Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that one out of every four deaths is due to heart disease. There are multiple reasons that heart disease is such a problem in America, largely due to the popularity of fast foods and processed foods. As a society, Americans tend to overeat as well as eat a typically unhealthy diet.

There are other factors that contribute to heart disease, however. There are many risk factors that can seriously contribute to the risk of heart disease. Some of these risk factors are age, weight, sex, race, genetics, and even socio-economic status.

Age

As with a multitude of other health conditions, age is certainly a factor for heart disease. It seems as you get older you become more susceptible to many health conditions, including heart disease. Your risk increases when you are 55 years or older.

Weight

Weight is a double edged sword when it comes to risk factors. Being overweight increases your risk of many health conditions, including heart disease. Some health conditions can contribute to weight gain as well, such as diabetes. Weight usually correlates with an unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet has much to do with high cholesterol, which can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, even heart attack.

Other Health Conditions

The likelihood of having heart disease also increases if you have other chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and renal disease. All of these diseases are linked and one can lead to another if not properly addressed.

Sex

While both men and women are at risk for heart disease, men are more at risk than women. The reasons for this are not really understood, but some studies point to over-exhaustion and a higher likelihood of an unhealthy diet.

Race

Race is also a factor for heart disease. The reasons come down to complicated genetics, but it seems that minorities, such as people from African and Asian descent, are more likely to have heart disease. Unfortunately this is another double edged sword, as it seems that more minorities fall under the poverty line or are otherwise lower in the socio-economic status. People that live in low socio-economic communities are also more likely to have heart disease.

Genetics

If you have family members that suffered from high blood pressure, heart attack, and heart disease, you are more likely to also. There are genetic risk factors for heart disease that can be passed down from generation to generation. If you have a family history of heart disease, you should take even more care to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to avoid the dangerous repercussions.

These and others are some of the main risk factors for heart disease. Even if you have all of these risk factors however, you can still have great health. Or, if you are diagnosed with a chronic health condition like heart disease, you can still live a healthy lifestyle. These risk factors simply mean that you should work even harder to live a healthy life through diet, exercise, and following the advice of your healthcare professionals.