Coronary artery disease causes roughly 1.5 million heart attacks each year, and one-third of those suffering heart attacks die. Even more worrisome, 250,000 people with heart attacks will die before ever reaching the hospital.

Because heart disease is so common and often silent until it strikes, it is important to recognize the factors that put you at risk.

There are several risk factors for heart disease; some are controllable, others are not. Uncontrollable risk factors include:

    Male sex
    Older age
    Family history of heart disease
    Post-menopausal
    Race (Blacks and Mexican Americans are more likely to have heart disease than whites)

Still, there are many risk factors that can be controlled. By making changes in your lifestyle, you can actually reduce your risk for heart disease. Controllable risk factors include:

    Smoking
    High LDL, or "bad" cholesterol and low HDL, or "good" cholesterol
    Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
    Physical inactivity
    Obesity (more than 20% over one's ideal body weight)
    Uncontrolled diabetes
    High C-reactive protein
    Uncontrolled stress and anger.

Making changes in your lifestyle is a proven method for reducing your risk of developing heart disease. While there are no guarantees that a heart-healthy lifestyle will keep heart disease away, these changes will certainly improve your health in other ways, such as improving your physical and emotional well being. Also, because some risk factors are related to others, making changes in one area can benefit other areas.

    Quit smoking. Smokers have more than twice the risk for heart attack as nonsmokers and are much more likely to die if they suffer a heart attack. Smoking is also the most preventable risk factor. If you smoke, quit. Better yet, never start smoking at all.

    Improve cholesterol levels. The risk for heart disease increases as your total amount of cholesterol increases. A total cholesterol level over 200, a HDL, or "good" cholesterol level under 40, or a LDL, or "bad" cholesterol level over 160 indicates an increased risk for heart disease. Of course, interpretation of cholesterol values must be individualized, taking into account all of your risk factors for heart disease. A diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat will lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease.

    Control high blood pressure. Over 50 million people in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure, making it the most common heart disease risk factor. One in four adults has systolic blood pressure (the upper number) over 140, and/or diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) over 90, which is the definition of hypertension. Like cholesterol, blood pressure interpretation should be individualized, taking into account your entire risk profile. If treatment is warranted, today's blood pressure medications are effective, safe and easy to take.

    Get active. Many of us lead sedentary lives, exercising infrequently or not at all. People who don't exercise have higher rates of death and heart disease compared to people who perform even mild to moderate amounts of physical activity. Even, leisure-time activities like gardening or walking can lower your risk of heart disease.

    Eat right and lower your cholesterol. Eat a heart-healthy diet low in fat and cholesterol. Try to increase the amounts of vitamins you eat, especially antioxidants, which have been proven to lower your risk for heart disease.

    Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts significant strain on your heart and worsens several other heart disease risk factors such as diabetes. Research is showing that obesity itself increases heart disease risk. By eating right and exercising, you can lose weight and reduce your risk of heart disease.

    Manage stress. Poorly controlled stress and anger can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Use stress and anger management techniques to lower your risk.

    Control diabetes. If not properly controlled, diabetes can lead to significant heart damage including heart attacks and death.