Coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is the leading cause of death in developed countries, according to the online Merck Manual Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers. Also called CHD or CAD, the disease most commonly results from the buildup of plaque in the arteries around the heart, a process called atherosclerosis, eventually slowing or completely blocking the flow of oxygen-carrying blood and leading to a heart attack or stroke. Many factors influence the development of coronary heart disease; some, though not all, can be affected by lifestyle changes or medicines.
Factors You Can't Control
The American Heart Association lists three major factors in heart disease that you cannot change: age, gender and heredity. According to the AHA, 83 percent of those who die from CHD are over 65 years of age, and males are more likely than females to die from the disease. Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, Hawaiian natives and Asian-Americans are at higher risk for developing the disease, as are those with a family history of heart disease.
Lifestyle Factors
It's not news to anyone that diet and exercise can affect health, so it should come as no surprise that these lifestyle factors influence your risk of acquiring serious cardiovascular diseases, including CAD.
Among the lifestyle factors affecting coronary heart disease, the Mayo Clinic lists smoking tobacco; a diet high in fat, salt and cholesterol; physical inactivity; obesity or being overweight; constant high levels of stress; diabetes; and poor hygiene habits---including hand washing and dental health---that might lead to infections that could affect the heart. Drinking alcohol in moderation may help decrease the risk of coronary heart disease, but drinking to excess increases the risk, according to the American Heart Association.
Factors Affected by Medication
High cholesterol and high blood pressure also influence the onset of cardiovascular disease, according to the National Library of Medicine. While lifestyle changes may help to control these factors, they are usually best controlled through medication. The Merck Manual includes some treatable metabolic disorders, such as hypothyroidism or increased levels of certain amino acids or proteins, in its description of factors contributing to coronary artery disease.
Less Common Factors
The Merck Manual also lists coronary artery spasms as a factor in coronary artery disease leading to acute coronary syndrome. These spasms may occur spontaneously or result from the use of certain types of drugs, including cocaine. Birth defects, lupus, inflammation of the arteries, blood clots and actual physical injury are other possible factors that can lead to coronary heart disease, according to the Merck Manual.
