Some risks for coronary heart disease, such as a family history of early heart disease, cannot be controlled; however, most of the risk factors associated with this disease can be eliminated or managed. Some of these controllable risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

• While risks for coronary heart disease are based on risk factors, having such risk factors does not necessarily mean that a person will get coronary heart disease. Many people with risk factors never develop heart disease, while people with no risk factors can get it.
   
• The more risk factors a person has, the greater his or her risk for developing coronary heart disease.
   
• Risk factors for coronary heart disease can also increase the chances that an existing disease will get worse.
   
• There are certain risks for coronary heart disease a person can do nothing about; there are also other risks that a person can minimize or eliminate.
   

 

• High cholesterol levels, also known as hypercholesterolemia (see Cholesterol and Heart Disease)
• High blood pressure, also known as hypertension (see Effects of High Blood Pressure)
• Diabetes (see Diabetes and Heart Disease)
• Smoking (see Smoking and Heart Disease)
• Being overweight (see Obesity and Heart Disease or click BMI Calculator for your ideal weight)
• Being physically inactive (see Heart Disease and Exercise).