Introduction
The inherited genetic changes can also affect the heart muscle structure and can result in changes. Genetic risk is also considered while doing the risk assessment for heart diseases. Numerous heart diseases and abnormalities can be inherited, including cardiac arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and hypercholesterolemia. Individuals with close blood relatives having heart disease will have a high risk of developing heart disease.
How Does Genetics Affect Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally. The risk factors include lifestyle, age, sex, and genetic variations. An International research team has identified 13 new genetic markers that increase the risk of heart disease.
The family history of cardiovascular diseases and the future risk depends on the number of factors involved and the affected first-degree relatives. Genetic variation in single genes increases the chance of developing heart disease, and these are passed from parents to children through DNA. Family history is an important indicator because a family has a common environment and lifestyle. Children growing up in a family that has an unhealthy lifestyle, diet, and habits like smoking develops heart diseases. The risk for heart disease increases when genetic factors are combined with other non-genetic factors.
What Are the Various Heart Diseases That Run in Families?
1. Familial Hypercholesterolemia:
Genetic conditions cause high levels of cholesterol to be passed down in families. The level of low-density lipoprotein is very high and increases the risk for heart disease. A defect in chromosome 19 causes the disease. This chromosome abnormality makes the body unable to remove low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This makes arteries narrow and develops atherosclerosis. In atherosclerosis, plaque build-up in the walls of blood vessels making the blood vessels narrower and affecting the blood flow. The disease is passed in an autosomal dominant way; one dominant gene from either of the parents will inherit the disease. If the dominant genes are inherited from both parents, it will make the cholesterol level very severe.
Symptoms:
The symptoms include
- Xanthomas or fatty skin deposits in the knee, elbow, ankle, hands, and around the cornea of the eye.
- Chest pain.
- Sore on the toe and hard to heal.
- Cramping of calves while walking.
- Trouble speaking.
- Dropping one side of the face.
- Weakness of arms or legs.
2. Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes thickening of heart muscles; in severe cases, it can lead to sudden death. The common site for the thickening of cardiac muscles is the interventricular septum, the wall that separates the right and left ventricles. This prevents the blood flow from the heart and makes the heart pump harder than usual. Due to the thickening, the left ventricle cannot halt blood, and pressure increases in the ventricular chamber. This causes shortness of breath and a high risk of abnormal heartbeat.
Symptoms:
In familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the symptoms vary among family members. Some patients may experience chest pain and mild palpitations. Some patients may not have any symptoms. The absence of symptoms delays early treatment.
3. Blood Pressure:
High blood pressure is another major risk factor for heart disease and it happens when the pressure of blood in the arteries and blood vessels is high. If it goes undetected and uncontrolled, it can affect other major organs like the kidney and brain. Commonly referred to as a silent killer because increased blood pressure will not show any symptoms. The only way to find high blood pressure is by continuous monitoring of blood pressure. Lifestyle changes and diet modifications to reduce the risk of blood pressure are important before they can lead to other heart diseases.
4. Diabetes Mellitus:
Diabetes mellitus, or increased sugar level, is another endocrine disorder where the pancreas does not make enough insulin causing the blood sugar level to remain elevated. It causes an increased heart rate. In diabetes patients, high blood glucose leads to damaged nerves and blood vessels of the heart, leading to heart diseases. People with diabetes mellitus are at risk of developing heart disease at a very young age. Managing diabetes is an important step in reducing the risk of heart disease.
What Is the Importance of Screening for Genetic Heart Diseases?
For determining the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, it is vital to consider past medical and family history. A first-degree relative like a father, mother, or sibling with a history of heart attack or bypass surgery with an age younger than 55 years for a man and 65 years for a woman, the patient has to be considered at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
In such situations, a proper medical evaluation and an echocardiogram or cardiac MRI will help to diagnose and to start the treatment at the earliest.
If the family members have a history of diabetes, blood pressure, or high cholesterol, there is a genetic predisposition, and the patient will have an elevated risk for heart disease. However, family history is not the only factor for risk assessment. Other factors like lifestyle, smoking, poor diet, and obesity can affect health in the long run.
Genetic risk assessment is to be done if having the following symptoms:
- Unexplained fainting.
- Unexplained the seizures.
- Irregular heart rate.
- Stock or coronary artery disease at a younger age.
- Infant death syndrome in the family.
- High cholesterol level left untreated.
Can Genetic Heart Diseases Be Prevented?
Heart disease developed by genetics cannot be controlled, as the individual has been born with a set of genes. They need early medical treatment, which is inevitable. The chances of developing a genetic heart disease can be reduced by following certain steps like:
- Healthy lifestyle habits.
- Healthy food.
- Doing regular exercises mainly to strengthen the heart.
- Proper monitoring of cardiac health.
- These steps help in preventing heart disease or to manage them if develops.
Conclusion
Certain heart diseases or conditions that can lead to heart disease can run across families. Diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and high blood pressure are the commonly seen conditions. Some genetic conditions cannot be controlled, whereas some can be monitored, and early treatment can be given. Environmental factors also add to the risk of heart disease along with genetic factors. Early screening and diagnosis are important if genetic predisposition is suspected.
