Wellness Center

Personal or Family History of Heart Disease

Heredity is a major factor in assessing risk of coronary heart disease. If your father or brother developed heart disease (e.g., heart attack, angioplasty, or coronary surgery) before the age of 55, or your mother or sister before the age of 65, your are at increased risk of inheriting a similar problem.

This simply means that you need to be careful to eliminate or address any other risk factors you might have. It is important for you to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle all your life.

If you have already developed a heart problem, it is doubly important for you to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle and to minimize any other risks. For example, you should keep your LDL cholesterol level less than 100 mg/dL. You should also talk to your doctor about taking a low-dose aspirin tablet daily to help prevent any clots from occurring. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for preventing a future coronary event.

More Resources:

• Your Guide to a Healthy Heart, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) booklet
• The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women, by the National Institutes of Health
• Your Guide to Living Well With Heart Disease, by the National Institutes of Health

Source:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease Risk Factors. 2007.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis of specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt professional medical attention if you have a particular concern about your health or specific symptoms. Wellsource, Inc. is not liable for any health consequences resulting from your use of this site.