Risk factors
Risk factors may not be a direct cause of a particular disease, but seem to be associated with its development in some way. Major risk factors are those that have been documented and proven over time to increase your risk of heart disease. Contributing risk factors are those that doctors think may lead to an increased risk of heart disease. However, contributing risk factors and their exact roles has not been defined. Risk factors are generally divided into two categories: major and contributing. Risk factors for heart disease include:

• age
• alcohol
• birth control pills
• diabetes
• gender
• heredity
• high blood cholesterol
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• obesity and overweight
• physical inactivity
• sex hormones
• smoking
• stress

Most of us are aware of the complications and dangers of cardiovascular disease and are familiar with at least a few of its varieties. Of course, people who recognize the condition and address it early experience more health benefits than those who do not. Do you know how to identify the symptoms associated with heart disease? While some of the symptoms of heart disease are well known, there are additional symptoms to look for. Continue reading about heart disease in the symptoms of heart disease section that follows.