One of the major causes of death in India is cardiovascular diseases. Although constant efforts are being made to ensure that there is a decrease in the risk factors surrounding heart diseases, family medical history is one aspect that remains elusive. Not many know their genes could be linked to cardiovascular diseases as family medical history is a key risk factor for heart diseases. Adverse cardiac family history is defined as the detection of heart disease before the age of 55 years in males and 65 years in females, either your siblings or your parents. In such cases, the risk of heart disease increases for an individual and requires that stricter preventive measures be taken. Even today, family history remains one of the most complicated risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Risk Factors for Heart Diseases
Apart from genetic factors, other risks may include shared lifestyles. Some of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases that can add to the risk, which also run in family include –
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Cholesterol abnormalities
- Obesity
Other factors that may contribute to the risk of developing heart disease include a steady diet of fast foods, chewing and/or smoking tobacco, and so on. These factors are not strictly related to genes but may have societal roots. Growing up with smokers or in a household that primarily consumes junk food can be an influence. While these are habits that can be worked upon, the genes are a completely new story.
Detecting Heart Disease Risks
Heart disease risks can be identified with the help of medical tests that offer an accurate diagnosis. Going for a DNA test can also be quite beneficial as it would give you a score that classifies your genetic risks for heart disease as low, moderate, or high. In addition to this, you can also opt for a comprehensive heart screening, also known as the Healthy Heart Package, which helps in determining your risk factors and whether you are a patient of hereditary heart disease.
To understand whether your family has a history of heart disease is very important as it is an indicator of your inherited risk. In adverse family history, the first step is to check whether your first-degree relatives like your parents or siblings suffered from a heart attack or stroke or died of these conditions at an early age (55 for men, 65 for women). One can also check the same for their grandparents.
Lifestyles Changes That May Be Followed
Although adverse family history is said to an unmodifiable cardiac risk factor, there are a few lifestyle changes and preventive measures that can be considered –
- Exercising Regularly
One of the best ways to strengthen your heart is by exercising. With regular moderate-intensity cardio exercises and strength training, you can improve blood circulation and overall heart health. It also helps in maintaining a healthy weight. Sports activities, cycling, jogging, swimming, and other moderate-intensity aerobic exercises along with regular resistance training can also help reduce the risk of heart diseases.
- Avoiding Tobacco
Having tobacco is not only harmful for your heart but can also cause cancer. Smoking and/or chewing tobacco increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral arterial disease as it affects the arteries that carry blood to the heart and to the other parts of the body. Smoking damages the artery walls as it reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, making it stickier, which causes blood cells to clump together. This slows down the flow of the blood and makes blockages more common, which in turn, can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
- Maintaining Your Body Weight
Obesity or being overweight is another factor that can increase your risk of getting a heart disease. Apart from this, obesity can also increase the chances of you suffering from other health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Extra weight, especially around the middle is a risk to your health. Regular physical activity is important for achieving a healthy body weight, as that helps the body maintain a balance between burning the extra energy from our body and the energy coming in through your diet.
- Maintaining Cholesterol Levels
While good cholesterol (HDL) is required by the body to protect the heart against diseases, excessive bad cholesterol (LDL) can lead to heart diseases. Consuming foods that are rich in trans fats and saturated fats is not good for your health as they can lead to high blood cholesterol and in turn, increase the risk of heart diseases. Maintaining higher HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol levels can be achieved with simple modifications in the diet and regular exercise.
- Keeping the Blood Sugar in Control
Blood sugar is yet another hereditary health disease. It occurs when the body is not capable of producing insulin, cannot use the produced insulin, or both, which leads to increased sugar levels in the blood. Diabetes is another risk factor for cardiac diseases. However, it can be managed by making some lifestyle changes, exercising regularly, and maintaining a planned diet.
- Maintaining Your Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure may fluctuate during the day, based on what you are doing. However, if the pressure is too high, and does not come back to normal levels for a period of time, it can cause severe damage to your body. Normal blood pressure is around 120/80 mmHg and anything more than 140/90 on at least two occasions on different days is considered to be high blood pressure. Untreated, high blood pressure can lead to many complications related to the heart, like heart failure, stroke, or heart attack. People with high blood pressure are required to make certain lifestyle changes to prevent heart diseases.
Awareness regarding health through proper health education is a crucial factor in today’s age. Some lifestyle habits like consuming an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet and avoiding excess salt can also help a lot in preventing heart diseases. Furthermore, any person who is prone to heart diseases because of their adverse family history should make regular healthy heart check-ups a part of their routine. The Heart-Healthy Package you choose should also include tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
