HEART DISEASE RISK FACTOR "MULTIPLIER EFFECT"
IN MIDLIFE WOMEN

Many women don’t realize that their risk for heart disease significantly increases based on the number of risk factors they have.
This chart shows the dramatic rise in the level of heart disease risk for each added risk factor.

Chart showing heart disease risk factors  multiplier effect in midlife women. Data points for the chart follow

No risk factors equals 1 time the risk of heart disease
1 risk factor equals 2 times the risk of heart disease
2 risk factors equals 4 times the risk of heart disease
3 or more risk factors equals 10 times the risk of heart disease

The major controllable risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, overweight/obesity, and physical inactivity.

To learn more, visit www.hearttruth.gov
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2006)

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