Who’s at Risk for Heart Disease?

Heart disease strikes both men and women. However, some people are more likely than others to have a heart attack because of their risk factors, including: 

• Pre-existing coronary heart diseases, including a previous heart attack, a prior angioplasty or bypass surgery, or angina
• Age- in men, the risk increases after age 45; in women, the risk increases after age 55
• Family history of early heart disease- a father or brother diagnosed before age 55 or a mother or sister diagnosed before age 65

What Are the Risk Factors?

While some of the risk factors for heart attack are beyond your control, most can be modified to help you lower your risk of having a first or repeat heart attack.

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Overweight
• Physical inactivity
• Diabetes

If you have one or more of these factors, see your healthcare provider to find out how to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Source: American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.