Other risk factors can be affected by diet and life-
style changes. Smoking is a big contributor to coro-
nary heart disease. Not only do smokers have a risk
two to four times that of nonsmokers of developing
coronary heart disease, but they also have a higher risk
of heart attack from the disease. In fact, a smoker with
coronary heart disease is twice as likely as a non-
smoker with coronary heart disease to die suddenly
from the disease.
Cholesterol and saturated fat play a role in devel-
oping coronary heart disease. The body produces cho-
lesterol and a person’s age, sex, and heredity can affect
cholesterol levels. But diet also affects cholesterol.
Both cholesterol and saturated fat tend to be found
in the same foods. Dietary sources of both are meat,
eggs, and other animal products. Risk of developing
coronary heart disease rises steadily as levels of low-
density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol rise or if a per-
son has high cholesterol levels combined with high
blood pressure and smoking.
Other diseases and conditions contribute to risk of
coronary heart disease. High blood pressure makes the
heart work harder and weakens it over time.Diabetes
mellituscan be a serious risk for coronary heart dis-
ease and cardiovascular disease, which includes other
disease to other arteries throughout the body. About
three-fourths of people with diabetes die from heart
disease or blood vessel disease.The progression of artherosclerosis.(Illustration by Electronic Illustrators Group/Thomson Gale.)
Coronary heart disease