Major Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Their Impact

As noted earlier, there are many risk factors associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. The major risk factors, including tobacco use, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet, have a high prevalence across the world. Of particular significance in developing countries is the fact that while they are grappling with increasing rates of cardiovascular diseases, they still face the scourges of poor nutrition and infectious diseases. Nevertheless, with the exception of sub‐Saharan Africa, cardiovascular diseases are also the leading cause of death in the developing world. You will not necessarily develop cardiovascular diseases if you have a risk factor. But the more risk factors you have, the greater is the likelihood that you will, unless you take actions to modify your risk factors and work to prevent them from compromising your heart health.