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Many risk factors for coronary heart disease can be changed.

Knowing your risk is the first step towards preventing heart attack.

deCODEme can calculate your genetic risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack.

Assess your risk of coronary heart disease and avoid a heart attack – a heart-healthy lifestyle is your best prevention

Coronary heart disease may start as early as in childhood

Research suggests that the build-up of plaque within coronary arteries that is characteristic of coronary heart disease, may start as early as in childhood. This means that people may have this slowly progressive disease for a long time without knowing it. Assessing your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is important, because in the case of coronary heart disease there is so much you can do to reduce your overall risk. The deCODEme Complete Scan and the deCODEme Cardio Scan can help you calculate your genetic risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack.

Atherosclerosis is the disease process that narrows the coronary arteries

Coronary artery disease starts when certain factors damage the inner layers of the coronary arteries. When damage occurs, the body starts a healing process. Excess fatty tissues release compounds that promote this process. This healing causes fatty substances to accumulate where the arteries are damaged. Over time, this fatty build-up (plaque) can narrow or completely block some the coronary arteries, a disease process known as atherosclerosis.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease include genetic risk

Studies of large populations over several decades have revealed a number of risk factors for coronary heart disease and heart attacks. Some of these cannot be modified (such as age, gender, and family history or genetics), whereas others can. The more risk factors you have, the greater chance you have of developing coronary heart disease and having a heart attack.

Many risk factors for coronary heart disease can be changed

Knowing your risk is the first step towards preventing coronary heart disease and heart attack. While some risk factors can not be changed, the good news is that there are many you can change. Assessing your overall risk, is most important when planning your preventive actions.

Risk factors that can´t be changed

• Age. The risk of heart attack increases with age. The average age of a first heart attack is about 66 years for men and 70 years for women in the United States.
• Gender. Men are at a higher risk than women.
• Ethnicity. Certain ethnic groups have increased risk of known contributors to coronary heart disase. For example, African Americans have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, a recognized risk factor for coronary heart disease and heart attack.
• Genetics. Family history is one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease and heart attacks, and common genetic variants have been found that are associated with increased risk. For men, the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis is increased if they have a close family member (father or brother) who has had a heart attack or angina before the age of 55. For women, the risk is increased if they have a close family member (mother or sister) who has had a heart attack or angina before the age of 65.

Risk factors that you can change

• Smoking is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the inner lining of the coronary arteries, which can trigger faster buildup of fatty material within the artery walls. Around 20% of coronary heart disease-related deaths are attributable to smoking.
• High Cholesterol. Cholesterol is made by the liver from the saturated fat that we eat. Cholesterol is necessary for healthy cells, but if there is too much cholesterol in the blood it can lead to coronary heart disease. There are different types of cholesterol. The most important types are called LDL and HDL. LDL is often referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’ and HDL as the ‘good cholesterol’. LDL cholesterol tends to accumulate on the inside of the coronary artery walls, increasing risk of coronary heart disease, whereas HDL reduces the risk of fatty buildup within arteries because it carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver. If the total cholesterol in the blood reaches a level above 6 mmol/L (millimoles cholesterol per liter of blood) equivalent to 240 mg/dL (milligrams cholesterol per deciliter of blood), the blood cholesterol level is considered to be high, and a risk factor for coronary heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends a target total blood cholesterol level of less than 5 mmol/L or below 200 mg/dL.
• High blood pressure or hypertension puts a strain on the heart and can lead to coronary heart disease. High blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure of 140mmHg or more, or a diastolic pressure of 90mmHg or more.
• Obesity. People who have excess body fat, especially around the waist, are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, even if they have no other risk factors. Excess weight raises blood pressure and LDL cholesterol and lowers HDL choloesterol levels. It can also increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that losing even as few as 10 pounds (5 kg) reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Diabetes seriously increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease, even when blood sugar levels are under control. The risk becomes even greater if blood sugar is not well controlled. People who are obese or overweight can often control blood sugar by losing weight, but should always discuss management of blood sugar with their doctor.
• Lack of exercise is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as help lower blood pressure in some people.

This content was last reviewed on February 09, 2010.

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