By Dr Nikita Chaturvedi
When it comes to heart disease, many people think lifestyle is everything: diet, exercise, stress, and smoking. While lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, stress, and smoking play a significant role, it’s important to consider another powerful factor often overlooked: your family history.
If your father had a heart attack in his 40s, or your mother was diagnosed with high blood pressure or a stroke at a young age, you may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, even if you feel perfectly healthy.
Let’s unpack how genetics and family history impact your heart and what you can do about it.
Why Family History Matters in Heart Disease
Heart disease doesn’t always start in adulthood. Often, the foundation is laid early, through both genes and shared habits.
If a close blood relative (parent, sibling, grandparent) has had:
- Heart attack or angina (especially before age 55 in men or 65 in women)
- Stroke
- Coronary artery disease
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Sudden cardiac death
…you could be genetically predisposed to develop these conditions, too.
Also Read | Silent warnings: Symptoms that can appear weeks before a heart attack
How Much Do Genes Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease?
- Having one parent with heart disease doubles your risk.
- If both parents were affected, your risk can be up to 3–4 times higher.
- Early-onset heart disease in the family raises more concern than late-life cases.
However, it is important to note that genes do not determine your fate.
How Family History Influences the Heart
Inherited risk can affect multiple systems:
- Lipid metabolism can make you prone to high cholesterol
- Blood vessel dysfunction can lead to early atherosclerosis
- Blood pressure regulation can cause early-onset hypertension
- Clotting tendencies can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack
These risks can quietly build up for years without noticeable symptoms until they suddenly don’t.
What You Can Do If You Have a Family History of Heart Issues
The goal isn’t to fear your family history; it’s to use it as a motivator for early action. Here’s what I recommend:
- Get Screened Early: Start monitoring your blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels, and ECG in your 20s or 30s if you have a family history.
- Adopt a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle: Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day: Limit processed foods, salt, sugar, and saturated fats
- Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption
- Know Your Numbers: Keep tabs on your BMI, waist circumference, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar. These are early clues.
- Discuss Genetic Risk with Your Doctor: For some families, genetic testing or more frequent cardiac imaging may be recommended, especially in cases of sudden cardiac death or inherited cholesterol disorders.
Also Read | Cut the salt, not the flavour: 6 low-sodium foods for heart health
You can’t change your DNA, but you can change how it expresses itself. Lifestyle choices can switch off or suppress genetic risk factors. Early awareness and proactive care can delay or even prevent heart disease entirely, even in high-risk individuals.
So if heart disease runs in your family, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either.
Turn your family history into a personal health advantage. After all, when it comes to heart health, knowledge isn’t just power; it’s protection.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice. If you have a family history of heart disease, consult a certified cardiologist for personalised screenings and prevention strategies.
