Heart Disease Risk Factors

While cholesterol is the highest contributor to heart disease, there are other factors too. High blood pressure, diabetes and menopause are contributors to heart disease.

Your heart and risk factors

Heart disease, or coronary heart disease, is the biggest killer in the UK. It’s a heart problem where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked.

Most heart disease is preventable, and knowing your risk factors is the first step to taking control.

Cholesterol – the key risk factor for heart disease.

High cholesterol can contribute to heart disease by causing the build-up of fatty deposits in your arteries. This narrows the arteries and makes it more difficult for your heart to pump blood around your body.

The only way to find out your cholesterol level is to have it checked. If you do have high cholesterol (a total cholesterol of 5mmol/L and above is considered high), simple changes to your diet and lifestyle can help. Read more about cholesterol

Other heart disease risk factors

High blood pressure: Raised blood pressure is easy to detect and can often be managed with a healthy diet and lifestyle – some people will also need to take medication. It’s worth getting your blood pressure checked regularly as many people do not show symptoms. Read more about blood pressure
Diabetes: Diabetes affects your heart health and can worsen the effects of high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and obesity. But correct treatment and changes to your diet and lifestyle can help. Read more about diabetes
Menopause: Nearly half of women over 55 have raised “bad” cholesterol. Read more about menopause
Age and gender: Your age can make a great difference to your heart health. As we get older, our risk of heart problems increases. Read more about age
Ethnicity: People of certain ethnicities are at higher risk of heart disease. Read more about ethnicity and heart disease
Weight: Being overweight increases the likelihood of risk factors for heart disease, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Read more about weight and BMI
Family history: If your father, mother, brother or sister has heart disease, this is a risk factor. You’re at higher risk if they developed heart disease before a certain age: for your father or brother, it’s before 55; for your mother or sister, it’s before 65.
Smoking: Having even a few cigarettes a day can affect your heart health and could increase your risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 50%. Get quitting smoking support from the NHS
Alcohol: Drinking too much can increase the risk of high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and weight gain. Recommended limits are 3–4 units a day for men and 2–3 units a day for women. Read NHS guidance on alcohol units
Stress: Stress isn’t directly related to heart disease, but if you smoke, eat junk food and drink alcohol to cope with stress, this can contribute to heart disease. Instead, try exercising, eating healthily and learning relaxation techniques.

Heart Disease Risk Factors

Your heart and risk factors

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