Conditions or habits, known as risk factors, increase the chance for developing heart disease. Heart disease risk factors consist of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and obesity.
Many individuals have at least one heart disease risk factor, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which states that the risk for developing heart disease increases substantially with each additional risk factor they have.
Cigarette Smoking
Those who smoke are at two to four times greater risk of developing heart disease than nonsmokers, according to the American Heart Association. The association states that people with known coronary heart disease who smoke have approximately twice the risk than nonsmokers for sudden cardiac death.
The American College of Sports Medicine states cigarette smoking counts as a heart disease risk factor if the person currently smokes or has quit within the past six months.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, called hypertension, causes the heart to work harder in order to overcome the resistance within arterial walls and to pump an efficient amount of blood to the rest of the body, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Over time, the overworked heart muscle becomes stiffened and thicker. High blood pressure increases an individual's risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.
The American College of Sports Medicine states high blood pressure counts as a risk factor if systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or if diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mmHg. These measurements need to be taken on at least two separate occasions.
High blood pressure also counts as a risk factor if someone takes medicine for anti-hypertensive or high blood pressure.
High Blood Cholesterol
Cholesterol, a waxy fat-like substance, builds within the arterial walls of the heart. As cholesterol builds, it is termed plaque, because its growth causes the artery to narrow and harden. This process, called atherosclerosis, occurs when the plaque growth becomes so large it causes a lack of blood supply to the heart. Atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.
The American College of Sports Medicine states high blood cholesterol levels count as a risk factor if the individual's "bad" cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein, is greater than or equal to 130 mg-dL, if "good" cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein, is less than 40 mg-dL or if they're on lipid-lowering, or high cholesterol, medication.
High cholesterol also counts as a risk factor if the individual's total serum cholesterol level is greater than 11.1 mmol/L.
Obesity
Abdominal fat, or extra fat located around the abdomen, increases an individual's risk for developing heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute states the more body fat an individual has and the more they weigh greatly increases their risk for developing coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems and certain cancers.
The American College of Sports Medicine defines obesity as having a body mass index greater than 30 lb/in2, or 30 kg-m2. Waist measurements should not be higher than 40.2 inches for men or 34.6 inches for women.
References
- "ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 7th edition"; ACSM; 2006
- American Heart Association: Risk Factors and Coronary Artery Disease
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: What Are Heart Disease Risk Factors?
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: What Is Cholesterol?
