Risk Factors for Women's Heart Disease

Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase your chances of developing a disease or having it worsen. For women, risk increases at age 55. Risk is also increased if there is a strong family history of early heart disease. There are many risk factors that you can control. They include the following:

• Smoking
• High Blood Pressure: 140/90 or above. Even high normal blood pressure (130-139/85-89) raises your risk
• High Cholesterol
• Overweight/obesity: Ideal weight is a BMI between 18.5-24.9
• Physical inactivity
• Diabetes