Having a family history of heart attack or stroke may increase your risk for the same health problems.

Know your family history so you can take steps to avoid both heart disease and stroke yourself.

Start with your immediate family

Share with your doctor the health history of your siblings, parents, and grandparents. Did any of your immediate family have a stroke or heart attack? How old were they?

If you are able, go one step further and learn the health history for your aunts and uncles.

Overcome the odds

I have a very poor heart health tree myself. A grandmother who suffered several heart attacks before a fatal heart attack at the age of 69. An aunt who also dealt with diabetes and heart issues leading to a fatal heart attack at age 62. A grandfather who lived with diabetes which led to heart disease and eventual death after bypass surgery. And the list goes on as I work down to my parents.

This does not mean I accept heart disease is in my future. No way. This just means I don’t have the luxury of coasting along assuming my health will be fine if I do nothing special to protect it.

I must be diligent about making healthy choices 90% of the time. If I were to choose to live an unhealthy lifestyle (fast food, soda, inactivity, high-fat meals, etc.) I’m pretty much sealing my fate to have heart disease at some point. Instead, I ensure my diet is heart healthy and my activity level high.

I had a cholesterol level over 200 way back in my 20’s, but successfully lowered it to normal and have maintained healthy low levels ever since. Same for a healthy blood pressure well below the goal of 120/80 mm Hg. So, my risk for heart disease is fairly low at this point regardless of my family history.

If your family history places you at higher risk for heart attack and stroke, you also can take steps to lower your risk.

There are heart disease risk factors you can change and ones you cannot.

Risk factors you can change:

Smoking

You have double to quadruple the risk of developing heart disease if you smoke. If you are a non-smoker, but exposed to second-hand smoke your risk is also elevated, but not to the degree as the smoker.

High blood cholesterol

High blood cholesterol levels lead to heart disease.

High blood pressure

This causes the heart to have to work that much harder.

Physical activity

Inactive people tend to have higher heart rates.  A higher heart rate means the heart must pump harder, exerting more force on artery walls.

Excess weight

Excess weight also gives the heart more work.  Not only does the blood have to travel further to supply all your body tissues, but more blood is required to do so.

Diabetes

Approximately 75% percent of individuals with diabetes die from some form of heart disease.

Stress

It is common for someone with high-stress levels to turn to food or cigarettes to cope, which links us back to heart disease.

Alcohol

Alcohol is linked to elevated blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease.

Risk factors you cannot control:

Increasing age

The majority of the people who die from heart disease are over 65 years-old.

Gender

Men have a greater risk of dying from heart disease (heart attack) than women.

Family History

If close blood relatives have/had heart disease your risk is greater.

Ethnicity

African Americans have an increased risk over Caucasians. This is related to high blood pressure being more prevalent in African Americans. Also, Mexican Americans and Native Americans tend to be more susceptible to heart disease.

If you have any one or more of the risk factors you cannot change, it is that much more important to focus on the ones you can. 

Take steps to protect your heart health

What action can you take today to counteract your family health history?

If you live with high blood pressure access my free ecourse 7 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure HERE for steps you can take now for heart health.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Health Pro for HealthCentral