What Can I Do If I Have a Family History of Heart Disease?
Blue Daily
| 3 min read
More than 5% of Americans have heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those with a family history of heart disease are more than twice as likely to develop heart disease as those who don’t. If you do have a family history of heart disease, there are steps you can take to improve your heart health and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
What heart conditions run in families?
Heart disease, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol can all run in families, so you should tell your doctor if you have a family history of these conditions. Make sure you know the history of both sides of your family, as well as information for family members who have already passed, including their age and cause of death. Heart conditions in family histories that put people at an increased risk of developing heart disease include:
- angina
- aortic aneurysm
- arrhythmias
- cardiomyopathy
- congenital heart defects
- coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis)
- diabetes
- heart attack
- heart bypass or other heart surgeries
- heart failure
- high blood cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD)
- Marfan syndrome (connective tissue abnormality, usually tall with long fingers and extremities and visual disturbance) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (unusually flexible joints, loose skin and problems with large blood vessels like aorta)
- pacemakers
- percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
- stroke
How to improve heart health and lower risk with a family history of heart disease
Making diet and lifestyle changes to improve your personal heart health is even more important when you have a family history of heart disease due to increased risks of heart disease or cardiovascular events. If coronary artery disease, the most common heart disease, runs in your family, you are at a higher risk for buildup of plaque in the arteries. You may want to see a cardiologist for preventative measures in addition to letting your primary care doctor know.
Lifestyle choices that affect the risk of heart disease include:
Stop smoking and tobacco use
Tobacco and nicotine, no matter how they are ingested – smoking, chewing, dipping or vaping – are bad for the heart and increase the risk of heart disease, as well as many other diseases. Smoking related lung diseases complicate heart problems even more. Excessive pressure in the lung blood vessels causes extra pressure on the right side of the heart and leads to pulmonary hypertension. This is a major cause of right ventricular heart failure and heart arrythmia. Cigarette smoking hits and chokes the heart from all fronts.
Limit alcohol use
Alcohol use is not good for the heart and raises the risk of heart disease. Make sure to only drink in moderation or cut out alcohol completely. The increased risk of heart disease from alcohol use is higher for women.
Eat a heart-healthy diet
The standard American diet can wreak havoc on heart health, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Change to a heart-healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, and limit red meats, processed foods and dairy products.
Get more exercise
Living a sedentary lifestyle heightens risk of heart disease, especially when combined with a poor diet. Get at least 150 minutes per week of at least moderate intensity aerobic exercise. Additionally, excess weight can contribute to heart disease, and exercise can help keep your weight in check.
Manage high cholesterol and blood pressure
High cholesterol and high blood pressure contribute to risks of heart disease. Lifestyle changes can help manage these numbers, but in some cases you may need medication. Talk to your doctor about managing medications.
