heart and blood vessel disorders
Overview of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Risk Factors for CAD
Some factors that affect whether a person develops coronary artery disease cannot be modified. They include Advancing age Male sex Family history of early coronary artery disease (that is, having a close relative who developed the disease before age 55 in the case of a male relative or 65 in the case of a female relative) Other risk factors for coronary artery disease can be modified or treated. These factors include High blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (see Dyslipidemia ) High blood levels of lipoprotein a Low blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol Diabetes Mellitus (DM) None Smoking High Blood Pressure None Obesity None Physical inactivity Dietary factors High blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) Smoking more than doubles the risk of developing coronary artery disease and having a heart attack. Secondhand smoke appears also to increase risk. Dietary risk factors include a diet that is low in fiber, vitamins C, D, and E, and phytochemicals (which are present in fruits and vegetables and are thought to promote health). For some people, a diet low in fish oils (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) increases risk. Having one or two drinks of alcohol a day appears to slightly reduce the risk of coronary artery disease (while slightly increasing that of stroke). However, having more than two drinks a day increases the risk, and the larger the amount, the greater the risk. Certain metabolic disorders, such as Hypothyroidism , hyperhomocysteinemia (a very high level of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood), and a high level of apolipoprotein B (apo B), which is important in how the body manages fats, also are risk factors. Whether infection with certain organisms contributes to the development of coronary artery disease is uncertain. 