High blood pressure is also generally more severe among elderly African-Americans than elderly whites, leading to more cases of strokes, heart disease and kidney failure. High cholesterol increases the risk of coronary heart disease. This factor is even more important when other factors are present, such as diet or smoking. High blood pressure makes the heart pump more and faster, causing it to enlarge and weaken. The risk is compounded with other factors, such as obesity, smoking, diabetes or high blood cholesterol.
Diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease.
Stress may also contribute to the development of heart disease, because people may overeat, exercise less or smoke more when they're under stress. Symptoms People with artery blockages may experience angina, a discomfort caused by inadequate blood flow. If the heart disease leads to a heart attack, women are more likely than men to experience nausea or vomiting instead of the violent chest pain that characterizes a heart attack for men. In fact, women may feel no chest pain during a heart attack. If you experience these symptoms, you may be having a heart attack.