Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Where are the psycho-social RF and the social determination of Health Disease??

The May 27, 2009, issue of JAMA includes an article about cardiovascular disease risk factors among National Football League players.

RISK FACTORS

• Smoking
  
• High blood pressure
  
• A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL; bad cholesterol) especially when associated with a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL; good cholesterol)
  
• High levels of triglycerides (another form of fat found in the bloodstream that can contribute to heart disease)
  
• Diabetes
  
• Overweight (body mass index [BMI] greater than 25) or obesity (BMI greater than 30)
  
• Excessive alcohol use
  
• Family history of premature death (before age 65) from heart disease