Only children from families at high risk of heart disease need to have their blood cholesterol levels checked. Smoking is a major risk factor for four of the five leading causes of death including heart attack, stroke, cancer, and lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis. If you have had a heart attack, quitting smoking can help reduce your chances of having a second attack. Someone who has smoked for 30 to 40 years probably will not be able to quit smoking. The best way to lose weight is to increase physical activity and eat fewer calories.
Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in the United States.
On the average, each one doubles your chance of developing heart disease. So, a person who has all three of the risk factors is 8 times more likely to develop heart disease than someone who has none. Obesity increases the likelihood of developing high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, which increase your risk of heart disease. Physical inactivity increases your risk for heart attack. Regular exercise and good nutrition are essential to reducing high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and overweight.