How does family history affect heart disease?
There are two main ways family history can affect heart disease: you can inherit genes that increase your risk of developing conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol OR you may have learned certain ways of living or behaviors from your family, such as only eating lots of fried or processed foods or not liking sports or physical activity.
Inherited genes
Several genes work together to increase your risk of heart disease and it is possible to inherit some of these from different family members, rather than just one person or inherit a single gene. This can mean that certain conditions, such as high cholesterol or coronary artery disease, can run in families.
Lifestyle factors and behaviors
Do you eat a healthy diet - that is one with lots of vegetables, some fruit, and lots of fiber? Do you exercise every day? Do you smoke? Drink? Eat out a lot?
Many habits we pick up from our families we carry through to our adult lives. Improving your diet and stopping other behaviors that increase your risk of heart disease, can help improve your chances of living a long and healthy life.
How do I know if I have a family history of heart disease?
Ask your family! This may not be so easy to do if you are adopted or if your family lives on the other side of the world, but just talking with your parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews about any health conditions they have that they are willing to disclose, can help you identify if you are at higher risk. Conditions such as diabetes, or the tendency to put on weight easily, also increase your risk for heart disease. Ask your family questions such as:
- Have you ever had a heart attack or has a relation of yours had a heart attack?
- Have you ever had an operation on your heart or a procedure on your heart such as an angiogram?
- Has your doctor diagnosed you with coronary artery disease, angina, or atherosclerosis?
- Does your heart beat normally or do you have an arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation? Do you have a pacemaker?
- Do you have high cholesterol or does one of your family have it?
- Do you have diabetes or high blood pressure?
- Do you take any medications for your heart?
- Were you born with heart disease?
- Have you ever had a stroke or an aortic aneurysm?
Knowing your family history can help you to take steps to reduce your risk of developing heart disease or a heart attack yourself. If you are diagnosed with a heart condition yourself, make sure to let your doctor as well as your family members know. Update your doctor regularly with any new diagnosis.
Include both your mother’s and father’s side of the family such as your parents, sisters, brothers, children, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Note which relatives answer yes to your questions and ask them what age they were diagnosed or treated. Try and find out if anybody has died from a heart-related event.
Related questions
- 6 Wegovy side effects you need to be aware of
- What are the long-term side effects of Ozempic?
- How do Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound compare for weight loss?
References
- Family Health History of Heart Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 10, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/fh/history_heart_disease.htm#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20a%20family,cholesterol%2C%20can%20run%20in%20families.
- https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/your-heart/family-history-and-heart-disease#:~:text=While%20there's%20no%20single%20gene,blood%20pressure%20or%20high%20cholesterol.&text=Shared%20environments%20can%20also%20be,previous%20generation%20in%20your%20family.
Read next
How long does it take for Ozempic to work?
Your blood glucose (sugar) levels should start to fully decline within the first week after you start using Ozempic (semaglutide) at your regular dose. However, the full effect can take 8 weeks or longer, as this is a long-acting medication that is injected only once per week. Continue reading
Wegovy vs Ozempic: Which is Right for You?
Both Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide, but Wegovy is prescribed for long-term weight management while Ozempic is used to control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and help protect kidney function. They both lower the risk for heart-related complications, but they differ in other approved uses, doses, target populations and costs. Continue reading
How many doses are in an Ozempic pen?
Ozempic pens come in 3 sizes. Each pen holds 4 maintenance doses of either 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg of medicine given once weekly and will last for one month. Continue reading
See also:
Vraylar
Vraylar is a once a day antipsychotic medication used to treat mental health or mood disorders ...
Abilify
Abilify is an antipsychotic medicine used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar ...
Ozempic
Learn about Ozempic (semaglutide) for type 2 diabetes treatment, weight management, cardiovascular ...
Seroquel
Seroquel is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive ...
Lamictal
Lamictal is an anti-epileptic medication used treat seizures in adults and children over 2 years ...
Depakote
Depakote is used to treat various types of seizure disorders. Learn about side effects ...
Lithium
Lithium is used to treat the manic episodes of manic depression - hyperactivity, rushed speech ...
Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine is used to treat epileptic seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia ...
Risperidone
Risperidone is used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder. Learn about side ...
Olanzapine
Olanzapine (brand name Zyprexa) is an atypical antipsychotic that may be used to treat adults and ...
Related medical questions
- How long to see weight loss results with Wegovy?
- Tirzepatide vs semaglutide: How do they compare?
- Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound cause hair loss?
- Can you switch between Ozempic and Mounjaro?
- What happens when you stop taking Ozempic?
- Does Ozempic need to be refrigerated?
- Saxenda vs Ozempic: For Weight Loss?
- Will my insurance cover the cost of Ozempic?
- Can you get tirzepatide from a compounding pharmacy?
- Why am I not losing weight on Ozempic?
- Does Ozempic cause muscle loss and how to prevent it?
- How much does semaglutide cost?
- Where and how should Ozempic be injected?
- How much is Ozempic with or without insurance?
- Rybelsus vs Ozempic for weight loss: Which to choose?
- How long does Ozempic last in your system?
- Ozempic Face: What causes it and how to prevent it?
- Does Jardiance cause weight loss?
- How to avoid yeast infections on Jardiance?
- How long can you stay on Ozempic?
- How does Ozempic affect blood pressure?
- How do you get Wegovy covered by insurance?
- Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: How do they compare?
- What are the side effects of beta blockers?
- Does metoprolol lower resting heart rate?
- Metoprolol Succinate vs Tartrate: What's the difference between them?
- How quickly does propranolol work?
- Is excessive sweating a sign of heart disease?
- How do you take GoNitro to treat an angina attack (chest pain)?
Related support groups
- Cardiovascular Risk Reduction (101 questions, 28 members)
- Angina (22 questions, 80 members)
- Arrhythmia (85 questions, 181 members)
- Myocardial Infarction (19 questions, 39 members)
- Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders (17 questions, 16 members)
- Myocardial Infarction - Prophylaxis (5 questions, 6 members)
- Family History of Myocardial Infarction (1 questions, 3 members)
- Family History of Cerebrovascular Disease (1 questions, 3 members)
- Family History of Ischemic Heart Disease (1 questions, 3 members)