Heart disease is one of the most common illnesses that impacts human health. Heart-related conditions include coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, heart muscle disease, and disease of the heart valve. Heart disease is an umbrella term for any condition that affects the heart and the blood vessels.
Coronary Heart disease typically develops because of plaque buildup in the arteries, which restricts blood flow to the heart. It is crucial that there is no hindrance to the blood flow to your heart. Any blockages can lead to heart attacks, angina, and even stroke.
We hear this advice all the time: exercise and eat right. The advice stands true; exercise and a healthy diet can prevent many illnesses. Avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking also benefits heart health. However, sometimes, a healthy lifestyle may not be enough to completely prevent cardiac issues.
If you have ever had a health checkup, you must have noticed that they ask about your family medical history. This is because family history can greatly impact your health, regardless of the lifestyle you lead. A healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of inheriting an illness, while an unhealthy lifestyle may increase the risk.
In this article, we will explore how a family history of heart disease impacts your health.
What is a family history of heart disease?
If you are living a healthy lifestyle, you can prevent cardiac issues or manage symptoms of cardiac conditions. However, sometimes, despite living a healthy life, you can develop cardiac disease. Such a case may be because of a family history of cardiac issues. If there are cases of cardiac disease in your family, the likelihood of you inheriting the disease increases, especially if it is a parent. Even if a family member has passed away due to a cardiac condition, they will still be included in your family medical history.
A family history of cardiac disease does not guarantee that you will inherit it. You may or may not have inherited the genes responsible for heart disease. In the case that you have not inherited the ailment, but you share a similar lifestyle or environment, you may increase your chances of developing cardiac disease.
What’s the difference between family history and inherited conditions?
Inherited conditions are genetic in nature. A mutated or changed gene is passed down, typically from parent to child. This genetic passage can go through generations or even skip generations. Nevertheless, inherited conditions are dependent on the specific gene(s). Some of the most common genetically inherited conditions are cardiomyopathies, where the heart muscle is affected, channelopathies, where the heart rhythm is affected, and familial hypercholesterolaemia, where there is a family history of high cholesterol levels.
Family history is a broader term that covers conditions that may or may not be genetically inherited. Family history tracks all the various factors that cause a specific illness. Let’s say a smoking habit is prominent in your family, or your family has a preference for salty foods; this can increase the risk of heart disease in your family. These traits may not be genetically inherited, but rather something that developed through time. Sharing a similar environment or lifestyle can determine the risk of certain health conditions.
Doctors can order genetic testing to understand if a health condition in your family history is caused by a specific gene. For instance, if multiple members of your family developed cardiac issues at a young age, your doctor might order a genetic test to check if it was a random occurrence or a genetic issue.
How Genetics Influence Heart Health
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most commonly inherited health conditions. All of us have a genetic makeup. These genes carry both good and bad genetic information. Heart health is determined by nature and nurture. Studies suggest that if there are single-gene conditions in one or both parents, there is a 50/50 chance that one or all of the kids will inherit the gene.
Cardiologists say that 50% of the risk is determined by your genetic makeup, and 50% is determined by your lifestyle. This means that even with a risk, you could prevent cardiac issues if you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Early onset of cardiac issues, i.e., below the age of 45, in multiple members of the family is always a red flag for doctors. It typically warrants genetic testing to determine if a mutated gene is passed down through generations, causing genetic heart disease.
How do you know if you have a family history of heart disease?
You can keep track of your family’s health, particularly the age at which they developed heart disease. A family history of heart disease is typically tracked through close relatives like parents or grandparents. If you notice a pattern of cardiac issues like a heart attack or a stroke before the age of 60, there is a family history of heart disease. You can use this information to understand your risk of developing heart disease. From here, the lifestyle you follow will determine whether that risk increases or decreases.
Next, pay attention to the type of cardiac issues that are most prevalent in your family. Heart attacks, coronary artery disease, familial hypercholesterolaemia, strokes, etc., are all types of cardiac issues.
Knowing your family history can help you stay informed and inform your doctor when the need arises. It can also help you make healthier choices in life. If there is a family history of heart disease, you can start screening for the signs early and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk factors.
Risk Factors Amplified by Family History
Inherited heart disease can be passed down through genetic makeup. Certain genetic makeup can make you more susceptible to developing cardiac issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other types of heart disease.
