en <div style=text-align: justify;><strong>Aims:</strong> Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are the main causes of death and have the first place among other diseases throughout the world. Studying the situation of risk factors for CVDs seems necessary in Iran at various periods. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among the employees of Ilam University of Medical Sciences in order to design appropriate educational interventions.<br> <strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> In this descriptive cross-sectional study, which was conducted in 2017, 294 employees of Ilam University of Medical Sciences participated after presenting written consent forms. To collect data, a researcher-made questionnaire was designed and applied after verifying the validity and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha greater than 0.8). Eventually, the data were analyzed, using SPSS 16 and appropriate statistical methods.<br> <strong>Findings:</strong> Generally, 46.3% of the participants had a history of CVDs, 21.8% had a history of death caused by these diseases in their family, and 69.4% had a history of death caused by CVD among their relatives; 72.4% of the participants did not exercise daily and the mean daily exercise of participants was 8.08±1.51 minutes. Totally, 41.5% of the participants were taking solid oil, 78.6% were high-fat dairy consumers, and 41.2% consumed red meat more than twice a week.<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Performance of the participants in terms of physical activity and consuming fruits and vegetables, fish, red meat, and fatty foods is undesirable, indicating the unhealthy lifestyle of people and their exposure to CVDs.</div> Cardiovascular Diseases, Exercise, Nutrition, Employees 143 147 http://hehp.modares.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-5-22419-2&slc_lang=en&sid=4 R. Jorvand 1003194753284600106879 1003194753284600106879 No Public Health Department, Health Faculty, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran A.A. Haeri Mehrizi 1003194753284600106880 1003194753284600106880 No Health Metrics Research Center, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran K. Sadeghirad 1003194753284600106881 1003194753284600106881 No Nursing Community Health Department, Nursing Faculty, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran O.A. Gholami 1003194753284600106882 1003194753284600106882 No Health Education Department, Health Faculty, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran Z. Ansarian 1003194753284600106883 1003194753284600106883 Yes Public Health Department, Health Faculty, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran F. Ghofranipour 1003194753284600106884 1003194753284600106884 No Health Education & Health Promotion Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran M. Tavousi tavousi@acecr.ac.ir 1003194753284600106885 1003194753284600106885 No Health Metrics Research Center, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran