Just Say No to Abuse Declaring War on Terrorism. There are many risk factors for heart attack.
Men have a higher risk of heart attack and heart disease than women do.
However, the risk to women increases significantly after menopause. As age increases, so does the chance of dying from coronary heart disease. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for both heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure can be controlled through weight loss, limiting salt intake, and medication, if necessary. This can eventually lead to a partial or complete blockage of blood flow through the artery, causing a heart attack or stroke, depending on the location of the blockage.