We hear the same statistic year after year, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. So why isn’t this statistic changing?

The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attack. According to the CDC, in 2009, an estimated 785,000 Americans suffered a new coronary attack. Perhaps the most shocking thing about this disease is that heart attacks and strokes are highly preventable. The US Surgeon General reports that seven of ten Americans who die each year, die of a preventable chronic disease such as heart disease. A great deal of money is spent each year to treat the disease, yet little attention is given to preventing it. Making some necessary lifestyle changes could save your life!

Here are the top 7 things that can increase your chances of developing heart disease:

1. Smoking – Cigarette smokers are two-to-three times more likely to die from coronary heart disease than nonsmokers. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 135,000 of the 440,000 smoking related deaths each year are due to cardiovascular diseases.

2. High Cholesterol – As blood cholesterol increases so does your risk of coronary heart disease. Your total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL. Reduce trans fats and limit saturated fat consumption to less than 10 percent of your total calories per day. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet is an effective way to increase HDL (good cholesterol). If you have high cholesterol, there is a chance it may be hereditary, in which case, your doctor may decide to control it using medication.

3. Physical Inactivity – Research consistently shows that  people who are physically active, have half the risk for heart attacks than people who are not active. “Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater your benefits. However, even moderate-intensity activities help if done regularly and long term,” says the AHA.

4. Being Overweight - Probably the most preventable cause of heart disease, a high body fat percentage (especially if you carry it around your waist), puts you at increased risk of developing heart disease, even if you have no other risk factors. The more excess weight you have, the harder your heart has to work. Even losing as little as 10 pounds can help lower you risk.

5. Few Fruits and Vegetables – A healthy diet is the easiest way to combat heart disease. High in fiber, vitamins and minerals, eating a higher ratio of plant foods to animal foods can help lower your risk. The phytonutrients plentiful in fruit and veg are crucial in protecting humans against many diseases, including heart disease.

6. Drinking Alcohol – Large amounts of alcohol raises blood pressure, which in turn can lead to heart failure and stroke. Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women.

7. Too Much Stress – 80% of us suffer from a symptom caused by stress. A person who is highly strung is less likely to recover from disease because tension reduces our capacity to adapt to a changing environment. Stress also causes many people to overeat, start smoking or smoke more frequently.