Heart diseases can sometimes be inherited. If you have a family history of heart problems, you may be at a higher risk due to shared genetics. While some heart issues, like high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, result from a mix of genetics and lifestyle, there are specific heart diseases with a strong genetic component.
1. Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a condition stemming from irregularities in the heart's muscle structure. It can lead to thickening or thinning of the heart muscle, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively. Symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath during physical activity
- Irregular, strong, fast, or abnormal heartbeats
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Cold sweats in the legs and abdominal area
2. Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia involves irregular heart rhythms differing from the standard pattern due to heart electrical signal issues. The type of arrhythmia can lead to a too-fast, too-slow, or irregular heartbeat. Specific genetic arrhythmias that can run in families include long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, progressive cardiac conduction defect, and familial atrial fibrillation.
3. Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is a rare disorder caused by the accumulation of amyloid substances in body tissues. Amyloid is a protein produced in the bone marrow and can build up in various body tissues or organs. This protein can lead to the thickening of the heart muscle, reducing the heart's ability to fill with blood. Amyloidosis can also affect other body parts, potentially causing numbness in the hands or feet.
4. Marfan Syndrome
Marfan syndrome affects the body's connective tissues that support bones and organs. People with this syndrome experience weakened and overly stretched connective tissues, which can impact the heart, blood vessels, bones, and joints. Marfan syndrome may result in the enlargement of the aorta (the primary blood vessel that carries blood from the heart) and damage to heart valves.
5. Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited disorder that causes significantly high cholesterol levels and affects 1 in 250 people. Genetic mutations make it challenging for the liver to remove bad cholesterol (LDL) from the body. Individuals with this condition can have LDL cholesterol exceeding 190 mg/dL, substantially increasing the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
Understanding your family's health history can help you make informed decisions about when to undergo heart examinations and take steps to safeguard your health. Start by discussing your family's history of heart issues with close relatives. It's a crucial first step in managing your heart health.
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Source:
Watson, S. & Lee, A. R. (2022). 6 Types of Inherited Heart Disease to Be Aware Of. Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/inherited-heart-diseases