Heart attacks are the result of an unwanted buildup of plaques within the heart’s arteries. There are certain risk factors that make this unwanted buildup more likely to occur. These factors include

• Age: Men ages 45+ and women ages 55+ are more likely to have a heart attack than younger men and women.

• Gender: Overall, men have a greater risk of heart attack than women and they often have heart attacks earlier in life than women. However, women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men.

• Tobacco usage: Long-term exposure to smoke , whether through smoking yourself or secondhand smoke increases the risk of a heart attack.

• High blood pressure: Blood pressure refers to the amount of pressure the blood puts on the body’s circulatory system. High blood pressure means that the pressure in the veins and arteries of the circulatory system is high. This elevated pressure can damage the circulatory system and make it more difficult for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. It also can increase the buildup of fat in the circulatory system. High blood pressure combined with other risk factors including smoking, high cholesterol, and diabetes increases the risk of a heart attack even more than just high blood pressure by itself.

• High blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels: Cholesterol is a type of fat that is important for proper heart function. There is “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol. Too much bad cholesterol can narrow the arteries and lead to an increased risk of heart attack. Triglycerides are another type of fat and an increased level of triglycerides also increases the risk of a heart attack. Both cholesterol and triglycerides are obtained through food and therefore a diet high in cholesterol and triglycerides can especially increase your risk of a heart attack.

• Diabetes: Diabetes is a disease that arises because the body can no longer properly break down the sugar eaten from food. The protein responsible for breaking down sugar is insulin. In diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin, and therefore too much sugar remains in the blood and cannot be properly broken down by the body. Diabetes can increase the risk of a heart attack.

• Family History: If someone in your family has had a heart attack in the past, then this can increase your risk of having a heart attack too. Family history especially increases your risk if a sibling, parent, or grandparent had a heart attack before the age of 55 for males, and 65 for females.

• Race: African-Americans have a greater risk for heart attacks than Caucasians.

• Lack of physical activity: Exercise and an active lifestyle keep the heart healthy. An inactive lifestyle often can cause high blood cholesterol and obesity, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to decrease the risk of a heart attack.

• Stress: Stress can increase the risk of a heart attack

• Illegal drug use: The use of stimulant drugs, especially cocaine or amphetamines, can trigger the arteries to spasm and cause a heart attack.

• Alcohol : Drinking too much alcohol can increase blood pressure, cause higher triglycerides, produce irregular heartbeats, and contribute to obesity. All of these factors can result in an increased risk of a heart attack.

• Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a condition that results from high blood pressure during pregnancy . If you had preeclampsia while pregnant this increases your risk of having a heart attack.

• Obesity: Obesity is associated with many of the above risk factors, including high blood cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Because obesity is associated with so many of the above risk factors that increase the probability of having a heart attack, it is also a risk factor for a heart attack. If you are obese, losing 10% of your body weight can significantly lower the risk of a heart attack.

• Autoimmune Conditions: Autoimmune disorders occur when the body’s immune system starts attacking itself and can cause serious harm to the body. Certain autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis , and lupus can cause harm to the heart and its arteries and increase your risk of having a heart attack.