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  Heart disease plagues many because of several factors that put people at risk to the illness. It's important to be informed of the risks and the things you can do to prevent heart disease.
  
  

Age

• Age has a lot to do with heart disease. The elderly are at risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. According to the American Heart Association (see References), "more than 83% of people who die from coronary heart disease are 65 or older."
  
  

Gender

• Men are more at risk of a heart attack than women. However, heart disease is still a growing concern women cannot afford to ignore.
  
  

Family History

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  Pay attention to family history. If there's evidence of heart disease in your family, especially among parents and close relatives such as an uncle or aunt, there's a possibility you could develop heart disease.
  
  

Ethnicity

• Risk of heart disease is greater for African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Latinos. High blood pressure and obesity contribute to heart disease. These are risks that can be managed through diet and exercise.
  
  

Smoking

• Smoking cigarettes or any type of tobacco increases your risk of developing heart disease. Take steps to quit smoking, if you can't quit "cold turkey."
  
  

High Cholesterol

• High cholesterol can either damage the heart or cause coronary heart disease. A change in diet can help lower cholesterol. Other risk factors such as age, gender and genes influence cholesterol levels.
  
  

High Blood Pressure

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  Risk of heart disease also increases if you have high blood pressure. Diet and stress contribute to high blood pressure. Make necessary steps to adopt a healthier diet that's not high in sodium content. Also try to remove any stressors from your life, or find a way to manage the stress.
  
  

Sedentary Lifestyle

• Lack of physical activity makes you a likely candidate for coronary heart disease. Exercise can help shed pounds, get the blood flowing and oxygen circulating to promote better health throughout the body.
  
  

Weight

• Obesity is a major heart disease risk. In fact, people who have excess weight around the waist are at risk for heart attack or stroke. Manage your waistline through diet and exercise.
  
  

Diabetes

• A person with diabetes is at risk of developing heart disease. That risk increases greatly if diabetics aren't managing the disease through diet and exercise.
  
  

Tips to Reduce Heart Disease

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  There are many things you can do to reduce your risks of heart disease such as exercising, stopping smoking and maintaining a healthy diet. Adopt a high-fiber diet, use flax seed on your salad, yogurt and cereal. Drink water, orange juice and herbal tea. Eat one cup of beans per day. Take vacations and schedule weekend getaways. If you don't have a dog, consider getting one. Dogs are great companions to improve your physical and emotional health.