Heart Disease Causes and Risk Factors

When you know the risk factors for heart disease you can take smarter steps to control them. Find helpful tips for avoiding causes and reducing your risk.

Man getting his blood pressure taken

How High Blood Pressure Causes Heart Disease

By Sherry Christiansen

Woman weighing herself on a scale

Survey Finds Americans Struggle With Weight Loss for Heart Health

Fact checked by Ashley Hall

Digital illustration of human heart

How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Increase Heart Disease Risk?

Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD

What Is Endothelial Dysfunction?

Medically reviewed by Mark L. Meyer, MD, JD

What Genes Can Tell Us About Heart Disease

Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD

Couple lifting heavy TV box

5 Lesser-Known Risk Factors for Heart Attack

Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD

Gut bacteria and heart health

TMAO and a Look at Gut Bacteria's Role in Cardiovascular Health

Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD

The Connections Between Heart Disease, Obesity, and Weight Loss

Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD

Doctor and patient

What You Should Know About Constrictive Pericarditis

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

Medical practice, stress ECG, test to measure the cardiac function of a patient on a cardio machine

It Doesn't Take Much Alcohol to Cause Heart Problems

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Woman in sportswear bending

Thyroid Disease Is a Common Cause of Heart Problems

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

Which NSAIDs Increase Heart Risk?

Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD

Doctor talking to patient.

What Should You Do When Your C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Level Is Too High?

Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD

Pills in woman's hands

Opioids Can Cause Many Cardiac Problems

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

Healthy electrocardiogram

What Should You Know About Azithromycin?

Medically reviewed by Mark L. Meyer, MD, JD

obese man with doctor

Obesity Has a Strong Link to Heart Disease and Other Health Problems

By Richard N. Fogoros, MD

Man sitting on edge of bed awake in middle of the night

Restless Leg Syndrome and Cardiac Risk

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

How Your Doctor Should Evaluate Your Syncope

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

BMI, Waist Circumference, or Waist-To-Hip Ratio?

Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD

Stressed out office worker

When Can Stress Cause a Heart Attack?

Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD

People sitting at desks in office

Why Sitting Could Be Hurting Your Heart Health

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

person standing on scale

Why Being a Little Overweight May Be OK

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

Preventing Vasovagal Syncope

Vasovagal Syncope: A Common Cause of Fainting

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

Medical Conditions That Can Cause Fainting Episodes

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

stressed woman working at laptop in her dining room in the evening

What You Should Know About Stress and Heart Disease

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

Senior with Chest Pain

What You Can to Do Prevent Heart Disease

Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD

Mixed-race young woman smoking a cigarette

How Smoking Affects Your Heart

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

mature woman using computer

How the Reynolds Score Is Used to Calculate Cardiac Risk in Women

Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD

High Angle View Of Cigarettes On Blue Background

Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?

Medically reviewed by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD

Doctor examining mature woman

Why Subclinical Hypothyroidism May Increase Heart Disease Risk

Medically reviewed by Ana Maria Kausel, MD

Methamphetamine also known as crystal meth

Crystal Meth Causes Severe Heart Damage

Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI