Traditional and emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and most western societies, further, approximately 50% of CVD is related to coronary heart disease (CHD). Most CVD results from an athero-thrombotic pathologic process in the body's arterial beds, and is largely preventable through risk factor reduction. Risk factors are diseases, physiologic states, biologic markers, or other identifiable factors associated with increased incidence of CVD. This article breaks down traditional, emerging,and possible risk factors for discussion.