Who is most at risk of heart diseases?
Feb. 27, 2024
Global Korean Post
Some heart diseases and blood circulation conditions are passed down from parent to child. Others are the result of lifestyle choices.
The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of having a heart disease or condition.
You are more likely to be hospitalized or to die from heart diseases and conditions if you are a:
- man who is 45 years of age or older
- woman who is 55 years of age or older
There is also a higher risk of heart disease for women who:
- take birth control pills
- this increases the risk of high blood pressure and blood clots, but the risk is even greater if you also:
- smoke and are over 35 years old
- already have high blood pressure
- already have a blood clotting problem
- have gone through menopause
People with lower incomes are more likely to develop heart diseases. This is because they are more susceptible to risk factors associated with social disadvantage, such as:
- diabetes
- smoking
- high blood pressure
Some ethnic groups tend to have very high rates of heart disease. This is due to family history or cultural reasons, including diet and physical inactivity. These groups include Aboriginal Canadians and Canadians whose origins are:
- African
- Chinese
- Hispanic
- South Asian
(source: Heart diseases and conditions by PHAC)
