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Coronary heart disease: risk factors

Section 2 of Coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in Scotland - Strategy Update 2004 cites the National Heart Forum as having estimated the proportion of coronary heart disease (CHD) attributable to 5 key modifiable risk factors: high blood cholesterol (46%), physical inactivity (37%), smoking (19%), high blood pressure (13%) and obesity (6%). (The percentages sum to more than 100% as people have more than one risk factor.)  A poor diet, Type 2 diabetes and socio-economic deprivation are also known risk factors.

While each factor is important in its own right, the risk of developing CHD is strongly related to a combination of factors and it appears that the effect is synergistic.  

Detailed information on some of these risk factors can be found in the results of the Scottish Health Survey.