The Heart Disease Continuum

Coronary heart disease doesn't develop overnight. It starts with personal risk factors based on heredity and lifestyle and can lead to more serious conditions if it's not diagnosed and treated. That's what the heart disease continuum represents—the chain of events that can lead to CHD and potentially to other more serious forms of heart disease.

Coronary heart disease risk factors

• High blood pressure
• High blood pressure

  A blood pressure above 140/90 is considered high and raises your risk of CHD.

• High cholesterol
• High cholesterol

  High cholesterol increases your risk for CHD and a heart attack. LDL ("bad") cholesterol contributes to cholesterol buildup in the arteries, and HDL ("good") cholesterol protects against heart disease.

• Diabetes
• Diabetes

  Diabetes occurs when your body cannot absorb blood sugar properly because it does not produce enough insulin or it does not use insulin correctly. Having diabetes increases your risk of CHD.

• Overweight and obesity
• Overweight and obesity

  Whether you are at a healthy weight is determined by combining your height and weight, called your body mass index (BMI). To calculate your own body mass index, use a BMI Calculator.

• Smoking
• Smoking

  Smoking tobacco products or exposure to second-hand smoke raises your risk of CHD. Smoking triggers the buildup of plaque and increases your risk of blood dots in the arteries, which may lead to a heart attack.

• Unhealthy diet
• Unhealthy diet

  An Unhealthy diet can increase your risk of CHD. Foods rich in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol raise LDL, or "bad", cholesterol in your body.

  The American Heart Association's recommendations state that these foods include: high-fat dairy products, fatty meats, baked goods, eggs, some shellfish, chocolate, and deep fried or processes foods. Salty foods can increase your risk of high blood pressure.

• Lack of physical exercise
• Lack of physical exercise

  People who don't get regular physical activity are twice as likely to develop CHD as those who exercise.

• Stress
• Stress

  Stress and anxiety may cause your arteries to tighten, which can raise your blood pressure. Stress can indirectly increase the risk of CHD in individuals that smoke and/or consume more food high in fat and/or sugar.