The age factor doesn't mean you should wait until age 65 to begin taking care of your heart. As your age increases, become more vigilant about your health, visit your doctor and be ever aware of the risks of heart attack. The other unavoidable risk is heredity. A sign that heart disease is in your family is if your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55 or your mother or sister had one before age 65. The factors you can control Of course you can't control your age or family history.
Cigarette smoke puts added strain on the heart because it causes vessels to clamp down or constrict.
By quitting, even longtime smokers can see immediate results. If you don't know your LDL, HDL and total cholesterol levels, have them checked. An overall cholesterol reading of 240 or higher signals a warning. High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. It also increases the risk of stroke and other serious health problems.