Search this site:

Consumer Information Center So You Have High Blood Cholesterol

Consumer Information Center: So You Have High Blood Cholesterol
  Return to Savvy Consumer Information Center - Home Page   
Chapter 1 So You Have High Blood Cholesterol

   

 Other Risk Factors for Heart Disease

In addition to a high LDL-cholesterol level and a low HDL- cholesterol level, other factors also increase your chance of heart disease. The chart below lists these risk factors. The more of them you have, the higher your chance of developing heart disease. If you have any of these risk factors in addition to your high blood cholesterol, your risk of heart disease is even greater.

In addition to the risk factors on the chart, another factor that influences your risk of heart disease is where your body stores excess fat. If you have an apple-shaped body with most of your fat around the stomach, you are at a greater risk of heart disease than if your body is pear-shaped, with most of your fat around your hips. Generally, men carry their fat around the stomach, while women carry it on the hips and thighs.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Factors You Can
Do Something About 		Factors You
Cannot Control

{short description of image}  Cigarette smoking
{short description of image}  High blood cholesterol (high total    cholesterol and high LDL-cholesterol)
{short description of image}  Low HDL-cholesterol
{short description of image}  High blood pressure
{short description of image}  Diabetes
{short description of image}  Obesity
{short description of image}  Physical inactivity

{short description of image}  Age:
    45 years or older for men
    55 years or older for women
{short description of image}  Family history of early heart disease
    (heart attack or sudden death):
    Father or brother
    stricken before the age of 55
    Mother or sister
    stricken before the age of 65

Talk to your doctor about all of your risk factors and what you can do to reduce your chance of heart disease. Often, the actions you take to control one risk factor help reduce others as well. For example, losing weight helps to reduce your blood cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, and helps to control diabetes. Regular physical activity can help you lose weight as well as improve the fitness of your heart and lungs, which also can help lower your risk of heart disease.

Previous Page Contents Next Page

  Return to Savvy Consumer Information Center - Home Page   
Search this site:

Get the Savvy Consumer Newsletter! (FREE)