higher risk of coronary artery disease are: *. Age (For men, the risk of heart disease goes up after age 55; for women, the risk rises sharply after menopause.) *. Being inactive *. Having diabetes or metabolic syndrome *. Family history of coronary heart disease *. Genetics *. High blood pressure *. High levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol or low levels of HDL "good" cholesterol *. Obesity *. Smoking *. Stress