Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in America. The five major risk factors for cardiovascular disease are hypertension or high blood pressure high cholesterol level cigarette smoking diabetes family history of heart disease Additional risk factors include inactive lifestyle, obesity and gender. High cholesterol levels are those that exceed 240 total cholesterol or 160 for the LDL type of cholesterol. If members of your family like parents, grandparents or brothers and sisters, have a history of developing coronary or other vascular disease prior to age 55, you are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
Men are also more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than women.
Proper diet , regular exercise and not smoking are the most important factors that you can control in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease . This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.