15 Surprising Heart Disease Risk Factors You Didn't Know

A 2016 study from the American Heart Association found that counties with the highest rate of death due to heart disease are concentrated in the South.

“Be aware that where you live dictates how long you live and the quality of life you have,” says Garth Graham, MD, MPH, cardiologist and president of the Aetna Foundation. “Your environment is important. It dictates your ability to access fresh fruits and vegetables and safe places to bike and walk and even the air you breathe.” And that can influence your heart health.

Researchers at the University of York found that people who have few social connections or who felt lonely had a 29 percent higher risk of heart disease and 32 percent higher risk of stroke compared to people who had—or felt like they had—lots of social relationships. On the flip side, a eight-year 2014 University of Oxford study of more than 700,000 women found that those who lived with a partner were 28 percent less likely to die from ischemic heart disease than those who lived alone.

Loneliness, or the stress of being alone, can cause inflammation in the body, creating conditions that can lead to heart disease, or lead to depression—another major risk factor.

It’s true: The state of your teeth and gums are related to heart health. “There have been studies documenting the link between dental health and heart disease,” says Dr. Graham. That’s because bleeding and inflamed gums allow bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream, where it can cause inflammation and create conditions that can lead to heart disease. “Flossing is associated with a lower risk for new cardiovascular events,” says Dr. Graham, so be sure to brush and floss regularly and visit your dentist.

While what happens during your pregnancy doesn’t seem like it should influence your heart health, research shows that it may have an impact down the line. According to studies, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, spontaneous preterm delivery, and gestational diabetes all increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why this may be the case, but if you’ve experienced any of these complications, tell your doctor about your pregnancy history and get regularly screened for diabetes and hypertension.

A sudden traumatic event like a death in the family or a car accident doesn’t just feel like your heart stops. It may actually cause heart trouble. “Big stress can lead to an acute surge in adrenaline, which causes the heart rate and blood pressure to go up and stay elevated,” says Jackie Eubany, MD, a cardiologist at Placentia-Linda Hospital in California.

A 2017 study found that in women who experienced three or more traumatic events in their lifetime, the inner lining of their blood vessels don’t function as well compared to women who experience fewer such events. These traumatic events can contribute to coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis.

If you have experienced these stressful events, tell your doctor so they can monitor your heart health.

It’s not just the stress of a sudden traumatic event that can lead to heart trouble. The low-level stress of having to deal with a negative, manipulative, PITA boss day-in and day-out can also cause your ticker to flicker.

In a 10-year study, Swedish researchers found that you may be 40 percent more likely to have a heart attack if you have a bad boss. “Heart attacks can be triggered by significant stress at work,” says VijayKumar S. Kasi, MD, PhD, interventional cardiologist, chief of interventional cardiology at Orlando Health Heart Institute. And when coupled with other risk factors like poor sleep or diet, Dr. Eubany says, “you’re constantly being exposed to adrenaline hormone, which exacerbates the risk for coronary artery disease.”

Speaking of sleep, getting seven to eight hours a night doesn’t just keep under-eye bags away, it can keep your heart healthy, too. Lack of sleep and waking up frequently at night can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, keeping your body on high alert instead of at rest. Plus, when you’re tired, you're less likely to keep up with healthy habits.

“Your body needs to spend time sleeping in order to recover and replenish itself,” says Dr. Kasi. “Your immune system sleeps during the day. When you fall asleep, it wakes up and cleans up the mess. Your heart rate also drops 20 points during the night to help you recharge too.” So if you’re not getting good quality zzz’s, it may be time to revamp your nighttime routine.

Living with another chronic illness increases your chances of developing heart disease. That’s because many health conditions share the same risk factors with heart disease, like high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, belly fat, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol.

“Certainly diabetes and hypertension raise the risk of heart disease,” Dr. Graham says. But autoimmune conditions may also make you more susceptible to heart trouble. According to a recent 2019 study, conditions such as systemic lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Sojogren’s syndrome can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.

And fried chicken, fried fish, and chips. But too much fried foods can increase your risk for heart disease and death, especially in postmenopausal women over the age of 50. In a 2019 study in BMJ, researchers found that women who ate fried chicken at least once a week had a 12 percent increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease compared to women who ate none. Among women who ate fried fish or shellfish once a week or more, they also had a 13 percent increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease compared to women who ate none. So while it’s OK to enjoy some deep-fried food every once in a while, don’t make it a regular habit.

While e-cigarettes may be an alternative to smoking, it isn’t much better for your heart health. A 2019 study from the American Stroke Association found that people who regularly use e-cigarettes had a 71 percent higher right of stroke, 59 percent higher risk of heart attack or angina, and 40 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who never used e-cigarettes. Yikes.

They say it runs in the family and with heart disease, it’s definitely true. Having a first-degree relative—parent or sibling—with heart-related problems before age 55 in male relatives and before age 65 in female relatives greatly increases your risk for a heart-related problems, according to Dr. Kasi. “Even people with low cholesterol levels and a healthy lifestyle and who are slim, if they have a family history, they can develop blockages in their arteries at a young age,” he says. Not only that, family history can also accentuate the effect of other risk factors for heart disease.

Dr. Kasi recommends being evaluated between ages 25 and 30. If you don’t have a family history, get evaluated between ages 40 and 50.

“Studies have found that people who are diagnosed with depression tend to be at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. It’s not 100 percent certain why this happens, but it’s thought to be because you’re less likely to take care of yourself like eat well and exercise, especially if you already have high blood pressure or other health issues,” says Dr. Eubany. Plus, if you do have a heart attack or other heart-related problem, individuals with depression don’t recover as well.

While cancer treatments have become more and more effective in fighting cancer, there’s one major downside—heart problems.

“Some medicines for cancer and chemotherapy are cardio-toxic and can lead to cardiomyopathy,” where the heart muscle becomes enlarged or rigid, says Dr. Eubany. This can lead to heart failure, heart attack, swelling of the heart, and abnormal heart beat. Radiation can also cause blockages in your blood vessels, putting you at risk for heart attack and heart failure too. And problems can show up years after treatment has ended.

Not all cancers, treatments, or medication damage your cardiovascular system, however. If you have cancer or are a cancer survivor, talk to your doctor about the risks of your treatment.

It’s been a long week, and you’re ready to throw back a drink…or six. While some headlines say that alcohol is good for your heart, don’t go overboard. “Excess alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure and increase your risk for heart disease,” says Dr. Graham. “Women should have no more than one drink a day and men no more than two drinks a day.” And try to stick to low-calorie alcoholic drinks when you do imbibe.

“There’s a trend towards increased cardiovascular disease risk as you get older, and the risk gets higher when you hit menopause,” says Dr. Eubany. While doctors used to think that the decrease in estrogen caused the increased risk, Dr. Eubany says it’s more likely that your blood vessels are getting stiffer, leading to higher blood pressure. Previous studies have also found that cholesterol and triglyceride levels rise once women enter menopause.