who's at risk for a heart attack?

Heart attacks strike both men and women. However, some persons are more likely than others to have a heart attack because of their "risk factors."

Risk factors are behaviors or conditions that increase the chance of a disease. Some of the risk factors for heart attack are beyond your control, but most can be modified to help you lower your risk of having a first–or repeat–heart attack.

Factors that increase the risk of a heart attack are:

Factors you cannot control

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.

Factors you can control

Smoking.
High blood pressure.
High blood cholesterol.
Overweight and obesity.
Physical inactivity.
Diabetes.

Risk factors do not add their effects in a simple way. Rather, they multiply each other’s effects. So, it is very important to prevent or control risk factors that can be modified. If you have one or more of these factors, see your health care provider to find out how to reduce your risk of having a first or repeat heart attack.

Find out if you are at an increased risk of having a heart attack.

Courtesy of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute