What this checker looks at
It reviews commonly recognised risk factors, including smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, family history, activity, weight, kidney disease and ethnicity-related risk.
Free heart health checker
Not a formal risk score
Heart Risk Factors Checker
Review common heart and cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, family history, physical activity, weight, waist size and kidney disease.
Important: This is not a formal cardiovascular risk calculator and does not estimate your percentage risk of heart attack or stroke. For a proper risk assessment, speak to a GP, pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional.
Risk-factor review
Counts common modifiable and non-modifiable factors.
Practical next steps
Highlights checks and conversations to consider.
Heart health guide
Includes risk-factor explanations, FAQs and sources.
Heart risk guide
Understanding cardiovascular risk factors
Cardiovascular disease is a term for conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels. Risk factors are things that make these conditions more likely. Some risk factors, such as age and family history, cannot be changed. Others, such as smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, activity, diet and weight, can often be improved or treated.
This checker helps you review common risk markers, but it is not a formal clinical risk score. A proper cardiovascular risk assessment may include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney function, medicines, medical history and sometimes a tool such as QRISK.
Quick summary
- Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are major risk factors.
- Risk tends to increase with age, and men often develop cardiovascular disease earlier than women.
- Family history and ethnicity can affect background risk.
- Being inactive, excess weight and high waist size can add risk.
- Many cardiovascular risks can be reduced with lifestyle changes, monitoring and medicines when appropriate.
Common heart and cardiovascular risk factors
The table below explains why each factor matters and what you can discuss with a healthcare professional.
| Risk factor | Why it matters | What may help |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking | Damages blood vessels and increases risk of heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease. | Ask about stop-smoking support, nicotine replacement or medicines. |
| High blood pressure | Puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels, often without symptoms. | Get a reliable blood pressure reading and discuss treatment if high. |
| High cholesterol | Can contribute to fatty build-up in arteries and increase heart and stroke risk. | Ask about a cholesterol blood test and whether lifestyle changes or medicines are needed. |
| Diabetes | High blood glucose can damage blood vessels and is linked with higher cardiovascular risk. | Keep diabetes reviews up to date and ask about blood pressure and cholesterol targets. |
| Family history | Early heart disease in close relatives can suggest inherited or shared risk. | Tell your GP if a close relative had early heart disease or stroke. |
| Low physical activity | Being inactive can increase risk through weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar effects. | Build up gradually with walking, strength activity or other movement you can sustain. |
| Weight and waist size | Excess weight, especially around the middle, can increase cardiometabolic risk. | Check BMI and waist-to-height ratio for extra context. |
| Kidney disease | Chronic kidney disease is linked with higher cardiovascular risk. | Keep kidney, blood pressure and cardiovascular reviews up to date. |
Useful checks
Heart health checks worth knowing
If you do not know your blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar status, finding out can be a helpful first step. These checks can identify risks that often do not cause symptoms.
| Check | Why it helps | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can raise risk of heart attack and stroke. | Pharmacy, GP surgery, NHS Health Check or validated home monitor. |
| Cholesterol | Cholesterol levels help clinicians estimate cardiovascular risk and treatment need. | GP surgery, NHS Health Check or arranged blood test. |
| Blood sugar or HbA1c | Diabetes and prediabetes can raise cardiovascular risk. | GP surgery, NHS Health Check or diabetes review. |
| BMI and waist size | Weight and central adiposity can add useful context to cardiovascular risk. | Home measurement, pharmacy, GP surgery or online tools. |
NHS Health Check: In England, many adults aged 40 to 74 who do not already have certain conditions may be eligible for an NHS Health Check. Local eligibility can vary.
What this checker does not do
It does not diagnose heart disease, calculate QRISK, replace blood tests or tell you whether you need medicines such as statins or blood pressure tablets.
Why “not sure” matters
Many people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol feel well. If you are not sure, getting checked can be more useful than guessing.
Prevention
Practical ways to reduce heart risk
Small, consistent changes can reduce cardiovascular risk over time. The biggest priorities depend on your personal risk factors. For some people, lifestyle changes are enough; others may also need medicines.
High-impact changes to discuss
- Stopping smoking or getting stop-smoking support.
- Checking and treating high blood pressure.
- Checking cholesterol and discussing statins if appropriate.
- Managing diabetes, blood sugar and kidney health.
- Increasing physical activity gradually and safely.
- Improving diet quality, salt intake, fibre and saturated fat balance.
Questions you could ask
- What is my blood pressure?
- Do I need a cholesterol or diabetes check?
- Am I eligible for an NHS Health Check?
- Should my risk be assessed using a formal tool?
- Would lifestyle support or medication reduce my risk?
When to get medical advice
Book a routine review if
- You smoke and want help stopping.
- You do not know your blood pressure or cholesterol.
- You have diabetes, kidney disease or a strong family history.
- You are aged 40 to 74 and want to ask about an NHS Health Check.
- You have several risk factors and want a formal cardiovascular risk assessment.
Seek urgent help if you have
- Chest pain, pressure, tightness or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back or neck.
- Severe breathlessness, fainting, sudden sweating or feeling very unwell.
- Face drooping, arm weakness, speech problems or sudden confusion.
- A sudden severe headache, sudden vision loss or sudden weakness.
Heart risk factors FAQs
What does this heart risk factors checker do? +
This checker reviews common cardiovascular risk factors such as age, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, family history, activity, weight, waist size and kidney disease. It gives a simple risk-factor count and practical next-step suggestions.
Is this a formal heart risk calculator? +
No. This is not a formal QRISK, Framingham or clinical cardiovascular risk score. It does not estimate your percentage risk of heart attack or stroke.
What is cardiovascular disease? +
Cardiovascular disease is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. It includes problems such as coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral arterial disease.
Which heart risk factors can I change? +
Modifiable risk factors can include smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, physical inactivity, diet quality, excess weight, high waist size, alcohol intake, sleep and stress. Some people also need medicines to reduce risk.
Which heart risk factors cannot be changed? +
Non-modifiable risk factors include age, sex, ethnicity and family history. These still matter because they can affect how carefully other risk factors should be checked and managed.
What if I do not know my blood pressure or cholesterol? +
Not knowing your blood pressure or cholesterol can hide important risk. A pharmacy, GP surgery or NHS Health Check may be able to help you find these numbers.
Who can get an NHS Health Check? +
In England, NHS Health Checks are generally for adults aged 40 to 74 who do not already have certain pre-existing conditions. Eligibility and availability can depend on local services.
When should I seek urgent help? +
Call emergency services if you have symptoms that could suggest a heart attack or stroke, such as chest pain, severe breathlessness, facial drooping, arm weakness, speech problems, fainting or sudden severe symptoms.
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Sources and review
This page provides general health information and should not replace advice from a GP, pharmacist, nurse, cardiologist or other qualified healthcare professional.
This checker is deliberately simple. Formal cardiovascular risk assessment may require blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, medical history and a validated clinical risk tool.
NHS cardiovascular disease
NHS overview of cardiovascular disease and common risk factors.
NHS Health Check
NHS information about health checks for adults aged 40 to 74.
British Heart Foundation risk factors
BHF information about risk factors for heart and circulatory diseases.
Suggested review note
Last reviewed by AllHealthandCare editorial team: May 2026. Next review due: May 2027.