Research has indicated that certain factors may increase a person’s risk of having heart and coronary artery disease (see section on CAD). This in turn increases the risk for having future heart problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding about risk fators is an important first step in rehabilitation. Working to change these will help you to reduce your risk of having a cardiac event in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Non-modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Non-modifiable risk factors are those which cannot be changed. While each risk factor is important in its own right, the risk of developing CHD is strongly related to a combination of factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Non modifiable risk factors are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Age \u2013 Getting older increases your risk of developing heart disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Gender – Men are more likely to develop the condition at an earlier age than women, but as women get older the gender gap narrows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Ethnicity – Some ethnic groups have a different level of risk. For example, people of South Asian descent are at higher risk. In Scotland we have a high incidence of CHD but the good news is that this is reducing. Both genetics and lifestyle are likely to play a part.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Genetics\/Family history \u2013 You are at greater risk if a first-degree blood relative has had coronary heart disease or stroke before the age of 55 years (for a male relative) or 65 years (for a female relative).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many of the risk factors are ‘modifiable’<\/strong> – that is they can be reduced or controlled by lifestyle change or medications. We will tell you more about these in the following sections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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