Who is affected by coronary artery disease?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States in men and women. Coronary artery disease affects 16.8 million Americans. The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that about every 34 seconds, someone will have a heart attack. In addition, the lifetime risk of having cardiovascular disease after age 40 is 2 in 3 men and more than 1 in 2 women.

Reference: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2009 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association Committee and Subcommittee. Circulation, 2009 January 27

Research about cardiovascular disease risk factors suggests that making even small lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke and other serious cardiovascular conditions.

What are the risk factors for coronary artery disease?
Risk factors are certain conditions that increase a person's risk for cardiovascular disease. It is important to know:

• Some risk factors, called "nonmodifiable risk factors," cannot be changed.
• Some risk factors, called "modifiable risk factors," can be modified, controlled or treated.
• The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
• Higher levels of each risk factor correlate with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

Nonmodifiable risk factors
Check which ones apply to you

• Increasing age - Cardiovascular disease is more likely to occur as you get older. About 85 percent of people who die of coronary artery disease are aged 65 or older.
• Male gender - Men have a greater risk of heart attack then women.
• Menopause - After menopause, a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease increases, but does not reach the level of a man's.
• Family history - Your risk of cardiovascular disease increases if your parents, brothers, sisters, or children have the disease.
• Race - The risk of cardiovascular disease is higher in African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans. This increased risk is partly due to higher rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes in these populations.

Since you can't change any of these risk factors, it is important to focus on the risk factors you CAN change.