Modifiable risk factors are things you can do something about to help prevent a heart attack.
Modifiable risk factors include:
- high blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure promotes plaque buildup in the arteries by making it easier for plaque formation to occur, which can lead to a heart attack.
- high cholesterol levels: High cholesterol is a major contributor to the plaque formation that can lead to a heart attack.
- diabetes: Having diabetes increase the risk of a heart attack because diabetes can speed up atherosclerosis (blood circulation problems caused by hardening or narrowing of the arteries) and increase blood cholesterol levels.
- smoking: Smoking plays a role in the buildup of plaque in the arteries, reducing the oxygen in the blood and increasing blood pressure.
- physical inactivity: Low levels of physical activity are associated with obesity and high blood cholesterol. People who participate regularly in aerobic exercise have better cardiovascular fitness, which decreases the overall risk of heart attack and helps lower high blood pressure.
- being overweight or obese: About 1 in 10 premature deaths in Canadians aged 20 to 64 years is directly related to being overweight or obese. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and the risk for diabetes.
- stress: Stress can raise blood pressure. The way you manage or respond to stress can increase your risk of a heart attack.
- alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure and the levels of certain types of fats in your blood, which increases the risk of a heart attack.
Use the Doctor Discussion Guide to talk to your doctor about any risk factors you may have for a heart attack. You can also use the Lifestyle Tool to determine how you can change your heart attack risk by living a healthier lifestyle, or read more about heart attack prevention here.
