
type A personality (impatient, aggressive, competitive).Tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipes), or chewing tobacco,.high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein ( HDL), the good cholesterol.Usually, the risk factors for heart disease involve: The most common risk factors are heredity (coronary heart disease runs in the family) and high cholesterol (levels of cholesterol in the blood are above healthy levels). Multiple risk factors cause coronary heart disease. What Are the Risk Factors for Heart Disease? Ischemia is the lack of sufficient blood so coronary heart disease is sometimes called ischemic heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of heart disease. IMAGES See ImagesĬoronary heart disease is caused by any problem with the coronary arteries that keeps the heart from getting enough oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. No one person usually has all of these symptoms. Arteries may be blocked 50% or more without causing any symptoms. Silent ischemia is a condition in which no symptoms occur even though an electrocardiogram ( ECG, or heart tracing) and/or other tests show evidence of ischemia. light-headedness, or fainting, and weakness on exertion or at rest,.palpitations (a sensation of rapid or very strong heartbeats in your chest),.More common symptoms of coronary heart disease include: Chest pain on exertion ( angina pectoris), which may be relieved by rest.

Symptoms usually occur during exercise or activity because the heart muscle's increased demand for nutrients and oxygen is not being met by the blocked coronary blood vessel. Most people exhibit some symptoms or discomfort. Cardiac arrest commonly occurs in people who have had previous heart attacks, but it may occur as the first symptom of heart disease. The most devastating sign of coronary heart disease is abrupt, unexpected cardiac arrest.
