Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis

These risk factors raise your chances of having atherosclerosis:

• having high blood cholesterol, especially high LDL ("bad cholesterol") and low HDL ("good cholesterol") levels

• aging and being male (women are affected more after menopause)

• having close relatives who had heart disease or a stroke at a relatively young age

• having high blood pressure

• having diabetes

• smoking

• having trouble managing stress

• being obese

• being physically inactive

The more risk factors you have, the more likely it is that you have atherosclerosis. Talk with your health care provider about your risks for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.