This topic will give an insight view: Everybody has a risk of developing atheroma which can lead to an MI. However, certain 'risk factors' increase the risk and include: * Preventable or treatable risk factors: o smoking o hypertension (high blood pressure) o high cholesterol level o lack of exercise o a poor diet o obesity o excess alcohol * Having diabetes. But if you have diabetes, the increased risk of heart disease is minimised by good control of the blood sugar level, and reducing blood pressure if it is high. * Risk factors that are fixed and you cannot change: o a family history of heart disease or a stroke that occurred in a father or brother aged below 55, or in a mother or sister aged below 65. o being male. o ethnic group (for example, British Asians have an increased risk). Risk factors are discussed more fully in another leaflet called 'Preventing Heart Disease'. Briefly, if you can reduce any risk factors, it reduces your risk of having an MI (or of having a further MI if you have already had one). Some risk factors are fixed and you cannot change them. However, if you have a fixed risk factor, you may want to make extra effort to reduce preventable risk factors such as smoking or lack of exercise.