There are two types of risk factor, ones that are outside of human control and others that we can control, below is a list of both types of risk factors. Risk factors outside human control. Age – As we grow older we increase the risk of heart disease dramatically, over two thirds of all heart disease sufferers are aged 65 or over. Sex – Although it is an old wives tale that heart disease is a male only condition, men do hold a greater risk of heart disease than women. Family history – Some families have history of heart problems, this means that if one or both parents have suffered with heart disease then the children hold a higher risk of developing heart disease themselves. Symptoms of high blood pressure