Risk factors for coronary artery disease

Risk factors for coronary artery disease include:

• High blood pressure.
• Smoking.
• High LDL (low-density lipoprotein, "bad") cholesterol (greater than 130 mg/dL).
• Low HDL (high-density lipoprotein, "good") cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL).
• Family history of coronary artery disease.
• Fatal heart attack in a parent or sibling at an early age (before age 45 in men; before age 55 in women).
• Increasing age (men age 45 or older; women age 55 or older).
• Diabetes.
• Being overweight.
• Lack of exercise.