My mother died of it, and it was said she developed it when she was pregnant with me, although my family thinks she had it when she was a little girl. How possible is it that I may have it or contract it?
Heart Diseases - 2 Answers
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1 :
Heredity. Heart disease tends to run in families. For example, if your parents or siblings had a heart or circulatory problem before age 55, then you are at greater risk for heart disease than someone who does not have that family history. Risk factors (including high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity) may also be passed from one generation to another. Also, researchers have found that some forms of cardiovascular disease are more common among certain racial and ethnic groups. For example, studies have shown that African Americans have more severe high blood pressure and a greater risk of heart disease than whites. The bulk of cardiovascular research for minorities has focused on African Americans and Hispanics, with the white population used as a comparison. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in other minority groups are still being studied.
2 :
I am sorry to hear about your mother. There are many types of heart disease and some have more genetic influence than others. So, it is important to know exactly what your mother's heart disease was in order to properly answer your question. The most common cause of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which is a blockage in the arteries that supply the heart and can lead to heart attacks. There are many risk factors for coronary artery disease, such as family history, age, high bad cholesterol, low good cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. If a family member developed coronary artery disease at a young age compared to in old age, it would contribute more to the risk of developing coronary artery disease in other family members. If you have multiple family members who have developed coronary artery disease at a young age, then this has an even greater influence. There are some rare genetic disorders that significantly increase the risk of coronary artery disease, such as familial hypercholesterolemia in which the bad cholesterol is very high. People with this genetic disorder can potentially develop coronary artery disease and heart attacks in the teenage years. I suspect your mother probably did not have coronary artery disease, but some other type of heart disease. Family history contributes, but there are many other risk factors. Other types of heart disease include congenital heart conditions like atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defects (VSD), which are conditions where there is a hole in the heart between the left and right side of the heart. If your mother had one of these conditions, then your risk of developing it is slightly higher than someone who does not have a first degree relative with the disorder. People can go for years to decades with an ASD and small VSD without symptoms. Heart disease can also be from narrowed or leaky heart valves. Sometimes the abnormal valves can be inherited, but frequently the abnormalities occur from conditions like infection or Rheumatic heart disease which are not genetic. There are several other congenital heart disease that are rarer than the ASD an VSD. If your family thinks your mother developed the symptoms in childhood, then it is very possible that it is a congenital heart condition. Most congenital heart conditions have a small genetic contribution and therefore you would be slightly at increased risk of developing it also, but it does not mean you will definitely have it. There is a condition called hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, which has a strong genetic basis. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy can be associated with sudden death from abnormal heart rhythms. If you are concerned that you may have an underlying heart condition, then you should see your doctor. If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or passing out then see your doctor ASAP, because these are concerning symptoms. Doctors can detect some heart conditions by listening with a stethoscope. Sometimes further testing may be required, such as an EKG or an Echocardiogram which is an ultrasound of the heart. If you do have heart disease like your mother then it is important to diagnose it early so that it can be appropriately treated and monitored. If you know more about your mother's condition you can edit your answer or email me. Good luck
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