It is common knowledge that heart-attack risk increases with age. The truth is that a heart attack can occur at any age. Age is only one of the many factors contributing to your overall risk. These factors fall into two categories: those you can change and those you cannot change. The good news is that it’s never too late (or too early) to begin modifying the controllable factors to significantly reduce your chance of a heart attack.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors For Heart Attack
There are many factors contributing to heart disease and the risk of a heart attack that you cannot control. Many of these are risk factors that you are born with.
- Increasing Age: Risk of heart attack increases as you get older.
- Gender: Males are at a higher risk for heart attack than females.
- Family History And Race: Some hereditary conditions, family history of heart disease and certain racial groups have a higher risk of heart attack.
- Personal History: Risk may increase for individuals with certain chronic conditions or early menopause in women.
Controllable Risk Factors For Heart Attack
Many heart-attack risks are controllable, meaning that you have the power to reduce your chance of an event even if nonmodifiable factors are present. Focusing on these areas allows for proactive prevention:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Metabolic syndrome
- Diabetes
- Tobacco use and vaping
- Unhealthy diet
- Being overweight or obese
- Physical inactivity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Poor sleep
- Chronic stress
Managing Your Risk For Heart Attack
The first and best place to start is with your healthcare provider. They can assess your individual risk for a heart attack and work with you to reduce any risk factors. This strategy may include lifestyle changes, medications or both. Other ways to begin lowering your risk for a heart attack right now are noted below.
- Quit smoking, vaping or using other tobacco products.
- Eat a whole-food, nutrient-rich diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. Limit saturated fats, salt and sugar.
- Attain and maintain a healthy weight.
- Stay active with at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise or a combination of both.
- Reduce alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink for women. Another option is not drinking at all.
- Work on your sleep routine to get seven to nine hours of good-quality sleep per night.
- Find healthy ways to manage stress.
- Schedule age-appropriate checkups for risk factors like high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Ensure that conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes are well-controlled.
Your actions today have a big impact on your cardiovascular health for the future. Even small consistent changes can result in a significant reduction in your risk for heart attack. Let’s make 2026 the year you proactively work toward better heart health!
The team at Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists consists of North Louisiana’s leading experts in cardiovascular care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (318) 798-9400.