Heart Risk Factors

Heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death, not just in the United States but the entire world. No one is unaffected by heart disease, and it’s critical we take our cardiac health seriously.

Luckily, we all have the power to make lifestyle changes to improve our heart health. To begin that journey, we’d do well to first examine our family trees.

Any patient who is suspected to have heart disease – and, according to the American Heart Association, nearly 50 percent of U.S. adults suffer from it – should understand the role of family history in developing coronary artery disease and other types of cardiovascular diseases.

Premature coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease that is affected by genetic factors. A history of premature coronary artery disease in your father, mother, brother or sister is a major contributor to developing premature coronary artery disease, especially if other risk factors are present (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking).

Coronary artery disease is hardly the only heart condition influenced by genetics. Others include:

Diseases that affect the heart muscle. For example:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart)
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle)

Diseases associated with Arrthymias/sudden cardiac death, such as:

• Long QT syndrome
• Brugada syndrome
• Right ventricle dysplasia

Diseases associated with chromosomal abnormalities or genetic disorders. These include:

• Marfan syndrome
• Turner syndrome
• Ehler-Danlos syndrome

Don’t become overwhelmed by conditions with confusing names and endless syllables. The takeaway is that it is very important for each of us to do what we can to modify risk factors for coronary artery and other cardiovascular diseases.

It begins by scheduling regular checkups with your physician and continues by controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes, regulating cholesterol, avoiding smoking and exercising regularly. All of these are crucial, but don’t overlook the value of a detailed knowledge of your family history. Identifying genetic red flags can provide a roadmap for your care, and have a significant impact on your current and future cardiac health.

- Haitham Dib, Cardiologist, Atlantic Cardiology - an affiliate of AtlantiCare Physician Group