Every day, I see patients with heart disease, or suspected of having it. And the most tragic thing is that many of them think it’s inevitable.
Some are unaware of how lifestyle choices impact their risk, but others believe that their genetic makeup has doomed them to suffering from heart disease anyway and there’s no way to change it.
The plain and simple truth is this: regardless of your circumstances, anyone can take steps to prevent heart disease – even if there’s a genetic risk of developing heart disease. Because it is exactly what it says: a risk, not a guarantee.
This article will show how you can assess your potential genetic risk, and the steps you can take to increase your heart health.
Understanding your risk
The first step in working to increase heart health is understanding the risk factors and how they may affect you. Risk factors for heart disease include:
- Increased waist circumference
- High blood pressure
- Insulin resistance
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes
If you want to increase your heart health, addressing each of these is essential. I also urge you to address them as soon as possible. It may be true that heart disease predominantly affects people later in life, but it can take as long as a decade before disease takes hold.
Making the necessary evaluations and lifestyle choices can be easier said than done though, so if you’re unsure about what to do next, I recommend talking to a heart specialist. If you don’t have access to one, I offer online consultations, where you can discuss any risk factors that concern you and the steps you can take to help prevent heart disease.
Assessing genetic risk
On top of all of these potential risk factors for heart disease, it’s true that there can also be an increased genetic risk. But it’s important to know that a genetic risk does not mean that heart disease is inevitable, instead it should be viewed as a sign that heart disease prevention is even more crucial.
A patient is considered to have a genetic risk if ‘They have a first-degree relative – a father, mother or sibling – who has had a heart attack or has needed stents or bypass surgery at a young age (younger than 55 years old for a man and 65 for a woman)’.
If that criteria applies to you, don’t worry. Follow the same guidance as anyone else should follow, paying attention to the risk factors in the previous section.
There are a number of genetic illnesses that can affect the heart, in a number of ways:
Arrhythmia
There are multiple genetic conditions that can cause arrhythmias, which can cause sudden heart attacks. These conditions include;
- Atrial fibrillation – A common condition that increases risk of stroke.
- Brugada syndrome – A genetic disorder that can cause sudden cardiac arrest.
- Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia – affects the calcium channels in the heart, resulting in irregular heartbeat especially during exercise.
- Long QT syndrome – Causes a rapid chaotic heartbeat.
- Short QT syndrome – Can result in life-threatening arrhythmias.
It’s recommended that relatives of patients who suffer a sudden cardiac incident undergo medical screening to check for these kinds of conditions. There are treatment options for them, but left unchecked they can often be life threatening.
Genetic atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries, causing them to narrow and subsequently restrict blood flow. This can eventually lead to blood clots.
Atherosclerosis can begin as early as childhood and is believed to be caused by damage to the interior of an artery. This damage can be caused by:
- High blood pressure
- High triglycerides
- Tobacco products
- Insulin resistance, obesity or diabetes
- Inflammation
There is also evidence of a genetic risk for the development of atherosclerosis: ‘At any age, the average wall thickness of the arteries was greater in children who had at least one parent who had had a heart attack or heart disease before the age of 60’
The importance of prevention
A genetic risk of developing heart disease only increases the importance of heart disease prevention. It is neither a death sentence nor a guarantee that you will suffer from heart disease – it is, however, a warning to take your health seriously.
The first step in taking control of your heart health is to discuss any issues with a heart specialist, and if you would like to talk to me directly, you can book an online consultation.
If you have any concerns or questions about your heart health, then don’t wait!
While it can be a scary and stressful time, making adjustments to your lifestyle is always preferable to suffering a heart attack or going through treatment for heart disease.
If you’re not ready for a consultation but want to do all you can to improve your heart health, my book Stay Off My Operating Table® was written for you, and shows my exact system to reducing the risk of heart disease, from diet and exercise to sleep and stress levels. You can pick up a copy here, and start taking control of your health immediately.