Modifiable risk factors are those that a person can change, usually through their lifestyle or with medical treatment. Reducing them lowers the risk of CVD, even for people with non-modifiable risk factors.The main modifiable risk factors for CVD are:• Smoking. Chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the endothelium and raise blood pressure.
• Diet. A diet high in saturated fat raises blood cholesterol (LDL). A high salt intake raises blood pressure. Too many kilojoules leads to weight gain.
• Obesity. Being overweight, especially with fat around the abdomen, is linked to high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
• Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity is linked to high blood pressure and weight gain.
• High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. These can be lowered by lifestyle changes and by drugs.
• Excess alcohol raises blood pressure.
• Stress may raise blood pressure and lead to other unhealthy behaviours.Risk factors do not act alone. Many of them are linked, for example obesity, inactivity and high blood pressure often occur together. Having several risk factors increases the risk far more than having just one: a smoker who also has high blood pressure has a much higher risk than someone with only one of these.Doctors assess a person's overall risk from all their risk factors. They advise lifestyle changes first, and when these are not enough, they may prescribe drugs such as statins to lower blood cholesterol or antihypertensives to lower blood pressure.
• Diet. A diet high in saturated fat raises blood cholesterol (LDL). A high salt intake raises blood pressure. Too many kilojoules leads to weight gain.
• Obesity. Being overweight, especially with fat around the abdomen, is linked to high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
• Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity is linked to high blood pressure and weight gain.
• High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. These can be lowered by lifestyle changes and by drugs.
• Excess alcohol raises blood pressure.
• Stress may raise blood pressure and lead to other unhealthy behaviours.Risk factors do not act alone. Many of them are linked, for example obesity, inactivity and high blood pressure often occur together. Having several risk factors increases the risk far more than having just one: a smoker who also has high blood pressure has a much higher risk than someone with only one of these.Doctors assess a person's overall risk from all their risk factors. They advise lifestyle changes first, and when these are not enough, they may prescribe drugs such as statins to lower blood cholesterol or antihypertensives to lower blood pressure.