by Badash M

A risk factor is something that raises the chances of getting a health problem. A person can get CAD with or without the ones listed below. The chances of getting CAD are greater in people who have many.

Things that can raise the risk are:

Sex

Men get atherosclerosis earlier than women. But a woman’s risk starts increasing toward that of men with the start of menopause.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women.

Age

The risk of CAD gets higher with age. Men older than 45 and women older than 55 (younger in those who start menopause early) are at greater risk of heart disease.

Genes

A family history of CAD or heart disease can raise the risk. The risk is higher in people who have unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Lifestyle Habits

Some habits can raise the risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to CAD. These are:

  • Lack of activity—Increases weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and other heart related risk factors
  • Smoking —Narrows and irritates blood vessels (includes cigarettes, cigars, and secondhand smoke)
  • Poor diet—A diet that is high in fat can lead to plaque buildup
  • Excess alcohol intake —Raises triglycerides, which can lead to plaque buildup

Health Problems

Health problems that can raise the risk of CAD are:

  • High blood pressure —Causes problems with blood flow that can harm blood vessel walls
  • Lipid disorders —High cholesterol and triglycerides can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries
  • Diabetes and glucose intolerance—Raises the risk of atherosclerosis and blood vessel damage
  • Obesity and overweight—Raises the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
  • Metabolic syndrome —High blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, and body weight raise the risk
  • Stress—Raises blood pressure
  • Mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety —Affects overall mental and physical well being, which can lead to poor health decisions, such as smoking

Genes

A family history of CAD or heart disease can raise the risk. The risk is higher in people who have unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Sex

Men get atherosclerosis earlier than women. But a woman’s risk starts increasing toward that of men with the start of menopause.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women.

Age

The risk of CAD gets higher with age. Men older than 45 and women older than 55 (younger in those who start menopause early) are at greater risk of heart disease.

References

C-reactive protein (CRP) as cardiac risk factor. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/evaluation/c-reactive-protein-crp-as-cardiac-risk-factor. Accessed April 27, 2022.

Coronary artery disease (CAD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/coronary-artery-disease-cad. Accessed April 27, 2022.

What is coronary heart disease? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease. Accessed April 27, 2022.

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