Heart disease could be a problem for everyone. Heart disease affects women just as much as it does men. But everyone can take steps to reduce their chance of developing the disease by preventing or controlling behaviors and conditions known to increase its risk. They’re so called “risk factors,” and there are two types—those you can change and those you can’t. Luckily, most of them can be changed. These are smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol, physical inactivity, overweight, and diabetes.