Risk factors are habits or traits that make a person more likely to develop a disease.
Some risk factors for heart-related problems cannot be changed, but many others can be. The major risk factors for cardiovascular disease that you can do something about are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, overweight, and physical inactivity. Other risk factors, such as diabetes, also are conditions you have some control over. Even just one risk factor will raise your chances of having heart-related problems. High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in various parts of the body.