What Are the Risk Factors for Vascular Diseases?
Modifiable risk factors that are associated with all four major vascular conditions are:
- Diabetes
- Hyperlipidemia (high levels of fats in the blood, such as cholesterol and triglycerides)
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Lack of exercise
A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases have different risk factors.
Although these risk factors increase a person's risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. Some people with one or more risk factors never develop the disease, while others develop disease and have no known risk factors. Knowing your risk factors to any disease can help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being clinically monitored for the disease.
