Risk Factors for Heart Disease

The following is a list of risk factors for cardiovascular disease:
· Tobacco usage
· Having high total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), and/or triglyceride levels
· Having low High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels
· Hypertension (high blood pressure)
· A sedentary lifestyle
· Having diabetes mellitus
· Obesity
· Having a family history of cardiovascular disease
· Having impaired thyroid function
· Alcohol abuse
· Having certain liver or kidney diseases
· Illicit drug use
· Use of exogenous steroids
· Hypertension is more prevalent in the African American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American, and Mexican American populations