4 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease sedentary lifestyle, Increased obesity, smoking, high-fat content in diet and stress are the major causes that make heart diseases one of the leading causes of deaths, especially in the developing countries. Stop smoking: This is perhaps the single most effective step you can take. From 20 to 40 percent (100,000 to 200,000 annually) of all CAD deaths carried out are directly attributable to smoking. And it doubles your chance of having a heart attack eventually and increases the chance of dying from it by 70 percent, but it is also the leading cause of sudden cardiac death. Though quitting smoking rapidly reduces your risk of CAD; within 5 to 10 years of quitting, the risk of heart attack decreases to a level similar to that of people who have never smoked, regardless of how long you have smoked. Stay active: - Exercise helps protect against CAD, helping your heart to work more efficiently, reducin...