Heart disease: risk factors
Section 2 of Coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in Scotland - Strategy Update 2004 cites the National Heart Forum as having estimated the proportion of coronary heart disease (CHD) attributable to 5 key modifiable risk factors. These are:
- high blood cholesterol (46% )
- physical inactivity (37% )
- smoking (19% )
- high blood pressure (13% )
- obesity (6% ).
The percentages sum to more than 100% as people can have more than one risk factor. A poor diet and diabetes are also known risk factors.
While each factor is important in its own right, the risk of developing CHD is strongly related to a combination of factors and it appears that the effect is synergistic.
Detailed information on some of these risk factors can be found in the results of the Scottish Health Survey.
