Using blood samples taken years before any of the physicians in the study developed heart disease, Stampfer and his colleagues found that homocysteine levels were directly correlated to heart-disease risk.

But because her mother had suffered three arterial blockages and undergone open-heart surgery in 2008, her doctor decided last year to go beyond the standard screenings and give her a new type called an LDL particle test which, while not routine, can give a fuller picture of heart-disease risk.

Avocados are also an excellent source of mono- and polyunsaturated fats the "good" kind that can help lower cholesterol and reduce heart-disease risk.

Try multitasking: A British study found that active commuting (incorporating walking and cycling into your sedentary commute) is associated with an 11 percent reduction in heart-disease risk, especially among women.

Eating an ounce (three to four tablespoons) of nuts five or more times a week can cut heart-disease risk by about a third.

In one study Harvard researchers found up to a 20% reduction of heart-disease risk for those who most frequently got vigorous exercise.

The soluble fiber in beans helps lower levels of damaging LDL cholesterol in the blood, thus lowering heart-disease risk.

"We are taking measures to try to encourage the speedy adoption of these guidelines, virtually as we release them," he added, citing steps like providing summaries that doctors can keep on their desks and programs that can be put on personal organizers that calculate heart-disease risk and treatment recommendations.

Rummage around enough, one suspects, and you can eventually find the source of anything, be it heart-disease risk or unflattering frown lines.

Some heart-disease risks you're born with.