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Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Heart disease kills more Americans each year than any other disease or illness. It is important to understand what makes heart disease so common and how you can reduce your chances of having heart disease. Heart disease can be silent (no symptoms) in some persons. They may not be aware of heart disease until they have a heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction). More than 2600 Americans die every day from cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease.
The August 20, 2003, issue of JAMA includes several articles about risk factors for heart disease. A risk factor is something that makes you more likely to have a disease, illness, or medical problem. Some risk factors are modifiable (can be made better). Other risk factors, such as age and genetics (family history), cannot be changed.
RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE
MODIFIABLE
- Smoking or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle (not enough physical activity)
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol or abnormal blood lipids (fats)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
NONMODIFIABLE
- Male sex
- Age older than 50 years
- Family history of heart disease
REDUCE YOUR CARDIAC RISK
- Stop smoking.
- Eat a low-fat diet rich in vegetables and fruits.
- Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes.
- Control diabetes and hypertension if you already have these medical problems.
- Manage your cholesterol and blood lipid levels if they are elevated.
- Know your family history, especially about heart attacks or sudden death at age younger than 50 years.
See your doctor regularly to assess heart risks, manage heart disease if it is already present, and reduce your risk of heart attack or sudden death.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
INFORM YOURSELF
To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish. A Patient Page on heart disease and women was published in the December 25, 2002, issue; one on obesity and weight loss was published in the April 9, 2003, issue; and one on smoking and the heart was published in the July 2, 2003, issue.
Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American College of Cardiology
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. Any other print or online reproduction is subject to AMA approval. To purchase bulk reprints, call 718/946-7424.
Topic: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer;
Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator;
Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2003;290:980.
RELATED ARTICLES
Major Risk Factors as Antecedents of Fatal and Nonfatal Coronary Heart Disease Events
Philip Greenland, Maria Deloria Knoll, Jeremiah Stamler, James D. Neaton, Alan R. Dyer, Daniel B. Garside, and Peter W. Wilson
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Emerging Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: A Critical Review of the Evidence
Daniel G. Hackam and Sonia S. Anand
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