Risk Factors for Vascular Disease

What Are the Risk Factors for Vascular Disease?

While there are many types of vascular disease, there is no one cause of vascular disease and risk factors can vary. There are, however, commonalities in risk factors across the different types of diseases. Some are controllable and treatable, while others are not.

Controllable risk factors of vascular disease include:

• High blood pressure 
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking – the risk may increase even more if you are a smoker who uses certain forms of oral contraceptives
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise

Risk factors for vascular problems out of your control include:

• Family history
• Age and gender – depending on the type of vascular disease, the risks increase at different ages for men and women. Regardless of your gender, if you have any concerns about the risk factors for vascular disease, talk to your doctor.

How Can I Prevent Vascular Disease?

The best way to prevent vascular disease is to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle such as exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, maintain a healthy weight, and eat heart-healthy foods. At Banner Health we can help you with all aspects of your heart health – from guiding tips for prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and beyond. 

If you think you may be at risk for vascular disease, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. We’re here when you need us most.