Most people believe that smoking, drinking alcohol, stress or an unhealthy diet are the main causes of heart disease. However, medical experts affirm that genetics also play an undeniable role.
Dr. Sanjay Bhat - Senior Consultant on Interventional Cardiology at Aster CMI Hospital (Bangalore, India) - explains that heart disease can be inherited in the family through generations. If parents or siblings have heart disease when they are young, your risk will be significantly higher.
Some health conditions such as family hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, and myocardial disorders can be passed down to children through genetic code.
This expert also emphasized that genes are only part of the risk. Lifestyle choices such as smoking, lack of exercise, diabetes and stress are the triggers for these diseases to develop.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of heart disease will skyrocket when genetic factors combine with unscientific lifestyles. There are three typical risk groups:
1. Obesity and metabolic syndrome: Some people with genes are prone to weight gain and metabolic disorders. Sedentary lifestyle will make this condition worse, leading to heart disease.
2. Type 2 diabetes: Despite having genetic components, diet greatly affects the development of the disease. Prolonged high blood sugar levels will directly harm blood vessels and the heart.
3. Smoking: This is an extremely dangerous agent for people who already have a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
To assess cardiovascular health and genetic risks, Dr. Bhat suggests some specific check-up methods such as:
Family history: The doctor will learn in detail about the cardiovascular problems of family members.
Blood test: Measure cholesterol levels, blood sugar and other cardiovascular risk signs.
Image diagnosis: Perform ECG, heart ultrasound, stress test or coronary calcium point CT scan.
Genetic testing: Indicated in special cases for the most accurate evaluation.
Experts recommend regular health screening after age 30 (or earlier if the family has a history of heart disease) is extremely important. Changing a healthy lifestyle and getting timely medical advice can significantly reduce the risk of the disease, regardless of whether you carry the genetics or not.
