Heart disease in your genetics? What to ask family & what it could mean for you

How well do you know your family’s heart-health history?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. — and while lifestyle choices are a key risk factor, family history plays a bigger role than most people realize.

“It’s pretty common for people to come in with heart disease or another serious concern, and it turns out that their parent or grandparent had heart issues, too,” says Caroline Sensiba, ARNP, who specializes in cardiology at Pulse Heart Institute. “Knowing whether heart-related conditions run in your family can help us evaluate your risk — and take action to prevent conditions before they happen.”

The following tips can help you explore your family’s cardiovascular history — and encourage loved ones to take better care of their heart health.

How to compile your family heart-health history

Genes influence more than characteristics like hair color and height — they also affect your risk for certain diseases. Changes in genes, also known as mutations, can be passed down from one generation to the next and can sometimes increase the likelihood of heart-related problems.

There are currently over 40 known gene mutations that may increase the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues, according to the American Heart Association.

“Heart disease actually refers to several different conditions that can affect the structure and functioning of the heart,” Sensiba says. “In general, a person is two times more likely to develop heart disease if there’s a genetic component involved.”

When heart disease of any kind is left untreated, it can lead to heart attacks and strokes and can even damage other vital organs like the kidneys.

To better understand your risk for heart disease and other heart-related conditions, ask your parents if they, or other relatives, have had:

• Heart disease of any kind
• Coronary artery disease (the most common kind of heart disease)
• Heart failure
• Heart murmurs or other structural issues
• Atrial fibrillation or other abnormal heart rhythms
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart muscle)
• Familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic cholesterol disorder)
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes

It can also be helpful to ask about the age of diagnosis and whether anyone in the family has experienced:

• Cardiac arrest
• Heart attacks
• Coronary thrombosis (blood clot in coronary arteries)
• Strokes

If multiple people in the family have experienced these events at a young age or died prematurely because of them (before age 65 in women or 55 in men), hereditary factors may be involved.

Wondering how to start the conversation with your loved ones? Check out our article, Health questions everyone should ask their parents, for tips about how to talk to family members about health history.

What to do with your family heart-health history

So you’ve gathered your family heart-health history — now what? Share it with your  primary care provider (or cardiologist if you have one).

“Your primary care provider can help you address issues like high blood pressure or high cholesterol,” Sensiba says. “If your family history points to other heart-related concerns or you’re experiencing cardiac symptoms, your primary care provider may refer you to a cardiologist, and potentially a genetic counselor, for further testing.”

Beyond connecting with your care team, here are steps you can take to protect your heart:

Move your body regularly. Aim for at least 150 minutes (two-and-a-half hours) of moderate-intensity exercise a week. Whether it’s going for a brisk walk or playing basketball, find an activity you enjoy that gets your heart pumping.

Focus on food choices. A heart-healthy diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean sources of protein such as nuts, legumes and seafood. Limit processed foods, added sugar and salt. Consider going vegetarian or following a plant-based diet.

Manage stress. Chronic stress can increase your risk for heart attacks, heart disease and strokes. Learn how to manage chronic stress and what heart-related symptoms to watch out for.

Quit smoking and limit alcohol. Tobacco can harm your heart and damage your blood vessels, increasing your risk for heart attacks. If you use tobacco, these free resources can help you quit. Drinking alcohol in excess can also be harmful — stick within recommended limits or avoid it altogether.

How to encourage your parents to make heart-healthy changes

Learning your family heart-health history may inspire you to help loved ones make changes, but these conversations can be challenging.

“Nobody likes to be told they need to change their habits,” Sensiba says. “Start by telling them how much you care and then just listen — find out what obstacles they’re facing, what’s important to them and then ask how you can help.”

Here are additional tips for encouraging others to make changes that support their heart health.

Educate but don’t lecture. Find out what they know about heart health first and then offer to share what you know, but don’t force the conversation. If they’re open to it, refer them to the American Heart Association or other reputable sources of information.

Start small. Recommending a complete overhaul of someone’s habits is likely to backfire. Instead, suggest small, reasonable changes tailored to them, like cooking with less salt or going for a 15-minute walk a few times a week. Over time, small shifts can inspire confidence and motivation to tackle larger changes.

Harness technology. The thought of adopting a heart-healthy eating plan can feel overwhelming. Where do you find recipes? What if you’re only cooking for one? There are several apps available that can help people adopt specific eating plans, cook on a budget, minimize food waste and track nutrition.

Encourage them to ask for help. Sometimes barriers to change have less to do with motivation and more to do with practical issues like lack of reliable transportation or difficulty affording healthy food. Suggest family members talk to their provider about these challenges — providers can often connect people to resources in their community that make healthy changes easier.