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Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (Expert Forum)
strong family history
Answered by
Lee Kirksey, MD - Peripheral Arterial Disease, PAD, Cardiovascular Disease, stroke, treatment, angioplasty, spider veins, laser ablation, wound treatment, surgery, leg pain, Prevention, Varicose veins
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center of the Univ. of Pennsylvania Healthcare Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia - PA
Questions in the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention forum are answered by Dr. Lee Kirksey, associate professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
strong family history
by flowergirl2060, Jul 04, 2008 12:29PM
My father and grandfather both died at age 38 of heart attacks. Although there is little known about my grandfathers death...there are some details about my fathers. He was significantly overweight, smoked, had high cholesterol and at the time of his death was taking "diet pills" from Mexico.
I am 48 years old female and I have had every diagnostic test available. The tests show that I have a structurally normal heart. I do have PVC's and IST at times.
My questions are:
1) What is my risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack?
2) How large of a role does a strong family history play in my risk?
3) Will the family history effect my sons?
I am 48 years old female and I have had every diagnostic test available. The tests show that I have a structurally normal heart. I do have PVC's and IST at times.
My questions are:
1) What is my risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack?
2) How large of a role does a strong family history play in my risk?
3) Will the family history effect my sons?
Doctor's Answer
by Lee Kirksey, MD, Jul 04, 2008 01:53PM
, Jul 04, 2008 01:53PM
To: flowergirl2060
Family history, especially of an early in life heart disease, significantly increases your risk of having heart disease. The difficulty is in separating out your fathers risk factor of being overweight, smoking and other issues. A person with no genetic tendencies could cause themselves to have a heart attack at an early age by bad behaviors.
For women, the risk of heart attack increases significantly after menopause because estrogen provides a protective effect. The most important thing for you is to control your weight, exercise and eat low fat.
Having said this, if you do not have a genetic carry over from your father, it would be unlikely that it would skip your generation and be seen in your sons-provided the other half of the gene pool is unremarkable
For women, the risk of heart attack increases significantly after menopause because estrogen provides a protective effect. The most important thing for you is to control your weight, exercise and eat low fat.
Having said this, if you do not have a genetic carry over from your father, it would be unlikely that it would skip your generation and be seen in your sons-provided the other half of the gene pool is unremarkable
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