When a cardiologist evaluates a patient, some of the initial questions concern the patient’s family medical history. This isn’t just a standard question to be dismissed with little to no thought. You can finally be proactive about your heart health by providing your cardiologist with a comprehensive family medical history. Family history provides your care team with valuable insight into potential genetic vulnerabilities and patterns that may affect cardiovascular function. The relationship between inherited traits and heart disease is complex, involving both biological inheritance and the transmission of conditioned behaviors from generation to generation.
The Basics
Cardiovascular disease is one of many conditions that run in families. Relatives pass down genetic mutations that cause related conditions. Certain inherited conditions directly cause heart problems. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a condition that occurs regardless of diet or exercise and relates to abnormally high levels of cholesterol. If this condition goes untreated, it can progress to heart disease in your thirties or forties.
Lifestyle
Cardiovascular disease doesn’t run in families solely due to genetics; factors like lifestyle habits and diet also have a large influence on its development. Families with relatives who smoke, consume alcohol, and maintain poor diets influence these conditions and compound your genetic risk. Lifestyle habits and patterns are learned; the good thing is you can always learn new things, and as you gain knowledge, adjust your poor habits to support your heart health. Talk to your cardiologist about how you can modify your lifestyle habits to improve your heart health and reduce your risk almost instantly.
Impact on Your Body From Vascular Disease
Family history has a role in your heart itself. Some family-associated conditions affect blood vessels, and others increase your risk of stroke. Familial ties have been found in conditions like peripheral artery disease and aneurysms. Hypertension is a highly heritable trait. Knowing if high blood pressure runs in your family can be lifesaving information, as death causing damage can be done long before symptoms appear.
Family History for Prevention
The greatest influence your family history is going to have is on prevention. This is a powerful advantage for those with a family history of heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and several other inherited conditions. Your cardiologist can guide your treatment using this information to lower risks and improve outcomes. It also influences positive lifestyle changes when you understand how, sometimes, it is necessary to learn new habits when dealt a less favorable hand in particular areas. Accepting this early on can be a strong motivator in making healthier choices that support heart health.
Risk Doesn’t Mean Development
Having a family history of certain diseases and conditions does not inherently mean you will develop them, too. Some patients with a family history of heart disease and vascular risk never develop vascular symptoms. In some cases, biology is a major influencing factor, and in others, lifestyle habits and patterns. Your cardiologist can help you determine your risk of developing heart disease and design a care plan just for you. Monitoring your heart health is an initial step to better heart health.
History of Heart Health
Family history is a valuable compilation of knowledge about factors that influence not only your heart health but also your overall health. Information revealing genetic susceptibility and learned behavior patterns can influence outcomes and treatment designs. Prevention is always the first option, and this can sometimes be influenced by inherited genetic mutations.
Family history doesn’t have to mean development is inevitable. Talk to a cardiologist about your risk and treatment options today.