Apart from a genetic predisposition, a family history of heart disease can also amplify the risk by sharing an unhealthy environment or lifestyle. Let’s say you share similar unhealthy dietary habits with another family member. This family member then develops heart disease. If you continue to live with the same dietary habits, you, too, increase your risk of developing heart disease. Heart diseases caused by shared environment or lifestyles don’t necessarily need a genetic predisposition. Even without an inherited gene, you can increase the risk of heart disease.
Conditions like early heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and more can be passed down, either through genetic makeup or through shared environment.
Early Warning Signs to Watch Out For
There are several forms of heart disease, each exhibiting different symptoms. Nevertheless, here are a few common early warning signs you should watch out for:
- Chest Pain or Discomfort
This symptom refers to a tightness in the chest. It may feel like pressure or squeezing. Your chest may feel full. This pain often travels down your arms, towards your back, and up to your neck or jaw. Chest pain caused by a heart condition can occur even when you are resting. The sensation may be intense for some, while barely noticeable for others. Heart disease-related chest pain will last for a few minutes. This is your early warning sign to consult a cardiologist.
- Shortness of Breath
You will feel a shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. This shortness of breath will be apparent during rest or activity. It could indicate that your heart is not able to pump blood effectively, causing fluid to build up in your lungs. If the shortness of breath is accompanied by chest pain or dizziness, call a doctor immediately.
- Arrhythmia
If you are experiencing a heart attack, your heart’s natural rhythm will falter. You may feel an irregularity in your heartbeat. These irregularities do occur occasionally. However, if it is persistent or frequent, you should seek medical attention. If left unchecked, it could lead to a stroke or cardiac arrest.
- Potential Early Warning Signs
Heart failure can also cause your legs, feet, and ankles to swell. Peripheral artery disease could look like pain or cramping in the legs. You may also begin sweating excessively, especially cold sweats. You may begin wheezing or coughing persistently. In some cases, patients develop a yellowish-orange growth on the skin on or near your eyelid, this may indicate high cholesterol levels and increased risk for heart disease.
Diagnostic Tests Recommended for Individuals with a Family History
There are several diagnostic tests to assess your risk of developing heart disease. The diagnostic tests recommended for individuals with a family history of heart disease include:
- Blood test: After the heart sustains damage due to a heart attack, heart proteins can leak into the blood. A blood test can assess for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP). This test checks for inflammation in the vital arteries. They may also prescribe a cholesterol check and a blood sugar check.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): An ECG is quick and painless. It records and assesses the electrical signals in your heart. It is tracking your heartbeat to understand if your heartbeat is too slow or too fast.
- Echocardiogram or Echo: An echocardiogram assesses the movement of blood within the heart and its valves. It uses sound waves to craft detailed pictures of the heart. An Echo test can determine if there is any damage to the valves.
- Stress Test: A stress test can help determine how your heart functions when it is put under the stress of physical activity. A stress test also measures if any heart disease symptoms show while performing physical activity.
- Chest X-Ray: A chest X-ray looks at the condition of your lungs and whether your heart is enlarged.
Lifestyle Changes and Preventive Measures
Here are some critical lifestyle changes you can make to prevent cardiac disease:
Don’t Smoke
Avoid smoking. Smoking can increase your risk of developing cardiac issues. If you smoke regularly and find it difficult to quit, you can seek help from your Doctor. There are treatment plans and programs that help individuals quit smoking.
Eat Healthy
This one might be easier said than done. However, it is one of the most important factors in determining heart health. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, and whole grains. Eating healthy does not mean you have to restrict yourself from enjoying foods. Limiting your sugar, salt, and saturated fat intake can help you live a healthier life.
Exercise
Regular exercise can help keep your heart healthy. Not everyone may enjoy an intensive workout. The goal is to keep yourself moving. Exercising just 30 minutes a day can make all the difference in your heart health.
Manage Weight
Try and keep a healthy weight. A healthy weight is not the same for everyone, just like not everyone can maintain the same diet. The aim is to figure out what works for you and what weight makes you feel the healthiest, without losing out on any nutrition. You can ask a dietician to draw up a suitable meal and exercise plan depending on your unique needs.
Manage Stress
Stress can directly affect your heart health. In this day and age, it is difficult to avoid stress entirely. Manage your stress whenever possible. Find healthy coping mechanisms that help you destress daily.
