Heart attacks can be prevented, yet millions of Americans increase their risk of having a heart attack by some things they do every day. Lifestyle can contribute to, or prevent, a heart attack. The first step you can take to reduce your chance for having a heart attack is to stop unhealthy habits that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. To do this, you must know the risk factors that are promoting your risk of heart problems. Unchangeable major risk factors include inherited traits, being male, and increasing age.
Heart disease tends to run in families with a history of it.
Even though the death rate for women is increasing, men have a greater risk for heart attack earlier in life. As we get older, the risk increases for women. Four out of five people who die of heart attack are age 65 or older. Major risk factors you can change include cigarette and tobacco smoking, obesity, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity. Smokers have twice the risk for heart attack as nonsmokers.