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There are many risk factors for coronary heart disease. Your risk of coronary heart disease goes up with the number of risk factors you have and how serious they are. Some risk factors—such as high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol—can be changed through heart-healthy lifestyle changes. Other risk factors, such as your sex, older age, family history and genetics, and race and ethnicity, cannot be changed.

Factors that increase your risk for high blood pressure include unhealthy lifestyle habits such as eating too much sodium, drinking too much alcohol, and being physically inactive. Other risk factors include age, family history and genetics, race and ethnicity, and sex.

Risk factors for iron-deficiency anemia include being of certain age groups, some unhealthy environmental factors, family history and genetics, being female, and certain lifestyle habits such as vegetarianism.

Signs, symptoms, and complications will vary based on the type of congenital heart defect that you or your child have, and may be different for newborns and adults.

An arrhythmia may not cause any obvious signs or symptoms. You may notice something that occurs only occasionally, or your symptoms may become more frequent over time. If left untreated, arrhythmia can lead to life-threatening complications such as stroke, heart failure, or sudden cardiac arrest.

At first, COPD may cause no symptoms or only mild symptoms. As the disease worsens, common signs and symptoms include an ongoing cough (with or without mucus), shortness of breath, wheezing or whistling when breathing, and chest tightness.

You may have an increased risk of developing an aortic aneurysm because of your age, family history, genes, lifestyle habits, medical conditions, or sex.

Iron-deficiency anemia can range from mild to severe. People with mild or moderate iron-deficiency anemia may not have any signs or symptoms. Common signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia include pale skin, fatigue and shortness of breath. Complications of iron-deficiency anemia include heart problems such as arrhythmias and depression.

CABG is a treatment but not a cure for ischemic heart disease. It is important to work with your doctor after CABG to help you stay healthy. This may include taking medicines prescribed by your doctor, making healthy lifestyle changes, getting regular medical checkups, and participating in cardiac rehabilitation.

Genetic testing may be performed to look for carriers, as well as to screen relatives of people who have cystic fibrosis.