A medical condition, lifestyle or environmental threat that increases the statistical risk for the development of atherosclerosis in the cardiac vasculature, i.e. the Coronary arteries.

Among these risk factors the following are usually included: advanced age, male gender (during the procreative years, women are usually better protected then men), genetic factors (family history), Hypertension, Diabetes, high blood lipid levels, obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking and mental stress.