There are several risk factors for developing heart disease; high LDL cholesterol is just one. Genealogy plays a major role. Should your father have had cardiac arrest or stroke prior to age 55 or your mother had a heart attack or heart stroke prior to 65, you've got a higher risk. The same increased risk factor applies if your siblings had cardiac arrest or strokes in those age brackets. Hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, being 30% or even more over your ideal body weight (as determined by your Body mass index), metabolic syndrome, resulting in an inactive lifestyle, HDL of less than 40 mg/dL and women with early menopause all increase your heart attack and stroke risk factors. A previous personal history of any kind of cardiac event also puts you at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

Offsetting factors

There are several positive factors that help offset risk factors. High levels of HDL or "good" cholestrerol levels are extremely effective in preventing cardiovascular disease or at least offsetting risk factors. The Framingham research and others have suggested that for every single point increase in HDL, there is a corresponding drop in your risk of experiencing a heart attack by 2%-3%. Some people are just plain lucky and are born with high HDL. Other folks are not so lucky and find it difficult to increase their HDL and even with excessive physical activity are helpless to increase it. HDL below 40 is considered a risk factor. HDL of more than 60 is considered a positive factor for heart disease. Total cholesterol readings are not the best measure of heart disease risk. Although high HDL levels and low LDL levels are no guarantee, your risk factors are most assuredly lowered with high HDL and further lowered with low LDL levels. Overall or total high cholesterol levels are less precise as a predictor but most often a high total cholesterol reading is as a result of high LDL.

Physical activity a precautionary for heart disease

Constant exercise or physical activity is a very real and efficient way to lessen the risk of cardiac arrest and cerebral vascular accidents. Cardio workout is the best way to strengthen your heart muscle, raise HDL levels and lower blood pressure. To obtain the most heart health advantage from any training session, you should get your pulse rate elevated. If you have not worked out for an extended time period and otherwise lead a sedentary lifestyle, you ought to speak to your physician prior to starting any workout program. Once you have been given the go ahead you still have to start slow and increase your exertion at a rate you are comfortable with for two reasons. First is your muscles as well as your heart require time to build up. Trying to accomplish it all at one time will make you sore and may not be the best for your heart. Another factor to consider is that if you injure yourself by using muscles and tendons which are not used to that kind of intense use, you may end up getting injuries or be so sore that you don't feel like staying consistent with your exercise routine. Regularity is the most important factor. You will improve your conditioning rapidly if you are regular with your newfound exercise routine.