How many risk factors for coronary heart disease does a 55-year-old female with hypertension and a BMI of 24 have?

In evaluating the risk factors for coronary heart disease in a 55-year-old female with hypertension and a BMI of 24, it is important to consider the established risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Hypertension is a well-known risk factor for coronary heart disease, which contributes to the overall cardiovascular risk profile. In this case, the individual has hypertension, which counts as one distinct risk factor.

The body mass index (BMI) of 24 falls within the normal weight range (18.5 - 24.9), which typically does not classify as a risk factor for heart disease. Other factors to consider include age, gender, smoking status, lipid levels, and diabetes.

At 55 years of age, this female falls into a higher risk category simply due to her age, as cardiovascular risk typically increases for both men and women as they get older. Therefore, age itself is another risk factor.

Combining these two points, there are two identifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease for this individual: hypertension and age. Hence, the answer provides an incomplete picture by assuming more than two risk factors without additional context about other cardiovascular health aspects. Therefore, the best interpretation based on common criteria would yield a total of two risk factors, making the count