Controlling Your Risk Factors of Heart Attack and Stroke

Posted: Jun 1, 2011 8:51 AM by Lauren Wilson
Updated: Jun 1, 2011 8:53 AM

LAFAYETTE, LA-Risk factors are traits and lifestyle habits that increase your chance of disease. The same factors that raise your risk of coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack) also raise your risk of stroke. Several factors only increase stroke risk. The more risk factors you have, the higher your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Uncontrollable Risk Factors:
* Increasing age
* Sex (gender)
* Race
* Previous heart attack or stroke
* Family history of heart attack or stroke

Controllable Risk Factors:
* High blood pressure
* Cigarette smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke
* High blood cholesterol
* Lack of physical inactivity
* Obesity
* Diabetes

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

To request this free pamphlet, "Controlling Your Risk Factors - Our Guide to Reducing Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke", call the Health Information Center at (337) 988-1816.