bad" cholesterol and low HDL "good" cholesterol

What are the risk factors for heart disease?

 Following are the risk factors for developing heart disease -

Sugar - Sugar increases the risk of heart disease.  (Read more - Reducing Sugar)

 Obesity - Overweight usually worsens other risk factors.  (Read more - Home remedies to reduce obesity)

 Stress - Stress can damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors of heart disease.

 Age - The risk of narrowing of the arteries increases with age and the heart muscle is weak.

 Sex - Men are usually at greater risk of heart disease.  However, the risk of women increases after menopause.

 Family history - A family history of heart disease increases the risk of coronary artery disease, especially if the parent has had it at an early age.

 Smoking - Nicotine narrows your blood vessels and carbon monoxide can damage their inner lining, making them more susceptible to atherosclerosis.  Heart attack is more common in smokers.

 Diet - If your diet is high in fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol, then the risk of heart disease increases.

 High blood pressure - Uncontrolled high blood pressure can make your arteries hard and thick, causing the vessels to narrow.

 High cholesterol - High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

 Unhygienic - Regular hand washing and other unclean habits lead to viral or bacterial infections, which can increase the risk of heart infection, especially if you already have an underlying heart disease.  Poor dental health can also lead to heart diseases.