What is the most important risk factor for coronary heart disease?

What is the most important risk factor for coronary heart disease?

The traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease are high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history, diabetes, smoking, being post-menopausal for women and being older than 45 for men, according to Fisher. Obesity may also be a risk factor.

Why is age a risk factor for CHD?

A decrease in the HDL/total cholesterol ratio and increase in systolic blood pressure contributed most to the risk factor–associated increase of CHD risk by aging.

Why does the risk of CHD increase with age?

In both sexes, the risk of CHD increases markedly with age. Lipid abnormalities, high blood pressure, and smoking are major risk factors for CHD. Obesity and diabetes also contribute to CHD risk. The role of major cardiovascular risk factors in the development of CHD is well established among men.

Is age a risk factor for cardiovascular disease?

The aging and elderly population are particularly susceptible to cardiovascular disease. Age is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults, but these risks are compounded by additional factors, including frailty, obesity, and diabetes.

Why is age a risk factor for coronary heart disease?

Age and gender Your risk of CAD increases as you age. This is because plaque builds up over time. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , the risk for women increases at age 55. The risk for men increases at age 45.

Can age be considered a risk factor?

Age is a well-known traditional risk factor, generally considered nonmodifiable.

How is CHD diagnosed?

He or she will perform certain tests to diagnose CHD: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)measures the rhythm, speed, and evenness of your heartbeat. Echocardiogram (ECG)produces an image of your heart using ultrasound. Chest X-rayproduces an image of your heart and chest area using radiation.

Is age a risk factor for heart failure?

Age. Heart failure risk increases with advancing age. Heart failure is the most common reason for hospitalization in people age 65 years and older.

What risk factors are associated with this age group?

Risk factors for older people

• an increase in physical health problems/conditions e.g. heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease.
• chronic pain.
• side-effects from medications.
• losses: relationships, independence, work and income, self-worth, mobility and flexibility.
• social isolation.

When is age a risk factor for cardiovascular disease?

The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that the incidence of CVD in US men and women is ~40% from 40–59 years, ~75% from 60–79 years, and ~86% in those above the age of 80 [3]. Thus, older adults present a major burden for current US healthcare infrastructure, due to the high prevalence of CVD.

Is age a risk factor for CHD?

In both sexes, the risk of CHD increased markedly with age. In most populations, serum total cholesterol increases as age increases. In men, this increase usually levels off around the age of 45 to 50 years, whereas in women, the increase continues sharply until the age of 60 to 65 years.

When was the concept of risk factors for CHD created?

Emphasis is on the identification of risk factors, assessment of their predictive ability, and their implications for disease prevention. The concept of “risk factors” in coronary heart disease (CHD) was first coined by the Framingham heart study (FHS), which published its findings in 1957.

Do you have a family history of heart disease?

Family Health History of Heart Disease If you have a family health history of heart disease, you are more likely to develop heart disease yourself. Different types of heart disease and related conditions, like high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, can run in families.

What does premature family history of CHD mean?

We included 49 255 men from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. Premature family history of CHD was defined as the presence of angina, myocardial infarction, angioplasty, or bypass surgery in a relative <50 years of age. Cause-specific mortality was obtained from the National Death Index.

What kind of heart disease runs in the family?

Different types of heart disease and related conditions, like high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, can run in families. Knowing your family health history of heart disease and related conditions is one of the first steps you can take to prevent heart disease and heart attacks in the future.