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Learn More: Cholesterol

Know Your Heart Disease Risk

Cholesterol is Just One Factor When it Comes to Your Heart's Health.

Your cholesterol levels and other risk factors -- lifestyle, hypertension, diabetes, age, gender, etc. -- influence your chance of developing heart disease. You can change some of these risk factors; others you can't. Knowing your personal risk factors is the first step in taking charge of your heart health.

Heart Disease Risk Factors

Things You Can Change
(modifiable)		 Things You Can't Change
(nonmodifiable)
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension (140/90 mm Hg or
    on antihypertensive medications)
  • Obesity and overweight
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Abnormal cholesterol levels:
    • High total cholesterol
    • High LDL
    • Low HDL (<40 mg/dL)
    • High triglycerides (≥200 mg/dL)
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Age
    • Male ≥ 45 years old
    • Female ≥ 55 years old
  • Family history of premature heart disease

Find out what your cholesterol levels really mean.

Go to Heart Health Center
Last reviewed on: January 2012
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