Heart disease doesn’t happen overnight. It happens because of a mix of risk factors we are born with and some we can work on. Things we cannot change are called non‑modifiable risk factors. These include age, sex, and family history. As we get older, heart disease becomes more common. Men tend to develop heart disease earlier, and women’s risk increases later in life. If close family members have had heart attacks or strokes, your own risk may be higher. You can’t change these factors but knowing them helps you and your healthcare provider pay closer attention to your heart health.
The encouraging news is that many heart disease risks are modifiable, meaning you can do something about them. These include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and extra weight. Small steps really do matter—being more active, choosing healthier foods, not smoking, and keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar under control can greatly lower your risk. You don’t have to do everything at once. Working with your healthcare provider to make steady, realistic changes is one of the best ways to protect your heart and stay healthy for the long run.