What are risk factors (in addition to high LDL-C) for coronary heart disease?
Risk factors include: • Cigarette smoking • Age (if 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) • Diabetes 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.
