What are risk factors (in addition to high LDL) for coronary heart disease?
Risk factors include:
Cigarette smoking
Age (you are a male 45 years or older or a female 55 years or older)
Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L) )
Hypertension (Blood Pressure of 140/90 or higher or taking high blood pressure medications)
Family history of premature heart disease (heart disease in a first degree male relative under age 55 or a first degree female relative under age 65)
Note: High HDL (60 mg/dL or above) is considered a "negative risk factor" and its presence allows the removal of one risk factor from the total.
