In any family, inheritance is a matter of pride, emotional connect, and birth right! However, not all legacies, especially on the health front, carry such cool adjectives and are, in fact, a precursor to what’s in store for your overall wellbeing. 

One of the common practices by doctors while diagnosing an ailment is to study family health history thoroughly for a better understanding of that particular condition or ailment and its causative factors. The heart, the lifeline of the human body, is not just a storehouse of your emotions but also the kind of health that your ancestors bequeathed you with. There are many reasons behind heart diseases, right from chronic ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels to intense levels of stress.   

If you have a family with a history of heart disease, do not forget to reveal it to your doctor. You have to be even more careful if the condition was diagnosed in immediate family members like parents or siblings even before they turned 60. 

Getting diagnosed with heart ailment before turning 60 years old falls under the premature heart disease category. 

What Are The Factors That Can Increase The Risk of Heart Disease?

Unherited genes play an imperative role in upping the risk of heart ailments. Unfortunately, it is not possible detect one particular gene. Certain genetic factors can pass on the chances of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure at a very young age. 

Certain family habits like increased junk food intake, sedentary lifestyle, and alcohol are other contributing factors. 

What Is Premature Heart Disease?

Getting diagnosed with a heart ailment before the age of 55 and 65 for a man and woman respectively is defined as premature heart disease. 

How Genetics Play A Role in Heart Disease?

There are a lot of studies across the world in understanding the role of genetics in heart disease. Recent studies reveal that multiple genes increase the risk of heart disease, and doctors are working towards understanding a better genetic predisposition to cardiac ailments. 

What Can You Do About It?

So, having a close relative or an immediate family member diagnosed with a heart ailment is causing you great worry; relax. The medical advancements in recent times help you understand your health better and how to deal with risk factors. Since it is not possible to alter genetic roles yet, it is highly recommended to make strict lifestyle changes.

Quit Smoking:

If you are a smoker, bid it goodbye right now! Smoking increases the risk of heart problems significantly. It builds plaque inside the coronary arteries, narrowing the coronary arteries and reducing the blood flow to the heart, thus raising the risk of a heart attack. 

Shed Overweight:

Obesity is another high-risk factor and is often linked to other complications caused by high cholesterol, elevated levels of triglycerides, LDL or bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. If your BMI is high, it’s time to let those extra fat deposits go away by making drastic lifestyle changes like cutting down on junk food and making workouts a regular habit. 

Heart-Healthy Foods:

Eat a well-planned diet comprising vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Make sure to involve greens, avocados, and lean meat to derive the goodness of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to make your heart function at an optimum level.

Keep Your Date With Doctor:

If your family's health history indicates heart disease, it is crucial to stay extra careful and keep up with your doctor’s appointments. Ensure regular blood and imaging tests to understand how your heart has been functioning. If you are on medication, do not forget to pop the pill, even if it is for a day.

Do not Exert:

Cardiologists caution against heart patients working out rigorously in the gym. Lifting heavy weights, running on a treadmill at high speed can mount an extra load on your heart, making it work harder, thus restricting blood flow.

One of the most recommended workouts is walking. Jaywalk or stroll around for at least 30 minutes daily to maintain your heart’s health.

Keep your doctor’s contact number and emergency medicines handy to meet unforeseen circumstances.

For emergency medical care, contact Fortis Bangalore.