Certain factors increase your risk of heart disease. There are some risk factors for heart disease that you can control or treat and others that you can’t change. Our heart experts work with you to identify your personal risk factors and help you make a plan for better heart health.

Cardiovascular risk factors that you can’t change include: 

• Family history, such as a parent or sibling with heart disease

• Gender, with men having a higher risk until women reach menopause

• Increasing age, in men age 45 and older and women age 55 and older

Cardiovascular risk factors that you can manage or treat include: 

• Alcohol use

• High stress level

• Lack of physical activity

• Lack of sleep

• Obesity and excess weight

• Other conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes

• Tobacco smoking, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other materials with nicotine

• Unhealthy diet

You can take steps to reduce your cardiovascular risks and improve your overall health:

• Eat healthy foods: Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Reduce sodium, sugar and saturated fats. 

• Exercise: Get regular exercise. Your doctor can recommend a level of physical activity that’s safe for you. 

• Limit alcohol: Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.

• Lower stress: Manage your stress with practices such as yoga, exercise, meditation and social activities.

• Maintain a healthy weight: A healthy diet and regular physical activity can help with weight control. 

• Manage chronic conditions: Talk to your doctor about managing diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. 

• Sleep: Get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Talk to your doctor if you have insomnia, sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. 

• Stop smoking: Don’t smoke, vape or use smokeless tobacco. Avoid secondhand smoke.