If your blood cholesterol falls in either the borderline-high or high group, you are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. You should talk to your doctor about cholesterol screening if you have a history of high cholesterol or other risk factors for heart disease. Other risk factors for heart disease include:

Age - 85% of people who die from heart attacks are 65 years old or older.

Gender - Heart attack prevalence is much greater in men than women. As women age, their risk dramatically increases, but still does not surpass that of men.

Heredity - Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to be diagnosed themselves. African Americans also have a greater risk of developing heart disease than whites.

These risk factors are known as non-modifiable risk factors. This means that there is nothing you can really do to change them. However, there are many other risk factors that can be positively impacted, including:

Tobacco - Smokers are twice as likely to develop heart disease. Cigarette smoking is the #1 cause for sudden cardiac death. Smokers who suffer a heart attack are 2-4 times more likely to die as a result than non-smokers.

Excess Weight - Being overweight forces the heart to work harder and those that carry extra weight are more likely to develop heart disease regardless of other risk factors. Losing just 5-10% of your total body weight can significantly reduce your risk.

Inactivity - Physical inactivity is linked with heart disease, obesity and diabetes. On the other hand, regular moderate exercise has a protective effect against heart disease.

Other diseases - Individuals with high blood pressure and diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease. Achieving a healthy weight and getting adequate exercise helps to manage these diseases, which in turn reduce the risk of heart disease.

Here's to a healthy heart!

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