Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Western world, accounting for 1 in 5 deaths, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These diseases include a group of conditions, including diseases of the blood vessels such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems as well as congenital heart defects.

So how can you avoid or reduce the chance of getting the disease? According to a report published by Live Science, many risk factors for heart disease interact with each other. For example, stress increases blood pressure, as well as obesity and smoking, all of which increase stress on the heart and, accordingly, increase the risk of the disease. To help, We have brought you the full list of risk factors.

1. Smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor and causes 1 in 4 deaths from cardiovascular disease, according to the CDC. Smokers can show signs of heart disease, including those who smoke less than five cigarettes a day. Non-smokers may also be at risk if they are often around people who smoke, which is known as second-hand smoke.

Smoking contributes to arteriosclerosis, or the accumulation of fatty plaque and other substances within the walls of the arteries. The chemicals in cigarettes can also cause inflammation in the arteries, further restricting blood flow.

2. Overweight or obesity

People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of heart disease, even in the absence of other risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure. A high body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of heart disease, and experts suggest that obesity can cause inflammation in the body, which is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. Lack of physical activity

A sedentary lifestyle (where a person spends a lot of time in activities that use little energy) can be a risk factor for heart disease, according to the British Heart Association (BHF). Regular exercise can reduce the risk of certain heart and circulatory diseases by up to 35%, according to the BHF, by helping to control blood pressure, exercise the heart and help manage blood glucose levels.

4. Diabetes

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase the risk of heart disease. Diabetes causes high levels of glucose in the blood, and over long periods of time, high blood sugar can damage the nerves that control the heart, as well as the blood vessels. Diabetes also increases the risk of high cholesterol and blood pressure, both of which increase the risk of heart disease.

5. High cholesterol

“One of the most common types of heart disease is coronary heart disease,” said Dr. Daniel Sado, a consultant cardiologist at London Bridge Hospital, explaining that high cholesterol leads to blockages in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle, as a result of fatty deposits.

He explained that sclerosis results from so-called “bad” cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which accumulates in the arteries, putting more pressure on the heart as a result of the restriction of blood flow. “This may cause a situation where the heart muscle receives less blood than it needs to function properly,” he added.

High cholesterol is defined as total blood cholesterol equal to or greater than 200 milligrams per deciliter. However, it should be known that the sum of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is not necessarily an indicator of health risk when HDL levels are high, but there are signs of concern in the case of an increase in LDL levels. .

6. Inherited

A person’s genes can also be a risk factor for developing cardiomyopathy – heart muscle disease. “There are different types of cardiomyopathy, many of which can have genetic causes,” explains Dr. Sado. “Sometimes the heart muscle is too thick, sometimes it doesn’t contract well or sometimes it becomes stiff, so it’s hard to relax when it’s filled with blood.”

Sado explained that cardiomyopathy can present itself in many different ways, and although it cannot yet be cured, there are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of heart failure and sudden death, including not eating saturated fats, exercising regularly and reducing stress.

7. Menopause

Menopausal women are at increased risk for heart disease due to high levels of testosterone before menopause, increased blood pressure during menopause, and menopause-related stress and depression, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.

8. Stress, pressure and anxiety

Stress causes people to deal with heart problems at a younger age, as stress and pressure can cause high blood pressure. A 2017 paper published in The Lancet suggested that when a person experiences stress, their brain signals the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells, which in turn leads to inflammation of the arteries that restricts blood flow.