Sleep Well
Sleep is crucial to one’s well-being. Sleep can help regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and regulate stress hormones like cortisol. Sleep deprivation can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and increased blood pressure.
When to seek a doctor
Chest pain is the biggest sign of heart disease. Seek immediate help if your chest pain increases with activity. Chest pain is a common symptom for various illnesses that may not be life-threatening. However, it is best to check chest pain that does not seem to reduce even with care.
Shortness of breath and dizziness are also telltale signs of heart problems. A cardiologist may check for irregular heartbeat, as it can indicate that something is amiss with your heart health.
If you have a history of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, any symptom of heart disease, like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or irregular heartbeat rhythm, will be treated seriously. Individuals with prior illnesses are more likely to develop heart disease, so they should always be alert.
Lifestyle choices like excessive smoking increase your risk of developing cardiac issues. So, if you are a smoker and are beginning to notice symptoms of heart disease, seek medical help.
Conclusion
Heart disease is notoriously common across the global population. Heart disease can affect anybody, whether it is passed down or not. A family history can affect the risk of developing heart disease.
A family history means there’s a 50/50 chance of you developing the same illness. However, the lifestyle you maintain also plays a crucial role. It is possible to have a family history of heart disease, but never develop it due to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Daily activity, diet, and environment are all factors that determine your risk of developing cardiac issues. It is always best to stay informed of your family’s medical history and follow a healthy daily routine.
FAQs:
Is heart disease hereditary?
Heart disease can be hereditary. Genetic heart disease factors are often the reason for cardiovascular problems, passed down through generations. Lifestyle choices do make a difference in the chances of experiencing heart disease. However, if you have a family history of heart disease, that increases your chances of experiencing it yourself if your lifestyle is unhealthy. Symptoms of inherited heart problems can also be managed with a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle, and necessary medications to reduce the likelihood of the illness progressing.
How does my family history affect my heart health?
If anyone in your family has a history of cardiovascular diseases, it can be passed down to you. Even if you don’t inherit it from birth, a family history of heart disease can drastically increase your risk of developing heart disease at any point throughout your life. If your family has a history of bad heart health, it is crucial that you care for yourself, follow a healthy lifestyle, exercise, don’t smoke, limit drinking, and monitor your heart health through regular checkups.
Can a child have a heart attack?
It is rare, but possible for a child to have a heart attack. Typically, when a child has a heart attack, there are underlying health conditions. These conditions can either be acquired or congenital. For instance, Kawasaki Disease causes inflammation of the coronary arteries. This is one of many diseases that does not discriminate based on age. Children can also develop congenital heart conditions like atrial septal defects, coarctation of the aorta, and cardiomyopathy.
How to identify heart problems?
The most common symptoms of heart problems are tightness or discomfort in the chest, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. You may also experience pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly, or back. Other ways to identify heart problems are to check for swelling in the legs, numbness, or tingling in the limbs. If the heart problems are inherited through genetics, especially in children, you should check for blue or gray skin, swelling in the legs, belly, or around the eyes, and shortness of breath during feedings, especially in infants. These symptoms of congenital heart disease can typically be caught right after birth. Symptoms to look out for during childhood or adulthood include shortness of breath during activity, being easily exhausted from activity or exercise, and swelling of hands, legs, and feet.
What’s the difference between inherited and family history-related heart disease?
Inherited heart disease refers to illnesses passed down directly, like from a parent to a child. The inheritor may carry the genetic material for heart diseases. Inherited heart disease is a subset of family history-related heart disease. Family history-related heart disease is a broader term that encompasses various members of the family. Family history-related heart disease can be influenced by factors like shared environment or lifestyle. Inherited heart disease might be more specific, while family history encompasses all the different factors that are part of a disease.
Is congenital heart disease linked to family history?
Congenital heart disease can be linked to family history. Congenital heart disease can be directly and indirectly inherited. If there are many cases of congenital heart disease in the family, the likelihood of inheriting it increases.
What kind of heart health screening is recommended for people with a strong family history?
If there is a strong family history of heart disease, regular screening is advised. Blood pressure screening is an important screening. Doctors may also prescribe an ECG, cholesterol screening, and blood glucose screening. If the risk factors are high, you may also be prescribed additional tests like a stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac CT scan, and more.
