Risk Factors for Heart Disease

The major preventable risk factors for heart disease are tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, overweight, insufficient physical activity, high alcohol use and type 2 diabetes. Risk is higher for males than for females and strongly increases with age for both males and females.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare provides information on risk factors for heart disease in several publications including:

For other related AIHW publications on heart disease see the AIHW Cardiovascular Disease Subject Area.

 

Follow the links below to find information relating to risk factors for heart disease.

 

Reviewed January 2009

 

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27 Resources Found
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Title:   Fats and oils
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Fat is an important part of a healthy diet. However some fats are better than others. Saturated fats increase blood cholesterol. Mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tend to lower blood cholesterol. Trans fatty acids (or trans fats) are also potentially harmful and are used to make baked products, pies, cakes, biscuits and buns. Omega-6 and omega-3 fats can benefit your health.
Date:   Aug 2009

Title:   Heart disease: reduce the risk - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   You can reduce your risk of heart disease by following a few sensible steps. Here's how.
Date:   Aug 2009

Title:   Cardiovascular disease
Publisher:   Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
Description:   Cardiovascular disease refers to a class of diseases that involve the heart and/or blood vessels (e.g. arteries). It is commonly related to atherosclerosis, a process whereby fatty deposits ("plaques") form in your arteries, causing them to narrow and possibly block completely.
Date:   Jul 2009

Title:   Heart disease - enlarged heart
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   An enlarged heart is a symptom of an underlying disorder that is causing the heart to work harder than normal. Possible causes include coronary heart disease, cardiac ischaemia, high blood pressure, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, heart valve disease or a previous heart attack. Another name for an enlarged heart is cardiomegaly. An enlarged heart may be asympomatic (have no symptoms). Possible symptoms include breathing problems, shortness of breath, dizziness, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), heart palpitations or fluid retention.
Date:   May 2009

Title:   Heart murmurs - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Heart murmurs are heard between heartbeats if the blood flow through the heart becomes turbulent.
Date:   Feb 2009

Title:   CT Calcium scoring
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Computed tomography (CT) calcium scoring is a non-invasive method to detect the presence of calcium in the blood vessels that supply your heart (coronary arteries).
Date:   Jan 2009

Title:   Heart disease when you're fit and healthy
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Some people are lean, active and healthy but still suffer from heart disease. Cholesterol levels that are normal for most people may be too high for others. While we can't change genetic factors, researchers are trying to understand why people react differently to the same situations.
Date:   Dec 2008

Title:   Heart disease - risk factors explained
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Coronary heart disease leads to heart attacks. Common risk factors include raised cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, family history and age. Some risks can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle and not smoking
Date:   Dec 2008

Title:   Chest pain
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Chest pain may be a sign of a heart attack. However, there are other causes of chest pain including indigestion and muscle strain. If in doubt, call an ambulance.
Date:   Nov 2008

Title:   Smoking and heart disease
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Cigarette smoking is a major cause of heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease. Nearly 40 per cent of all people who die from smoking tobacco do so due to heart and blood vessel disease. A smoker's excess risk of heart attack reduces rapidly after only one year of not smoking.
Date:   Sep 2008

Title:   Medicinal mishap: Cabergoline-induced valvulopathy
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   Prescribers need to be aware of the risk of cardiac valvulopathy associated with the use of ergot-derived dopamine agonists.
Date:   Feb 2008

Title:   Birth defects - heart abnormalities
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   A congenital heart defect (CHD) is present at birth. Congenital heart defects include ventricular septal defect, transposition of the great vessels, coarctation of aorta, tetralogy of Fallot and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Some defects are serious and may require medication and surgery
Date:   Oct 2007

Title:   Heart health
Publisher:   The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health
Description:   Cardiovascular disease is disease of either the heart or major blood vessels (arteries) supplying the heart, brain or other parts of the body. In Australia it is the number one killer of both men and women. This year more than 26,000 women are likely to die from cardiovascular disease with heart attack and stroke being the major causes. In younger age groups men have a greater risk of suffering a heart attack than do women. However, after menopause women's risk of heart disease increases and approaches that of men.
Date:   Apr 2007

Title:   Multiple risk factor interventions for primary prevention of coronary heart disease
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Primary prevention programmes for cardiovascular diseases in many countries attempt to reduce mortality and morbidity due to coronary heart disease through risk factor modification. It is widely believed that multiple risk factor intervention using coun...
Date:   Aug 2006

Title:   Eggs
Publisher:   Healthy Eating Club
Description:   For many decades, eggs have been perceived as somewhat unhealthy due to their cholesterol levels. Consumers assumed that the potential for ill-health coming from eggs was science based and it was in part.
Date:   Jun 2006

Title:   Cholesterol: what is your target? - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Measuring the levels of good and bad cholesterol can give an indicator of your cardiovascular health.
Date:   Apr 2006

Title:   Heart health and anger - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   People who get angry easily are up to 3 times more likely to have a heart attack than their more placid counterparts, according to research in the USA.
Date:   Oct 2004

Title:   Heart attack - Albie's story
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Albie has experienced two heart attacks. His first occurred in his 60s and led to his retirement from a stressful job. Tell me about your first heart attack.
Date:   Dec 2003

Title:   High blood pressure - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major factor in strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease.
Date:   Mar 2003

Title:   Heart attack prevention tips - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Read about how you can help prevent heart attacks by making a few simple lifestyle changes.
Date:   Mar 2003
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